Can age affects the way we perceive a color, maybe even our favourite color?
Yes, I’m afraid, it does.
Infact, by time our retina looses its sensitivity to the light and this makes it harder to see certain colors and objects in half-light as clear as before.
The yellowing of the lens, the cataract, the diminished nervous cells that send signals to the brain are all issues that can affect our perception of color.
As we age, the colors appear more dull and the variety of nuances are lost.
So, for example, if you are blessed with an elderly person living with you, it is suggested to choose brilliant and saturated colors for your interior decor. (La percezione dei colori: il cambiamento nella 3a e 4a eta’, Casa-Residenza per anziani Self)
Too much blue could make them sad, because they see it as grey. At home we all remember when my grandad got scared when my mum gave him a dark blue blanket, he saw it black and of course he didn’t like it at all!
It is suggested that in the rooms where you want highten the attention, use primary colors, while in the bedroom choose pastel colors.
For the walls it is best to avoid textures that increase confusion to the eyes and opt for solid colors. It’s also best to avoid nuances that are very similar to each other, give preference to cromatic contrast.
An idea: to make the first step on the stairs more visible, put a piece of vivid artwork on the wall next to it!
Of course, this information is certainly only general. They are just some practical guidelines that, for example, even home carers take into consideration for the welfare of their dear guests.
But having said this, I want to add that some of you folk older than me might have better eyesight than me!
I hope you found this article interesting and helpful. You are most welcome to visit my site to have a look at my artworks! Thank you very much and take care!
