What colors mean to us

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As soon as we're old enough to know our colors, we start to have favorites. Ask any 4-year old what color he likes and he will tell you. Though there are individual color preferences, there are also strong associations with each of the basic colors that are shared by almost everyone.RED is viewed as an exciting, dramatic and rich color. Think of the red-carpet treatment. It is passionate. Think of the lady in red. It stimulates the appetite. Think of your favorite Italian restaurant. The darker shades of red, such as burgundy and maroon, have a rich and stately feeling. Think of the Victorian era. A front door painted burgundy is dramatic and inviting.ORANGE gives off a cheerful aura. It is bold and exciting, friendly and informal. The dark, muted version of orange is rust. Rust colors in the living room or family room are inviting and create a casual feeling.YELLOW is the most visible color. That's why you see so many street signs in yellow. Pastel yellows are happy without being overpowering and make for a nice, cheerful backdrop when the room's walls are painted in this hue. Gold tones create an atmosphere of richness. In colonial days, every room in rich houses had a touch of gold.BLUE is America's No. 1 favorite color. It has universal appeal since it reminds us of blue skies and deep blue oceans. There's a feeling of serenity and openness with blue. There is also a feeling of power with blue, such as in a navy suit on an executive. Blue works well in bedrooms and on the exterior of a house and comes across crisp and clean if trimmed with white.GREEN is nature's favorite color. Green is very soothing to many people, perhaps because of its association with nature. Hunter green is associated with country life. Jade greens remind us of jewels and precious stones. Green works well in a dining room and can actually be used in any room in the house. It is easy on the eyes.VIOLET reminds us of royalty and wealth. Purple and violet are luxurious colors. Many young females are attracted to this color and love to have their bedrooms decorated in a violet motif. Too much purple can be overwhelming, but accents of this color do much to punch up a room.BROWN is a color of nature. It is relaxing and easy to live with. Red-browns are more formal and work well in great rooms or living rooms. The lighter hues such as tan and beige work well with most color schemes to bring about a base that unifies.WHITE symbolizes freshness, purity and cleanliness. It happens to be a favorite color for walls. Off-white and tinted-white walls afford a great canvas for any other color combination motif.BLACK is authoritative. It conveys sophistication. It provides a neutral counterpoint to any other color you might choose to couple it with. Too much black can be depressing, but when blended with other colors, it makes for a dramatic statement in any room.GRAY is elegant. Since it is a neutral, it blends well with other colors. Gray and blue give a clean, no-fuss look. Gray trimmed with white is classy for both interior and exterior paint.(Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, an interior designer in Naples, Fla., is the author of an award-winning book, "Mystery of Color," as seen on HGTV. For design inquiries, write to Rosemary at DsgnQuest(at)aol.com.)