July 5, 2024
4 Color Trends That Are Good for the Brain
THE HUMAN EYE CAN DETECT MORE than 10 million colors. Yet each color, depending on its perceptual attributes of hue, saturation, and lightness, has a unique effect on our brains as it passes through the visual cortex. You may have heard that blues and greens are calming, while reds and oranges are activating. But recent research into the neuroscience of color and the burgeoning field of neuroaesthetics suggests that color has not only psychological and emotional effects on us but a biological effect as well. Colors can affect our breathing, our blood pressure, and even our body temperature. Red, for instance, raises our galvanic skin response, determining how our sweat glands react, whereas blues and greens are shown to reduce stress and foster creativity through their cooling attributes.
In their new book Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us (Random House, 2023), Google’s vice president of hardware design Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen, founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics at Johns Hopkins, write, “Because color transmits at different frequencies and vibrations, practitioners are able to use a color’s specific properties to shift the energy—and frequencies—within our bodies.”
By examining the trending hues of today’s most innovative products, we can lean into the energizing properties of turmeric and gold, feel the cozy warmth of terra-cotta and burnt orange, fuel creativity with lavenders and lilacs, and relax and rest with sage and forest greens. In a world awash with color, the intersection of neuroscience and interior design offers a vibrant reminder that the products and colors we choose not only reflect our personalities but shape our moods, memories, and somatic experiences.
TURMERIC | MUSTARD | GOLD
The color yellow helps release a chemical in the brain called serotonin. This means yellow is a great color for uplifting mood, improving concentration, and increasing metabolism. However, yellow can also tire the eye due to the amount of light reflected, and should be used in small doses to avoid “color fatigue.”
KURTAIN ACOUSTIC PENDANT
Kurtain doesn’t just illuminate; it also helps reduce ambient noise. This acoustic pendant light from Luxxbox features a high-performance dimmable LED light and is available in three sizes and 77 colors. Crafted out of responsibly sourced Camira Blazer wool, Kurtain’s form was inspired by the flowing forms of drapery.
LUXXBOX
DUNE TABLE LAMP
Named for “sand formations that migrate with the wind,” In Common With’s new Dune Table Lamp embodies flexibility and function. Its distinctive, durable sculpted and painted metal base and frosted glass shade create a warm ambient glow suitable for both indoor and outdoor spaces. With a touch-activated dimmer, it’s easy to set the mood. The lamp is available in five muted earth tones including Turmeric and Pool.
IN COMMON WITH
SOWDEN PL4 PORTABLE LAMP
SOWDEN, the design brand of Memphis Milano cofounder George Sowden, has a new exclusive with MoMA Design Store. The PL4 Portable Lamp is a USB-chargeable lamp with a dimmable 160-lumen LED as well as a unique silicone shade for soft light diffusion, and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
SOWDEN
PERCY LOUNGE CHAIR
Created by Canadian furniture designer Nicole Marion, the Percy Lounge Chair for British manufacturer NaughtOne features a bold tubular frame form available in 16 colors and over 100 upholstery options from bubblegum pink to daffodil yellow.
NAUGHTONE
LAVENDER | MAUVE | LILAC
Shades of purple, like pinks, are said to calm the human brain, and increase creativity, inspiration, and introspection. Hues like violet have the highest vibration in the visible spectrum. Because of these attributes, purple symbolizes spirituality or royalty in various cultures.
MAORA CERAMIC COLLECTION
Valencian artisans Maora Ceramic have teamed up with design studio Masquespacio on the Maora Collection, a collection of 20 x 20 cm tiles that can be applied to floors, walls, and furniture. Ana Hernández, cofounder of Masquespacio, says, “It is a celebration of craftsmanship and the beauty that lies within handmade creations.”
MASQUESPACIO
FLUMP STOOL
Created from reclaimed ocean plastic in collaboration with the New Raw, Heirloom’s 3D-printed Flump Stools made waves at Alcova during this year’s Milan Design Week. The design of the stools is optimized to utilize postconsumer material, and the muted colors and distinctive textures were a result of the robotic processes. Prototypes can be remelted and reprinted, making the stools fully circular products.
HEIRLOOM DESIGN
TERRA-COTTA | BURNT ORANGE | PEACH
Warm colors such as oranges, pinks, and reds can be motivating and energizing, while if they are too intense they can be activating. Muted, pinker hues such as peach or more earthy tones such as burnt orange can be employed for their calming effects on the nervous system. It’s important to note, however, that our perception of colors changes depending on the other colors that surround it.
