First things first, can colour affect your mood? Research says yes, absolutely. We all have natural associations and preferences to colour. Perhaps blue takes you back to childhood memories at the beach, where pink may conjure up wearing a ballet tutu against your will?
It’s believed that the way colours affect emotions depends largely on brightness, shade, tint or tone. Here’s how you can tap into the power of colour to feel happier, calmer, or more inspired.
Red
Red provokes the strongest emotions of any colour. It is the warmest and most contradictory, triggering opposing emotions. It is often associated with passion and love, as well as anger and danger.
This fiery hue gets the blood pumping and boosts energy levels. While red is the perfect colour to wear on a first date, avoid painting your bedroom walls with it.
Orange
Orange is the colour of stimulation and enthusiasm. Like red, it draws attention but is not as overpowering. Orange is also said to increase the appetite. So if you have a kitchen of fussy eaters, try using an orange table cloth. If you are on a diet – stay away!
Yellow
Want to feel happier? Bring in the colour of sunshine and daffodils. “Yellow is thought to be the color of happiness and stands for optimism, warmth, and hope,” notes Psychology Professor, Karen J. Pine.
In a nutshell, if you’ve got the blues wear yellow. Light, delicate, duckling yellow.
Too much vivid yellow can be overwhelming and should be used sparingly – unless you are an emergency worker! They donne the brightest shades not just for visibility, but also to signal hopefulness and optimism.
Green
Green reminds us of spring and therefore, new beginnings. It denotes freshness, fertility, harmony and luck.
Easiest on the eyes, green has a soothing and relaxing effect on the body as well as the mind. Ever considered why guests waiting to appear on a television show, wait in the ‘green room’? Now you know – to relax.
Blue
Blue takes us straight to the sky. It makes us feel safe and relaxed, evoking feelings of calmness, connectedness and trust.
Going for an interview? Wear blue. Blue causes the body to create chemicals that induce calm and trust. It’s no wonder that social sites like Facebook and Twitter align their brands to this colour.
While blue is the most likeable colour, deep ominous blues can create feelings of sadness. It’s where we get the term “feeling blue”.
Pink
Interestingly enough, there is such a thing called the Pink Effect.
Exposure to large amounts of pink is said to have a calming effect and relieves feelings of anger, aggression and neglect.
Pink has the opposite effect to its primary colour, red. The longer you are exposed to it, the calmer you become. Lighter shades of pink have become increasingly popular in prisons and rehabilitation centres, as they promote feelings of love and kindness.
While colours can make us feel happy or sad, hungry or relaxed, they are not the only thing that affects our mood. Someone may feel relaxed in a red bedroom, and wearing pink when you’re feeling blue, might perk you up. But if there’s a chance that repainting your walls or stocking your wardrobe with certain hues could give you an added dose of happiness, relaxation or inspiration – we are all for it!