Color can be a very powerful tool when used properly. Color has the ability to awaken our moods, emotions and feelings. Like it or not, colors have a deep subliminal meaning affecting our thinking and rationale. We are confronted with color choices daily beginning with the clothes we wear. Color will often reveal our mood for the day or image we want to portray. For example, choosing a red suit might convey the feelings of confidence and the desire to attract attention. In contrast, choosing a black suit might convey authority and power or the desire to appear thinner. Color research and planning play a vital role in marketing. Graphic designers must be familiar with the importance of color so that a companies product, message and overall tone is conveyed properly to their customers. The same is true for paint colors we choose for our homes and offices. Colors will awaken different feelings and moods and should be taken into consideration before planning a room design. The paint colors you choose for your space can have a profound affect on your emotions, feelings and motivation.
What is Color Anyways?
In 1666, Sir Isaac Newton discovered that when pure white light, such as sunlight, is composed of the visible colors by passing a beam of light through a prism. The renowned English scientist was 23 years old at the time. He had to stay home from the University for over a year because the plague was sweeping Europe and forced to close. To combat the boredom of quarantine, Newton conducted his famous spectrum experiments by punching holes in the curtains of his darkened room to study light passing through a prism. It was here he found that light separated into the same colors found in the natural rainbow. Although he found an infinite number of colors in this spectrum, Newton identified seven main colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Using a second prism, Newton showed that each color in the spectrum is monochromatic, composed of a single, unique wavelength which can’t be separated further into other colors. 
Newton took the bar of colors created by the passage of light through a prism and transformed it into a segmented circle, where the size of each segment differed according to his calculations of its wavelength and of its corresponding width in the spectrum. The placement and size of the colored sections of Newton’s circle suggested other mathematical and harmonic relationships.
Exploring the Affects Color can have on Moods and Emotions:
White House Red Room at Christmas
Red is undoubtedly the most emotionally charged and intense color evoking strong feelings associated with warmth, love, energy, excitement and even anger. It stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing.
- Red is associated with love and giving; the most used color for Valentines Day & Christmas.
- Red clothing is considered sexy and gets you noticed. Red cars are popular targets for thieves and tend to be the first pulled over for speeding.
- In marketing, if used correctly, stimulates the impulse to purchase. It’s often strategically placed on websites to draw attention to, it’s where the eye looks first.
- Used in decorating as an accent color, a pop of Red in an otherwise neutral room can add interest and focus.
Orange Living Room from Decoding Decor
Orangecomes to life when combining red and yellow. It’s a social color; encourages conversation and excitement, great for living and dining areas.
- The most flamboyant color, it’s associated with fun times, happiness and energy, warmth and organic products.
- It’s full of ambition, the color of the sunrise and associated with a new dawn in attitude.
- Orange is also used to draw attention too and often used in road work signs, caution cones and barrels.
Photo via Decoding Decor
Yellow is bright, cheerful and the warm color of the sun. It’s associated with laughter,
Nancy Lancasters Famous Yellow Drawing Room
happiness and good times.
- Yellow evokes feelings of optimism because the brain release more Serotonin (feel good chemical produced by the brain) when around this color.
- While it is called the cheerful color associated with optimism, be careful with yellow when decorating, studies have shown with yellow, when intense, babies cry more in bright yellow rooms and people tend to be short fused and easily angered around the color too.
- Yellow speeds up your metabolism, inspires creative thinking and enhances concentration (legal tablets are yellow).
- In marketing yellow is an attention getter and can be an effective tool to greater sales. However, use yellow sparingly, it’s one of the most fatiguing colors to look at because it is very reflective to light and not good to use as a back ground for websites.
Photo Via Sarah Gilbane Interiors
Green used in a formal Living Room
Green symbolizes the color of nature, growth and money. A calming color pleasing to the senses representing tranquility, good fortune and health.
- Green is associated with envy, fertility, good luck and generosity.
- Light green is often used in hospital rooms because of it’s calming affect to patients. Researchers have found that green can improve readability.
- It is the traditional color of peace and harmony, and often found to relieve stress. Offices with a green work environment tend to report less stomachaches. People waiting to be on TV often wait in the “green room” to help them relax.
Gorgeous Blue Dining Room by House Beautiful
Blue definitely wins the popularity contest among colors. The majority name blue as their favorite color and most preferred by men.
- Blue evokes feelings of calmness and serenity and actually causes the body to produce chemicals that are calming and peaceful. However, some shades of blue can cause feelings of sadness and aloofness.
- Many offices choose blue because studies have shown people tend to be more productive in blue rooms because they are calm and focused.
- Over the ages blue has become associated with steadfastness, dependability, wisdom and loyalty (note how many uniforms are blue). Many websites use blue as a color scheme to build trust, loyalty and following.
Royal Purple Room - Photo by Visualtricks
Purpleis the symbol of royalty. Kings and Queens were often adorned with the color purple in their royal attire. It is associated with wealth, prosperity and rich sophistication.
- Purple stimulates the brain activity used in problem solving.
- Purple doesn’t appear naturally in nature often and can appear artificial and exotic.
- Purple is very mysterious and often associated with fantasy.
Purple is the recommended eye shadow color choice for green eyes.
Stylish Black Room designed by Brandon Barre
Blackabsorbs all light in the color spectrum, it is the color of power and authority.
- Black is often associated with evil and dark characters such as Darth Vader and Dracula.
- Black can have representations on both sides of the emotional spectrum from death, mourning and unhappiness to formality, sexuality and sophistication.
- In the fashion world, Black clothes are well known for it’s slimming qualities.
- Black is a serious color that evokes strong emotions; it is easy to overwhelm people with too much black.
White Room featured on ElleDecor
Whiteis the compression of all light in the color spectrum.
- It is widely associated with purity (Bridal Gown) innocence, reverence and remembrance (White Roses).
- White is also associate with cleanliness and sterility as demonstrated in Doctors & Nurses traditional uniforms.
- White is popular in decorating and fashion; it is neutral and goes with everything. Although, in fashion it can make you appear larger.
Photo via ElleDecor
Brown Living Area w/ Pops of Baby Blue
Brownis probably one of the most natural colors. The color of earth; evoking the sense of reliability and strength.
- Brown brings to mind the feelings of warmth, comfort and security but can also create the feelings of sadness and isolation.
- Brown is a great stable color when paired with pastels such as pink and baby blue. We tend to see browns in many nurseries.
- Brown is also used similarly to black in the fashion world and considered sophisticated and stable.
Photo via
There you have it! Feelings and emotions awakened by color. Now you can begin to think about choosing paint colors for the room or space you plan to paint. If I had to choose one favorite it would be a toss up between the yellow and black. Which room color was your favorite? References: Pantone & Colourlovers
