Colour Psychology Explained

People instinctively know what colours resonate with them, what 'feels right', but not everyone knows why this is the case. The reasons have more to do with science than sentiment, and choosing an appropriate colour for an architectural or interior design project can be determined rationally, rather than by personal preference alone.

- Lauren Shantall for Plascon

Correct colour placing is critical so as not to overstimulate or depress the occupants of the space. There is a reason why some colours encourage positivity and are uplifting, and others are, well, just downright gloomy. While context is part of it, it is important to remember that colour comes from light and is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each individual colour has a frequency or wavelength. Similarly, each organ of the human body produces a different resonance. In holistic medicine, each organ has been linked to a colour and is affected by the wavelength, which has frequency and vibration.

“It is because the light spectrum works on wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that specific colour stimulation accompanies a specific response pattern in terms of light and psychological reaction,” explains paint colour expert and qualified chromatherapist, Claire Bond of Bondthrucolour.

Help is available

A leading coatings company, Plascon, is well aware of this dimension of colour and has set up the Plascon Colour Consultancy to help members of the trade and the public make informed colour choices. One of the biggest sources of stress when it comes to painting or repainting is choosing the colour. Yet this needn’t be the case.

To make it easy, the company offers an email colour advice help service at [e-mail]

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