Yumul, Jamie R.

Architectural Interiors- Lecture- 40211

Ar. Joannes Paula Espino

Color Psychology
Color psychology is the study of how different colors affect human mood and behavior.
It explores how colors can influence emotional responses, as well as how responses to
color are affected by factors such as age and cultural background. Color psychology is
the study of how colors affect perceptions and behaviors. In marketing and branding,
color psychology is focused on how colors impact consumers’ impressions of a brand
and whether or not they persuade consumers to consider specific brands or make a
purchase.

It’s an important field of study to consider when creating marketing assets, building a
new business, or rebranding an existing one. Consider this: In a study titled “Impact of
color on marketing,” researchers found that up to 90% of snap judgments made about
products can be based on color alone.

Different topics that are of interest in this area include:

 The meanings of colors
 How colors impact physiological responses
 Emotional reactions to color
 Factors that impact color preferences
 Cultural differences in the meanings and associations of different colors
 Whether colors can impact mental health
 How colors can influence behaviors
 Ways that colors can be utilized to promote well-being
 How colors can be used to improve safety and design more optimal home and work environments

Color's Psychological Effects

Why does color have such a strong influence on our lives? How might it impact our bodies and minds? Though color perceptions might be fairly
personal, some color effects have universal significance. Warm colors include red, orange, and yellow, which are those in the red region of the color
spectrum. These warm hues arouse a range of sensations, from warmth and comfort to rage and hatred. Cool hues include blue, purple, and green,
which are on the blue end of the color wheel. Although they are frequently thought of as being calming, these hues can also evoke melancholy or
indifference.
Symbolic Color Meanings

Symbolic meanings that are often associated

with different colors:2

 Red: Passion, excitement, love

 Pink: Soft, reserved, earthy
 Purple: Mysterious, noble, glamorous
 Blue: Wisdom, hope, reason, peace
 Green: Nature, growth, freshness
 Yellow: Hope, joy, danger
 Orange: Warmth, kindness, joy
 White: Truth, indifference
 Black: Noble, mysterious, cold

Colors And Its Use in Architecture

We can see that architecture acts as a giant canvas through which an architect, like an artist, expresses his/her idea and thought process. Thus, from
the walls to the railings of a staircase can be a statement piece. It becomes crucial to be aware of how a color would affect the user since architectural
elements take u a significant amount of space in one’s cone of vision. Color may visually simulate certain features of space or convey a specific
volume or architectural detail. It may also generate a variety of emotions and visual effects.

Green

A rather receding color in large cities, Green has an instantaneous relieving effect on its viewers. Since the human
brain has been conditioned around nature, witnessing Green thus brings a sense of relaxation and familiarity. Unlike
red, it causes the eye to focus precisely on the retina, making it the most relaxing color for the eyes. Green is a color
that may represent both nature and illness. One might often notice when standing under translucent roofing material
with a tinge of green in it that the skin looks sicker. While using a lighter shade of green on walls can create a secure
sense.
Blue
A color that is almost constantly perceived by humans when outside or near a window or even close to a water body,
blue has always resulted in tranquility and makes the space feel breathable. Some observe that blue reduces a
person’s blood pressure almost instantaneously. It can create a sense of free movement and flight when used as a
lighter shade. A deeper or darker shade of blue does quite the opposite. It not only feels stronger in the eye when
viewed by a person, but it can also create a sense of space deepening.

Yellow
The first color that comes to a person’s mind when considering a representative color that recreates a cheerful feeling
is yellow. This can again be backtracked to human evolution where elements such as the morning sun or fire meant
safety from animals and food hunting or cooking. Thus, it creates a jocund feeling. A dull or murky yellow might
give a sickening feeling. Because of its ability to stand out, it is often used as a directional element or highlight on the
floor or walls. While yellow ceilings make the space feel more luminous and energetic.

Red
A color that comes only second to black, when considering its sensitive usage, red is a color that designers tread on
carefully. Because of its highly stimulating nature, Red is often used when in need of diverting someone’s attention,
thus prevalently known for its dynamics. Because of the natural focal point of red being behind the retina, the eye
must alter its focus. As a result, red looks to be closer than it is. Injudicious use of Red on the walls might make them
seem to advance or even aggressive. While earthy tones of red might make it feel grounded.

Orange
People either love orange or dislike it. Since it walks the thin line between jovial and energetic to dull or intrusive, it is
often used only as an accent color to make a part of something pop out. Though it is more effective at grabbing
attention when used as a brighter shade instead of a darker one. Because of its energetic appeal, it suits best when
used with a neutral color or simply white.
Brown
Similar in line with green, certain shades of brown bring a sense of reconnection with earth to certain people. There is a
significant contrast between brown paint and wood. Brown should be avoided in some organizations since it conjures up
bad connotations. Wood and stone look to be quite welcoming and warm. When considering a natural environment,
wood brown does an excellent job of blending in with the environment.
References:

Cherry, K. (2022, November 29). Can color affect your mood and behavior? Verywell Mind. Retrieved December 3, 2022, from
https://www.verywellmind.com/color-psychology-2795824

Ciotti, G. (2020, August 12). Color psychology in marketing and branding is all about context - help scout. Help Scout: Shared Inbox, Help Center,
& Live Chat Software. Retrieved December 3, 2022, from https://www.helpscout.com/blog/psychology-of-color/

Singh, A., & Chinurkar, K. (2022, April 22). Colour and architecture: Why is colour psychology important in architecture? The Design Gesture.
Retrieved December 3, 2022, from https://thedesigngesture.com/colour-and-architecture/