By Tim Long
It has long been known we are effected by color. Our moods and emotions are altered by the application of the colors that surround us. For example artist, across a variety of media, have been using color to bring emotion to their creations since the beginning of time. Decorators use a similar understanding of color, carefully applying their knowledge in the selections of colors for various aspects to our homes. It is with the same attention to the detail of color, that a pool or spa can be enhanced, by color.
Red Stop Sign
You need not be an artist or decorator to appreciate the influences color has in our lives. Think of our automated responses in our daily lives to the colors of red and green. These colors are part of our driving experience representing simple basic commands of movement. Red means stop and green means go. In signage, on and off the road, red represents danger such as fire and heat. It should not be thought that our responses to these colors are based on our experiences in driving and signage, but the other way around. These colors were chosen to represent these dangers because they were already part our automated responses to these colors. These danger colors, red and yellow, are part of the color spectrum we associate with warmth and heat, while other colors, such as green, are associated with coolness and relaxation.
Perhaps our reaction is fundamentally based on nature’s choice of color. The sun gives off a yellow to orange color, while fire is predominantly perceived as red or yellow. Ironically as fire becomes hotter it changes to blue, which we naturally associate with cool, but lets not confuse things. Blues and greens are easily associated with water as in the oceans and streams, while green is associated with forests and plants. Both are cool to the touch and invoke images of relaxation and comfort.
Deep color of the Blue/Green Diamond Brite Verde
An artist will divide the colors into two groups, colors that are warm; red, orange and yellow, and colors that are cool; green, blue and violet. There are of course many other colors, but they all are some combination of these six primary and secondary colors.
It is important to note there are other responses, beyond a since of temperature, to colors as well. The warm colors seem to advance, meaning that they appear larger or closer than they are in reality, while the cooler colors tend to recede, as if moving away from us. This is particularly helpful when creating palates of colors for decoration purposes. It tends to manifest itself in our choices of the predominate colors and our contrasting highlight colors.
Another important characteristic of color, in terms of water, is that the color of the water often determines the ability to reflect. The darker the water the more the reflection capability. This may not seem important at first, but consider the use of mirrors in the home. Decorators have advocated using them strategically for years as they tend to make the space larger with the reflected images, sometimes doubling the enjoyment of objects being reflected. The water in a pool or spa can also achieve this same type of response, where it reflects the landscape and objects beyond. In the day light, these reflections could be of vibrant colored foliage, or even sculpture placed in the yard. At nighttime the reflection of lights and other lighted objects can be even more dramatic.
Blue-Green of the Ocean
So when choosing colors for your backyard water-scape, be it a fountain, pool or spa, the color you choose is extremely important and should be considered with care. After all, this place is where you want to spend time, so color away!
To view a pool being transformed with an application of a colored surface, Click Here!
Click below to see the same pool having the finish applied: