Do Colors Really Affect My Mood?

Do you ever wonder why your favorite color is the one that it is? Is it what we associate it with? Is it a memory or experience? As humans, we are drawn to what we find beautiful. We long for beauty. Since beauty is subjective, some colors are more beautiful to me than they are to you. This still leaves us with the question as to why? Why are some colors more “beautiful” than others? Here is a scientific answer.

Studies have shown that we are drawn to colors that we can associate with objects or experiences that made us feel any positive emotion. Color preferences are deeply rooted emotional responses that seem to lack any rational basis, yet the powerful influence of color rules our choices in everything from the food we eat and the clothes we wear to the cars we buy.

With that said, the colors you surround yourself within in your home and even what you wear can make a huge difference in how you feel. It can boost your energy, drain you of energy, make you feel happy or sad, excited or bored, and so on. Now, let’s play a little game. Below you’ll see images of colors. Look at each color for a second or two and write down how you feel simply by looking at it.

Associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love.

Associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love.

Orange calls to mind feelings of excitement, enthusiasm, and warmth.

Orange calls to mind feelings of excitement, enthusiasm, and warmth.

Yellow can also create feelings of frustration and anger. While it is considered a cheerful color, people are more likely to lose their tempers in yellow rooms and babies tend to cry more in yellow rooms.

Yellow can also create feelings of frustration and anger. While it is considered a cheerful color, people are more likely to lose their tempers in yellow rooms and babies tend to cry more in yellow rooms.

Green is a cool color that symbolizes nature and the natural world.  Green is often thought to represent tranquility, good luck, health, and jealousy.

Green is a cool color that symbolizes nature and the natural world. Green is often thought to represent tranquility, good luck, health, and jealousy.

Blue calls to mind feelings of calmness or serenity. It is often described as peaceful, tranquil, secure, and orderly.

Blue calls to mind feelings of calmness or serenity. It is often described as peaceful, tranquil, secure, and orderly.

Purple and violet promote harmony of the mind and the emotions, contributing to mental balance and stability, peace of mind, a link between the spiritual and the physical worlds, between thought and activity.

Purple and violet promote harmony of the mind and the emotions, contributing to mental balance and stability, peace of mind, a link between the spiritual and the physical worlds, between thought and activity.

Brown is a natural color that evokes a sense of strength and reliability.

Brown is a natural color that evokes a sense of strength and reliability.

Black is usually associated  with the water element and evokes power, mystery, and calm.

Black is usually associated with the water element and evokes power, mystery, and calm.

Now, which ones made you feel positive emotions, and which ones made you feel negative ones? Why did those colors evoke positive emotions and why did the others evoke negative ones? What do you associate each of those colors with? Stick to your “positive” colors for a week or so and see if it makes any difference in your mood. Wear them, eat them, and surround yourself with them. If you find that a simple switch of colors made a huge difference in your day-to-day mood, refresh your space with a few color swaps. Here are some inspiration boards for each color.

Have any questions about switching to a green home full of colors that match your vibe? Contact us. We’d love to help you create a space that is not only beautifully #casuallyhighstyle but healthy for you and your loved ones. Stay tuned for our next post.

P.S. Colors do affect your mood.