The psychology of color – How colors influence our mood

Colors evoke various emotions and effects, exerting a psychological impact on our lives: they can calm us, invigorate us, improve concentration, or aid relaxation. While every color triggers a different response, these effects are also influenced by culture and personal experiences.

We can harness this power in interior design, the creation of objects surrounding us, advertising, and in conveying a business's core message. Color psychology examines how we react to specific hues and the emotions they trigger. Observing our own reactions leads to greater self-awareness and helps us create environments that truly suit us (it can even lead to more conscious consumerism by helping us understand how advertisements try to influence us).

How much do colors influence our decisions?

• 85% of shoppers place color as a primary reason for why they buy a particular product.

• 80% believe color increases brand recognition.

• 52% of shoppers will not return to a store if they don't like its aesthetic; subconsciously, we judge an environment within 90 seconds, largely based on color.

• Color ads are read 42% more often than black-and-white ones.

• Children are naturally drawn to vibrant colors (the developing brain prefers contrasting, visually stimulating environments), but as we age, our preference typically shifts toward more subdued tones.

In the future, we will explore the effects of each color individually in separate posts, looking at their roles and meanings across different cultures. Our first color will be blue—stay tuned as we dive into the world of blue!