colors & moods

Whether we realize it or not colors can influence our moods. They can inspire us. They can calm us. They can agitate us.

We can also be affected by colors through cultural associations. Some may think of money when they see green, while another culture will make the same correlation with red.

Here's a few thoughts on various colors:

Blue emphasizes peace and tranquility. It may conjure up images of blue sky or the ocean. But it is also associated with depression and "feeling blue". Some believe that blue can slow the pulse rate, lower body temperature, and reduce appetite. It is also considered a business color as it reflects reliability.

Black represents power, formality and mystery to many. Research has shown that offices that used black as a primary color had workers who felt "tougher" and more confident. It is also the color most often associated with death and mourning.

Green soothes, calms, and can have great healing powers. It represents nature, health, fertility, and youth. Green is both refreshing and relaxing. It can also represent envy, jealousy, and inexperience.

Orange symbolizes balance, warmth, vibrance, and enthusiasm. It can express energy. It can also bring up memories of autumn - think falling leaves and pumpkins.

Purple represents royalty, nobility, wisdom, and spirituality. At one time purple dye was made from the mucous glands of snails. It required thousands of snails to yield 1 gram of dye - hence it was a color only the nobles could afford. Today many think it stimulates creativity.

Red catches the attention. It is warm and energetic. It suggests passion, love, fire, heat, danger, and anger. It can raise the blood pressure and make the heart beat faster. It's a great color for a fast sports car, but not so good for a bedroom (unless you weren't looking to get much sleep).

White represents purity, cleanliness, innocence, and good. It's also cooling as we may think of snow and winter. It is crisp, clean, and sterile.

Yellow invokes the feelings of warmth, sunshine, and summer. It also represents joy, happiness, optimism, vitality, and imagination. It can suggest importance and urgency. The yellow rose is a symbol of friendship.

So, when choosing colors for your living spaces keep these thoughts in mind. You may want a bedroom to be in a restful shade of green or blue, rather than invigorating red. On the other hand, a kitchen might help you get going in the morning if it had splashes of red, orange and/or yellow. It's easy to use color to create the mood you are seeking.