All Of It: How to Add Colors to Your Home (Tastefully) Host: Alison Stewart | Guest: Laura Perryman | Release Date: April 21, 2025

Introduction

In the April 21, 2025 episode of WNYC’s ALL OF IT, host Alison Stewart delves into the vibrant world of color in home decor. Titled "How to Add Colors to Your Home (Tastefully)", the episode features Laura Perryman, a seasoned color designer from the UK and author of The Rainbow Home: Over 200 Ideas and Tips for Adding Color to Your Home. Together, they explore the psychological and aesthetic impacts of color, offering listeners expert advice on choosing and implementing color schemes that enhance living spaces.

The Psychological Impact of Color

Alison Stewart kickstarts the conversation by highlighting the significant role colors play in our lives, not just aesthetically but also psychologically. Laura Perryman emphasizes, "Color is such an incredible tool and it's been studied for centuries through color psychology, but also neuroscience as well. And we're starting to learn lots and lots more about the deep impact of certain colors, even on our behavior, our mood, and even our physical being" (01:39).

Laura explains how colors like canary yellow can boost optimism and energy, while cornflower blue fosters relaxation and concentration. She underscores the importance of strategic color placement to create desired emotional responses, such as lowering heart rates or energizing a space.

Why We Are Attracted to Certain Colors

The conversation shifts to understanding why certain colors appeal to us more than others. Laura Perryman shares insights into the innate and experiential factors that shape our color preferences:

"I think we are hardwired as human beings to have certain preconceptions about color. So obviously green is an incredibly important color area to us because we see it as a very positive color... Memory also plays a really, really important part." (02:17)

She elaborates on how colors associated with nature, like green, are perceived as safe and calming, while personal memories, such as a favorite childhood garment, also influence our subconscious connections to specific hues.

Choosing Colors Based on Space Size and Lighting

One of the critical discussions revolves around selecting colors based on the size of the room and its lighting. Alison Stewart poses a question about decorating small spaces, and Laura Perryman responds with nuanced advice:

"Lighter tones always make spaces feel much larger. Whereas if you choose a much more rich, dark, deep, sumptuous color, you're going to make it feel like it's a cocoon, like a smaller environment." (04:18)

Laura advises that for low-light areas, warm base colors like terracotta or rich browns can add warmth and make spaces feel more inviting. Conversely, brighter rooms can embrace darker and cooler tones, such as blues, to create a balanced and engaging atmosphere.

Practical Tips for Color Selection

Laura Perryman provides actionable tips for listeners contemplating color changes:

"Pairing the colors with the personality of the space is essential. For instance, take your front door—what kind of perception do you want to convey? Do you want to give a sense of joy or reassurance?" (06:08)

She emphasizes aligning color choices with the function of each room. For example, using yellow in social spaces to foster optimism and interaction, while opting for calming tones in bedrooms to enhance relaxation.

Listener Calls: Tailored Color Advice

The episode invites listeners to call in with their color dilemmas, allowing Laura Perryman to offer personalized advice:

1. Tabby from Brooklyn (08:04)

   • Issue: Transitioning from bright green to dark burgundy in an open-concept apartment.
   • Advice: Integrate the new color through trim or accents to maintain visual harmony, incorporating shades with subtle variations to add depth.

2. Scott from Commack, Long Island (16:31)

   • Issue: Importance of testing color samples in home lighting.
   • Advice: Always test paints under different lighting conditions in your actual space to ensure the color's true appearance before committing.

3. Christina from Connecticut (17:16)

   • Issue: Painting trim in a colonial home with dark brown wooden elements and considering a dark green sitting room.
   • Advice: Definitely paint the trim to unify the space, ensuring to test colors in varying light to confirm the desired effect.

4. Marilyn from Manhattan (18:11)

   • Issue: Concerned that adding color may overshadow her art collection.
   • Advice: Use colors inspired by her artwork as key accents to create a cohesive and complementary backdrop that highlights her prints.

5. Faith from Manhattan (20:06)

   • Issue: Adding color to a bright, all-white apartment filled with antiques.
   • Advice: Opt for bold, saturated colors like deep blue or vibrant orange for key walls or accessories to create dynamic contrasts while maintaining harmony.

6. Other Listeners

   • Home Office Colors (21:24): Light or muted greens and blues promote concentration, while oranges can energize and inspire creativity.
   • Dark Colors in Small Spaces (22:35): Utilize contrasting light elements to balance dark hues, debunking the myth that dark colors inherently make spaces feel smaller.

Color Walks and Understanding Color Theory

Beyond practical tips, Laura Perryman introduces the concept of color walks:

"A color walk is basically a big inspiration trip for color... going for a walk somewhere that you really love... looking for these cues to color as you go along and recording them." (13:51)

This approach encourages individuals to draw inspiration from their natural surroundings, fostering a personal and authentic relationship with color. Additionally, Laura clarifies key color theory terms such as hue, tone, tint, and chromatic tension, aiding listeners in making informed color choices and creating harmonious color schemes.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Laura Perryman summarizing the importance of personal preference and thoughtful experimentation in color selection:

"Look at what things are already your favorite color in your home and add specific accents of it. But also consider complementary colors from different parts of the color wheel." (24:19)

ALL OF IT underscores that adding color to a home is not just about aesthetics but also about enhancing the emotional and psychological well-being of its inhabitants. By leveraging expert insights and personalized advice, listeners are empowered to transform their living spaces into vibrant reflections of their personalities and lifestyles.

Notable Quotes

• Laura Perryman [01:39]: "Color is such an incredible tool and it's been studied for centuries through color psychology, but also neuroscience as well."

• Laura Perryman [02:17]: "We are hardwired as human beings to have certain preconceptions about color."

• Laura Perryman [04:18]: "Lighter tones always make spaces feel much larger."

• Laura Perryman [06:08]: "Pairing the colors with the personality of the space is essential."

• Laura Perryman [13:51]: "A color walk is basically a big inspiration trip for color."

• Laura Perryman [22:51]: "There is a massive myth about dark colors making spaces smaller."

Timestamp References

• [00:37] Introduction and episode overview
• [01:28] Laura Perryman joins the conversation
• [02:17] Attraction to certain colors
• [04:18] Color choice based on space size
• [06:08] Practical color selection tips
• [07:56] First listener call
• [13:51] Color walks and color theory
• [16:31] Additional listener advice
• [22:35] Debunking color myths
• [24:19] Final advice on personal color preferences

For more insights and tips on adding color to your home, tune into future episodes of ALL OF IT on WNYC with Alison Stewart.