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Color is the perfect blend of science and art - it is also the perfect expression of emotion. So perfect, in fact that it is a wonder why anyone would want to shy away from using color in their home. But the truth is, color is also frightening to many people. And there are so many misconceptions about color, it unfortunately often gets a really bad rap.
If you are ready to surrender to color and push past the gallons of Ivory, Pale Cream and Navajo White on your next trip to the paint store, read on. You may be surprised to find that many color "facts" you have learned are actually some of the biggest color myths!
1. "Dark" colors make a room look smaller. "Light" colors make a room look bigger. Not necessarily true! Sometimes a darker color can actually make a room feel larger! A deeply saturated color can often times give the walls more visual volume, making a space seem to "grow." And sometimes rooms painted in "light" colors can suffer from a "shrinking" effect because the walls lack a visual weight. Can darker colors ever make a room feel smaller? Sometimes, but why is that a bad thing? Sometime smaller equals cozier. A room isn't all about its size.
2. Pale colors are soothing and relaxing. This also is not necessarily true. Light colors can often be under-stimulating, therefore creating anxiety and restlessness. Not everyone responds to all colors in the same way. You may actually benefit from more saturated colors.
3. A neutral color has to be white, off-white or beige. No, no and no. Pretty much any color can be used as a neutral. A room's color design is more about combinations than one single color. Super saturated, bright hues are the exception. A glow-in-the-darkish 80s yellow, as you can guess, is certainly not going to "go with everything". But a deep slate blue or a pale yellow-green may be more neutral than you think.
4. All the colors in the house need to be similar, otherwise it will feel disjointed. Colors in the home need to work together, yes. But that does not mean they need to all be similar. A color wheel is a great tool to use to get a feel of one hue's relationship to another. Complementary colors are exact opposites of each other, and sometimes using them together has the best effect - they bring out each other's beauty. Try a lime green with rich fuchsia. Or a bold turquoise with a deep red-orange. You'd be surprised how well some colors work together.
5. Bold colors are loud and boisterous and will overtake a space. They can, but it's not a given. Bold colors on the walls can be absolutely beautiful. They just need to be balanced out with the other elements and colors in the room. Again, use the color wheel as a guide. Or mix in some softer, less vibrant neutrals into the space to "soften" its effect.
So, now that these color myths are debunked, you are ready to pick up a can of Scarlet Red paint for your dining room, right? RIGHT? You are probably still hesitating. If you're not - good for you! You are a healthy, fearless individual, only slightly afraid of color. If you are still feeling anxious, and you are still much too comfortable in beige-land, keep reading.
From a logical standpoint, all the above color myths might make sense to you. But color is also very emotional, and our fear of using color is often more deep seeded within our psyche. There's something about painting our homes that makes us fear color like nothing else. While you may think nothing of wearing a sunshine yellow sundress, or purchasing a petal pink iPod shuffle, there's just no way you are going to use those colors on the walls.
We have such a personal relationship with our homes, that when we select paint color and put it on display on our walls, we are essentially putting ourselves on display for others to see. And many of us are not comfortable with that. In essence, in painting our walls "different" colors we are allowing ourselves to be vulnerable - we are letting people see the real us.
That makes us open to judgement from others. What if you pick a color and no one likes it? What will they think?
And then there's that whole thing about being different. Sometimes we just want to be like everyone else. So we paint our homes like everyone else. Your neighbors house looks fine in Tawny Taupe. If you paint your home the same color, no one will notice you. You will fit in just like everyone else. Sometimes it's scary to be different. It may seem easier to be a wallflower.
But, because color is so emotionally powerful in many ways this article hasn't even begun to touch upon, it can have very positive effects. Give it a shot and see how you feel. It's guaranteed that once you get started with color, and welcome it fearlessly into your home, there's no turning back. 
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