Psychology Behind Colours - How it Affects our Moods and Feelings
Sometimes it’s the little things that can make a big difference. It’s even better when those little things take little to no extra energy on our parts. Like surrounding yourself with colours that make you feel happy.
Yep, it can really be that simple. There is a psychology behind colour that actually influences your emotions and state of mind. Have you ever noticed that some places irritate you while others make you feel comfortable?
Well, there’s a good chance that the colour of those surroundings is playing a part in that. Colour is a powerful communication tool with great cultural significance, influencing reactions and moods and even your body’s reactions. Let’s use the power of colour to our advantage!
"Colours, like features, follow the changes of emotions.” -Pablo Picaso
Psychological Colour
So why exactly is colour such a powerful force in our lives? It is important to note that many elements of colour are subjective; meaning that our culture and personal experiences with certain colours will overrule other theories that might be out there.
However, there are certain colour effects that tend to be universal. For example, warm colours including red, orange and yellow evoke feelings that range from comfort and warmth to anger. Cool colours on the other hand like blue, purple, and green range from feelings of calmness to sadness. In short, colour impacts your brain and creates a reaction in your senses and feelings.
Our physiology is affected by our perception of colour. It influences our heart rate, pulse, anxiety, and stimulation. With our bodies stimulated, we truly experience colour. An easy example of this can be seen with the colour red.
We see it daily at traffic lights and have an immediate bodily reaction to stop, since we have been culturally taught that this is appropriate behaviour. Our heart rate might quicken when the car in front of us hits their breaks unexpectedly, and then naturally adrenaline rushes through our bodies as we slam on our breaks in response.
Marketers and advertisers even use colour to their advantage. They use certain colours to brand products and create shopping spaces in different colour aesthetics, all with the main purpose of appealing to the consumer. In doing so, they use colour psychology to influence people to buy their product(s) and create an inviting space to do so.
A Look Into Colours
Black :
Authority
Power
Evil
Strength
Mourning/Death
Intelligence
White :
Purity
Innocence
Neutrality
Modernity
Cleanliness
Grey :
Timelessness
Practicality
Comfort
Sophistication
Conservative
Depression
Brown :
Reliability
Comfort
Warmth
Security/Stability
Natural/Organic
Sadness
Red :
Love
Romance
Energy
Excitement
Danger
Life
Intensity
Orange :
Energetic
Happiness
Enthusiasm
Wealth/Prosperity
Change
Stimulation
Yellow :
Happiness
Laughter
Cheer
Hunger
Optimism
Frustration
Attention-seeking
Green :
Natural
Cool
Growth
Money
Fertility
Calmness
Envy
Tranquility
Blue :
Calmness
Serenity
Cold
Loyalty
Uncaring
Truthful
Focused
Unappetizing
Purple :
Spiritual
Royalty
Exotic
Prosperity
Respect
Mystery
Wisdom
Pink :
Gentleness
Romance
Love
Calming
Agitation
How You Can Easily Use Colour
Now that you know the power of colour and the emotions that each evokes it’s time to put the practice of colour psychology to good and easy use! Try a few of these ideas to harness the power of colour:
Do a little redecorating! Paint a wall or two a colour that speaks to you or creates an emotion that you’d like to feel more of in your space. Change your bedspread or get a coloured area rug. Any little touches of your choice colours will help liven up your space.
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Wear colours that symbolize the emotions you need for the day. Unconscious glances down at your favourite color shirt will help impact your mood. Blues tend to make the best impression in interviews/first meetings.
Change your desktop picture. Green is the best colour for productivity since it is restful for your eyes and creates less strain.
Wear orange while working out. Orange has been found to increase oxygen to the brain, producing an energising and stimulating effect.
“Colour is a power which directly influences the soul.”
Newsletter by: Renée Schweizer
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