Do you have a favorite color? Have you ever wondered if there is a specific reason why we are drawn to certain colors over others? Why rooms painted different colors can make us feel different things? Why we feel like certain colors reflect our personalities?
There’s an answer to all of these questions. Human beings, whether they realize it or not, use color as a communication system. We receive unique signals and messages from each color. We even feel differently about hues of a single color.
Nature sends us signals using color: Like how we know when fruits and vegetables are safe to eat by looking at their shade. Keep in mind, there’s no such thing as a “good” or “bad” color. No perceptions are absolute, it’s all relative.
A few examples of how we perceive color
RED: Red is eye-catching. We are drawn to it. This is useful in every day life – think stop signs and traffic lights. But also, in fashion. Wear a red dress to a party and all eyes will be on you. It’s a strong color, it can activate our “fight or flight” response because it is also related to aggression, defiance, and strain.
When to wear red? On a first date.
BLUE: When we see blue, it affects our mind more than any other color can. It is the color of intellect. It soothes and calms us. It helps with concentration. On the other hand, blue is sometimes seen as cold and not friendly.
When should you wear blue? When you need to ace an important exam.
YELLOW: We receive emotional signals from yellow and get the strongest psychological response from it. It has the ability to put us in a better mood, lift our spirits, and make us feel good about ourselves. Too much yellow or certain tones can take us in the opposite direction though – it can give us feelings of fear and anxiety.
When should you wear yellow? When you’re feeling down, and need to be cheered up!
GREEN: It is at the center of the color spectrum and represents balance. Humans see green as healthy – think of how much green is all around us in nature. When a plant is a rich green, we know it is at peak health and we are drawn to it. It is reassuring. The only downsides to green are that it can be seen as boring or stagnant.
When should you wear green? Nurses and doctors often wear green scrubs to put their patients at ease.
Which colors appeal to you? You are drawn to certain colors over others because they relate to your own personality. You will feel your best when you’re surrounded by colors that reflect who you are.
When it comes to colors, we crave harmony and balance, and take in every color that is presented to us, and instinctively restore balance whenever we feel it is lacking. To see an example of this: focus on ONE color for thirty seconds, then close your eyes. You will see the afterimage of the opposite complementary color. We are naturally restoring color balance. You will feel notably worse when the colors around you clash and don’t match. It is mentally draining because we crave this harmony in color.
Understanding color psychology can help us in many ways. We can influence our moods and slowly but surely change our lives for the better by picking out colors that make us feel amazing. Pay close attention to the colors that you are naturally drawn to. Listen to your instincts, and see how color psychology affects you!