The Best Paint Colors for You, According to Your Birth Order

We’re going to let you in on a little secret: Your power paint color is no accident. While you may gravitate toward some colors more than others, your go-to hue is often informed by your astrological sign, the color of your childhood bedroom, and, yes, the order in which you were born.

Your birth order is said to influence your overall personality—and your power color is no exception. After all, color is often tied to psychology, so it makes sense that you would want to know how the hues in your home match up with who you are as a person. 

Go ahead, check out which paint colors you should use based on your birth order:

As the oldest—or, sometimes only—child, this birth order is known for being A-plus leaders. These children are typically high achievers, with a penchant for following the rules and playing well with authority. But that doesn’t mean they’re all strength and no sweet: The eldest kids often have a nurturing side, too. Only children often exhibit these same behaviors and characteristics, only stronger. 

For oldest and only children, try leaning into power and authority with a red hue. Red shows a sense of fearlessness and self-confidence, plus it promotes excitement and energy. If you want a more calm space, try balancing out your high-achieving self with a calming deep or light green, which is on the opposite side of the color wheel and represents nature and harmony. 

Ever wonder why a middle sibling is the most chill of the bunch? Here’s why: Between having to negotiate their older and younger siblings’ feelings and carving out their own place in the world, middle children are oftentimes peacemakers. While they are social—and tend to demand whatever attention they need—middle children are also independent and flexible.

A sense of peace in the chaos is important to middle children, which is why a peaceful lilac or light purple will help anchor them as well as bring a sense of spirituality and creativity to a room. Another option is on the opposite end of the spectrum: Yellow. Yellow represents happiness and optimism, two things middle children value highly. 

Youngest children are the babies of the family, so they’re often creative, silly, and charming. It doesn’t matter if you lean more toward introvert territory: Youngest children never fail to be friendly and outgoing.

For youngest children, orange is a great bet. The color represents enthusiasm and vibrancy, something youngest children have in spades. It also is a favorite among friendly and outgoing individuals. To balance themselves, they can also look to blue, which promotes a sense of calm and ease.