Color is more than what artists use daily. Color also affects how we behave and how we feel — forming the basis of the study of color psychology. Within this field, scientists and psychologists have found all sorts of phenomena related to color, human behavior and emotion.
For example, researchers in a 2020 study found that some colors are associated with certain emotions universally across the globe. Out of the 4,598 respondents from 30 different countries, 68% associated red with love, 51% associated black with sadness and 52% associated yellow with joy. No matter where you are in the world, colors mean something. More than anything, they’re integral to our mental health.
So if you’ve ever wondered why you feel soothed while looking at certain colors and energized looking at others — you’re not alone. Read on to learn more about the fascinating world of color psychology.
History of color psychology
People have long pondered the effect of colors on the human mind. Experiments in color psychology can even be traced back to Ancient Egypt. In 1810, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a German poet and artist, published the first book on color psychology. He argued that colors had a psychological effect on people by analyzing different colors and the different emotions he tied to them as an artist.
In the 19th century, researchers began to explore how the wavelengths in each color affect our emotions and behavior. For example, Féré (1887) conducted experiments to determine how different colors affected physical and mental disabilities, while Pressey (1921) researched how colors can be used as a form of treatment.
Today, color psychology is broadly used. Color can be a therapeutic tool to help manage their emotions and behavior. On the other side of the spectrum, color is also used in marketing and branding strategies to create an emotional connection between customers and products or services.
Mental impacts of color psychology
Since color psychology has long been studied, there is plenty of research on the effects color has on our mental health. However, to understand the specifics of these effects, you must also understand the theory of color in general. Colors may be divided based on where they lie on the spectrum of light or the electromagnetic spectrum. Typically, most people divide colors between “cool” and “warm” colors. Cooler colors have fewer wavelengths for people to perceive, while warmer colors have more. The psychological effects behind colors can often be cited back to the perception of these wavelengths.
Psychological effects of cool colors
Cool colors can have the opposite effect to warm colors as they recede away from the eye. This can create an illusion of a larger, more open space, making them suitable for smaller rooms. Cool colors also have a calming and relaxing effect, which is most obvious in the following colors:
- Blue: This color is often associated with peace, tranquility and understanding. This association can reduce your stress levels and promote relaxation.
- Green: This color is often associated with growth, renewal and harmony. It’s calming and refreshing for the mind, helping you feel more balanced. Also, it’s said that green causes less strain on the eye muscles because it is focused directly on the retina.
- Violet: This color is often associated with imagination and spirituality. People also feel more calm around this color, leaving room for inspiration and creativity.
Nature often has rich tones of blues, greens and purples that evoke a feeling of serenity — making it easy to understand why so many people find peace in these spaces.
Psychological effects of warm colors
Warm colors draw the eye towards them as they appear closer to the viewer. This can make them suitable for larger rooms because they create an illusion of a smaller and more intimate space. Additionally, warm colors have been found to evoke different emotions, including happiness, excitement and energy. Here are some examples of common warm colors and their associated meanings:
- Red: This color is often associated with love, passion and energy. It can also increase appetite while stimulating the senses, like elevating blood pressure or heart rate.
- Orange: This color is often associated with enthusiasm, friendliness and optimism. Similarly, the bright and lively nature of the color may make you feel outgoing, energized or bold.
- Yellow: This color is often associated with joy, happiness and intelligence. It has been found to improve concentration levels while promoting a sense of vibrancy in the environment.
Marketers commonly use warm colors to grab the attention of customers and influence their decision-making. This is why you’ll often see red, orange and yellow in advertisements or on packaging. The goal is to make consumers feel excited, energized or passionate about the product they’re considering buying.
How to apply color psychology to everyday life
By knowing the effects each color can potentially bring to your mind, you can utilize this knowledge and manipulate colors in your everyday life. From here, you may see significant improvements in your mental health. Some examples include:
- Painting walls in colors associated with positive emotions, such as yellow or green;
- Adding pops of color through accent pieces, such as throw pillows or artwork;
- Incorporating calming colors, such as blue or purple, in the bedroom to promote relaxation and better sleep;
- Using colors associated with productivity, such as red, to promote focus and concentration;
- Using blue lighting to promote calmness and relaxation;
- Using colorful seat covers or decorations to add a pop of color and improve mood while in the car;
While you may not necessarily know how to recognize your mental health needs and treat them with a splash of color, being mindful of how much color is present in your environment and adjusting as needed can help you maintain a healthy balance and improve your mental health.
How does color psychology impact those with color blindness?
For those suffering from color blindness, applying color psychology becomes challenging as they cannot perceive colors in the same way. Color blindness is an eye condition where individuals cannot distinguish between certain colors. This condition is an inherited trait and can be diagnosed by an eye doctor. Color blindness affects roughly 8% of men and 0.5% of the women population.
There are different types of color blindness, such as:
- Protanomaly: Difficulty distinguishing between red and green color.
- Deuteranomaly: The inability to distinguish between greens and blues.
- Tritanomaly: Difficulty distinguishing orange and yellow tones and blues and greens.
Patients with color blindness utilize cues like brightness, saturation, and texture to differentiate between colors. Regarding lifestyle adjustments, most colorblind people surround themselves with patterns or alternative textures that allow them to perceive color differences.
Although color blindness can make it challenging to apply color psychology, those who have color blindness won’t necessarily experience a decline in their mental health because of it. By taking stock of the research and the effects of color psychology, they can work to create stimulating and calming environments beneficial to their mental health.
Ultimately, the world of color can be a powerful tool. By utilizing it mindfully, you may start to see the world in a brighter, more positive light.