Color psychology

The psychology of color - also known as the color effect - makes use of the effect of individual colors on the human psyche. As in all other areas of life, the different colors in interior design have an effect on us humans. They support our well-being and can positively influence the purpose of a room and its mood, for example a living room or bedroom. Colors that are rare or difficult to produce were already very valuable in Ancient Egypt and were reserved only for the upper classes.

The third dimension

Yellow as a 'sacred color' was reserved for the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644) in the Chinese Empire. Rulers decorated their palaces with lapis lazuli, a blue to blue-violet semi-precious stone that has been mined in Afghanistan for thousands of years and in Chile since the 20th century. Mosaics and entire columns were used to add splendor and uniqueness to their rooms. Also Designer sometimes incorporate color as a layer in their design - as a third dimension to form and function, so to speak.

Light spaces and color studies

Gunnar Aagaard Andersen is a man who has been exploring colors, material structures and shapes and experimenting with their effects since the 1940s. The Dane knew more about the effect of colors on the human psyche than almost any other Designer at the time. The knowledge of the effect of colors is still being researched today. Colors are used specifically in the business sector. They support non-verbal communication with the customer and convey the desired messages in a targeted manner. Aagaard Andersen already studied the subject of color psychology in depth during his training. For example, he installed entire light rooms, painted color studies, designed stage sets and cast and shaped seating sculptures.

Warmth and security

Colors can provide warmth and energy. Rooms in shades of orange, pink and red, for example, are automatically perceived subjectively as being warmer than they actually are. Within the seven chakras, red tones form the lowest level, the so-called root chakra. The color stands for basic trust. In a socio-cultural context, red is perceived as a signal color. At the same time, red tones have the effect of reducing space. Shades of red are ideal for use in rooms where the focus is on activity. In combination with light accents, an exciting ambience can be created in this way.

Cold colors create space

The so-called "cold colors" have the opposite effect to what has already been described. The blue-green nuances create a cool atmosphere and a sense of space. Rooms painted in cool tones appear visually larger. Blue symbolizes trust and is therefore often used in the financial world. But social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter also harness the power of blue tones. Green, on the other hand, stands for nature, health and ultimately also serenity and relaxation. Shades of blue and green are available in a wide range of color gradations. They can be combined very well in a room.

Meaning of the color

For many people, color has an overriding meaning. For example, if you tell them about a new car you've bought, their first question is: "What color?" Make, model, equipment - for many, all of this is of secondary importance. What really matters is the color!

Individual differences

How colors are perceived ultimately depends not only on the color itself, but also on the culture. Asians, for example, perceive colors differently than Europeans. The living environment also plays an important role and shows clear differences between the individual cultural groups. But no matter where someone lives, how a color is perceived and what effect it has, one thing is always true: there is nothing like your favorite color!