mind and body

Colours and Its Effect on Humans

Have you ever thought of how colour has been affecting people both on the inside and out? Well let’s find out together because I am also wondering as well. Colours has been around since I guess the world began but who knows, right? In here I listed the colours and their meanings, what they usually stand for us, how people interpret colours and how colour has been affecting us both unconsciously and consciously.




Red is a powerful color. It stimulates us and raises our pulse, giving us the impression that time is passing faster than it is. However, too much exposure to this color can cause stress, frustration and provokes anger.

It also grabs our attention first that is why street lights, important street signs, and fire equipments usually contain this color. The color red symbolizes love; it stimulates heartbeat and breathing. Researches show that men feel more affectionate towards women wearing red. Wear red and you might get lucky in grabbing attention but may appear heavier than your original body size.

It is stimulating and lively, very friendly but at the same time, it can be perceived as demanding and aggressive. Red is often used to evoke erotic feelings or for promoting something with a lot of energy.

Generally associated with: energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination passion, desire, love, warmth, anger, boldness, excitement, speed, courage, socialism

Light red stands for: joy, sexuality, passion, sensitivity, love

Dark red stands for: vigor, willpower, rage, anger, leadership, courage, longing, malice, wrath

Jump to color: yellow, blue, green, orange, purple, pink, black, brown, white,grey.

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“Yellow is capable of charming God.”– Vincent Van Gough

Yellow is also stimulating but in this case it is more on our emotions. Therefore, yellow is the strongest color, psychologically. The right yellow will lift your spirit, self-esteem and enhances concentration because it gives the brain and nervous system a “wake-up call”. However, too much of it or the wrong tone in relation to the other tones in a color scheme can cause self-esteem to plummet, giving rise to fear, anxiety and fatigue.

Studies show that babies cry more in yellow rooms. It is the most difficult color on the eye and people might lose temper more often in yellow rooms. It is also beneficial for speeding up metabolism and is a common food color.

In general associated with: joy, happiness, intellect, energy, comfort, liveliness, cowardice, hunger, optimism, overwhelm, Summer, conflict, confidence

Light yellow stands for: intellect, freshness, joy

Dull yellow stands for: caution, decay, sickness, jealousy

Jump to color: red, blue, green, orange, purple, pink, black, brown, white, grey.

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Blue is the color of the mind and is essentially soothing. It affects us mentally like strong blues stimulate clear thought and lighter , soft blues will calm the mind and aid concentration. So if you want some creative juices spilling out of your mind then get exposed to this color. However, too much exposure to this color may cause depression.

Blue is used a lot in businesses as it denotes loyalty. It is also discovered that materials in blue color appear to be light in weight; this is one of the reasons why weightlifters find it easier to handle heavy weights in gyms painted blue.
The color blue gives a toxic effect to edibles; moreover research has proven that when people are served with food dyed in blue they tend to lose appetite. So if you want to loose weight a blue kitchen can be very helpful, studies reveal that eating in a blue room lessens calorie intake 3 times than in rooms painted yellow and red.

In general associated with: depth, stability, trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, calm, heaven, peace, professionalism, reliability, honour, melancholia, boredom, coldness, Winter, conservatism, lack of emotion

Light blue stands for: health, healing, tranquility, understanding, softness

Dark blue stands for: knowledge, power, integrity, seriousness

Jump to color: red, yellow, green, orange, purple, pink, black, brown, white, grey.

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Green is the color of nature and has a healing power. It strikes the eye in such a way as to require no adjustment or whatever and is therefore restful. When the world contains plenty of green, this indicates the presence of water, and little danger of famine, so we are reassured by green, on a primitive level. However the absence of its presence indicates stagnation and, incorrectly used, will be perceived as being too bland.

Green gives a relaxes the body and alleviates stress. Researchers have proven that the color improves vision. This might be the reason why classroom boards are in green color instead of black. Green has a healing and hygienic effect and for this reason it is used a lot in hospitals. People working in green offices tend to be more satisfied with their jobs. Other surveys have also found that consumers spend more time shopping in shops painted green.

In general associated with: growth, balance, harmony, freshness, fertility, safety, money, durability, reliability, environmental, luxurious, optimism, well-being, rest, restoration, nature, calm, relaxation, Spring, honesty, optimism, boredom

Dark green stands for: ambition, greed, jealousy

Yellow-green stands for: sickness, cowardice, discord, jealousy

Olive green stands for: peace

Jump to color: red, yellow, blue, orange, purple, pink, black, brown, white, grey.

