Human beings live in full color, we are surrounded by colors in all their shades and ranges and, really, although we do not realize it, colors influence (and a lot) our mood and our life in general. Did you wake up sad today? Surely you open the closet and choose a look in gray and black tones, right? Well, you are sorely mistaken! If on down days you chose, for example, a yellow T-shirt or a dress with pink flowers, surely when you look in the mirror before going out the door you would begin to see the world in a different way. And this is due to color psychology, to the power of colors! In this article we are going to reveal the meaning of the colors so that you begin to take advantage of them and use them in the most intelligent way possible. Let’s go there!
What is color psychology?
- The psychology of color studies the meaning of colors based on their relationship with human behavior, that is, it aims to find out how color influences our lives.
- Because yes, there are certain colors that can cause you irritation while when you look at others what you will feel is peace. Each and every one of them has an effect on you, on your emotions and on your behavior. For this reason, the marketing departments of many companies tend to have the psychology of color as their main ally when launching an advertising campaign or selling their products. Or do you think, for example, that it is a coincidence that Coca Cola is associated with the color red? It is scientifically proven that the color red increases heart rate and adrenaline, making us feel more positive, energetic and enthusiastic. And those feelings that the color red causes will lead you, consequently, to consume more Coca Cola.
- The psychology of color is applied a lot in marketing, it is true, but the reality is that you yourself can take advantage of it in your daily life. As? Well, strategically choosing what color to paint your house, for example, or what kind of colors you want for your clothes. And to help you below we are going to tell you the general meanings of all the colors. Aim!
What does each color mean?
Colors really have many interpretations and all of them depend on the context, the country and the culture in which they are applied. The color black is not the same for a person who lives in Spain than for one who lives in Indonesia. The meaning of the colors that we are going to show you below corresponds to the most accepted or generalized symbolism of the same in the West.
The meaning of the color white
- The white color is synonymous with peace, calm and tranquility in Western culture. White is the representation of positivity against black that symbolizes negativity. Brides, for example, wear white because this color also means purity and innocence. In medical centers and hospitals, white also predominates, since it is generally associated with cleanliness and hygiene.
- Most of the meanings of the color white are positive: honesty, sincerity, perfection… However, white also has some negative connotations, such as emptiness and coldness. In white there is nothing, white is the absence of color.
- You can paint your house white if you want to find relaxation and emotional balance.
The meaning of the color black
- Unlike the color white, which is normally associated with very positive meanings, if you think of black, very negative sensations and emotions will surely reappear in you: pessimism, frustration, pain, heartbreak, betrayal, deceit… Yes, it is true that black is not the happiest color you can find, but if you analyze it well you can always find something good in it.
- For example, black is a symbol of elegance and also of sensuality. Black represents magic and that mystery that sometimes attracts us. In addition, black is the color that will bring you the most strength, security and power.
- We recommend that you use black in your clothes. In a party dress, for example, to get an extra bit of sophistication or in a blouse to go to a job interview and inspire respect and confidence.
The meaning of the color gray
Neither white nor black, gray is just the middle ground. And they say that virtue is in the middle, so even if the gray color is not one of your favorites, you can always use it to provide neutrality, balance and moderation. But, be careful, do not overdo the use of gray because this color also denotes insecurity and lack of personality.
We are not going to deny that gray is also synonymous with sadness and melancholy, but if you use gray tones to paint your work and reading area, you can boost concentration and creativity.
The meaning of the color red
Is the color red your favorite? It does not surprise us because red is the symbol of love, passion and sensuality. But be careful, because not all loves painted in red are positive: toxic love, forbidden love and blind love are also represented in this tone.
Also, red is indicative of warning and danger. And it also refers to the most perverse emotions: anger, hatred, the desire for revenge…
If you want to put a touch of red in your life, we recommend that you use it in your makeup. Did you know that painting your lips red can increase your self-esteem? You will also walk much more sure of yourself on red heels.
The meaning of the color yellow
- How cheerful is the color yellow, right? Party, sun, friends, beer, fun, happiness … All this evokes yellow at first sight. And if you delve deeper into its symbolism you can find many more positive meanings: it is the color that represents light, knowledge and wisdom. It is also synonymous with spontaneity and illusion and, of course, wealth and prosperity are associated with yellow.
- Although yellow, like the rest of the colors, also has its negative meaning and, in general, it is linked to deceit and lies.
- Yellow promotes concentration and memory, so if you are a student, for example, you can use a yellow notebook to take your notes. It will help you!
The meaning of the color orange
- Despite being a secondary color (result of the sum of red + yellow), orange is one of the most powerful colors in terms of transmitting good vibrations to you. It is the color of youth, social skills and wisdom. It also speaks of creativity and success.
- As for its negative meanings? You must be especially careful when using it due to its connotation of coldness.
- The orange color stimulates productivity, a positive attitude and the desire to do some physical activity, so you can use it in your clothes or in your sports equipment and you will see how quickly you get motivated.
The meaning of the color blue
The world is full of blue in all its varieties, from the blue of the sky to the blue of the sea. It may also be your favorite color and that you often use it on your clothes, at home, at work… You do well because blue has many positive meanings: serenity, trust, seriousness, responsibility, honesty, credibility, leadership, illusion, fantasy ….
