
The sun, the symbol of energy and love, with its life-giving warmth and its bright Yellow or Orange glow, invigorates us. It is a well-established fact, that regions with a lack of sunlight have a higher depression and suicide rate. Baskin in the sun’s light will release endorphins, which are known to stimulate good feelings in the brain. Light bright colors tend to make us feel terrific and lighter. ‘Light’ is always associated with the positive, and ‘dark’ with negative emotions and moods. You have heard the expression ‘he/she is a dark person’.
Here are some interesting, known, fun facts I found in my research:
Red stimulates our emotions and passions. This powerful color is intense and makes us feel excited. Red is the warmest of all colors and is most often chosen by extroverts and one of the top picks of males, especially when purchasing a car. In China, red is the color of prosperity and joy. On the negative side red can mean hot temper or anger. ‘I saw red when I heard this’ or ‘He makes me see red’ are common expressions.
Red and Yellow have been known to stimulate appetite. Yellow is also the highest attention getting color due to its high reflection of light. Why do you think the colors of McDonald’s are Red and Yellow? Most fast food chains have these colors incorporated into their logos.
Orange means vitality. People who like orange are usually thoughtful and sincere. I thought orange would also show playfulness- but no mention of this thought found in my research.
Yellow symbolizes wisdom, joy and happiness. People of high intellect tend to favor yellow. Like the energy of a bright sunny day, yellow brings clarity and awareness. The shade of yellow determines its effect: On the negative side, yellow-green can mean deceit, and creates a disoriented feeling. On the positive, the yellow-orange combo imparts a sense of establishment. Clean light yellow clears the mind, making it active and alert.
The color Blue, studies show, is preferred by men (most likely right after red?). It stimulates calmness, serenity and tranquility. People seem to be more productive in blue rooms. Looking around me, I realize that my office and writing space is painted a light blue and a pretty aqua. (This article was first written before my move to Palm Springs. Interestingly, with my change of life style my colors have changed. Now my workspace is also my creative space and is painted a deep orange and beige)
Blue is an orderly color- but it can also be related to sadness. Remember the phrases ‘I’m having the blues’, I’m blue without you’ or ‘Blue Monday’? Blue has also been found to be the least appetizing color; there are not many blue food items. Blueberries…what else?
The color Aqua is associated with emotional healing and protection. Light Blue is accredited with health, healing, tranquility, understanding, and softness.
Purple is the color of good judgment and is the color of people seeking spiritual fulfillment. It is said if you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind. Purple is a good color to use in meditation. It is the color most favored by artists. Purple has been used to symbolize magic and mystery, as well as royalty.
Green is the color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility and is also the ‘lucky’ color. Green is favored by well-balanced people and symbolizes the master healer and the life force. It was believed green was healing for the eyes. Old drawings show that Egyptians wore green eyeliner. Studies show you should eat raw green foods for good health. Abundance and health also fall under the color Green (money), with Olive green being the traditional color of peace.
Brown is the color of the earth and is associated with the material side of life. Brown is a mixture of red, blue and yellow and can be a stabilizing color. Brown gives a feeling of solidity, and allows one to stay in the background, unnoticed. Some shades of brown create a warm, comfortable feeling of wholesomeness, naturalness and dependability.
Gray is the color of sorrow. People who favor gray can be loners or narrow-minded. Native Americans associate gray with friendship. Gray is the symbol for security (uniforms), responsibility, conservative practicality, maturity and dependability. Think about other examples that show how colors are used in language: ‘Do you have a green thumb?’ ‘Once in a blue moon’ and ‘You look red-hot tonight’- quite interesting isn’t it?
What are your colors?
#thoughttheories