Basic Colour Aspects | Colour Trends | Colour and its Meanings | Colour and its Effects
 The belief that exposure to different colours can affect our state of mind was explored as early as the 19th century. In the 1880s, French psychologist Charles Féré found that red light had the most stimulating effect on people while violet had a soothing, calming effect. Such studies proved to be the foundation for the practice of chromotherapy, a form of alternative medicine practiced widely in Europe at the turn of the century for enhancing health and psychological / emotional well-being.
Colour preference scales were used in the early 1900s for psychoanalysis. One of the most familiar of these was the Luscher Test. Devised in the 1940s by Swiss psychologist Max Luscher, this test was apparently widely-used in ethnographical research, medical diagnosis and therapy, marriage guidance and personnel selection. It consisted of eight colour samples, which the subject was instructed to arrange in order. This order was then used to interpret the subject's character. Meaning was attributed to each colour. Blue was held to be concentric, passive, sensitive and unifying, thus expressing tranquility, tenderness and affection. Orange or red, on the other hand, was eccentric, active, offensive, aggressive and competitive, and therefore expressed desire and domination.
 These two early areas of psychological research into colour were criticised by many skeptics. Indeed, many scientists, researchers and artists have debated the psychology of colour for hundreds of years. There have also been many different theories concerning the effects of colour on the human brain - as well as physical effects caused by emotional responses to colour.
Nevertheless, there is no doubt that colour does have an effect on us. It can influence our thinking and emotions and cause very different reactions - from very soothing to extremely irritating. In some instances, colours have very important functional effects on us.
 For example, thousands of years ago when our ancestors were hunting for food, blue, purple and black were "colour warning signs" of potentially poisonous food. Bright yellow signs catch our attention and are easy to read, even in very bright sunlight. The vibrancy of the colour red stands out and attracts attention, and convey the meaning of 'danger' - a big reason why red is often used for graphic signages.
Cold colours such as blue, slow down one's metabolism and increase one's sense of calm. Other cool colours include green, which is considered one of the most restful colour for the human eye. Green even has great healing power - it has been proven that people who work in green environments have fewer stomach aches. Hot colours such as orange have the effect of increasing blood pressure and stimulating the nervous system.
Pastels and pale colours suggest a certain airiness and have a gentle soothing effect as well, thus explaining why it is a popular colour for interior walls.
Different combinations of colours can also have a psychological effect on people. Some colour schemes offer a sense of harmony, while others do not go together at all and can cause a jarring, unappealing effect.
So, when you choose your colours, you would probably be influenced by many factors. Perhaps it is a reflection of your personality, or an effect that your senses are most comfortable with. Whatever it is, there is more than meets the eye with colour and psychology.  return to top of page
 Colour has had cultural significance even from ancient times. Thousands of years ago, colour was used to denote one's status in society. In classical times, only the richest were able to afford the brightest and most lost-lasting colours. Up until the eighteenth century, colours such as the vibrant ultramarine were a recognised symbol of one's stature. The poorer individuals in society, however, would be seen using comparably drab colours.
The connotation of black and white to represent good and evil (or the angel and devil) in society is also a large field for research. The study of these assigned values have been particularly lively through the decades because of its racial underpinnings. In the 1970s, there was also a very interesting study on the effects of the colours used on different national flags, and how these colours serve a propaganda function.
Different colours have also been noted to connote genders. In 1809 a German painter and theorist had released a study that explored the notion that the warm poles of yellow and orange represent 'masculine passion' while the cool poles of blue and violet are more feminine. These specific polarizations have since been debated on and even reversed by other theorists.
 Colours also have different meanings from culture to culture. For example, in Western culture, white suggests weddings; in China, white is the colour of mourning. In the West, green is a symbol of fertility or sexuality, while for Muslims, it's sacred. Meanwhile, in Japan, green is the symbol of the emperor. The symbol of royalty in the West, however, is purple. In most cultures, red is a symbol of danger - because it represents fire or potentially poisonous food. However, in Chinese culture, red is also a sign of good luck.
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