How Colour Impacts Emotions

Question 1

How does colour affect emotions?

Answer 1

The way different colours can affect emotions depends largely on a colour’s brightness, shade, tint or tone and whether it’s cool or warm toned.

Question 2

What are some warm colours?

Answer 2

Red, orange, yellow

Question 3

What emotions do warm colours evoke?

Answer 3

Warm colours often evoke feelings of happiness, optimism and energy. However, red, orange and yellow can also have an attention grabbing effect and signal danger or make you take action.

Question 4

What are some cool colours?

Answer 4

Green, blue, purple

Question 5

What emotions do cool colours evoke?

Answer 5

Cool colours are usually calming and soothing but can also express sadness.

Question 6

What are happy colours?

Answer 6

Happy colors are bright, warm colors like yellow, orange, pink and red. Pastel colors like peach, light pink or lilac can also have an uplifting effect on your mood. The brighter and lighter a color, the more happy and optimistic it will make you feel. Another way colors can create happy emotions is by combining multiple primary and secondary colors together for a youthful, colorful effect.

Question 7

What are sad colours?

Answer 7

Sad colors are colors that are dark and muted. Grey is the quintessential sad color, but dark and muted cool colors like blue, green or neutrals like brown or beige can have a similar effect depending on how they’re used.

Question 8

What are calming colours?

Answer 8

Cool colors like blue and green can make you feel calm. Pastel colors and particularly cool toned pastels like baby blue, lilac and mint have a calming and relaxing effect. Neutrals like white, beige and grey can also make you feel calm. The fewer colors you combine and the more simple and pared back a design is, the more calming it will feel.

Question 9

What are energizing colours?

Answer 9

Strong, bright colors and neon colors can have a powerful effect on emotions. Colors like bright red, bright yellow and neon green can feel energizing and make you feel more alert, but can also be irritating on the eyes. Highly pigmented, strong colors like royal blue, turquoise, magenta and emerald green can also have a stimulating effect and make you feel refreshed and energized.

Question 10

Red

Answer 10

Red makes you feel passionate and energized.

Red is the warmest and most dynamic of the colors—it triggers opposing emotions. It is often associated with passion and love as well as anger and danger. It can increase a person’s heart rate and make them excited. If you want to draw attention, use red. But use it in moderation as it can be overwhelming.

Question 11

Orange

Answer 11

Orange makes you feel energized and enthusiastic.

Orange enhances a feeling of vitality and happiness. Like red, it draws attention and shows movement but is not as overpowering. It is aggressive but balanced — it portrays energy yet can be inviting and friendly.

Question 12

Yellow

Answer 12

Yellow makes you feel happy and spontaneous.

Yellow is perhaps the most energetic of the warm colors. It is associated with laughter, hope and sunshine. Accents of yellow help make you feel optimistic and cheerful. However, yellow tends to reflect more light and can irritate a person’s eyes. Too much yellow can be overwhelming and should be used sparingly. Use to grab attention in an energetic and comforting way.

Question 13

Green

Answer 13

Green makes you feel optimistic and refreshed.

Green symbolizes health, new beginnings and wealth. Green is the easiest on the eyes and should be used to relax and create balance. It is a great color to use if you want to depict growth, security or inspire possibility. Green can also feel calming and relaxing.

Question 14

Blue

Answer 14

Blue makes you feel safe and relaxed.

Blue evokes feelings of calmness and spirituality as well as security and trust. Seeing the color blue causes the body to create chemicals that are calming. It is no surprise that it’s the most favored of the colors. Dark blues are great for a professional feel, but using too much can create a cold, disengaged feeling. Light blues give a more relaxing, friendly feel.

Question 15

Purple

Answer 15

Purple makes you feel creative.

Purple is associated with mystery, creativity, royalty and wealth. Lighter shades of purple are often used to soothe or calm. Incorporate purple to indicate luxury and wealth or a lighter purple to show romance and mystery.

Question 16

Pink

Answer 16

Pink makes you feel playful and romantic.

Pink represents femininity and romance, sensitivity and tenderness. It’s inherently sweet, cute and charming.

Question 17

Brown

Answer 17

Brown makes you feel down to earth.

Brown creates a sense of stability and support. It’s warm and friendly, practical and dependable, and can also represent the old fashioned and well established.

Question 18

Black

Answer 18

Black feels sophisticated, classic and serious.

Black evokes power, luxury, elegance, but can also mean professionalism, neutrality and simplicity. It’s bold, powerful and is often used to evoke mystery. In certain contexts and cultures the color black can also refer to mourning or sadness.

Question 19

White

Answer 19

White means minimalism and simplicity. Using a lot of white color in design creates a minimalist aesthetic and can result a simple, fresh and clean look.

In many cultures, white is used to refer to virginity, purity and innocence (think bridal gowns and baby clothes). It’s also the most neutral color of all.

Question 20

Grey

Answer 20

Gray feels serious and professional.

Gray is a more mature, responsible color. Its positive connotations include formality and dependability, while the negative side can mean being overly conservative, conventional and lacking in emotion. It’s safe and quite subdued, serious and reserved.