FLIPSIDE COLLECTION
Designed by Gemma Bernal, the Flipside Collection by Arcadia offers a versatile solution for modern workspaces. Two-, three-, and four-unit combinations are available and can be specified with or without backrests. Integrated end tables are available in white oak veneer, laminate, Corian, and Fenix, and Arcadia has a variety of upholstery options from select partners.
ARCADIA
BAUX x TARKETT
BAUX Acoustics and Tarkett flooring have teamed up to design a synchronized color palette where both manufacturers’ products can be used together to create wonderfully healthy interiors where people can rest and play. BAUX Acoustic Wood Wool tiles and DESSO AirMaster flooring technology work in tandem to reduce noise and improve air quality. The color range includes Midnights, Neutrals, Minerals, Oceanic, Florals, and Forests.
BAUX x TARKETT
ELEMENTAL WRIGHT PENTIMENTO
Designtex and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation have developed a collection of three woven upholstery textiles that capture the essence of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture. Pentimento draws inspiration from the architect’s Usonian philosophy, geometric systems, and natural color palettes. Through Designtex’s Digital Studio tool, patterns can be customized with unique colors and scales, providing a versatile array of design possibilities.
DESIGNTEX
ALLORA COLLECTION
Allseating’s Allora is an adaptable seating solution designed by SF+M, inspired by in-between moments such as waiting, learning, or meeting. Perfect for lobbies, cafeterias, or meeting rooms, Allora’s stackable single-shell design comes in a range of configurations—armless, with armrests, or with a tablet arm. Choose from five shell and frame finishes and two leg configurations to suit your style, with an optional upholstered seat pad for added comfort.
ALLSEATING
SAGE GREEN | FOREST GREEN | POOL BLUE
Green is considered an emotionally calming color. It gives a sense of refreshment, harmony, and equilibrium, likely due to the brain’s association of the color with nature. Blues have similar calming attributes, and just like reds have been found to raise blood pressure, blues can lower it. The color blue opens neural pathways and enhances those cognitive processes, also making it a highly creative color.
FENIX SURFACE MATERIALS
FENIX’s surface materials are designed to transform interiors through modern aesthetics and advanced technology. The surfaces are anti-fingerprint and resistant to scratches, heat, and household chemicals. Their matte finish and soft touch offer a luxurious feel, and they are durable enough for kitchen and bathroom applications.
FENIX
ZEPH SIDE CHAIR
This April, Berlin-based Studio 7.5 introduced a colorful new task chair to Herman Miller’s Zeph seating family. The Zeph Side Chair’s ergonomic mono-shell seat can be fitted with a 3D Knit seat covering made from 50 percent postconsumer recycled content, and is available in 20 textile color choices, forming a palette they call the “crayon box.”
HERMANMILLER
SUNPRINTS COLLECTION
Drawing inspiration from cyanotype photography, Calico Wallpaper’s latest Sunprints collection embodies the sun’s radiance. The intricate floral designs were created using large-format digital photography and scanning. The delicate details of the foliage evoke a sense of serenity that is perfect for creating a calming atmosphere in homes or businesses. Cofounder Rachel Cope says that the collection “is an artful tribute to the ever-changing dance of light, color, and the natural world that continues to enchant and connect us.”
CALICO WALLPAPER
TILTABLE WORKSURFACES
The TilTable collection from Gira Workplace Solutions by B+N revolutionizes office furniture with its adaptability and mobility, perfect for today’s hybrid workspaces. These innovative work surfaces tilt up to 90 degrees with a simple pull and quarter turn, allowing them to be rolled and stacked. Equipped with Volta Removable Battery Packs, they provide reliable power for all-day productivity without the need for 120-volt outlets.
B+N INDUSTRIES
STASH SERIES
Form Furniture’s inaugural storage solution, the Stash Series, includes a cart, a tower, and a drawer made of powder-coated steel with lockable casters. The muted natural palette of Red-Brown, Grey-Green, Grey-Beige, Graphite, and Perfect White makes it a modern and flexible solution for a variety of workspaces.
FORM FURNITURE
VANK_CUBE
The VANK_CUBE is a flexible, modular cube system of desks, tables, poufs, storage, and sideboards. CUBE is crafted from an innovative biomaterial derived from flax and hemp—fast-growing plants that absorb more CO2 than trees. This design promotes creativity and teamwork and also aims to eliminate harmful synthetic materials in the workplace.
VANK DESIGN
Photography: COURTESY OF THE MANUFACTURERS
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