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- Colour has a real effect on how you feel and experts say it has the power to improve your mood.
- Just think about how your favourite red lipstick makes you feel more powerful or how a vase full of yellow flowers brings about a feeling of joy.
- Colour psychologist Karen Haller shares her top six colours for boosting your mood.
If you've ever put on a slick of red lippy and felt that little bit more powerful, popped some yellow flowers in a vase to cheer yourself up, or detected a greater sense of serenity when surrounded by greenery, you've been directly influenced by colour. Its effect on how you feel is real and experts say colour has the power to improve our mood.
"Colour absolutely sparks joy in humans," says Karen Haller, London-based colour and design psychology specialist, and author of the best- selling The Little Book of Colour.
"Every colour has the potential to change how we feel in an instant because it delivers an emotional experience. Colour is arguably the simplest tool we have at our disposal to enhance positive emotions and increase well-being."
According to Dr Emily Brayshaw, research associate at the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building at the University of Technology Sydney, colour has been meaningful to humans for as long as we have been dressing.
"The ancient Egyptians loved gold, red, turquoise and blue and associated these shades with royalty," says Dr Brayshaw. "The Romans and, later the Byzantine empire, privileged Tyrian purple. Extracting this dye involved tens of thousands of murex rock snails and substantial labour and, as a result, the dye was highly valued."
In 2022, this long-loved hue made a vibrant comeback, with Pantone announcing Very Peri, a joyous periwinkle blue, with a violet-red undertone, as colour of the year. According to Dr Brayshaw, this was a direct reflection of the post-pandemic party mood.
"It's about being seen and feeling festive," she says. "People want to brighten up their lives."
This year, Pantone's colour forecast is for magenta - a bold, carmine-like red signalling a mood shift towards finding passion.
"Colours that are low in saturation are more emotionally soothing and lead to a calmer or less intense emotional state," says Karen Haller. "The more saturated or intense a colour, the more stimulating it can be for your emotions."
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Find your tone
While trends will come and go, Karen predicts colour personalisation as a growing cultural movement.
"It's about picking colours that express your authentic personality, so that you can express the true you from the inside out," she says.
Surrounding ourselves with colours that resonate with us personally can help us connect with ourselves and others.
"When we feel connected, we feel happier about who we are. And when we feel happier about who we are, we can begin to lead happier and more fulfilled lives," Karen says.
Your true hue
Working out which colours speak to you most is a simple case of trial and error because what feels good to you depends on both cultural influence and personal associations.
"If your experience of oranges is a delicious flavour, health, zest, fun and warm climates, then you'll think about these things, either consciously or subconsciously, when you see bright orange," says Dr Brayshaw.
"In Western cultures, black clothing has a long association with mourning and death, but it might not make you feel sad. You might feel elegant in a little black dress or edgy if you're heading to a metal-head concert in black. We develop our own colour language throughout our lives."
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The power of colour
Colour psychologist Karen Haller shares her top six colours for boosting your mood.
Confidence boost
Wear darker blues to appear authoritative and knowledgeable, yet still approachable, trustworthy and reliable.
Harmonious
Darker greens reflect balance and harmony, providing a sense of reassurance and peace.
Quick thinking
Turquoise is a stimulating colour that wakes up your mind.
Add cheer
Yellow is like a cheery hello. On the greyest of days, it's like taking the sunshine with you.
Playful spirit
A joyful hue, orange is great for lightening the mood.
Power play
There's nothing shy or retiring about red. It commands attention and will always get you noticed.
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Weighty white
Researchers from Oxford University found people eat less from a red plate (red is, after all, a colour our primal nature may connect with danger). Conversely, eating from a big white plate might wake up your appetite - in some studies, food was perceived as more flavoursome (often sweeter) when served on a white dish.
Sleepy hues
"The best palettes for a good night's sleep are those that are soothing, which means colours that are low saturation," says Karen. "Think light pink, which is physically soothing, or light blue, which is mentally soothing. Soft peaches and apricots, pale greens and soft purples are also good." Avoid highly stimulating hues, such as bright red.
Blonde ambition
Studies (mostly led by hair-colour brands) have consistently found that women who dye their hair blonde feel more confident and sexy. Scientists have theorised that lighter hair may often be associated with youth and good health.
Touch point
Texture can influence mood too. "Sometimes we want the hard sparkle of metals, jewels and reflective surfaces for confidence; other times, soft fabrics such as silk, plush cotton and velvet can offer comfort," says Dr Brayshaw. "It's no coincidence that the Oodie was so popular during the pandemic; it's like a big hug."
Source: AREMEDIASYNDICATION.COM.AU/MAGAZINEFEATURES.CO.ZA
