Local climate is another factor in choosing wall colors. I paint hospital murals in Los Angeles and Orange County, CA where my color palette is cooler than it would be if I painted in my hometown of Buffalo, New York. We're countering the heat in Southern California while Buffalonians are fending off the cold.

Part One, Page 2

The Complexity of Color Schemes

You might think that determining optimal room color is just a matter of testing
different hues until you find the one having the effects most beneficial to the
room's main purpose. But it'ís not that simple. It turns out that multiple-color
combinations generally produce more positive effects than do single colors or
simple combinations. A simple color scheme often doesn't offer the brain
enough stimulation. According to one study, plain white environments have a
particularly numbing effect. [1]

Alternatively, schemes incorporating several colors have been shown to be pleasantly diverting and measurably more pleasing. [1] Providing several colors for walls and introducing polychromatic (many-colored) elements is essential to creating the optimal visual effect for most rooms. Typically a polychromatic element is a colorful work of art such as a painting, poster or photograph.

The longer patients are confined to their rooms the more they can benefit from a multiple-color scheme. Multiple-color schemes also provide stimulation and improved alertness for hospital staff performing routine tasks.

Consider All Surfaces

While I have referred mostly to wall colors in this article, the same rules apply to curtains, carpets and ceilings. Any surface that dominates the view of a patient, visitor or staff member should have an appropriate color scheme.

Light Colors

Well-lit spaces are essential for the well being of a hospital's inhabitants. I explain the effects of light in depth later in Part Two. Choosing light colors for walls is important in enhancing a sense of light, particularly in rooms that don't get good natural light. Light colors also make spaces appear larger. Remember though, that white--the lightest of all colors--is almost never an optimal choice. expressions.