The Color Series Part 2: The Emotional Effects of Color
In our last post, we learned how the brain processes colors and how they impact our cognitive performance and physical body. And today, we’ll be talking about how the variety of colors affect our moods, and more deeply, our mental health. We’ll also be exploring the functional uses of certain colors in real-life settings, so let’s get into it.
Color and how we feel
You may have noticed that certain colors evoke particular feelings, from joy to stillness, and there’s good reason for this. Our emotional states have been shown to be directly affected by colors, and understanding how each color impacts on our moods and mental state can be incredibly beneficial in designing the spaces in which we live and work.
The rainbow of emotions
Just like last week, we’re going to be running through the rainbow and exploring what each color is linked to:
Red is associated with passion, excitement, and perhaps even danger. However, in some settings, it can induce feelings of anxiety and stress, and as such it needs to be utilized in situations where it fits best.
Yellow, the color of brightness, positivity, and optimism. It’s a color that across the board seems to make people feel happy.
Green, the color of peace, tranquility, and nature has been shown in studies to improve overall emotional well-being.
Blue is a color that depicts calmness, stability, and serenity. Exposure to this color can actually reduce the symptoms of anxiety and stress, promoting a relaxed yet alert frame of mind.
Purple, the color of wisdom and luxury, can also aid in reducing stress and create an introspective and thoughtful state of being.
Practical applications
So now we know how each color impacts our physical body, brain, and mental health, let’s look at how we can use this knowledge within our day-to-day lives:
Learning: Classrooms painted in colors like yellow can be used to enhance attention and memory retention, whilst blues and greens can promote increased levels of concentration.
Working: Offices that feature greens and blues can see higher productivity and creativity output, whereas red is a good color to utilize within the areas that require alertness and precise attention to detail.
Healthcare: Clinics and hospitals are known for making use of blues and greens, and this is to create a soothing environment for patients, which helps to reduce their stress levels and promote healing.
So, when you’re thinking about redecorating, keep this knowledge in mind and try out some color therapy!