Psychology of colors: do colors in the interior affect your well-being?

Have you ever noticed that you start to feel uneasy in the yellow room? And when the blue color prevails in the interior, do you become calm and relaxed? For several decades now, it has been proven that interior designers can significantly affect mood, feelings and emotions. “Color, like facial features, follows changes in emotions,” the artist Pablo Picasso once remarked.

It can be used to induce a certain action, to influence mood and, even, on physiological reactions. Scientists have shown that certain colors can increase blood pressure, speed up metabolism and put pressure on the eyes.

So how exactly does color work? How does color affect thoughts and behavior?

What is the psychology of color?

In 1666, English scientist Sir Isaac Newton set the experience of decomposition of white in color with a prism, which first discovered the truth of the nature of color. When pure white light passes through a prism, it is divided into seven primary colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, blue, and violet. Newton also discovered that each color consists of one wavelength and cannot be further divided into other colors.

Further experiments have shown that colors can be mixed to create other shades. For example, red, mixed with yellow, creates an orange color. Some colors, such as green and purple, compensate each other when mixed and give a white color.

"Given the prevalence of color in everyday life, we can expect that the psychology of color will soon be an important subject of research," say scientific researchers Andrew Elliot and Markus Meyer.

Despite a small amount of research in this area, the concept of the psychology of color has become a hot topic in marketing, art, design, and other areas. Most of the evidence in this new field is anecdotal at best, but researchers and experts have made some important discoveries and observations regarding the psychology of color and its effect on mood, feelings and behavior.

The first and main thesis that needs to be learned is that your feelings for color are individual and based on your own experience or culture. For example, although white is interpreted in many western countries as purity and innocence, in many eastern countries it is mourning.

How do colors affect your psychological health?

Why is color so important in our lives? How can it affect our physical and psychological condition?

Although the perception of color is quite subjective, there are some color effects that have universal significance.

Psychology of color: White

Look at the image below and see what white color makes you feel? Will it be inspiration and purity or cold and loneliness? Some people consider white as a symbol of peace and innocence, while others find it sharp and cold.

Color associations will be different for each individual.

In Western culture, white is often associated with weddings, hospitals and angels and is used to create an atmosphere of purity and peace. However, in many Eastern cultures, white is symbolically associated with death and sadness. This color is used in funerals and other mourning rituals.

According to the psychology of color, white is used by designers to achieve the following effects:

• White is a bright color, it can create a feeling of lightness or add glare. Designers often use white to make the space seem larger and more spacious.
• White is also associated with cold, softness and sterility. Rooms painted completely white may seem spacious, but empty and unfriendly. Hospitals and cosmetology facilities use white to create a sense of sterility and cleanliness.
• Positive values ​​include associations with purity, freshness and simplicity. White color often looks like a blank sheet, symbolizing a new beginning.
• On the other hand, white may appear stern, cold and insulated. It should be understood that a large white empty room may seem boring and harsh.

White is considered a powerful color in Feng Shui (the system of organizing your environment to create harmony). Wood and glass elements of the decor are perfectly combined with white. Also white perfectly balances black, non-replaceable classics. White is great for kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms and bedrooms. In general, this is a great solution for any room to which you want to add extra light and space.

Psychology of color: Black

And now, let's see, what emotions do you have black? This is probably the most ambiguous color. It has a different symbolic meaning and a wide range of influences on people.

According to the psychology of color, the following interpretations correspond to black:

• Black absorbs all the light in the color spectrum. Accordingly, whatever other accent color you choose for your interior, black will dominate.
• Black is often used as a symbol of threat or evil, and is also popular as an indicator of strength. It is used to create an image of an insidious character, such as Dracula or a witch, and is often associated with witchcraft.
• Black is associated with death and mourning in many cultures. Therefore, many are afraid to use this color in their interior. It creates a dark, dark atmosphere. It is very difficult to achieve a feeling of warmth and comfort in the interior in black.
• Black is often used in clothing and fashion industry, as it visually slims the figure. In the interior design is a negative property, because it visually narrows the space.

Psychology of colors: Red

What emotions do you have in red? Red is called warm, bright and intense. It is often perceived as a spectacular and even aggressive color, but it is also associated with love and passion. Red is used to attract attention, especially in advertisements and on road signs.

The psychology of red suggests:

• Red is a bright, warm color that evokes strong emotions.
• Red is associated with love, warmth and comfort.
• Red is also considered an intense or even aggressive color that is able to excite and agitate the mind.

