A Guide To Using Colors To Enhance Your Mood

While you may well have a favorite color, have you ever stopped to consider just how strong an influence different shades can have on your mood?

As it turns out, painting your walls with particular colors or surrounding yourself with objects of a certain hue can increase happiness, sharpen focus, or even influence appetite.

As you look through the following list of ten colors, consider how you might use them in your quest to become a more positive, productive person.

1. Violet

If you’re trying to choose a color for the area where you practice mindfulness or creative visualization exercises, violet is said to evoke deep thought and reflectiveness. It also has  mystical qualities—think of the stereotypical wizard’s hat in cartoons!
Various shades of purple have also been viewed as signs of wealth and status throughout history, so you can cleverly use purple in a room when you want to instantly create a sense of luxury.

Photo Credit: Flickr

2. Yellow

A color that tends to make people think of summer, sunshine and flowers, yellow is connected to cheerful and increased mental activity. It may be good to introduce little splashes of yellow in your living room or study, but be wary of overdoing it—people who are surrounded by lots of yellow consistently report higher levels of irritation, and some even suffer headaches. It is thought that these side effects relate to the fact that yellow is harder for the eyes and brain to decipher than other colors.

3. Blue

Blue typically calms and soothes the viewer, making it a restful shade to introduce in a bedroom or a place where you plan to meditate. In fact, there is some evidence that the brain responds to blue by releasing calming chemicals.

However, some people respond to blue by feeling physically cold, so if you’re one of those people then you may want to mix blue with warmer shades if you want to feel peaceful and mellow.

Photo Credit: Tobi Fairley

4. Black

Although black is associated with sober events like funerals, don’t discount a black sofa or table just yet. It’s always a color associated with power, mystery and seriousness.

If you have a home office in which you might be taking important meetings or greeting new clients, some black furniture could help you feel more in control—and helping others to view you in the same way.

5. Green

The color that’s most obviously connected to nature, many hospitals choose to decorate their walls with green because of its link to healthiness. While yellow is the hardest for the brain to process, green is the easiest, so it could help to counteract eye strain or feelings of tiredness.

Consequently, it seems like another excellent choice for a bedroom—or a bathroom, if you’re fond of taking long, luxurious bubble baths!

6. White

Long associated with purity and simplicity, white is also capable of making small rooms seem larger—a handy trick for interior decorators.

Paired with bright objects, it creates an appearance of cleanliness and brightness, though if used in abundance it may make a space feel clinical.

Photo Credit: HouseToHome 

7. Pink

Often considered as a color of romance, pink is a color worth including in a bedroom where you’d like to enjoy intimacy with a partner.

However, it also has a surprising property—even bright shades of pink seem to be soothing, lowering heart rate and calming thoughts for up to an hour. As such, it’s a nice color to include in a study area or a place where you like to read for pleasure.

8. Orange

According to color experts, exposure to orange makes people hungry, so there’s no better place for it than the kitchen or dining area. It’s also worth noting that color therapists view orange as associated with treating breathing difficulties and improving low energy levels.

It even seems to enhance circulation, so it could have a positive influence on your focus and concentration. For that reason, you might consider using it around your work space as well.

9. Red

Studies on physical and psychological responses to color have linked various shades of red with a boost in both heartbeat and respiration rate, creating a surge of energy.

While this means it might not be the ideal color for a bedspread, it could be great for a family room or a place where you catch up with friends.

10. Brown

Finally, like green, brown is strongly tied to thoughts about the natural world. This earthy color is a favorite among men in particular, so if you have a son then you might want to offer him a brown toned carpet or curtains.

Further, brown evokes a sense of comfort and safety, so it can also be a fitting selection for a nursery or a cozy family room where you like to relax after a hard week at work.

Photo Credit: Rob Karosis