From wardrobe to interior design, humans have always had a fascination with the effect color creates. Color has been used as a powerful communication tool from the beginning of time, warning of danger, inviting interaction, and influencing mood. While color psychology leaves a lot to be explored, it can be a powerful reference to create a space where you want to be.
The Psychological Effects of Color
Color psychology is a subdiscipline of color theory that examines how colors affect perceptions and behaviors. It studies the psychological and emotional connotations between colors and emotions. The psychology of color is affected by a lot of things, including associations from childhood or other memories, cultural associations, and personal preference.
When deciding which colors with which you want to paint, color psychology is a wise element to consider at least briefly. For whatever reason, colors affect our state of mind, and if you want to consciously craft the perfect room for you, take a look at what feelings these basic colors usually inspire.
Pink
Pink, as a general rule, calls to mind youthful optimism, vulnerability, and tender love. Softer shades can be earthy, calming, and hopeful, bringing to mind times when viewers experienced kindness while remaining reserved. While brighter shades can bring a vivacity and vibrance, they have also been associated with naivety and silliness. Many of 2023 paint trends run in the pink (and red) spectrum.
Red
Red is the single-most attention-grabbing color, and a little goes a long way. Red is associated with power, passion, and appetite. In addition to producing strong emotions like love, courage, and anger, red has been shown to cause marked physiological changes, including raising blood pressure, increases respiration rates, and quickening metabolism.
Orange
If you want to shake off any inhibitions, you might try basking in a bit of orange. This vibrant secondary color combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow, calling to mind such positive emotions as joy, playfulness, kindness, and warmth. Something about this sunny color inspires the happiness and enthusiasm of tropical climes, ramping up optimism, enthusiasm, self-confidence, determination, and creativity.
Brown
Brown has a lot of variety in shade and tone, though it is generally a more reserved choice, not calling attention to itself. It offers a sense of stability, reliability, dependability, and resilience. The less appealing side of that coin may consider brown hues lack-luster or dull. It all depends on how it is styled. While brown can evoke rugged appeal, it can also evoke feelings of decadent elegance (see any chocolate commercial ever aired).
Yellow
Capping off the warm colors, the color psychology surrounding yellow is diverse. Yellow is attention-grabbing (taxi, anyone?) and can inspire cheerfulness, hope, and joy. It has an association with creativity and stimulated mental acuity, which is why legal pads and Post-it notes favor the shade. In the same vein, it has connotations of impressive intellect (“She’s very bright).
On the other hand, in nature yellow is a hue that warns of danger. Consider hornets and fungal growth. When used in high concentrations, yellow may have a disturbing effect. There is evidence to suggest that babies cry more in yellow rooms. The color also has some connections with cowardice.
Green
Guiding us into the cooler colors, green is considered a calming hue, associated with tranquility, piety, balance, growth, harmony, and healing. Deep greens enrich any environment, and not because of an association with money. Green speaks of the freshness of nature, invigorating the mind while relaxing the soul. Use it in moderation, however, to avoid feelings of envy or greed.
Blue
In contrast to red, blue is known to lower blood pressure levels and slow metabolisms. The truly cool primary color is associated with a calm serenity over intensity or passion. Blue evokes attributes such as hope, peace, self-reflection, wisdom, and reason, bringing to mind the quiet of a mountain lake or the vastness of an open sky.
As with all colors, the shade of blue used matters. While lighter blues bespeak gentleness and peace, deep tones like navy are reminiscent of unobtrusive strength, power, and dependability.
Purple
Initially difficult and expensive to fabricate, purple has long been associated with nobility, luxury, authority, and royalty. It combines the stability of blue and the energy of red in a majestic blend. Depending on how it is used, purple can convey dignity, wisdom, and good sense or a sense of mystery, creativity, and magic.
Applying Color Psychology in Your Home
Painting your home goes a long way to creating an atmosphere in which you feel comfortable or inspired. How do you want guests to feel when they come to visit? In addition to considering your personal preferences, take color psychology into account before pulling out the paintbrush. For example, black gives a sense of formality and drama, but if not pulled off well can make guests feel afraid or sad.
The Psychology of Color in Business
Color psychology is a relatively controversial discipline in marketing. People have been shown to make snap decisions based heavily on color, so the principle is applied in business to try and inform consumers’ options about brands and persuade them to buy. As we have already mentioned, however there are no indisputable meanings to colors, so color psychology can only inform, not dictate.
If you are looking for the right colors to represent your business, have fun with the process. Choose colors that align with your business’s personality, preferably a palette that makes your business easily recognizable and distinct from its surroundings. Whatever you choose, Brush Brothers will be there when you’re ready to paint.
