How colours influence our moods

It’s well known that colours have a physiological and psychological influence on us. The psychology of colour can help make our daily lives easier and happier. In general, we choose to decorate in certain colours based on our taste, but many experts believe that colours have meanings and have an impact on our emotions and moods. Therefore, it’s important to be aware of the benefits of specific colours before settling on a colour choice.

Blue

Everyone loves blue. It represents the sky and the sea, and it’s the colour of freedom and enjoyment. Blue promotes reflection, physical and mental relaxation and serenity, making it the ideal colour to use in bathrooms. Apply it to your bedroom walls to help you sleep better; it promotes deep and peaceful sleep. Electric blue will energize and add a theatrical note to any room. Pale blue fosters creativity and is recommended for use in offices or studies. Pair blue with yellow to stimulate the mind and increase concentration and organizational abilities. Depending on a room’s function, shades of blue can create either a relaxing or inspiring environment. Blue is 2017’s featured colour!

Orange

Orange combines the stimulating properties of red and yellow. It’s a colour that represents warmth, audacity and radiance. This joyous hue has a strong personality and lends dynamism and a great deal of presence to a room’s décor. Orange is suitable for bedrooms, living rooms, entrance halls and even kitchens since it stimulates the appetite and encourages socializing. Be careful not to overuse this colour, though, since it can easily become overwhelming. Orange pairs well with grey because the latter works well as a counterpoint to orange’s vibrant visual impact while adding a touch of elegance. Since blue is orange’s complementary colour, use it to bring out orange accents. Those who find orange too bright may enjoy colours such as terra cotta, peach or amber, which also share the qualities listed above.

White

White represents calm, serenity, peace and purity. In a room, it generates an impression of clarity and expansion. White encourages efficient storage and is synonymous with cleanliness. White’s distinguishing characteristics are stylishness, crispness and freshness, which makes it suitable for any room in the house.

Green

Green evokes nature, calm and harmony, while also being peaceful, invigorating, restful and balancing. Green is suitable for bedrooms and bathrooms. Since it lends a note of freshness and comfort, green is perfect for rooms that don’t get much natural light, such as those located in basements. It’s also recommended for the kitchen since it’s known for stimulating the appetite.

Pink

Pink represents romanticism, innocence, gentleness, vivacity, optimism and femininity. It’s a soothing colour that helps dissipate aggressiveness. A classic colour used in girls' rooms, it’s also ideal for living rooms, offices or bathrooms. A light, soft pink pairs beautifully with white, beige, grey, violet and soft pastel shades. Light neutral tones such as cream and white will soften a brighter pink such as fuchsia. Painting the walls of your room pink will create a cozy and private haven.

Yellow

Yellow is bright, joyful and stimulating. It promotes communication and boosts memory. Yellow is a so-called “tonic” colour—warm but not overly stimulating. It also promotes the assimilation of new ideas and boosts the ability to understand different points of view, making it an excellent choice for an office. Consider using it in combination with a colour that produces a sense of security and calm, such as blue, because the yellow used alone and in large quantities may be too stimulating to the nervous system. Since its distinctive feature is that it adds light, yellow is perfectly suited to all the rooms in the house, especially those located in the basement or on the ground floor.

Brown

Brown is a colour that is often associated with the animal and vegetable worlds since it’s the colour of the earth and animal fur. Brown symbolizes tradition, authenticity, comfort and solidity. Well known for being welcoming and refined, brown is suitable for living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens. However, it’s inappropriate for small rooms; its foreshortening effect will make the walls appear closer together. This hue pairs well with all neutral colours such as white or cream. It can also be used in combination with blue, green, yellow or orange.

Black

Black is synonymous of sophistication, elegance and mystery but can also make a room feel smothering. Black highlights nearby colours and textures particularly well and is suitable for all the rooms in the house. Remember, though, that it’s best not to overdo things. Too much black may be difficult to live with on an everyday basis.

Grey

Grey evokes elegance, discretion and wisdom. Since it is a dull colour, the meanings associated with grey are rather negative, like sadness, loneliness, monotony and distress. However, grey can look very elegant in a room and is suitable for all decors and rooms in the house. Avoid using this colour in dimly lit rooms as it’s likely to make them seem darker.

Red

A warm, dynamic and stimulating colour, red is also associated with love and seduction. Thanks to its stimulant effect, red is the perfect colour for high-traffic rooms such as entrance halls, staircases, gyms and kitchens. Keep in mind, though, that some shades of red can be irritating and even trigger anger. There’s no need to paint an entire wall to enjoy the benefits of red. If you are worried about the impact red might have in a room, use it as an intermediate or accent colour rather than the main colour.

Purple

Purple is a stimulating colour, yet it embodies balance and is calming to the mind. It can also be refreshing, sensual and spiritual. Purple is considered a royal colour and represents subtlety, mystery, protection and luxury. It’s a cool colour but, depending on the shade, can also be considered warm. Very easy to combine with other colours, it pairs perfectly with yellow. As it represents creativity, purple is often used to create a theatrical atmosphere. It’s a colour that’s suitable for all the rooms in the house as well as for places reserved for meditation or prayer. However, keep in mind that the darker the hue, the smaller your room will look.

If a colour elicits an emotion, it would be worthwhile to take this into account when you decide to change the colour of the walls in your home. However, you should also keep in mind that colours and their meanings may be perceived differently from one culture to the next.