Colour psychology, in its basic terms, is about how colours can affect your mood. Given the time people spend in their homes, it is worth exploring whether your interior and exterior house design can be designed to improve your frame of mind and maximise your energy. Equally important is discovering whether the colours you’re currently displaying in your house may hurt your wellbeing. So, from the entrance through our front doors to the rooms we sleep in every night, it is important to feel the best we can in our homes.
What is colour psychology?
Colour psychology is commonly confused with the trending concept of ‘colour theory’ that you may have seen online. So let’s first establish the difference between the two.
Colour psychology
Science suggests that colours and lights are received by our eyes, stimulating photoreceptor cells known as cones. These cells translate the information from the visual stimuli for our brain, which is why you know you’re seeing the colour red when you see something red.
Colour psychology suggests that when our brains register specific colours, this triggers an emotional response. Whilst some of this may be tied to genetic factors, it is also affected by environmental factors like:
- Cultural socialisation to perceptions of colour, like boys may be conditioned to like blue and girls to like pink.
- Drawing connections between colours and contexts, like white lights, makes you think of hospitals.
- In some cases, colours can trigger individuals with PTSD or traumatic experiences; for example, orange walls in a traumatic setting could make the colour orange a trigger.
- However, for some, colour therapy can be a very effective form of rehabilitation, as colours can scientifically make a huge difference to our emotions.
Colour theory
Colour theory pertains to the interaction between different colours and whether they complement each other. As colour theory helps determine which colours complement skin tones, it also applies to property design, where specific colours enhance others in your home.
Finding colours and shades that work well together is important for home design. For example, warm lighting and orange-toned wood will go well with orange or peachy paint colours. Whether the tones match may affect how you feel about a room; however, this is not the same as colour psychology and the linking of colours and emotions.
What do different colours mean?
When designing your home, you may immediately question: What colours do people like the most? As established, while there are some basic ideas of what colours mean, this will be affected by personal experiences and cultural/ environmental background, so there is no universal answer. Whilst this is worth considering, some basic Western interpretations are outlined below.
- Pink is often associated with femininity and traits that come with ideas of femininity (sweetness, innocence, respect)
- Blue is often associated with masculinity and the surrounding stereotypical traits (confidence, strength, power)
- Yellow can evoke a sense of joy and happiness, perhaps as it reflects the sun’s light, which has direct links to improving well-being
- Green is usually connected with nature, given the visual parallels. It is also often linked to luck, probably due to the connotations with Irish folklore
- Red can be difficult to register as it may evoke contrasting reactions. For some, red symbolises love and passion, while for others, it can be seen as a symbol of danger and potentially incite fear
How to use this info in your home design
While preconceived ideas of colour psychology exist, your individual perception is key. When designing your home, prioritise how colours make you feel, which will inevitably spark positivity. Though considering others’ perceptions can be practical, your emotional connection to the colours is paramount. If you do it right, using colour psychology can significantly impact your mental state.