How color impacts our everyday life.
I recently hosted a webinar for an international soft furnishings library—yes, there is such a thing! ‘The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library’ archives and provides current information for the entire Soft Furnishings Industry. My focus was on color and undertones, specifically how to choose colors effectively in home decor. It was both enjoyable and demanding. Color is among my favorite topics, and each webinar or presentation I do makes me learn.
Afterward, I was invited to do an expanded webinar for the Library and I decided to look at how color impacts our everyday lives, to start.
I asked my assistant, Yana, to identify ten significant ways color influences our daily experiences. While I knew some aspects, like how yellow and orange enhance happiness and red stimulates appetite, I was surprised to learn that blue can make time seem to slow down and how complementary colors boost memory retention.
Here’s a summary of our findings:
Mood Influencer:
Bright colors like yellow and orange can evoke happiness and excitement, while darker hues, such as gray or black, might induce sadness or intimidation. [Source: Color Studies by Edith Anderson Feisner]
Energy Level:
Colors like red are linked to increased physical activity and alertness, often used in spaces requiring energy and motivation. [Source: The Effects of Color on Performance by Nancy J. Stone]
Appetite Stimulation:
Warm colors like red and orange are used in restaurants to stimulate diners’ appetites, enhancing meal enjoyment and promoting longer stays. [Source: The Influence of Color on Consumer Behavior by Satyendra Singh]
Perception of Time:
Blue environments can make time appear to slow down, aiding relaxation, whereas red can accelerate time perception, creating a sense of urgency. [Source: Effects of Color on Perception by Pieter H. M. Levelt]
Productivity and Focus:
Blue tones are linked to cognitive boosts and concentration, making them popular in offices and study areas to enhance productivity. [Source: Pervasive Effects of Color on Psychological Functioning by Andrew J. Elliot]
Stress Reduction:
Green and blue hues have calming effects, helping to alleviate stress and anxiety, and promoting a sense of tranquility, especially in healthcare settings. [Source: Color and Psychological Functioning: The Effect of Red on Performance Attainment by Andrew J. Elliot]
Perceived Temperature:
Colors like red and orange make a space feel warmer and cozier, while blues provide a cooler ambiance, affecting perceived comfort. [Source: The Influence of Paint Color on the Perception of Temperature by K.M. Gin]
Spatial Perception:
Light colors like white make small areas appear more spacious, while darker tones like navy can create a cozy atmosphere. [Source: Space Perception of Interior Color by Chien-Kuo Wang]
Attention and Memorability:
Contrasting colors draw attention and enhance memory retention, a common strategy in advertising and educational materials. [Source: Color Psychology and Color Therapy by Faber Birren]
Cultural Associations:
Color meanings vary across cultures, with red symbolizing celebration in China and warning in the United States, influencing its usage. [Source: The Role of Culture in Color Naming by Joerg Finger]
I wanted to share these insights with you. They will feature prominently in the upcoming color webinar, and I might expand on each point later on the website.
Speaking of the website, Designsewlutions.ca, I’m reclassifying all the posts by subject matter. I’m working backward and updating each post with fresh content and images. It’s a big job, with about 400 posts to tackle, but the wealth of information is impressive, if I do say so myself. I’ve been writing these pieces for 16 years and want the information be easily accessible to anyone who is interested.
