Color Psychology – Definition, Effects and Properties of Colors

The psychology of color can be used to help build a strong brand and easy to identify. In this article, we will explain what color psychology is and educate you on the meaning of the most popular colors used.

Color is a form of non-verbal communication, it is not a static energy and its meaning can change from one day to the next with anyone, it all depends on the energy they express at that moment.

What is the psychology of color?

It is the study of colors in relation to human behavior. Color meanings can have an impact on why we prefer certain colors over others, the same color can also have different meanings depending on our upbringing, gender, location, values, and a variety of other factors.

Color can influence a person, however it is important to remember that these effects differ between people, factors such as gender, age and culture can influence how an individual perceives color.

Color psychology is also widely used in marketing, many marketers view color as an important part because it can be used to influence consumers’ emotions and perceptions of goods and services. Companies also use color when deciding on brand logos, these logos seem to attract more customers when the color matches the personality of the products or services, such as the color pink which is used heavily in the Victoria’s Secret branding. .

Applying the psychology of color to everyday life

Did you know that your environment can influence your emotions and your mood? Have you ever noticed that certain places irritate you? Or that certain places are especially relaxing? Well, there’s a good chance that the colors in those spaces are playing a role.

In art therapy , color is associated with a person’s emotions, it can influence the mental or physical state.

There are also commonly noticed psychological effects of color in relation to two main categories: warm and cold. Warm colors, such as red, yellow, and orange, can elicit a variety of emotions ranging from comfort and warmth to hostility and anger. Cold colors, such as green, blue, and purple, often provoke feelings of calm and sadness.

Psychological effects of cold colors.

Do you need to be creative? Want help activating those brain synapses? Try using purple, both red and blue, to provide a good balance between stimulation and serenity that is supposed to encourage creativity. Purple light is said to result in a calm environment, thus relieving tension, these could be great colors for a home office or business.

The color blue is suggested for high traffic rooms or for rooms where you or others will be spending large amounts of time, blue is typically a calming and serene color, it is said to decrease respiration and lower blood pressure. The bedroom is a great place to use these colors, as they should help you relax.

Psychological effects of warm colors.

Do you want to create a stimulating environment or whet people’s appetites? You might consider using the colors yellow or orange, these colors are often associated with food and can make your tummy growl a bit. Have you ever wondered why so many restaurants use these colors? Now you know why.

You want to be careful when using bright colors like orange and especially yellow, they reflect more light and overstimulate a person’s eyes, which can lead to irritation. You probably don’t want to paint these colors in your dining room or kitchen either if you’re a calorie counter.

Psychological properties of colors

There are four primary psychological colors: red, blue, yellow and green, they relate respectively to the body, the mind, the emotions and the essential balance between these three. The psychological properties of the eleven basic colors are as follows:

Red

It is the color of energy, passion and action. It is warm and positive associated with our most physical needs and our will to survive, exuding strong and powerful masculine energy.

Red is energizing, excites the emotions and motivates us to act. It signifies a pioneering spirit and leadership qualities, promoting ambition and determination, it also has a strong will and can give confidence to those who are shy or lack will power.

Being the color of physical movement, the color red awakens our physical life force, it is the color of sexuality and can stimulate deeper and more intimate passions in us, such as love and sex on the positive side or revenge and anger. on the negative.

Personality

Having red as your favorite color identifies you as outgoing and optimistic, courageous and confident, action-oriented and physically active; sex is a necessity for you, you have strong survival instincts.

You like to be the center of attention, in fact all reds crave attention, other people are drawn to the vibrancy and sense of excitement that you emit. You are ambitious and competitive, and you like to be the winner – you are achievement oriented and second place is not good enough for you, with you it is all or nothing.

Orange

The color of adventure and social communication, orange radiates warmth and happiness, combining the physical energy and stimulation of red with the joy of yellow. It is related to the “gut reaction” or our visual instincts, as opposed to the physical reaction to red or the mental reaction to yellow.

It offers emotional strength in difficult times, helps us recover from disappointment and despair, helping us recover from pain.

The psychology of the color of orange is optimistic and uplifting, rejuvenating our spirits. In fact, orange is so upbeat and uplifting that we all need to find ways to use it in our everyday lives, even if we only use an orange pen.

It provides spontaneity and a positive outlook on life, and is a great color to wear in tough economic times, keeps us motivated, and helps us see the bright side of life.

Personality

With orange as your favorite color, you are warm, optimistic, outgoing, and flamboyant. You thrive on human social contact and social gatherings, bringing all types together.

As a personality, you enjoy partying, socializing and planning all kinds of social events, orange people are the life of the party, the uninhibited artist, you are the one speaking out loud in a group.

Yellow

Yellow is the color of the mind and intellect, it is related to acquired knowledge. It is the color that resonates with the left or logical side of the brain that stimulates our mental faculties and creates mental alertness and perception .

Being the lightest shade on the spectrum, the psychology of the color of yellow is uplifting and enlightening, offering hope, happiness, joy and fun, inspiring original thinking and curiosity.

He is the practical thinker, not the dreamer.

