Feeling unmotivated, anxious, stressed, or depressed? Add a little color to your life! Studies have shown that every color has a mental and psyical effect on the body and mind. Hospital walls are most oftenly colored in shades of white and gray. Although the color, white, stands for purety and mental clarity, it is not a motivating color by any means.
Kate Smith is a psychological color expert who helps coordinate swatches that are best fit for specific settings and individuals. She helps people pick appropriate colors for offices, homes, and other establishments. Smith has reasearched the effects of colors on the human body and has come up with the following results.
Reds and Oranges are stimulant colors. They promote activity and appetite, encourage confidence, and increase enthusiasm. While red is the more popular choice over orange, both of the hues exude with energy and draw attention.
Yellow symbolizes optimism and happiness. When we think of yellow, it is common to visualize bright, sunny days. Imagine how a warm, summer afternoon makes you feel. Most likely, one is lighthearted and joyous. The iconic smiley face is painted yellow for a reason--the color embodies the large smile and happiness that it stands for. On a biological level, yellow stimulates the nervous system, activates memory, and encourages communication.
Blue is the favorite of all the colors. As the color of sky and water, it has a calming, peaceful, and cooling feeling. Blues are defined by trustworthiness and dependability, just as the ocean tides go in and out.
Green is the second most popular color and is seen as soothing, relaxing, and natural. Since the color, green, graces the majority of the natural earth, it is seen as refreshing and tranquil. It helps alleviate anxiety, nervousness, and depression.
Purple is the combination of red and blue; therefore, it embodies both of their attributes. It is uplifting and stimulating, yet calm. Nevertheless, it promotes the mind to think creatively.
Brown portrays the feeling of stability and wholesomeness, as it is connected with the
stalwart and reliable image of the earth. Similar to the color green, it is natural and organic.
stalwart and reliable image of the earth. Similar to the color green, it is natural and organic.
Now that you have been debriefed on the meanings and effects of color, take Dr. Max Lûscher's color quiz! Lûscher is a psychologist who, in the 1950's, studied color and its effect on behavior. The test has been used by professionals and career hiring staffs ever since.
Color Quiz: http://www.colorquiz.com/
In conclusion to this blog post, there is plenty of reasoning why hospitals should be painted in color. The bland walls should be stripped and replaced by mentally stimulating hues. Color experts and psychologists have confirmed these facts, and I believe that painted walls will show positive changes in patients' attitudes.
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