Understanding the psychology of colour

Words by BSBG Media Team, Wednesday 07 August 2019

The ability to understand the emotive impact and psychology of colour is something all designers retain a focus on within their work; and not only those working in architecture or interior design – all creative and artistic fields require knowledge of colour. The most widely studied reference point for developing an understanding of colour theory is the colour wheel.

The colour wheel

The colour wheel presents an illustration of the relationship between primary, secondary and tertiary colours. The earliest example of the colour wheel was created by Sir Isaac Newton in the 1600’s, and his was predominantly a reference point for understanding the rules regarding the mixture of coloured light. It wasn’t until a century later that Johann Wolfgang Goethe started to study the impact of colour on human psychology, and created his own wheel to reflect his findings. Over the years this has developed further, and we now refer to the colour theory developed by Swiss art theorist Johannes Itten. Itten’s wheel is based on red, yellow and blue, with twelve hues.

The Colour Wheel

Human perception of colour and architecture

Over the course of the last century, it has been proven many times over through empirical studies that human perception of architectural space is predominantly driven by colour. Colour is total, and affects humans both psychologically and physiologically. The effects colour has on our impression of architecture are numerous; playing on associative, symbolic, emotional and synesthetic perceptions. These perceptions will ultimately drive the goal of the design, particularly where incorporation of colour is concerned, and where there is potential for a certain psychological mood or ambiance to be created in support of the primary function of the space.

An architectural designer considers the impact of colour on each component of a project, both externally - in the selection of wood, natural stone, bricks, GRC, and within interiors - where there is scope for incorporation of the aforementioned materials, mixed with expressions of colour by using paint, furniture, decorative features and elements.

Through design, the modern aspiration is to achieve the correct outcome for the experience of the space, and to produce the best possibility for a feeling of comfort and wellbeing in the end user. Colour selection plays an integral role here, for example within creative spaces, where brighter, more vibrant colours serve to enhance the feeling of motivation in the end user; in hospitality projects, where colours are chosen to complement respective targets for relaxation, lavish exuberance or boutique charm; and in multi-purpose buildings, where colours can be used to provide separation of different areas that serve contrasting functions.

Psychology of Colour

International research and studies have found colour interpretation to be a visual language that all can speak: male, female, adult or child, across every nationality and from every cultural background. Different colours carry different messages, but each delivers its own psychological effect in the same way, no matter the audience. Human response to colour is commonly classified into the following categories:

Biological

Physical reaction to colour. For example, tests have shown that people display a lower heart rate in a room coloured blue, and higher in a room decorated in red.

Subconscious

Our perception of colour can sometimes be governed by previous personal experiences. For example, we may develop a dislike for a certain colour based on something or someone negative that came into our lives before.

Conscious symbolism association

There are general symbolism associations, such as blue with water, red with heat or fire, yellow with the Sun, and green with grass. But also there are more personalised associations made that can impact our feelings about colour. In fact, fans of certain football teams often express a dislike for the colour adorned by their rivals.

Cultural influence

There are certain colours that different cultures perceive in quite different ways. A good example here is in the way black and white differentiate in both Western and Eastern cultures. In the West, white is pure and is the choice for bridal gowns, while in the East white symbolises death and is worn to funerals. Black is the colour of health and prosperity in the majority of Eastern nations, while Western civilisations associate black with more sombre situations, adorning the colour in moments of sadness and mourning.

Fashion trends

Trends in colour shift annually, particularly with the influence of the Pantone Colour Institute, which is dedicated to predicting - and often dictating - trends in colour. These continual trends do not really impact an architect or interior designer’s approach to colour though, as quickly shifting trends don't tend to lend themselves to achieving longevity and sustainability of the space. As such, there is usually a common palette of ‘go to’ colours in architecture and interior design.

“Colour is a power which directly influences the soul”

Wassily Kandinsky

While there can be no definitive understanding of the way colour will impact every single individual, there are generally accepted effects and associations. We list these below for the 12 most commonly used architectural and interior design colours in the palette.

Red

Effect | Excitement, Stimulation
Association | Positive: Passion, Strength, Warmth; Negative: Aggression, Rage, Blood

Orange

Effect | Vibrancy, Excitement
Association | Positive: Jovial, Lively, Extrovert; Negative: Intrusive, Overbearing

Yellow

Effect | Cheery, Upbeat
Association | Positive: Sunny, Radiant; Negative: Glaring, Garish

Green

Effect | Relaxing, Fresh
Association | Positive: Refreshing, Natural; Negative: Jealousy, Guilt

Blue

Effect | Soothing, Relaxing
Association | Positive: Calming, Comfortable; Negative: Depressing, Melancholy, Cold

Purple

Effect | Subduing
Association | Positive: Dignified, Lavish; Negative: Conceited, Distasteful

Pink

Effect | Fun, Calming
Association | Positive: Lively, Intimate; Negative: Weak, Sickly

Brown

Effect | Subduing, Stabilising
Association | Positive: Warm, Secure; Negative: Overbearing, Heavy

White

Effect | Disconcerting, Clinical
Association | Positive: Clean, Neat, Bright; Negative: Sterile, Mundane

Grey

Effect | Neutral, Calming
Association | Positive: Neutral; Negative: Desolate, Boring, Dull

Black

Effect | Ominous, Sleek
Association | Positive: Refined, Precise; Negative: Night, Grief

The aforementioned effects are largely dependent upon their context within a design, particularly in relation to whether they are used within an interior or on the building exterior, and to what extent. Colour is now understood to be much more than a decorative afterthought; it drives the experience of the space, and an architect or interior designer will position the human experience at the very heart of their approach to a design. As such, colour forms one of the primary concerns from the very outset of a project, in the concept stage of the design process.

More information and inspiration on architectural colour selection can be found here.

BSBG Media Team

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