When you walk into a room, you get a certain feeling. Sometimes it's a feeling of joy, sometimes it's a feeling of calm, and sometimes it's a feeling of dread. What causes these feelings? Much of the time, it's due to the color of the paint in the room. Choosing the right paint color of your room can be the easiest and most cost-effective way to alter its feeling, and by extension, your mood.

Most people choose room colors that are pleasing to them and reflect their personalities. But they don't always understand the effect the color of a room can have on their mood, and end up selecting colors that create the opposite effect they are seeking to achieve.

In general, light colors are airy and expansive, and can make rooms seem larger and brighter. Dark colors are warm and sophisticated, and can give large rooms a more intimate appearance.

To select the right colors for the right mood, it's important to first understand some basic facts about active, passive and neutral colors.

- Active colors, which include yellow, orange and red, exude energy. They work well in family and entertaining rooms. Golden yellow and lemon colors add cheer to kitchens and home offices.

- Passive colors, which include blue, green, and purple, are used for rest and restoration. They work well in bathrooms and bedrooms.

- Neutral colors, which can be light or dark, help to bring together the other colors in the room.

You'll also want to learn more about specific colors and their effects:

- White makes small spaces feel larger and more spacious, and can be airy and refreshing. White can also be sterile if not combined with other colors.

- Black, in large doses, makes small spaces even smaller, but it can also make large spaces more intimate. It's best used as just an accent to give the color scheme depth.

- Yellow is cheery and happy. Soft yellow is subtle and welcoming. Bright yellow is best used as an accent to attract attention. Too much bright yellow can be overwhelming though.

- Green can be reassuring and relaxing. Pale yellow-greens evoke images of growth and deep greens are associated with status and wealth.

- Blue suggests freshness, relaxation, and coolness. Light blues are open and airy, and dark blues symbolize strength, respect, and wealth.

- Purple is the color of royalty and nobility in its deepest hues, and is refreshing and flowery in pale violet values. Deep purple works best as an accent color.

- Red invokes excitement, attracts attention, and can even raise blood pressure. Intense red, although stimulating, can be distracting in large doses. Red is associated with wealth and sophistication, and creates a strong first impression.

- Orange can be distracting in large doses, but works well in small areas to attract attention to details. In its terracotta or peach versions, it can be very warm and soothing.

Once you've decided on a color for a room, paint a small two-by-two foot sample on the wall that gets the most natural light, and another sample on the wall with the darkest shadow.

Let the paint samples dry for at least a day, then stand back and see if you still like the color. If you don't, don't worry. It's only paint – and it's one of the easiest changes to make when you're designing your home.

Author's Bio

James Charles is an award-winning interior designer who provides revolutionary new affordable online design services at http://www.DesignerAtHome.com. In just three steps he can make your professionally-designed dream home a reality.