How to use color to boost mood and image

Have you heard of color therapy? Studies show that colors can affect the mood. A yellow room feels ‘happy and light.’ A gray room feels ‘dull and depressing.’ Many fast food restaurants also use the colors orange or red, which tend to stimulate energy and appetite. (Find out how to use feng shui and color to lose weight.

Some people believe it’s because colors have corresponding frequencies that activate different parts of the brain. Or, it could be psychological: we associate black with power and authority because of the ‘black suit’ worn by executives and government officials.
Use color therapy to your advantage, with this simple article on the meanings of colors and how to strategically use them when you pick clothes or decorate a room.

Meanings of colors

White is associated with purity and cleanliness (like the bridal dress or the doctor’s gown). Blue and green, two natural colors, are associated with calm and relaxation, as well as a return to nature. Both also tend to be easy on the eye (are brain is wired to seeing lots of green, because of plants, so eye muscles relax). Culturally, green is also associated with spring and the idea of rebirth and prosperity.

Pink tends to make people look more approachable, perhaps because it conjures images of childhood (like a baby pink) and makes you look less of a threat.

Yellow is associated with sunshine and warmth. Red is the color of energy and power (PR experts actually recommend wearing red when you want to command attention) but can also be associated with aggression. (For the Chinese, red is the color of luck.) If you wish to exude energy, but in a more soothing way, choose ‘softer’ reds like peach or orange.

Purple, associated with royalty, triggers thoughts of wealth. Deeper shades of purple are sometimes associated with spirituality.
Brown, the color of raw earth, is often linked to something simple but reliable. Black, on the other hand, is associated with drama and power, but also of death. Both are ‘sobering’ colors, and can be used to indicate a sense of seriousness.

Choosing colors for the home

Use blues and greens in the bedroom, where you want to relax. Use yellows and other energizing colors in the kitchen and work area to encourage productivity. Red, associated with power and strength, is too harsh for an entire room, but is good for small accents—you can look at these objects when you feel drained or confused, to refocus your energies and boost your confidence.

Choosing colors for clothes

Wear pinks, peaches and yellows if you want to appear friendly and approachable. Avoid green (people tend to ignore that color, considering it part of the background). If you wish to look professional, but not grab too much attention , wear white, a very clean and crisp color that is elegant but unassuming.

Browns and blacks exude authority and dependability, but can look too serious and drab. Add touches of a more vibrant color, like a red handkerchief or bracelet, or a red bag, so you still look creative or aggressive.

Blues, which are soothing and relaxing, are good for those crisis meetings where everyone’s at each other’s throats. If you still wish to exude authority and appear more credible, choose purple (the color of authority) with blue undertones.

Photo from healthveda.com