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“Orange is the happiest color” – Frank Sinatra

Orange is derived by the combination of red and yellow color. It stimulates mental abilities and is an ideal color to wear for exams. It focuses our minds on issues of comfort. But be careful not to use it with the color black for it triggers the feeling of deprivation. Equally, too much orange suggest frivolity and lack of serious intellectual values. It increases oxygen supply to the brain to produce invigorating effect. It also increases appetite.

In general associated with: joy, sunshine, enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, stimulation, cheerfulness, low cost, affordability, aggression, food, Halloween, liberal (politics), immaturity

Dark orange stands for: deceit and distrust

Red-orange stands for: desire, sexual passion, pleasure, domination, aggression, thirst for action

Gold stands for: illumination, wisdom, wealth, high quality

Jump to color: red, yellow, blue, green, purple, pink, black, brown, white, grey.

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Purple is a combination between the stability of blue and the energy of red. It encourages deep contemplation and meditation. People wearing purple color are perceived to be wealthy. It develops spirituality and deep thoughts. Purple color has also been found helpful to intensify sexual activity. Excessive use of purple can bring about too much introspection and the wrong tone of it communicates something cheap and nasty, faster than any other colour.

 In general associated with: royalty, power, nobility, luxury, ambition, wealth, extravagance, wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, magic, elegance, sophistication, artificial

Light purple stands for: romantic, nostalgic feelings

Dark purple stands for: gloom, sad feelings, frustration

Jump to color: red, yellow, blue, green, orange, pink, black, brown, white, grey.

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“Pink isn’t just a color, it’s an attitude.” – Miley Cyrus

Pink is considered to be the most romantic of all colors and is associated with femininity. It also reduces anger and anxiety. Dr Alexander Schauss, from American Institute of Biosocial and Medical Research explains that, “Even if a person tries to be angry or aggressive in the presence of pink, he can’t. The heart muscles can’t race fast enough.” It is nurturing and physically soothing. But too much pink is physically draining and can be somewhat emasculating.

In general associated with: Physical tranquillity, nurture, warmth, femininity, love, sexuality, survival of the species, inhibition, emotional claustrophobia, emasculation, physical weakness.

Pink stands for: romance, love, friendship

Jump to color: red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple, black, brown, white, grey.

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“I’ve been 40 years discovering that the queen of all colors is black.” – Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Black is all colors, totally absorbed. We often associate it with fear and death. Maybe it is because it triggers negative elements. But black can be also very elegant and formal since it also represents knowledge and intelligence. It is also perceived to make people wearing it look slimmer. In combination with bright colors black is able to create a very aggressive color scheme.

In general associated with: power, elegance, formality, death, evil, mystery, sophistication, strength, illegality, depression, morbidity, night

Jump to color: red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple, pink, brown, white, grey.

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“Brown is a manly color.” – Cassandra Clare

Brown symbolizes stability, structure and support. Consequently, it has much of the same seriousness as black, but is warmer and softer. Brown has associations with the earth and the natural world. It is a solid, reliable colour and most people find it quietly supportive – more positively than the ever-popular black, which is suppressive, rather than supportive.

In general associated with: relaxing, confident, casual, reassuring, nature, earthy, solid, reliable, genuine, Autumn, endurance

Light brown stands for: friendliness, honesty

Dark brown stands for: sadness, depression

Beige stands for: reliability, loyalty, regularity

Jump to color: red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple, pink, black, white, grey.

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“White covers a multitude of sins.” – Jonathan Milne

White is considered to be the most neutral color. Products come usually in white to symbolize innocence and cleanliness. Visually, white gives a heightened perception of space. The negative effect of white on warm colours is to make them look and feel garish.

White is used by doctors and nurses to show sterility. A research showed that people having hand tremors didn’t shake much in white rooms proving that the color has a calming effect.

In general associated with: light, goodness, innocence, purity, virginity, perfection, cleanliness, newness, peace, innocence, simplicity, sterility, snow, ice, cold


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“Grey is the devil’s favourite color;” – Peter Kreeft


In general associated with:: Psychological neutrality, Lack of confidence, dampness, depression, hibernation, lack of energy.




I hope this helped you. 🙂 Let me know in the comments what are your thoughts about the different effects of colors in our society. Thanks!

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