You may have noticed how seasonal change affects your mood. Once it is brighter and sunnier, with blue skies and blooming flowers around, your mood gets exponentially better. You are more inspired to do things you like, you feel excited to meet up with your friends and participate in social activities. While scientists will say it is the vitamin D from the sun, I say that it is the change of colors around us. So how are the colors around us affecting our moods and lifestyle?
Colors are not only affecting us with seasonal change but rather on a daily basis…
I watched this TedTalk a couple of days ago and it was the inspiration behind this article.
A little science behind color psychology
We all know how important colors are for every aspect of our lives. As an aesthetic choice, but also as the psychological connection that we have with each color. Studies in color psychology suggest that colors can influence our mood, energy levels, and even decision-making. But why does this happen?
I have more articles about color in my blog so feel free to check them out:
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How Our Brain Processes Color
When we see colors, our eyes send signals to the brain’s hypothalamus, which regulates hormones and emotions. This is why certain colors can make us feel energized, while others promote relaxation. For example:
- Warm colors (red, orange, yellow) stimulate the nervous system, increasing heart rate and alertness.
- Cool colors (blue, green, purple) have a calming effect, reducing stress and promoting focus.
Interestingly, color perception is also influenced by evolution. Early humans associated green with fertile landscapes (safety) and red with danger (fire, blood), which may explain why these colors still trigger instinctive emotional responses today.
The Influence of Light and Color Exposure
Beyond psychology, colors also have biological effects. Exposure to blue light (like the sky or phone screens) affects the melatonin production, influencing sleep cycles. This is why staring at screens at night can make it harder to fall asleep!
Now that we understand the science, let’s explore how specific colors impact our moods, emotions and daily life activities.
I am gonna be taking a different approach here because I believe that color perception relates deeply to our cultural backgrounds. So where red may signal danger in some cultures, in others, it is the color for happiness. Brides in India wear red, because it’s a strong vibrant color that would catch the attention of the viewer. While in Morocco, you would see a lot of brides in greens, golds or whites. But white is the color for purity and happiness in so many cultures. As it is the color of death in others. Therefore, I don’t think that we can use a one-size-fits-all rule in this case.
can balance an image and makes it smoother for the brain to process
How to choose my colors to get the best out of my day?
Your day starts with colors stimulating different reactions in your brain. The dominating color of the room you sleep in, the amount and quality of light coming in from your window in the morning, your sheets and pillows, then your outfit. All of these routinely interactions set up a ground for your mood during the day. And depending on your personal preference, there’s no good or bad color.
