How colours impact our mood and mental health

Do you feel stressed in a yellow room? Does blue colour make you feel relaxed? Do you believe in this, that colours have an impact on your mood?

Yes! It has. Many artists and interior designers have believed from a very long time that colour can extremely affect emotions, moods and feelings of an individual.

Colour is a strong communication tool and can be used to signal action, influence mood and even physiological reactions. Even certain colours have been linked with increased blood pressure, metabolism and eyestrain.

Many alternative therapies support scientifically researched treatments for enhancing mental and physical health. One of them is colour therapy. Yes, you heard it right! But, before applying, it is very important to know this therapy in detail.

What is colour therapy?

Colour therapy is based on the idea that colour and coloured lights help to treat physical and as well as mental health. According to this idea, they cause precise changes in our moods and biology.

This therapy was firstly practised by people in countries like China, Greece and Egypt. It is scientifically proven by the colour therapy expert that, the relationship with colour has developed alongside our religions and cultures.

Now, in today's time, colour therapy is seen as alternative medicine therapy. It is used to release anxiety and to ease depression and this therapy is super effective.

Let's see what is the science behind the colour therapy

The science-backed research on colour therapy is still very limited as it is the new field of research. As of now, medical science can't give full confirmation that the colour and coloured lights help to improve physical and mental health.

In some parts of India, it is practised but, the research is still going on. There are certain pieces of evidence to tell that coloured lights are used to enhance physical and mental health. For example, blue light phototherapy is used by the doctors to treat neonatal jaundice(a condition affecting babies).

Even light therapy is used to treat seasonal affective disorder. Many types of research show that blue light when used at night times, is harmful as it suppresses the hormone 'Melatonin' present in the body which leads to lack of sleep.

Even it can increase the risk of acquiring heart disease, diabetes and cancer. So, one should avoid using blue light during the night times.

Many pieces of research show that colour therapy was first used in a mental asylum to cure mental illnesses like depression and violent behaviour. They used bright red colour lights in rooms to treat the people suffering from depression.

What are the benefits of colour therapy?

Though the research is still going on, colour therapy is used in a variety of industries to determine the way individuals behave and think in those environments.

If we talk about health care, colour therapy is used to create an environment that feels inspiring and healthy. Like, colour therapy is used in hospital designs to encourage the patients healing and motivation.

So, this is the way how colour therapy is used in the healthcare industry.

What are the psychological effects of colour?

Do you know why colour is such a strong force in our lives? What all effects it can have on our mind and body?

Actually, the perceptions of colour are subjective but, some colour effects have universal meaning.

Like, the colours such as red, orange and yellow lies in the real area of the colour spectrum so, these three colours are called as warm colours which evoke emotions ranging from a feeling of warmth to feeling of anger.

On the other hand, the colours on the blue side of the spectrum are called cool colours. It includes three colours- Blue, purple and green. So, these colours are often described as calm colours. Like, colour therapy is used as an alternative treatment. In this, treatment five colours are used:

1. Red

It is used to refresh the body and mind and also helps to increase circulation.

2. Yellow

It helps to purify the body.

3. Orange

This colour is used to increase the energy levels in the body.

4. Blue

It helps in treating the body pains.

5. Indigo

It helps in alleviating all the skin problems.

So, these were the five colours used in colour therapy.

What modern research says about colour therapy?

Most of the psychologists say that different colours have a huge impact on people in different ways.

1. Red

It causes people to react with greater force and speed which helps the people during athletic activities.

2. Black

Too much black colour actually generates negativity in the minds of individuals. It can even cause depression and mood swings.

So, it is best to use some colour with black to lighten and brighten its energy.

3. Blue

This colour helps to calm down the mind of an individual.

Not only this, but studies have also shown that certain colours have a huge impact on the performance too. Many pieces of research show that if the student is exposed to red colour before their exams then, it can actually harm their test performance.

Does the colour of the products you buy, say something about your personality?

The colour preferences while purchasing the items might say something about the type of image you maybe trying to project.

But side by side other factors also influences the colour choices we make. Such as age and gender. For example, a person prefers to buy things that have a brighter colour when they are young, but then they find themselves drawn to some other traditional colours when they grow older. So, with age colour preferences changes.

These were some of the modern research done till now that tells us about colour therapy.


Colour can play an important role in conveying information, in creating certain moods and even influencing the decisions that people make.

Colour preferences also strive an influence on the objects people choose to buy, the clothes they wear and the way they embellish their environment.

People often select objects in colours that stimulate certain feelings or moods. Even some room colours also evoke specific moods such as, if you paint your room with cool colours then it creates a peaceful mood.

But, for sure more scientific research is needed to gain a better and a clear understanding of colour psychology.

Thanks for reading it till the end. Hope you like it. If you like it, do leave your valuable comments.

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