Painting Your Dining Room This Colour Can Actually Make You More Hungry

They say that “we eat with our eyes” but did you know that extends far beyond the plate? In fact our entire surroundings can have a huge impact on our appetite and our cravings. This trade secret the denotes more aggressively bright colours like red and yellow to fast food spots and the calmer shades of blue, green and white with minimalistic decor to the finer of establishments. This dining state of mind can all help us better perceive flavour and is just as important as our physical senses. So denotes Rebecca Snowden, an Interior Style Advisor at Furniture and Choice. “It’s important to carefully select colours and accessories that won’t hinder our taste experiences” she quotes; who has put together her top tips in creating an atmosphere to whet anyone’s appetite. “Taste as a sense incorporates all of our other senses including sight, smell and touch, so it is no surprise that how we decorate, accessorise and even how we clean our dining rooms can have a huge impact on our appetite and how we taste our food”.

Furniture and Choice

Eat The Rainbow

Many of us choose paint colours and accessories that appeal to our likes and preferences, but we may not always be aware or considering how those choices may affect the mood and tone of our homes, especially when it comes to colours and accessories to match. Not only can these evoke powerful emotions and memories but they can actually impact our perception; therefore having a profound effect on mood, wellbeing and behaviour.

Our brains associate green shades naturally with nature and therefore a healthier eating and lifestyle; can actually help us get more enjoyment from our food. On the other side of the spectrum, red can be a great colour for those who like to play host, as it evokes that urgency and danger emotion which immediately energises and excites us and can increase social interaction, while also making people feel hungrier.

Vadim Andrushchenko

Lighten Up

Ambient lighting is what most people aspire to have as part of their dining experience, especially in a more intimate and evening setting - but it may be letting your food down. It’s actually really important that people can see what they are eating properly as our eyesight triggers our tastebuds. So Rebecca recommends to include as much natural light as possible.

However, if that is not available, make sure the lighting is just bright enough so people can see what they are about to enjoy without being too harsh or artificial as this stimulation of excitement attributed to seeing the food itself in all its natural glory will make the experience of eating it that much more enjoyable.

Artjafara

Something Smells Off

While candles can look great in a dining room by adding ambience, scented candles may actually be affecting the taste of your food, as they overwhelm and distract your sense of smell, detracting from the natural scents of the dish and hampering the taste of your food.

But it’s not just what’s on show on the night - when it comes to cleaning your dining room, you should opt for more neutral scents that won’t linger long into the night. Rebecca suggests a simple solution and milder product such as antibacterial washing up liquid diluted in water.

Furniture and Choice

Desserts All ‘Round’

Even your tableware can overwhelm or manipulate the senses, Rebecca states, quoting that general, round white plates can enhance sweet flavours in foods, whereas black angular plates tend to bring out more savoury flavours. Patterned plates should be avoided as these can interfere with what your eyes are seeing on the plate, therefore drawing your attention away from the food.

So stick to plain crockery, says Rebecca who notes that by following these tips you’ll be able to make the most out of your dining experience and [may] even make it more enjoyable.