How Colour Affects Our Mood ?

Ever stop to wonder about the colour scheme of any particular restaurant? Or maybe the soothing colour palette a spa owner may choose to go with? The psychological effects colour has on our mind are amazing! The scientific gist of it all can really be stated quite simply: colour can influence the pituitary gland that produces hormones. That said, hormones directly affect our moods so it would also make sense that colour indirectly not only influences our mood but can change it, too.

Most of us may never even think of dressing according to our moods, or perhaps changing into something of a different colour because we want to be in a better mood, but is it done subconsciously? Yes, some would say so. We have all had the advice before an interview to ‘wear a power tie’, we have heard ‘he saw red!’ and things like ‘green with envy’ and ‘she’s feeling blue.’ Statements that directly associate a person and their mood with a colour.

Below is a small list of colours. Their uses and associated feelings that come along with them:

·         Black is associated with strength, authority, stability and even intelligence. Black is a serious colour that often conjures up strong emotions and it can easily overwhelm people if used too much.

·         White or most people white means purity (wedding dresses); cleanliness (doctor’s coats). White is also associated with creativity (white boards, blank slates).

·         Red is said to cause appetite stimulation (a reason it’s so often chosen for fast food restaurants), and can increase the heartbeat and blood pressure.

·         Violet, since it is a mix of blue and red has a bit of an interesting effect. It bridges the gap between cool blue and warm red. It’s a very mellowing colour, so to say, and seems to have this effect on people (pets and children seem to be hugely affected by violet).

·         Orange is similar to red in some respects, as it will ‘warm’ a room but so in a friendly way. A great colour choice for clothing, too. It’s welcoming and just as it implies on a wall, it broadcasts that you are a friendly person.

·         Yellow is also warm and welcoming like orange. You feel ‘sunny’ and more alive, more awake around this colour.

Colour can also have an astonishing effect on your perceptions, interactions and as we’ve already mentioned feelings. Colours in the red area of the spectrum (red, orange and yellow) induce emotions ranging from warmth and comfort to feelings of hostility. Colours in the blue side of the spectrum (blue, purple and green) are often described as calm.

Blue and green used for the purpose of calming is a pretty universal notion. Blue skies and water as well as well as green grass are often associated with feelings of being at peace, so it is naturally used in wall colours and in decoration as a gesture of focusing on feelings of being calm. Sensory reactions to either one of these colours can even result in a lowered body temperature and a slower pulse, which indicates strong psychological ties to different colours.

There is no escaping colour, it’s everywhere, and Colour truly does have an effect on our moods. Sometimes it’s subtle, and sometimes it’s heavy. After reading this you’ll begin to take notice of colour, how it affects your mood, and colour’s profound impact in our daily lives.