It's a strange phenomenon, and yet scientifically proven: color can dramatically affect your mood. When painting the walls of your home, this fact could have some potentially unsettling effects. Perhaps you have a sneaking suspicion that the Asian-red that looked so chic in that dining room on Trading Spaces, and that you immediately slathered over every nook and cranny of your bedroom, just might be contributing to your recent midnight cravings. You're probably right, too.

More and more scientists have been studying the effects different shades of different colors have on physiological reactions. Here's a rundown of the general information gleaned and how it might translate into your home decorating.

WARM COLORS

• Red: Probably the most audacious of all colors, red has been found to stimulate the mind and nervous system. It can stimulate appetite (yup - those midnight cravings). In large, intense doses, it can act as an irritant. As such, this probably isn't good for any room meant for relaxation. Relegate it to the dining room or to some room that encourages nervous stimulation, such as a workout or playroom.
  
  
• Orange: Also found to stimulate the mind and appetite, this hue provides an emotional boost, promoting excitement and inducing laughter. It is said to impart warmth and security. Too much in too harsh a shade may aggravate you, however. It's another good choice for the dining room.
  
  
• Yellow: You can count on a lemony shade to get your mind and nervous system going. It's reminiscent of spring and flowers, so it's a good choice when you want to pump some cheer into a room.
  
  

Some common characteristics of all three include the ability to catch your eye and make it focus, causing objects to seem closer and larger. The warmest shade in the warm family is red-orange.

COOL COLORS

• Violet: Known to be a subduing color, it's a good choice for bedrooms or libraries.
  
  
• Blue: This shade is actually said to diminish appetite. If you're counting your calories, you might paint your dining room blue - otherwise, it suits bedrooms and bathrooms much better. One word of warning, however: when used in large amounts, blue can take on a cold feel, so keep it soft.
  
  
• Green: Perhaps the most "healing" of all members of the cool family, green has been proven to relax the nervous system, calm the mind, lower blood pressure, and promote a feeling of freshness. This makes it a great choice for living rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms - even kitchens would benefit from green.
  
  

Characteristics common to the cool color family include making objects and walls seem farther away, visually increasing the size of a room. A blue-green hue is considered the "coolest".

EARTH TONES

• Brown, beige, gray, and taupe: We're lumping them together because the collective effects are largely the same. It is said to establish intimacy, coziness, and tranquility for a more elegant look. Brown, specifically, is said to symbolize physical comfort and ease. Because of their neutrality, earth tones can benefit from a punch of color in accent pieces to round out a room.
  
  

ACCENT/BACKGROUND COLORS

• Black: In small doses, black can add a sharp, sophisticated look to a room. Overdone, it's mostly morbid.
  
  
• White: It's the great PR agent of background colors; when paired with any shade, white makes that color more bold and vibrant.
  
  

Once you've chosen your color(s), there are some generalized rules to keep in mind when applying any color to your walls. First, when you decide on a color or color family, it's best to use its most neutral shade - usually found in the middle of the color palette. If you stray to far to either side of dark or light, chances are you won't be happy with the results. Remember, everything in moderation.

Keeping in moderation, it's also important to find the right proportion and balance of color in a room. Keep your most-used shades neutral, while using bursts of strong color here and there with pillows, rugs, and other accessories. You might try to tie the colors together throughout the entire house, too. That doesn't mean painting every wall in every room the same color, but trying to make the transition from one room to the next visually smooth.

Texture should be a consideration, too. Vary and coordinate the paint texture and sheen (from flat to high gloss) with the texture of your floors and fabrics on your furniture. This contributes to a total, cohesive look rather than a collection of disparate items.

When buying your paint, get as much as you will need (and perhaps a bit more) all at the same time; even if you go back to the same store and ask for the same shade, the resulting color might not be exact since it won't all come from the original batch.

And that's just the beginning. There are many other elements to play with once you decide to experiment with color. And to help get your creative juices flowing, there are a slew of resources to assist you in making your home palette-perfect.

Try: http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com/interior-design-ideas.html; Better Homes and Gardens Color Solutions (Meredith Books); Susan Sargent's New Country Color (Watson-Guptill); Waverly at Home with Color (Meredith Books); and "Color Home II", a CD-ROM by the Glidden Co. (Home Depot).