Happy Little Trees by JM
Applying Color Psychology to Everyday Life
We all have natural reactions to color! Happy Little Trees are perfect mood boosters!
Did you know your surroundings may be influencing your emotions and state of mind? Do you ever notice that certain places especially irritate you? Or that certain places are especially relaxing and calming? Well, there’s a good chance that the colors in those spaces are playing a part. A beige world is under stimulating—and that’s stressful.
In art therapy, color is often associated with a person’s emotions. Color may also influence a person’s mental or physical state.
Color is an element of visual language that people process before they are consciously aware of it. It ‘pops out’ at viewers in the early stages of vision. Our brains are compelled to find meaning, whether it is intended or not. The eyes are attracted to bright and high-contrast colors. When you use color for emphasis, it’s like shouting that this object or element has the greatest value.
Many facets of color—particularly saturation (color purity) and value (range of light to dark)—are known to evoke emotion. But color also creates a mood. Compared to emotion, mood refers to a longer-lasting, milder and generalized experience. Research shows that lighter colors are associated with a more positive affect and darker colors with more negative. Painters and photographers are good at exploiting color value to create a moody experience.
Rigorous research has also revealed the special “powers” of particular colors:
Green: Seeing the color green has been linked to more creative thinking—so greens are good options for home offices, art studios, etc.
Red: People seeing others in front of red backgrounds generally find those other individuals are more attractive than when they see them silhouetted against other colors, so reds are great for a bedroom wall. Having a red surface in view also gives us a burst of strength, so reds are good choices for home gym areas, etc. Seeing red has been linked to impaired analytical reasoning, though, making it a bad option for offices.
Violet: People link a grayish violet with sophistication, so it can be a good selection for places where you’re trying to make the “right” impression.
Yellow: Using yellow in a home can be problematic. Many people dislike the color, so if you have a lot of yellow rooms in your home or a yellow front door, you may be advised to repaint to get the best price for your home should you sell. An exception: Many people use yellow in kitchens—with no negative sales repercussions. Yellow may be accepted in kitchens because warm colors stimulate our appetite.
Blue: People are more likely to tell you that blue is their favorite color than any other shade. That makes it a safe choice. Seeing blue also brings thoughts of trustworthiness to mind; always a good thing.
Sources:
http://www.arttherapyblog.com
http://www.health.com
http://www.understandinggraphics.com
https://www.psychologytoday.com
