Understanding the Psychology of Color
Color is the sensation stimulated in the brain by wavelengths of light; each wavelength stimulates the perception of a distinct color, which is varied throughout the color spectrum. Color has a powerful impact in a home or office. Individuals are drawn to certain colors for a variety of reasons. The concepts of color psychology can also be applied in everyday life.
For example, maybe you're planning on re-painting your walls or redecorating a house or room with a new color scheme. You might want to consider some of these suggestions about colors and how they might affect your emotions and mood. Choosing works of art to suit your personality, space, and the feelings you want to invoke in a room can be achieved with some understanding of the effect of color in art. This article explores the theory of emotions and the significance they hold to artists.
Cool Colors
Blue, green, and purple are known as cool colors which create a calm, harmonious feeling.
BLUE: Invoking compassion and wisdom, truth and loyalty. In a more negative tone, it can be considered cold and uncaring, and is often associated with resignation and solitude.
GREEN: A harmonious color, green encourages a calming, comfortable attitude filled with hope and healing. Associated with success, it can also invoke a sense of greed or jealousy.
PURPLE: The traditional color of royalty, purple is associated with wealth and respect. Used on holy days in the Catholic Church, it also signifies mystery and spirituality.
Warm Colors
The psychology of color indicates that stimulating warm colors can increase energy and appetites; irritability and anxiety can be heightened as well.
RED: Associated with romance and excitement, this color exudes power and ambition. However, it is also known to increase the sensation of danger, rebellion, and violence.
ORANGE: Often considered an extravagant color, orange is also seen as enthusiastic and joyful. Believed to be a model for service and warmth, it can also correspond to aggression and domination.
YELLOW: Most often thought of as the color of happiness, this traditionally cheerful color invokes friendship and imagination. However, it can also symbolize caution, danger, and aging.
Neutral Colors
WHITE: Showcasing purity and innocence, this color is universally considered a symbol of cleanliness. However, it can also appear stark, displaying sterility.
GREY: The “king” of neutrality, grey represents compromise and gives a sense of peacefulness. It can, at times, be associated with sadness or melancholy.
BROWN: The color of nature, brown is associated with comfort and warmth. However, as a somewhat muted color, it can also set a somber tone.
BLACK: In a positive light, black can be sophisticated and mysterious. However, in most Western cultures, it is often linked to morbidity and death.