Red creates unique energy in the room. The most intense color, it increases the production of adrenaline, like no other shade. This is a good choice when you want to provoke excitement and excitement.

In the living room or dining room, red brings people together and stimulates conversation. In the hallway, red helps create a strong first impression.

Red increases pressure, speeds up breathing and heart rate. Usually, this shade is very disturbing for the bedroom, but if you are in the room only after dark, then you will see it mainly by the light of the lamps, then the color will seem muffled, rich and elegant.

Psychology of color: Blue

Blue is a color that is often found in nature, for example, the pale blue color of the day sky or the rich dark blue color of a deep body of water. Perhaps this is why people often describe blue as calm and serene. However, the cold shade of blue can sometimes appear cold or even icy.

According to the psychology of color, blue can be interpreted from different sides:

• Men prefer blue much more than any other.
• Since many people like blue color, it is often viewed as a friendly color that may seem conservative and traditional.
• Blue is reminiscent of feelings of calm or serenity. It is often called peaceful, secure, secure and orderly.
• Blue is often seen as a symbol of stability and reliability. Companies that want to create a security image often use blue in their advertising and marketing campaigns.
• Blue can also create a feeling of sadness or estrangement. To recall even Picasso's paintings during his “blue period”, it seems that they are filled with loneliness, sadness and sadness.
• Blue is often used in the interior of offices and work spaces, since research has shown that people are more productive in blue rooms.
• Blue is considered one of the least appetizing. Some nutritionists even recommend eating food from a blue plate. Blue is rarely found in food, except blueberries and some plums. In addition, people subconsciously try to avoid poisonous foods, and the blue color in food is often a sign of spoilage or poison.
• Blue can also reduce heart rate and body temperature.

Because blue reduces pressure, slows breathing and heart rate, it is considered soothing, relaxing and serene, and is often recommended for bedrooms and bathrooms.

However, the pastel blue color that looks beautiful in the palette can be unpleasantly cold on the walls and furniture, especially in a room where there is little natural light. If you choose light blue as the main color in the room, balance it with warm shades of furniture, textiles and decor.

To create a favorable, friendly atmosphere in the living room or dining room, use warm shades of blue, bright and rich colors.

Not properly selected dark blue color can cause a feeling of sadness.

Psychology of color: Green

For most people, green is associated with nature and, at once, resembles lush greenery, grass, trees and forests. Perhaps due to the fact that the green color is closely associated with nature, it is often called refreshing and calm.

Green psychology is revealed in such aspects as:

• Green is a cool color that symbolizes nature and a natural beginning.
• Green is also associated with calmness, luck, health and jealousy.
• Researchers also found that green creates a favorable atmosphere for reading.
• Green is often used in the interior due to its soothing properties. For example, guests waiting to enter a TV show are often in the green room.
• Green is said to relieve stress and promote healing. Employees in offices where the walls are painted green are less stressed.

Green color is considered the most pleasant for the eyes. Combining the refreshing properties of blue and the cheerfulness of yellow, green is suitable for almost any room in the house. In the kitchen, green encourages appetite; in the living room, this color contributes to rest and relaxation, and, at the same time, is warm enough to provide comfort and togetherness.

Psychology of color: Yellow

Yellow color is usually bright and saturated, perhaps, therefore, it often causes strong emotions. Yellow may attract attention, but it can also be intrusive with excessive use. It can look warm and warming, but can also cause visual fatigue.

The psychology of the color of yellow includes the following characteristics:

• Heat: yellow is a color that is often called joyous and warm.
• Difficult to read: yellow is also the most tedious for the eye due to the large amount of reflected light. The use of yellow as a background on paper or computer monitors can lead to visual impairment.
• Disappointment: yellow can also cause frustration and anger. Along with the fact that yellow is considered a cheerful and playful color, people more often lose their temper in the yellow rooms, and children begin to cry.
• Vigorous: yellow can also speed up metabolism.
• Attention: because yellow is the most visible color, it attracts attention very well. Yellow can be used in small quantities to attract attention, for example, on road signs or in advertisements.

Yellow reflects the joy of sunshine and adjusts to a wave of happiness. This is an excellent choice for kitchens, dining rooms and bathrooms, where it energizes and uplifting. In the halls, hallways and small rooms, the yellow color may seem cozy and welcoming.

