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How Interior Design and Color Influences Happiness
Posted on August 1, 2023 @ 5:42PM

I live in Bozeman, Montanta, and prior to this, was in Big Sky, Montana for 15 years. These are a wonderful places to live. 

In Big Sky, the schools are small, people are friendly. With only 2000 permanent residents,  I found Big Sky an Idyllic place to live.    Shortly after moving there I learned that Big Sky has only three seasons:

Ski Season

Fishing Season

Mud Season

Ski season, fishing season and mud season.   Winters can be long and cold. Summers are always far too short, truly beginning in July and ending mid September.   

It's the mud season that really gets us.  We're stuck inside, and other than to stock up on groceries, most locals hardly leave the mountain. Bozeman, our nearest 'city', is 45 miles away, which can  get to feel like quite a trek.   If there is a time of year when interior design can make a big impact on our quality of life, mud season is that time.   

And I would suggest that if there is one aspect of interior design that stands out as powerfully effective and value rich,  it is color theory.   While the difference between one shade and another may seem subtle, the psychological effect can be significant.  

At the very heart of color theory is the 'color wheel' that will simply provides a visual representation of the 12 basic primary colors.  Secondary colors and tertiary colors fall within this this color wheel as designers follow different roles and strategies taking into account things like temperature, tone, and contrast.

Bright colors are used to make a room appear bigger,  while simultaneously including a lighter, carefree mood.   Dark colors typically make a room feel smaller and more intimate.  Colors give us a certain state of mind and can energize us, can make us feel safe, calm,or  relaxed.  Color can increase the ability to concentrate or remember pleasant things.   There are also colors that may depress us and make us feel more tired.   It's worthwhile to identify which colors produce which emotions for each individual.

The influences of color may seem nuanced, but they have a substantial impact on our experiences dwelling in interior spaces over time.  

~ Noelle

Author: Noelle Child

Native to Montana, Noelle has always loved art and design. At a young age, she was consumed with creating something from nothing. She attended Montana State University and The Art Institute of Seattle - and traveled abroad to Indonesia, China, and South Africa to study design. In her studies, she gained a great appreciation for the beauty and history of many cultures, which has further inspired her work. With over two decades of experience in residential and commercial design she is currently based out of our Bozeman studio. Noelle’s skills include managing all facets of residential projects from conception to installation. She has experience with high design, custom furniture, lighting, art, rugs and more. Noelle is passionate about building relationships with clients and helping them express their characters.