Color Me Happy: A Rainbow of Emotions (+ free color psychology chart!)
Color Me Happy: A Rainbow of Emotions (plus free color chart!)
It's probably no secret that color is totally my jam. I mean there's a reason when asked what my favorite color is I say, "ALL OF THEM!" But color is more than just fun tints and shades — there is an actual science to it, known as color psychology.
As Wikipedia breaks it down for us:
Color psychology is the study of hues as a determinant of human behavior. Color influences perceptions that are not obvious, such as the taste of food. Color can indeed influence a person; however, it is important to remember that these effects differ between people. Factors such as gender, age, and culture can influence how an individual perceives color.
Color psychology is also widely used in marketing and branding. Many marketers see color as an important part of marketing because color can be used to influence consumers' emotions and perceptions of goods and services.
So color not only influences behavior, but it also aids with learning, increases memory, and, whether done consciously or not, a majority of people even make buying decisions based on color. (In fact, one study revealed that close to 85% of respondents that color accounts for more than half among the various factors important for choosing products.)
Each color evokes different emotions and can be very powerful in creating a mood. (And while I'll go through each of the basic color families and their emotions below, at the end of this post I also have a handy-dandy PDF you can download for easy reference!)
Communicating through Color
I don't know about you, but sometimes (despite having majored in English 😝) I find it hard to communicate with words. It's like they escape me and I can't find the right ones — especially when I'm trying to describe an exact mood or feeling. I think that's why art has always been a huge part of my life...I can usually communicate visually with color and shapes and lines much more effectively, even if it's just to work something out in my head.
A HUGE part of this is the particular colors I choose. While it often may seem random or by chance, more often than not the colors I gravitate toward on any given day are a direct reflection of my inner thoughts, or what I'm trying to convey.
(And what makes creating my signature confetti mixes extra interesting is the fact that I can add different colors that each still retain their individual properties, but also can take on a new look when added to the rest of the pieces. Unlike paint mixing for example, where you literally mix two colors together to create a completely new shade — with my confetti you can sprinkle/separate it to see all the intricacies of the different colors and textures, whereas once you mix paint you can't exactly unmix it.)
Bottom line? Colors speak. Colors are powerful. Colors communicate.
Color Your World
Now that we understand just how powerful colors can be, it's obvious how the shades you choose for your home, wardrobe, brand, etc. can affect your mood & emotions, as well as the mood and emotions of those around you! I once bought a yellow sweater and the cashier told me I was sure to make everyone around me happy whenever I wore it. Sure enough, every time I do someone comments on how bright and happy I am. 😊
When you're browsing for your next outfit, statement painting, confetti mix, or perfect home accent, consider the mood you want to convey.
What colors evoke what emotions, you ask? Here we go:
(*I've chosen to stick with what I think are the 12 basic color families, but there are endless variations and tones within each group. The idea here is to give you a broad sense of the general color vibes, but I highly encourage you to explore your own thoughts and feelings when looking at differing shades.)
Pink
Pink: sweet, feminine, loving, playful, gentle, soft, compassionate
Red
Red: passionate, powerful, strong, desired
Orange
Orange: courageous, confident, energetic, playful, vibrant, social
Yellow
Yellow: joyful, energetic, bright, warm
Green
Green: fresh, wealthy, growing, organic, balanced
Blue
Blue: tranquil, loyal, calm, healing, trusting, free, spiritual, light
Purple
Purple: royal, noble, majestic, luxurious, creative, abundant
Brown
Brown: earthly, grounded, conservative
White
White: innocent, pure, clean
Black
Black: sophisticated, dramatic, classic, formal, powerful, elegant
Gray_Silver
Gray/Silver: reliable, secure, solid, modern, futuristic, sleek, graceful
Gold
Gold: wise, wealthy, valued
Now tell me — which color is your favorite? Do you have one or two that you are always drawn to? Or are you like me and you love them all? Feel free to comment with your thoughts on how they make you feel, and don't forget to snag your color psychology PDF below:
Color Me Happy free download from The Confetti Bar