Color Psychology 101
Not a morning person? Maybe it's that muted shade of grey on your bedroom walls. Yeah, yeah, we know it goes with your minimalist aesthetic and carefully curated succulent collection. Ever thought maybe those walls of yours are affecting your mood? They just might be.
In fact, there's quite a bit of evidence that suggests colour plays an important role in our emotions. Now before you trek over to your local Home Depot to swatch some new paint shades, let's break down a few basic hues and how they really make you feel.
Not so mellow yellow
If grey isn't getting you going in the morning, try a brighter shade like yellow. Yellow is said to boost energy levels and stimulate mental activity. Bright yellow walls, a warm cup of coffee, and mornings are growing on you already. But beware, rumour has it, this zesty colour has a bad rep for making babies cry, i.e. must be 3 years or older to reap these benefits.
Red alert
It might seem obvious that the colour red evokes love, passion and all things sappy, especially around the month of February. But bet you didn't know it could be responsible for increasing your blood pressure and even your appetite. Let's take a moment to think of all the fast food chains out there that have fooled us over the years Yeah, were lookin' at you, McDonald's. No, we did not need to super-size that Big Mac meal. #jk #noregrets
Green with envy
While dark green is usually associated with money and therefore envy, green as a whole tends to represent health and tranquility. The colour's association with growth and nature are said to be responsible for its relaxing and stress-relieving properties. As if that weren't enough, studies have shown that people who work in green working environments tend to experience fewer stomach aches. Its no wonder Greenery was named 2017's Pantone Colour of the Year.
Think pink
Pink is said to make you feel feminine, young, innocent, blah, blah, blah We get it. We're not ones for traditional gender stereotypes either. So what else is pink responsible for? Apparently it can have a calming effect, and some say it even has the power to suppress your appetite - both cited as reasons Kendall Jenner painted her living room a Pepto Bismol-like shade called Baker-Miller Pink or Drunk Tank Pink, also claimed to reduce hostile behaviour in violent prisoners.
Into the blue
Blue is yet another hue known to evoke a sense of serenity, as it's considered to be a very friendly and inviting colour. It can also elicit feelings of trust and security (sup, RBC? We see what you did there). Even more interesting is the fact that it's said to boost productivity in the workplace with its ability to keep your pulse rate down. *calls boss, demands blue*.
Grey area
Hate to break it to you, but those walls of yours may not be doing you much good. While an interior designer will tell you grey can create the illusion of space especially in a tiny apartment, unfortunately some shades can make you feel sad, gloomy and even lonely. Tough tradeoff, we know. Thankfully, this effect varies in its leaning toward black or white. So if grey is your thing, keep in mind its lighter iterations tend to be more energizing and less drab or depressing. Ultimately, you do you.
