The Color Psychology of Red
From the start of the rainbow to the ubiquitous advertising for Valentine’s Day, red remains one of the most evocative colors on the visible spectrum. As a primary color, red is a color entirely its own – that is to say, no other colors can come together to form a perfect red. In RGB, red is comprised of 100% red, 0% green, and 0% blue.
Associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love.
Enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure.
It attracts attention more than any other color, at times signifying danger.
The Color Psychology of Green
Green is the primary color that hints at our primitive relationship with the first creation of the world – nature. Considered the key color that represents purity, health, and freshness, green has been traditionally associated with brands that encourage growth, vitality, and productivity (think Starbucks and EverNote!).
Gentle, invigorating, and relaxing, green also represents connection. Connection to ourselves, to the quiet moments in our lives, to nature itself. It is not a mere coincidence that people evade the concrete jungle of big cities to disconnect from the mundane and connect to the wilderness of nature. Green means the return to the primal roots, to the pristine kingdom of inner peace and tranquillity.
Color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility.
Considered beneficial to the mind and body.
Slows human metabolism and produces a calming effect.
Strongly associated with tranquility and calmness.
Used to symbolize piety and sincerity.
The Color Psychology of Blue
In contrast to its sister primary color, red, blue is associated with a calm serenity over intensity or passion. When asked to visualize a tranquil scene, chances are people will immediately imagine a great deal of blue – usually in the form of a still body of water. Thoughtful and still, blue represents a sense of inner reflection. A great deal of research has indicated that this impact on the body is indeed inverse to red’s, resulting in lower heart rates and even slower metabolisms.
Unique and authentic
Enthusiastic, sympathetic, and personal; they seek meaning and significance in life
Warm, communicative, and compassionate; they care about what they do
Idealistic, spiritual, and sincere; they value unity and integrity in their relationships
Peaceful, flexible, and imaginative; they are natural romantics and nurturers.
The Color Psychology of Brown
Moving on to a more serious and imposing color, we arrive at brown, which no longer sends us thinking of youthfulness and excitement. Traditionally associated with seriousness, stability, and wisdom, brown is mostly worn by people who impose respect and appreciation through their status. When you think of this color, you might envision a paternal figure or a grandfather in the middle of the family.
Because families are centered on the stability and resourcefulness of the main male figure, most people feel secure and stable when thinking about brown. Paternal figures who passed a certain age also exude a sense of stability, but in the material sense – they have accumulated life experience which is manifested in possessions and financial gain. Most people feel safe around people wearing brown because they represent seriousness, reliance, and support.
Associated with the traits of dependability, reliability, and resilience.
Brown-lovers are most often reserved and not looking to attract attention to oneself
While light brown represents honesty and stability, dark brown is considered mature, predictable, and dull
The Color Psychology of Orange
Bright and persuasive, orange results from the combination of yellow and red. As we have seen in the previous section, yellow denotes optimism and cheerfulness, while red can suggest intense feelings of love and even dominance. Orange sits in the middle of those extremities: it promotes rejuvenation, communication, and positivism. This color also enhances extraversion, allowing people to let go of their inhibitions and express themselves more freely.
Combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow.
Associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics.
Represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.
The Color Psychology of Yellow
“He is so bright” – Have you ever wondered where the association of increased mental capacity and this particular visual adjective comes from? Yellow, the brightest color of the spectrum, is commonly used in images depicting fresh ideas, creative projects, or new business initiatives. You probably already know the prototypical image of someone brainstorming ideas that are linked with a bright yellow bulb! This is not a random association: yellow has been scientifically proven by studies to enhance mental activity and heighten awareness and energy levels.
The brightness of this color unclogs mental blocks and encourages people to seek new perspectives by abandoning the dull ways of looking at the world. You can think of yellow as the main color of the morning time, when you are the most alert, insightful and analytical, and when you have the chance to create a brand new day in your life. And do not just take my word for it – studies have linked yellow with increased activity of the left side of the brain, which is considered the powerhouse of rational thinking!
Associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy.
Produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness, stimulates mental activity, and generates
muscle energy.Bright, pure yellow is an attention-getter, which is the reason taxicabs are painted this color.
When overused, yellow may have a disturbing effect.
It is known that babies cry more in yellow rooms.
Yellow indicates honor and loyalty. Later the meaning of yellow was connected with cowardice.
The Color Psychology of Pink
One of the gentlest and yet most contradictory colors out there, pink is a color that varies greatly depending on its context. Making it, however, remains simple. Though it has a great number of shades and undertones, pink is most commonly known to be a pale red mixed with white.
This is a color that represents a gentle type of love
Pink stands for tenderness, vulnerability, and youth
It is a calming, non-threatening color. It is linked to innocence, hope, and optimism.
The pink color also represents positive aspects of traditional femininity like nurture and kindness.
Pink can be linked to childhood sweetness and innocence, appearing sometimes as naïve or silly
The Color Psychology of Black
Black can have a different symbolic meaning for everyone and every individual can have a different reaction to the color. In Feng Shui black has a way of harmonizing your home, office, and other environments. It can be associated with the water elements and evokes power, mystery, and calm. It even can have a grounding effect when it is used sparingly. The color black has some powerful effects and can be associated with a sophisticated lifestyle, just think of a person wearing a little black dress or a formal dinner suit. Black is also associated with depression because it can close in on use and take the positive aspects out of life, pushing us towards disappointment and the black or negative aspects of out life. The positive traits of black include protection and comfort, as well as, strong, contained, formal, sophisticated, seductive, mysterious, endings and beginnings. With negative traits being aloof, depressing. pessimistic, secretive, and withholding.
- Associated with power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery.
- A mysterious color associated with fear and the unknown (black holes).
- Usually has a negative connotation (blacklist, black humor, ‘black death’). *Denotes strength and authority; it is considered to be a very formal, elegant. and prestigious color.
- The symbol of grief.
The Color Psychology of White
White is defined as the lightest color and is achromatic, meaning that it has no hue. It is the opposite of the color black and can be found in objects such as milk and snow. It has a variety of associations, including coldness, sterility, and innocence.
If “white” is your favorite color, it might mean that you have a preference for colors that evoke a sense of calmness or simplicity. Or, it may simply mean that you have formed positive associations with the color in the past.
White represents purity or innocence. While a bride wearing white was often thought to convey the bride’s virginity, blue was once a traditional color worn by brides to symbolize purity.
White is bright and can create a sense of space or add highlights. Designers often use the color white to make rooms seem larger and more spacious.
White is also described as cold, bland, and sterile. Rooms painted completely white can seem spacious but empty and unfriendly. Hospitals and hospital workers use white sheets, towels, and walls to create a sense of sterility.
The color white can also convey a sense of austerity and minimalism. Some may find this calming or refreshing, while others may find it stark or bland.
In many Eastern cultures, however, white is symbolically linked to death and sadness. It’s often a color used in funerals and other mourning rituals, which is in contrast to Western cultures that prefer black.
