Color Psychology
Color Psychology
Understanding and utilizing colors to alter and influence other people's moods can be a very powerful tool to have. Especially so if you are involved in internet sales and marketing.
This knowledge can be used in logo design, internet marketing, book covers, product packaging, website design or whatever else you can think of. You name it.
Think of different places you have seen Color Psychology at work. McDonald's Golden Arch, the orange Kit Kat bar wrappers, Coca Cola's big bright red cans. It's literally being implemented EVERYWHERE now days.
In this article, I will show you how to use different colors to alter people's moods and change their perceptions about you or your product using basic color psychology.
Purple
Purple is the color of royalty. Purple is assosciated with wealth, royalty and being rich and sophisticated. This color is used to cause the viewer to become more aware and it deepens one's capabilities to think deeply and analyze things. Often used in creative problem solving, purple is a very mentally stimulating color.
Orange
Orange is the most energetic color out there. Even more energetic than red. It is associated with happy, fun times and high levels of energy.
Yellow
Yellow is a cheerful, inviting color that is assosciated with happiness, humor, fun and excitement. Having a lot of yellow in the environment causes the brain to release the chemical called seratonin, which makes you feel good. While using yellow can help boost the mood of your viewers, do not use too much of it or it can have an overwhelming effect. Certain studies have shown that babies are much more likely to cry in a primarily yellow environment.
Green
Green represents nature and growth and, to many people, cold hard cash. The darker shades of the color green are assosciated with masculinity and prosperity. Lighter shades of green, like blue, have a calming effect on the mind. The color green is also assosciated with luck, envy and peace.
Blue
Blue is the most prefered color in terms of people's favorite, according to several polls conducted around the web. When people view certain shades blue, their brain automatically begins producing chemicals that cause calmness and relaxation. This is why many people naturally choose to paint their bedrooms the color blue. Studies have also shown in increase in productivity when working inside of rooms painted blue, as it helps people stay calm and focused. Other studies have shown that the color blue in the environment enhances athletic performance as well. Other shades of blue, in large enough quanties, gives off a cold, uncaring vibe.
Red
Red is the best color to use to draw attention. It is the first color the eye notices.
It is the color the projects energy. Red has the opposite of gray. Whereas too much gray can bore a person, red makes them feel alive and upbeat. Wearing red clothes will make you stand out like a sore thumb, which is, ironically, also red. However, you need to be careful not to over use red, or it will cause your viewers to feel overwhelmed. However, using it in a few various places will bring things to life and make it feel more interesting. Red is symbolic of love and passion, which is why it is used as the main color for Valentines day. When used in the right context, it can arouse sexual feelings in the viewer. Lighter shades of red up to pink can have this affect as well.
Gray
Gray is neutral color, used to convey a 'middle of the road' between black and white and good and evil. Showing too much gray causes this viewer to feel blank inside and utterly bored with your display. However, a little gray is necessary to add a sense of solidity. Especially if you are trying to sell a product. People crave a sense of solidity with what they buy, so use this trick to your advantage when selling.
White
Whit is the color of purity and cleanliness which is why you see it on so many different types of clothing from wedding dresses to lab coats. It also represents safety and neutrality. In many cultures, such as in China, white is also the color for mourning.
Black
Black is a strong, bold color that causes the viewer to feel strength. It is associated with intelligence. Black clothes cause people to appear thinner than they actually are. The color black is associated with evil in many movies and in entertainment. The villain is almost always bound to be wearing large amounts of black.
