How Color Affects Your Mood

designdelicacyinte
Sep 4, 2020
3 min read

Updated: Apr 5, 2022

Written by: Design Delicacy

Little do many know, the color of the room that you spend a lot of time in can affect things like work productivity and mood. Did you ever notice that advertising is carefully planned when it comes to what colors they use to grab attention? You may have seen red used a lot in restaurants and this is not by accident but rather a well thought-out plan to attract certain groups of people to buy a certain product. No doubt that COLOR has a very big influence in many areas of our lives!

Side note: A perfectly executed design consists of using color properly. It actually boils down to a science with how much is used, where it's used, and most importantly what colors are used.

Photo Credit: Covet House

"Colours we use in everyday life tell stories about ourselves" - John Hutchings

It's important to note that each culture has it's own unique set of beliefs. As a traveler myself, I have experienced this first hand. Understanding people's mentalities is a lifelong process because each person is different and may have been raised in a household where there were different cultures and belief systems. That being said, colors take on different meanings for each person. I'll give you a small example:

Here in the US, the color white is often associated with purity, elegance, peace, and serenity. Oftentimes, you'll see a bride wearing a white dress. However in other countries like China, the color white is associated with death, mourning, and bad luck - as it is traditionally worn at funerals. Hence, we need to take into consideration who we are designing for and what they feel comfortable with.

Not only should we keep in mind someone's cultural background, but to be aware that each color can evoke certain feelings or emotions when perceived. We are going to take a look at a few different colors to see what they reflect here in the US as well as what emotions they can evoke.

#1 Red

Colors can trigger biological responses such as an increased adrenaline. "Researchers have found reds to increase emotional and motor responses more than greens and blues." -Color Planning for Interiors by Margaret Portillo PhD. Red typically is used in spaces such as living rooms or places where conversations will occur. Think of stimulation, energy, and passion. It is often associated with kitchens as well as thought to increase and stimulate the appetite. Tip: Add red in small touches. Keeping the walls neutral can really help to accentuate the pieces to give them a nice "punch."

Photo Credit: http://www.homedecorideas.eu/home-design/best-ideas-decorated-red-accents/

#2 Green

Nature, healing, prosperity, balance, and growth. A new and evolving type of design is called Sustainable Design or Eco-Friendly Design that features natural textures, materials, and focuses on bring the outdoors in. I've personally seen some really neat hospitals that have adapted this color into their patient rooms to help heal them faster. Tip: Adding greenery into the space enhances the "natural feel."

Photo Credit: Audenza.com

#2 Blue

Blue is the opposite of red in that it is supposed to relax you and bring down your blood pressure. Loyalty and trust are often associated with blue. Blue makes a great color for rooms where you need to relax such as bedrooms. Tip: Try painting your ceiling blue or create a fun texture on the ceiling if all blue walls are too overpowering for you.

Photo Credit: Designed by Alisa Bloom

#4 Yellow

One word...Positive vibes! This is an inspirational color and also a color that stimulates activity. This is a great color for kitchens, bathrooms, or can even be used in an office to promote productivity. Tip: Flowers are a nice way to bring in some yellow

Photo Credit: Spacio

#5 Purple

Purple can mean many things but some of the most common are creativity, fantasy, and royalty. It creates a picturesque dreamy feeling when used in bedrooms or reading rooms. Tip: Painting a room purple that faces the direction of the sunlight enhances the "fantasy" feeling of the space.