Color and Its Effect on Us!

The most remarkable thing about color is its ability to effect our emotions; we do not need a special study to tell us that much! However, if you want to know a little more about just how different colors affect us then you will have to dig deep... or use research from a reputable source, that's what I did.

The information I will be quoting throughout the article is from a study conducted at Loyola University of Chicago.

Most of us already know that red makes you hungry and yellow makes you anxious; that's why so many restaurants use red in thier color scheme. Many of you also know that red and yellow used in combination are almost sure to be noticed in advertising.

What most people do not know is that the affect of color can change our perceptions on how warm or cool a room is by as much as 6 degrees. Color can also alter your perception of time; not noticing how long you have been sitting in a waiting room, for instance, is mastered with color. Another interesting fact about color is that our appreciations of colors change as we age. As small children we prefer primary colors (red, yellow and blues) and as adults we tend to like softer more subtle pastel and earthy tones.Your color selection can be very important in accomplishing your intended goals. So, here are a few mood altering tips to keep in mind when picking your colors.

• RED - tends to evoke more tension & hostility as well as increase your appetite.
• YELLOW - builds excitement and tends to make you more anxious.
• GREEN - is soothing and makes us feel healthy.
• BLUE - has been shown to be calming and will extend our sense of time.
• GOLD - shows quality.
• GRAY - (muted grays) can be calming and soothing similar to greens and blues.
• PINK - initially is soothing, however over extended periods of time it has similar affects as red.

By applying this knowledge, you can essentially make a cold room or area feel warmer with red and a warm room or area feel colder with blues and greens. Customer service areas could be painted pink as long as it's a short wait, otherwise go with blue or green if the wait tends to be longer. Be sure to incorporate lots of red and yellow in your advertisements, and include a little gold to show its good stuff!

Color is a major factor in our everyday environment: It impacts and influences man's psychological reactions as well as physiological well being. It is no longer valid to assume that the only role of and color is to provide adequate illumination and pleasant visual environment, it does much more.