Light up with colour

Colours are thought to have an effect on our feelings, moods and behaviour. Certain colours are even associated with physical reactions like increased blood pressure or increased metabolism. Although there is no extended scientific research on the psychological effect of colours, researchers and experts have made a few important discoveries and observations about the psychology of colour. Feelings about colour are personal and rooted in our own experience or culture.

As an example: The colour white represents purity or innocence in Western countries while it is a colour of mourning in most Eastern Countries. And even within European countries colour has a different meaning in English, you are green with envy, in German yellow (gelb vor Neid sein).

While perceptions of colour are subjective, there are some colour effects that have universal meaning Colours in the red area of the colour spectrum like red, orange and yellow are known as warm colours and evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility. Cool colours like blue, purple, and green are often associated with calmness or trust but also with feelings of sadness or indifference.

Whether you are feeling warm or cold can depend on the colour tone of your environment. In a room painted in warm colour, the temperature will feel warmer than the same temperature in a cool-coloured room. If you think of temperature-related associations to these colours, this is not surprising. Blue represents winter, ice, water, freshness, rain, wind, and your lips turn blue when you’re cold. Warm colours like red or yellow produce images such as fire, sun, and summer in your mind. They are not called ‘warm’ and ‘cool’ colours for nothing.