Color is something we rarely think about because we perceive the color spectrum automatically. Marketing companies have been researching this field for decades – using their findings to determine what will convince consumers to buy their products.
Each year Pantone, a United States-based company that standardizes colors used for international printing, declares an annual color of the year which is translated into consumer goods around the world. In 2011 they revealed Honeysuckle (a bright pink hue) as the color of the year to lift spirits, signify hope, and even stimulate adrenal function!
Scientists involved in a relatively new field of study called color psychology have determined that color has a strong impact on how we feel, how we think, how to calm your mind, and even how much we eat. 
With stress being linked more often to physical and mental illness, finding natural ways on how to calm your mind, body and spirit can help in ways you might not have considered.
Color in Your Daily Life
An industrial facility in London found that morale improved, there were fewer work-related accidents and there was a higher sense of job satisfaction overall when they used orange paint to cover the grey machinery.
Employees at another plant found that the “new” green boxes weighed less than the black ones they were accustomed to using. Management had not purchased new boxes – they simply painted over the original black equipment.
A bridge in London – made famous by the number of suicides committed from it – saw a decline in annual suicides by more than 30% when they repainted the bridgework green.
3 Best Colors to Reduce Stress & Calm Your Mind
GREEN
Green is a color that inspires peace and tranquility.
A common color in nature – found in grass, trees and vegetation – green can make you feel grounded, creative, and calm. It is the easiest color on our eyes and can be stared at the longest without eye strain or agitation and can help to teach you how to calm your mind.
This makes it an excellent choice for business accents – consumers feel more relaxed around green which encourages them to shop longer. The same goes for employees. Studies show that employees in a green environment are more productive and happier overall. Production studios have “green rooms” which have a greater calming effect on guests than other colors do.
Researchers found that placing a transparent green page over reading material boosted student reading speed and retention. Schoolroom blackboards – before the days of overhead displays – were painted green so students didn’t tire of looking at them.
Natural greens are a safe color choice in home décor; painted green walls are one of the most enjoyed colors for both genders. Green fabric looks good on all skin tones and makes the wearer feel refreshed and optimistic.
BLUE
Blue emits a sense of calm and well-being.
The color of water and sky, blue is equated with positive things. Painting a bathroom blue multiplies the relaxing effects of a bath.
Blue can have a sedative effect; it calms the mind and can actually lower your blood pressure and body temperature.
Surrounding your workspace in different shades of blue can help you focus and memorize details more fully. It also happens to be the most common favorite color of men.
Human resource specialists suggest blue for an interview or first meeting – it inspires trust, maturity and dependability. Men in blue project feelings of security and stability in the opposite sex.
The color blue has the opposite calming effect on our appetite. One study found that painting your kitchen blue decreased calorie consumption by 30%.
Scientists believe blue’s effect on appetite is caused in part by the fact that blue food is uncommon outside of a few fruits – human instinct causes subjects to avoid foods dyed blue – possibly due to our concern about food going rancid.
PURPLE
Purple in all shades has a calming mental effect and boosts sex drive.
Research results from the United Kingdom showed that the color purple in a bedroom triples the sexual activity of long-term couples.
Purple has proven beneficial in soothing mental illness and nervous disorders, making it a popular color in mental health facilities to calm the minds of those who are distressed. Harmony and balance of the mind are often apparent after patients spend time around purple.
Since ancient times, the color purple has been associated with royalty, wisdom and spirituality. It is a wonderful choice for spaces used to create or meditate. Inspiring independence, originality and a sense of purpose, purple should be used in small doses.
Since it occurs rarely in natural settings, the impression of too much purple can subconsciously feel artificial.
Color and Emotion
Many cultures use color in politics, athletics and religious ceremonies. Some civilizations use color to provoke certain feelings or actions.
The next time you notice yourself gravitating to a certain color – ask yourself how you feel when you see it or wear it. Then surround yourself with the colors that make you feel best!
