Did you know that the color red can increase appetite—or that a yellow room can cause us to more readily lose our tempers?

Meanwhile a blue or green room can be calming and increase concentration.

Before moving into a new home, even before the furniture is placed, one of the biggest decisions for individuals, couples and families is which rooms to paint, and what color. Before filling up the paint pans though, it is important to take a closer look at the psychology of color.

How we choose to paint the kitchen, the bedroom and even the nursery can not only have an emotional affect, but also a physical one, too.

Let’s first take a look at the brighter colors. For example, red has been found to increase heart rates, induce heavier breathing and make people hungrier. Pink is a more soothing alternative, and lowers testosterone levels—which is why some prisons have elected to paint cells pink, or sports teams may paint the opposing locker room pink to subdue their opponents.

Yellow is commonly considered to be a sunny and cheery color, but it is also the most difficult for the eye to take in. It has been found that people are more likely to lose their temper in a yellow room, which is why babies cry more in nurseries painted yellow, so it may be best to choose a more earthy color for a room you plan on sleeping or relaxing in.

Taken from nature, blues, greens and browns are more likely to make us feel at home in a natural state. Green is so easy on the eye that it has actually been found to improve vision. Meanwhile, blue is more soothing and can increase concentration, making it ideal for a room meant for quiet time, such as yoga or meditating.

The color purple, like pink, is more romantic and feminine, while black is a more dominating color that implies submission. It is better to use black for accenting, or choose black furniture to create a more sheik look in your living room and other common spaces—otherwise you may begin to feel constricted or claustrophobic.

What to study the color schemes a little further? Click on the infographic  below to learn more about the psychology of color.

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Assistant Editor: Holly Horne/Editor: Bryonie Wise

Photo: Kevinpoh, Flickr; Infographic: Units Storage.