Bathed in Color: A Personal Journey to Calm and Connection
By Susan McCalmonT
For years, the walls of my 1928 home remained white. They were quiet and unobtrusive, meant to let the artwork speak for itself. But over the past two years, my life has changed in ways I never saw coming. I’ve been moving through a season of grief following the loss of my husband and one of my dearest friends, and with it, I've gained a deeper awareness of how the spaces we fill can either hold us or leave us feeling untethered.
As part of my healing journey, I’ve been naturally drawn to color. Not impulsively or dramatically, but thoughtfully and with intention. I began to imagine what it would be like to live immersed in color rather than just around it, and how transforming my personal space could bring new energy to my everyday life.
Choosing Color with Intention
This transformation started gradually, room by room, guided by intuition and reflection rather than trends. My living room is now painted in robin’s egg blue, creating a sense of openness and calm. My stairway is wrapped in olive green, anchoring the transition between spaces. For my den, I selected a soft terracotta, a color that felt surprisingly familiar because it echoed the home where I grew up.
These choices weren’t arbitrary. Each color felt connected to a memory or emotion. Throughout the process, my dear friend and designer, John Turman, provided invaluable guidance. Having a second set of eyes helped confirm my instincts and made sure the color palette felt cohesive instead of overwhelming.
But what I wasn’t expecting was how personal the experience would become. Introducing color into my home wasn’t just a design choice; it was a gesture of care, a way to bring joy and warmth back into spaces that had felt quiet for too long.
When Art Comes Alive Again
Once the walls were painted and the artwork was put back in place, something remarkable happened. Pieces I’ve lived with for years suddenly felt new. It was a kind of rediscovery, seeing familiar works from a completely new perspective. The colors in the paintings appeared more pronounced, while the shapes felt more lively. I found myself drawn to details I had previously ignored.
Rather than fading into the background, my art began to engage in conversation with the walls. The colored backdrop allowed each piece to breathe, creating contrast that hadn’t existed against white walls. I felt as though I was meeting old friends again, and I was eager to spend time with them, lingering longer and looking more closely.
This experience is an excellent reminder that art isn’t static. Its impact shifts depending on context, light, environment, and, of course, color.
Living With Light, Movement, and Change
My home is filled with windows that allow natural light to flow freely all day. Now, as sunlight streams in and shadows shift across the rooms, the colors change beautifully. The walls deepen and soften as the hours go by, while the paintings reflect and absorb light in new ways.
I find joy in watching how each space transforms from morning to evening. The interaction between light and color brings a sense of vitality to my daily routines. It reminds me that our surroundings are never fixed; they evolve with us, responding to time, season, mood, feelings, and so much more.
Living within color has heightened my awareness of how the environment affects emotions. Even small moments, like pausing on the stairs or sitting with a cup of tea in the living room, now feel more restorative.
Why Color Feels Essential Right Now
We’re living in a time marked by constant noise and division. There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding us. News cycles are relentless, and the emotional toll of the world can feel never-ending. In this environment, stark white interiors, once linked to calm and minimalism, can feel cold or disconnected.
I know many of us are seeking warmth and grounding in our spaces. This may explain the growing shift in design away from white-box interiors toward more expressive, nature-inspired color palettes. Soft greens and blues, reminiscent of forests and skies, can soothe a troubled mind. Rich reds, oranges, and earthy tones provide comfort and energy.
Color connects us to the natural world and to memory. It invites emotion rather than suppressing it, counterbalancing the divisiveness and negativity we encounter daily.
The Science Behind Color and Well-Being
Our instinctive reactions to color are supported by research. Studies have examined how color influences mood, stress levels, and well-being. Gentle colors found in nature are known to promote calm, while brighter shades can energize and uplift us.
Research has also demonstrated that engaging with art provides measurable physiological benefits. Spending just 20 minutes in an art gallery has been shown to lower cortisol levels, helping reduce stress and restore balance. This reinforces something I’ve long believed. Art isn’t a luxury; it’s a critical part of how we process emotion and reconnect with ourselves.
My personal experience at home reflects what I observe daily at the gallery. Color and works of art together to create spaces where people can pause, breathe, and feel a sense of belonging and support.
Color as a Language in Art
My renewed relationship with color has deepened my appreciation for artists who intuitively understand its emotional power. A great example of such an artist is Paul Reed, whose exhibition Paul Reed - Works on Paper is currently on view at 1515 Lincoln Gallery.
Reed’s work demonstrates how bold, bright color can create rhythm and movement. His pieces invite viewers to slow down and engage, providing moments of reflection through abstraction. In many ways, his work embodies the same restorative qualities I’ve experienced through color at home. Reed’s compositions are proof that color is not just decorative but transformative.
An Invitation to Experience Color for Yourself
If there’s one insight I hope readers take with them, it’s this: don’t be afraid to take a risk with color. Whether by painting a wall or simply hanging a new piece, introducing color to your space can be a powerful way to renew, especially during the quieter months of winter.
I invite you to visit 1515 Lincoln Gallery and experience the restorative energy of color for yourself. Sometimes, all it takes is a shift in perspective (and a little color) to remind us of what brings us calm and connection.
