The psychology of color
The great Spanish artist Pablo Picasso once said, “Colors, like features, follow the changes of emotions.” Perhaps this was the artist’s way of suggesting that colors are a universal representation of human emotion, or maybe he was simply explaining how he chose the colors for his own work. Whatever Picasso’s motivation, there is no doubt that some colors resonate more than others and that preferences are unique.
Diana Seah, associate professor and major advisor at San Jose State University’s School of Art and Design, says that one reason business offices can use shades of green in their overall décor is because so few people find it objectionable. After all, says Seah, people are surrounded by green in nature, from the color of the grass and trees to the plants that dot the landscape. Humans can easily warm up to colors that feel natural and familiar to them.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Chinese used colors to cure disease — a practice called chromotherapy. Although there is little quantitative research testing the effectiveness of chromotherapy, there is plenty of evidence that practitioners throughout the centuries continued to believe in the practice and actively sought ways to use color for medicinal purposes.
In 1877, Niels Ryberg Finsen, a Danish physician and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology, discovered that solar ultra-violet light impeded the growth of bacteria and helped heal wounds. The doctor used red lights to inhibit the formation of pox scars, and later, founded the “Light Institute” for the photo treatment of tuberculosis. Early practitioners believed that yellow would stimulate the nerves, orange would heal the lungs and increase energy, and blue would soothe illnesses and treat pain.
As they worked toward curing whatever ailed their patients physically, researchers also sought to understand the role color plays in emotions. Today, many of the same generalities apply: green represents harmony, blue is associated with serenity, and white is considered optimistic. In fact, marketing professionals and designers alike consider the emotional impact of colors as they choose their designs. However, what 21st century professionals realize is that there is no one-sizefits-all reaction to colors. Real people in real settings have very different responses to particular hues, and those responses are based on personal preferences, experiences, the context in which a color is used, and cultural differences.
For example, Seah says that her clients of Asian descent often opt for red as an accent rather than a primary color in their kitchens. According to feng shui practices, the heat used to cook in a kitchen represents enough red and adding more can create an imbalance, leading to marital discord.
R. Douglas Fields Ph.D wrote in “The New Brain” that “color preferences are deeply rooted in emotional responses that seem to lack any rational basis.”
It may be as simple as preferring the color blue because a beloved grandparent had dinner plates the same shade. Like the emotional response to any stimuli, reactions are based upon experience.
As Seah works with clients from all walks of life she finds that what one considers “homey” another thinks of as cold. And while her older clients trend toward colors that soothe them, younger clients frequently enjoy loud shades. Still, the preferences are as personal as the type of car they would drive or clothes they might wear.
For anyone looking to bring colors into their home that relax them, she recommends covering the walls of common areas like living rooms, dining areas and kitchens with neutral shades and adding the “wow factor” of color through accessories. Accessories — such as furniture, pillows, lamps, drapes, area rugs, and bedding not only stand out when framed by neutral walls but are also an easy change when the mood strikes.
“When a client asks for a color they love, something like periwinkle, I put it in a private area where they can enjoy it, like a bedroom or bath,” she said.
Some of Seah’s affinity for creating peaceful environments may come from her Buddhist beliefs. She says that in Buddhism, the goal is to act in kindness and get rid of anger. As a step along that path, she attempts to find colors and create spaces that accommodate those objectives. She uses natural, sustainable materials whenever possible, and practices biophilic design by bringing live plants into indoor areas. Not only are the shades of green pleasing to many people, but according to Seah, “Plants help us breathe better, to think clearer.”
For a woman who has spent a portion of her career designing Buddhist monasteries, Seah is aware of the longing most people have to find a haven at home, and according to Seah it is possible. The first step may be to discover which colors bring one the greatest sense of peace.