Psychology of Colour - Why it can be so beneficial to our mental health?

The Psychology of Colour

Country Child asked mindfulness colouring enthusiasts Doodle & Calm about the psychology of colour and why it is so important to mental wellbeing.

Colour is a power which directly influences the soul.

Pioneer of Abstract Art Wassily Kandinski.

As the UK adjusts to change and upheaval caused by the coronavirus, it is unsurprising so many of us are turning to art and the practice of mindfulness colouring to help achieve a sense of focus in both children and adults. But just what is it about colour that affects our moods and emotions? Colour has a direct link to the way we feel and the way we interpret the world. We may not realise it but there are a number of stereotypical associations we make when it comes to colour that are universal. For example, red is often linked to passion and anger, while yellow symbolises happiness and warmth. Colour psychology is the study of the effect colours have on the brain and the neurological responses our brain has to certain colours. When the late US fashion designer and entrepreneur Lily Pulitzer, famous for her brightly-coloured floral prints, said, ‘I am a believer that colour affects people’s moods’ she was highly likely to be right.

Colour and the unconscious mind

While there’s not a great deal of science into the psychology of colour, there are some studies that show it can indeed affect the way we feel, whether we are consciously aware of it or not. The brain makes subconscious links to colour that have a direct effect on our mood and perception of the world. If our bedroom is painted in a garish shade of green, it is unlikely we will feel calm or serene. Replace this shade with a more muted sage or olive colour, and our emotions will respond accordingly. There is a reason why colour experts are so regularly called on to contribute to interior design projects. This subconscious reaction to colour can be seen in many modern world situations that we may not even be aware of. For example, colour’s role in placebo pills. Pills packaged in warm colours are believed to have a better outcome than plain, white ones; and the brighter the colour, the better the effect. The placement and use of colour is also a calculated part of the infrastructure that surrounds us where anecdotally it’s been found cool-toned streetlamps lead to reduced crime rates.

Colour as a form of therapy

Furthermore, in certain types of therapy, colour is used to elicit specific responses in patients. Chromotherapy, or colourology, as it is known, is used as a holistic and alternative treatment to Western medicines. Red is believed to promote circulation and stimulates the body and mind, blue is used to soothe pain, yellow is thought to stimulate the nerves and senses, and orange is used to heal the lungs. There are strong hypotheses surrounding colour psychology but a lack of empirical evidence to back them up. Until science can demonstrate exactly what is happening inside the brain when it associates a colour with a feeling, we are left with one undisputed fact: colour has played an active role in our lives for as long as we can remember and will likely continue to do so for some time yet.

Doodle and Calm offer colouring walls to help unplug children to calm busy minds. All posters come in three different sizes, include colouring pens and are wipe clean for forever useage.

Check out doodleandcalm.com to order your mindfulness colouring wall for your family today.

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