Personality

If your favorite color is yellow, you have a good disposition, you are cheerful and fun, you are creative, and you are the one who gives new ideas, you tend to have your head in the clouds most of the time.

With a yellow personality color, you can be very critical of yourself and others: you are a perfectionist.

You are impulsive and make quick decisions, but out of anxiety , you jump in too fast and rush things instead of taking them at a constant pace. He has a strong independent streak and is selective with his friends.

Verde

Green is the color of balance, harmony and growth. From the perspective of color psychology, it is the great balancer of the heart and emotions, creating a balance between the head and the heart.

From the perspective of colors, green is also the color of growth, the color of spring, renewal and rebirth, it renews and restores depleted energy. It is the sanctuary away from the stresses of modern life, which brings us back to the feeling of well-being, this is the reason why there is so much of this relaxing color on earth, and that is why we need to keep it that way.

Personality

If your favorite color is green, you are a down-to-earth, down-to-earth person with a love of nature, you are stable and well balanced, or you strive for balance. As you seek this balance, you can sometimes feel restless and anxious.

Having a green personality means that you are kind, generous and compassionate; It is good to have it during a crisis, as you remain calm and take control of the situation until it is resolved. You are smart and you love to learn, you are quick to understand new concepts.

You have a great need to love and be loved and you tend to put your heart on your sleeve, you are an open book that does not hide your feelings.

Blue

The color blue is the color of trust and responsibility, honesty and loyalty. This color exhibits an inner security and confidence, you can rely on it to take control and do the right thing in tough times.

You have a need for order and direction in your life, including your living and work spaces. This is a color that seeks peace and tranquility above all else, promoting both physical and mental relaxation.

Personality

If this is your favorite color, you are preserved and reliable. You trust others, even if you are very careful from the beginning until you are sure of the other person. You would benefit from daily meditation and quiet time for reflection, introspection, and self-discovery.

Purple and violet

Purple is the color of imagination and spirituality.

The difference between violet and purple is that violet appears in the spectrum of visible light, or rainbow, while purple is simply a mixture of red and blue.

Personality

Having the color purple or violet as a favorite color means that you are sensitive and compassionate, that you understand and support, that you think of others before yourself, you are the person that others turn to for help, being in need motivates you but sometimes people take advantage of you.

You are a gentle and free spirit, your feelings run deep and you can be quite sensitive to hurtful comments from others, although you would never show it.

You are normally an introvert and can come off as shy, although this is not the case.

Rosa

The meaning of the color pink is unconditional love and nurturing, it represents compassion, nurturing and love. It relates to unconditional love and understanding, and to giving and receiving.

A combination of red and white, pink contains red’s need for action, helping you achieve the potential for success and vision that white offers. It is the passion and power of red softened with the purity, openness and integrity of white, the deeper the pink, the more passion and energy it exhibits.

Personality

If pink is your favorite color, you are loving, kind, generous and sensitive to the needs of others, you are friendly and approachable with a warmth and softness that others are drawn to.

With a pink personality, you have a maternal instinct, with the need to protect and care for others, you also have the need for this care to be reciprocal, as you tend to be careless in your determination to meet the needs of others.

You are very in touch with your femininity, this includes men who are in contact with their feminine side, you are romantic, sensual and sensitive.

Brown

The color of safety, protection and material wealth, is a serious and realistic color that signifies stability, structure and support.

In relation to the protection and support of the family unit, with a keen sense of duty and responsibility, he takes his obligations seriously, fosters a strong need for security and a sense of belonging, with family and friends being the most important .

Personality

If your favorite color is brown you are honest, realistic and healthy, people of the salt of the earth with both feet firmly planted on the ground, you are constant and reliable and quietly confident, you are friendly and approachable, genuine and sincere.

With a brown personality, he has a keen sense of duty and responsibility – he takes his obligations very seriously. You like physical comfort, simplicity and quality, you are a loyal and reliable friend, supportive and trustworthy.

White

It is purity, innocence, wholeness and wholeness. It is color in its purest and most complete form, the color of perfection.

In color psychology, white is the color of new beginnings, of cleaning the slate, so to speak. It is the blank canvas waiting to be written. While it does not stimulate the senses, it opens the way for the creation of whatever the mind can conceive.

Personality

Note: Rarely is this color a childhood favorite color – white tends to become a favorite at a time when you are going through a transition period, preparing for new beginnings, or looking for a new direction in one or more areas of your life. life.

Having a white personality means that you are clean and flawless in your appearance.

Negro

Black is mysterious and protective, relating to the hidden, the secret, and the unknown, creating an air of mystery as a result.

In color psychology, this color protects from external emotional stress, creates a barrier between yourself and the outside world, providing comfort while protecting your emotions and feelings, and hiding your vulnerabilities, insecurities, and lack of self-confidence.

We all use black on various occasions to hide from the world around us in one way or another. Some of us use it to hide our weight; Others among us use it to hide our feelings, our fears or our insecurities.

Personality

If your favorite color is black, prestige and power are important to you. You are independent, tenacious and determined and you like to be in control of yourself and situations.