Although yellow is a fun color, it is not a good choice as the primary color. In large quantities, this color tends to cause frustration and anger. Therefore, use it in moderation in the decoration elements. In chromotherapy, it is believed that yellow calms the nerves and cleanses the body.

Psychology of color: Purple

Violet color can be perceived in different ways. Often this color is associated with mystery, spirituality and inspiration. Violet in nature is quite rare, therefore it is considered unique and intriguing. Despite the fact that purple is a rainbow of colors, in essence it is a combination of red and blue.

The psychology of purple is in the following characteristics:

• Purple is a symbol of royal power and wealth. In those ancient times, when the production of dyes for dyeing fabrics required a lot of effort and cost, since purple is not common in nature, its creation required much more resources and was expensive. And only rich people could afford such textiles. Since then, the association with wealth and nobility has been fixed to the purple color.
• Purple also symbolizes wisdom and spirituality. His unique and mysterious nature makes him associate with something unknown, supernatural and divine.
• Purple is considered an exotic color. Due to the fact that it is not often found in nature, it may seem artificial.
• Visually, purple is one of the most difficult colors. It has the strongest electromagnetic wavelength, distant only slightly from X-ray and gamma-ray waves. For this reason, it is often used in visual illusions.

Purple, in its darkest shades, such as baklazh, looks expensive, luxurious and difficult. It is better to use such tones as accents or additional color, as it will give depth to the interior. But, light shades of purple, for example, lavender or lilac, great to use in the bedroom. It will create the same calm atmosphere as blue, only without the risk of feeling cold.

Psychology of color: Orange

Orange is a very strong and energetic color. Along with red and yellow, it can be very attractive, therefore, it is often used in advertising. Orange is associated with joy, happiness and vitality. However, for some, the color orange is annoying.

According to the psychology of color, orange is interpreted as follows:

• Orange is a combination of yellow and red. This warm color is energizing and positive.
• Orange indoors causes feelings of excitement, enthusiasm and warmth.
• Orange is often used to attract attention, for example, in road markings and in advertising.
• Orange is the color of energy and vitality. This is probably why many sports teams use orange in their form, as a talisman and in branding.
• Orange is associated with the color of sunsets and ripe fruits, such as oranges, tangerines, apricots, peaches, and many others. Such associations cause warm and pleasant emotions in people.
• Orange is also associated with the color of autumn and falling leaves. He is able to warm in cold weather.

Although orange is not well suited for a living room or bedroom, this color will work great in the gym; He will awaken in you the necessary energy and emotions that are needed during training. In ancient cultures, it was believed that orange color heals the lungs and increases the level of energy.

Psychology of color: Pink

Most pink color is associated with femininity and romance. There is an opinion that this is an exclusively feminine color. Some shades of pale pink are described as relaxing, while very bright shades can stimulate or even aggravate.

There are several points that should be noted in the psychology of pink:

• Pink is inherently light red and is usually associated with love and romance.
• It is believed that the pink color has a calming effect. Sports teams sometimes paint the dressing room for a team of opponents pink, so that players become passive and less energetic.
• However, scientists have found that pink color has a calming effect only on initial exposure. It can cause excitement when you get used to it.
• Pink is a female color, to a large extent, such a strong association has been formed since childhood. After all, toys for girls are usually pink and purple.
• Because color is so strongly associated with femininity, people sometimes associate it with qualities that are often considered feminine, such as gentleness, kindness, caring and compassion.

This delicate color goes well with other shades such as blue, light gray and copper. If you want to use pink in your interior, you need to balance it with neutral shades, since a lot of pink can make the room too nursery. Depending on what kind of furniture and decor you use, you can achieve the effect of both a very glamorous interior and a playful and playful one.

In the ancient cultures of China and Egypt used color therapy for the treatment of diseases. Today, most psychologists are skeptical of this approach. It is believed that the effect of color on the human psyche is often exaggerated. Since studies show that the color effect is temporary, for example, in a blue room you can feel calm and serenity, but this effect will disappear as soon as you get used to color.

All recommendations on the selection of colors that we have tried to collect in this article will be a good helper in choosing the color palette of your interior. However, do not take this too seriously. As a rule, color preferences are very individual and, first of all, you should be comfortable in your own home.

The working collection of fabrics EDEN presents a wide range of textiles, which includes not only 7 primary colors of the rainbow, but 20 and 40 different shades. We care about the interests of our customers, so we want to make your choice as varied and pleasant as possible. You can go to our catalog and sort all furniture fabrics by color to choose the shade and texture that you like.

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