How Color Makes Us Feel

Most of us are aware that our surroundings can greatly affect how we feel. A dreary, overcast day can contribute to feelings of sadness, while a sunny day can help us feel energized and alive.  Spring flowers bursting forth from the earth can make us feel hopeful after a long winter. Yet, a fresh blanket of white snow can bring a sense of peace and serenity. And we know the company we keep has an affect on us. Negative people can bring us down and discourage us, while positive, happy people make it easier to feel positive about ourselves. So it makes sense that even the "colors" we surround ourselves with can have an effect on our moods. In researching the topic here's some things I found.

Different colors can affect different people in different ways. The color white is used as an example by Kendra Cherry, at verywell.com. White is used in Western countries to stand for purity and innocence. On the other hand, in many Eastern countries it's a symbol of morning. Even so, particular color groups tend to bring out similar reactions in a majority of people. This is good to keep in mind when choosing colors for a home or business.  

According to an article written by Vanessa Van Edwards, Lead Investigator for scienceofpeople.com, how color affects people is similar to how colors behave in nature. Some of her examples include the following: Green is a restful color, making it a good choice for desktops to ease eyestrain. Red is a passionate color and suggested as a good color for women to wear on a date. Black gives off a feeling of aggressiveness. Blue and green brings a sense of calm and eases anxiety. 

An online post by Kari Costas, on elledecor.com suggests colors to paint a bedroom depending on the affect you desire. She uses an info graphic by Vanessa Arbuthnott, stating the positives and negatives for each color listed. Some examples are: Green represents nature, balance and wealth. Blue represents serenity, intellegence and protection. Yellow represents energy, happiness and attention. Orange represents reassurance and warmth.

I also learned that ancient cultures practiced a healing technique called chromotherapy.  Different colors were used to heal different ailments. Yellow was thought to bring stimulation and purification to the body. Orange was used to heal lung disorders and contribute to increases in energy. Blue was thought to sooth and ease pain. Chromotherapy is still used today as a holistic, alternative treatment, also known as light therapy or colorology.

Research in the area of color psychology continues today giving us ongoing information to consider. As we choose colors for our personal spaces it's definitely worth considering the feelings and moods those colors might invoke. Most of us are drawn to certain colors and we don't know why. I believe that's okay, and maybe even the point. While researchers continue their studies and various facts and theories come to light, we are probably safe in sticking with colors that feel right to us. I say, if a certain color makes you feel good it's probably a good color for you. 

With all that said, finding the perfect decor for a particular space can be overwhelming, but try this. When you're shopping online for items for your home, business or even for yourself, do a search by color. If you are already aware of specific colors that contribute your feelings of well being, looking for those colors, or color groups, is a good place to start. I also invite you to try that search at SeahorseMansion.com. Our store has a wide variety of colors and styles to choose from to make your space feel just right.