Chapter 3
Creating an Inviting Environment

Learning Objectives: Identify the key elements in making the interior of a space more appealing through the use of color, texture, and light.


When people walk into a home, how do they feel? This is an important question, as the atmosphere in a home can have a powerful subconscious effect on the way people behave in a certain space. If a person is uncomfortable in a home then they are going to be reserved, distant, and unlikely to return. However, if a home welcomes them in, and makes them feel safe and comfortable, then you can be sure that is how they will react.

Color
One of the most important things when creating atmosphere is how you use color in the space. Certain colors set off triggers in the human mind, which people don’t even realize. For instance, red is a very exciting, powerful color that raises a person’s metabolism, and makes them both more excitable, and more exciting.

For creating a warm and inviting space, soft earth tones are the best; they are comforting, and make a person feel safe. Throughout human history we have sheltered from the elements and our enemies, behind structures made of wood and stone, earth colored natural objects. As a result, we have developed a natural instinct to being comforted by these tones.