Deborah Stuke

Color Guide-Environment and Emotion



Posted: Monday, July 24, 2006

by
Light + Color Collaborative

Color is one of the most powerful communication tools and can influence mood, cause emotional and physiological reactions, and is used to capture our attention for a multitude of purposes. Advertisers utilize color to dramatically influence mood, stimulate the senses, and cause emotional and physical reactions. Color is the first thing we register when our brain processes a visual impulse therefore it is the most important element in design. The colors of an environment have a significant impact on the emotions and performance of the people within that environment.

There are colors that can increase metabolism, improve relaxation, increase productivity or cause eyestrain. Colors can create a feeling of warmth or coolness. We refer to red, orange and yellow as warm colors and those on the green, blue and purple side of the color spectrum are considered cool colors. While perceptions of color are subjective, there are some color effects that have universal meaning. The color green symbolizes nature and the natural world and is often used in interiors for its calming effect. Colors trigger physical as well as emotional responses. Red has been shown to stimulate the senses and raise the blood pressure, while blue has the opposite effect and calms the mind.

So, what is color and how do you choose the best colors for your environment? Color is light and light is energy. The wavelengths of light are either absorbed or reflected off an object, depending on the object’s makeup. The reflected wavelengths are what we perceive as the object's color. For example, if you are looking at a blue wall, the reflected light that the eye sees is blue because the wall absorbs all the other colors. Choosing the right colors can be difficult as there are thousands of options. Begin by finding the colors that help to create the mood or atmosphere you want to achieve.

Color balance and harmony are the keys to a pleasing color scheme. The variations of tones and combinations of shades and tints are adjusted to achieve visual harmony and the desired psychological effect. Color balance and harmony are subjective, so often people just need a little guidance to find their personal color palette. It is important to note that there are no poor colors, only poor color combinations.

A color consultant can help to determine the best color palette for a specific environment based on the occupant’s needs and the functionality of the space. Because color is so subjective, the color consultant will develop a color scheme that results in a comfortable and satisfying environment that compliments the client.

“Light, that first phenomenon of the world, reveals to us the spirit and living soul of the world through color." ~ Johannes Itten Bauhaus colorist

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