Does it seem little to you? Blue has more interpretations, some not so good that you have to be especially careful with. Blue also transmits sadness and melancholy and is the color of passivity and cruelty.
Put a touch of blue in your home, in the kitchen or dining room, for example. You will favor that at meals there is a good atmosphere and a fluid and relaxed conversation.
The meaning of the color green
The color green is full of amazing nuances and symbolism, from the superstition of good luck to the representation of envy. It is the color of nature, so you can imagine that green attracts harmony, inner calm and emotional balance. It is also the color of hope and rebirth.
And like all color, it also has its negative interpretations. Jealousy is green and immaturity is green. It is also associated with an overly cautious or passive attitude and can have a particular impact on your work life. Be careful when using it in the workplace!
The meaning of the color pink
Do you see life in rosy colors? In this widely used saying you can already intuit some of the meanings of this tonality: positivism with a mixture of fantasy. But to see life in pink is also to see it with feelings, from love, from reciprocity, from joy.
Affection, protection, generosity, delivery, innocence, kindness. All this represents pink, as well as sweetness, romanticism and falling in love, of course.
Does pink have any negative meaning? Very few. You just have to pay attention to its linkage with the weak and corny.
The meaning of the color brown
Hardly anyone has brown as their favorite color, mainly because of its connotation of dirt. However, brown is a color with great things to contribute. It is the color of nature together with green and, yes, it represents dirt, garbage, poverty… But also comfort, warmth and naturalness.
Brown favors organizational skills, productivity and difficult decision making both at work and at home. It would not be bad to decorate your house with brown furniture; don’t you think?
The meaning of the color purple
- Purple, purple, violet, lilac… It doesn’t matter what way you call this color because its symbolism is the same and it is always related to the values of the human being. Good values like humanity and not so good values like selfishness or egocentrism.
- From purple we are left with that it is the color of the feminist movement. A color that gives off empowerment, tolerance and equality.
- It is also the color of the esoteric, of imagination and of luxury and distinction. It is not a good idea to wear purple in your clothes if you want to show elegance, but you can do it if you want to be the center of attention for some reason or you want to highlight your unique and powerful personality.
The meaning of the color silver
We could say that silver is a color very close to gray with the difference of the shine of precious metals that gives it connotations such as wealth, money or success. We also associate silver with coldness, greed, or arrogance.
The silver color is widely used in jewelry because it suggests elegance and style. In addition, some household appliances are also silver and this is so to take advantage of their meanings of efficiency, power and speed.
The meaning of the color gold
Just as kicking is associated with grey, gold is closely related to yellow, which is why they share some meanings. However, the color of the metal gives it a distinction that links it to success, abundance, economic prosperity and wealth.
In addition, from the golden color you can keep its luminous aspect, a light capable of illuminating you in every way. Go to that party with that golden dress that you have in your closet and you will succeed with your elegance, class and security.
The symbolism of colors in other cultures
As we have told you, the meanings of the colors mentioned above correspond to Western culture, but, in other parts of the world, the symbolism of colors is different. In general terms:
- Red: in India it is related to fertility, in China it is the color of good luck, in Japan it is associated with danger and in some African countries it symbolizes mourning.
- Black: in Thailand it is associated with the devil, in China it is associated with young men while in Japan it is associated with female power (sometimes considered evil).
- White: in China and Eastern European countries it is associated with death and in Japan and India it is considered a color of bad luck and unhappiness.
- Yellow: in China and India the color yellow is sacred, in Buddhism it represents wisdom and on the African continent it is reserved for upper class people.
- Green: it is a practically forbidden color in Indonesia, in Japan it represents eternal life and in Africa it symbolizes corruption.
- Blue: it is the color of mourning in Korea and Iran and in the Middle East it is the color that protects you from evil.
- Pink: in Korea it is associated with truth, in India it represents hospitality and in Japan it is a color that men frequently wear.
- Purple: widows in Thailand wear purple and just like in the West, in the East it is also the color of royalty.
- Brown: in South America brown means disapproval and distrust.
- Orange: in Buddhism it is considered a sacred color full of wisdom while in Arab culture it is the color of defeat and loss.
The application and influence of colors in our life
- Surely from now on you pay much more attention to the colors around you, right? There is no longer any doubt about the great influence they have on our emotions and on our lives. For this reason, precisely the Chinese ancestral art of Feng Shui uses colors a lot to create a harmonious environment capable of attracting good energy and vibrations in the home. Although until now you would not have given it any importance, it is not the same to paint your room white as to do it blue or brown.
- But colors are not only used when decorating a house, they can also help heal wounds and cure certain emotional disorders such as depression or phobias through the well-known chromotherapy or color therapy, a technique that is based on the belief that that the vibrations produced by colors (called ‘Chromatic Waves) have a great incidence on the human body and its organs.
- As Manuel Augusto Guerrero Rodríguez states in his thesis ‘ Chromotherapy applied to health ‘ for the Atlantic International University (Quito-Ecuador): “This technique and approach considers that health is a balanced situation between the different Waves and Vibrations, and that, on the contrary, its imbalance (whether due to excess or deficiency) is the cause of numerous diseases […] Chromotherapy treatments help to calm the sick parts of the body and mental stress. When a doctor exposes the colors to a person, the speeds of the vibration of the color together with the waves serve to harmonize the body and mind.