Room color opinions

Institutional Green was the favorite color for rooms inside mental institutions, hospitals and prisons for like forever. Green, especially that particular dreary and putrid shade of green was assumed by almost everyone to have a calming effect on inmates, patients and prisoners. Unfortunately this whole industrial green movement was based on an old wives tale. The Victorian boom in asylum construction with it’s related color palettes and a belief in the curative effects of the color green. Green, the Victorians argued, is associated with springtime, grass, leaves, outdoors. Of course it should be noted real green, a green the color of grass and trees, would be a bit much for sensitive Victorian tastes so they opted for that rather irritating and putrid shade we call industrial green. 🤢 Victorians associated outdoor activities with health, you know, as opposed to working in coal mines and factories. So, if you want some sun and fresh air go outside and play in the park. But if you want better sound paint your walls blue.

Oh yes, definitely. Brighter colors accentuate the high frequency while dark colors encourage low passages to extend mild enhancement and decay. Appropriate balancing of room colors is encouraged. To date best performance by far has been experienced by a mix of round (polka) and square (country) and diamond (rock) shapes painted on reflective walls. Accentuates the particular style of music.

I can’t say the color affects the sonics, but external stimulants do impact how you perceive sound. I take off my glasses and shut the lights when doing serious listening, and it helps me focus and enjoy. Since my basement room is dual use audio and home theater, I had the front portion of it painted a darker grey, walls and ceiling, which matches the carpeting. I helps darken the room a bit, and I find a darker room more conducive to listening. That’s the beauty of a man cave, no WAF to worry about.

bondmanp  I feel the same way you do about external stimulants how you perceive the sound. Right now my listening room man cave is painted a light color called City Steels Grey which is like a very light bright grey that i had painted before i put my music system together. Which i find it to be a too bright of a color when i listen to my music in the day time. At night its more calming and conductive to listening like you say. I put the lights dim or no lights at all. I will be painting my room a brownish earth tone color. 

Does a color of a room affect the sound?

Definitely can effect video. Just something to keep in mind if you’re considering A/V. In the case of video, there is a particular shade of grey (seriously, no pun or adult reference intended) that is most appropriate. In fact, many folks into serious quality video viewing use what is referred to as "bias" lighting. Grey background is by far the best.

Maybe also makes sense why some people like to listen to music in the dark. It does something to the mind.

There is truth in this. The rationale is that the hearing senses are "heightened" that much more when the visual senses are at bay.