Color psychology: What shades stimulate thinking? Which ones are calming?
(Jonathan Adler Alpaca Throw)
By Brittany Anas
What color should you paint your home office? A shade of blue is probably your best bet because it’s said to be the “color of the mind,” capable of stimulating mental activity, according to color psychology research. Shades of pink can be soothing and red — which has the longest wavelength of all colors — is considered a physical color.
Amara, a luxury home decor store, just released a new infographic guide covering color psychology — showing how different shades of the rainbow can affect our mood, behavior and how colors have different cultural meanings. (For example, while blue is associated most with patriotism in the United States, it evokes thoughts of healing in China, mourning in Iran, religion in Italy and brings a sense of calm in Britain). Green in South America symbolizes death, while the same color is associated with life in Japan. Shades of green in Greece are associated with victory.
Amara stocks more than 200 of the world’s most luxurious brands — including Ralph Lauren Home and Jonathan Adler.
Here are a few noteworthy pieces from Amara — that come in different colors to suit different moods.
To calm a child … try this Jonathan Adler light blue alpaca throw. Soften up a nursery or childn’s bedroom with the light-colored throw that is decorated with chevron baby blue and white stripes. Blue has been infused into classrooms to make children more alert. In Hamburg, it was reported to reduce hyperactivity by more than 75 percent.
To be a good sport … go with red Hugo Boss Poppy Towels. The reason? Red appears to have a positive impact on athletic performance. Since 1945, football teams that wear red have been more likely to win games than teams that wear any other color.
Write in a yellow journal … Yellow has a relatively long wavelength and tends to be a stimulating color that stirs emotions. Why not employ the color to help evoke emotion in you writing — whether it be your next screenplay or a personal journal you keep. We love this Pantone yellow journal that will add a pop of color to your desk.
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