How Colour Psychology Can Make You Happier

Last updated: June 9, 2018


A woman with blue eyes who has her right hand partially over her face that's covered in multiple colours of paint


Have you ever walked into a room and felt an overwhelming sense of peace and calm? Perhaps you’ve felt cheerful and energized. Although there are many factors that play into how a room can make you feel, one of the most significant influences is colour. Colour is a very powerful design tool that gives the rooms in your home a certain mood or energy. On an even deeper level, colour can even impact your overall psychology and well-being.


What is Colour Psychology?

Colour psychology is used in marketing and advertising, but it’s also a powerful interior design tool. It has more of an impact on mood than any other factor in the room!

Different tints and shades invoke a wide range of emotions. By understanding how colour psychology can make you happier, you can create a happier space in no time.

Colour can completely alter your experience. The shade of your walls has been shown to affect emotions in a number of ways. Certain colours help you relax, others suppress appetite, while some invoke feelings of overall happiness and joy.

How Can I Use Colour Psychology in My Home?

The colours in your home have a huge impact on your psychology and general mood. Colours act in three basic ways: passive, neutral, and active. Light colours are expansive and airy while dark colours are sophisticated and warm. Emotional responses to colour depend on their saturation and brightness. Although specific colours drive similar reactions from most people, colours can affect people differently based on their age, gender, ethnicity, and the climate.

When deciding which hues to choose, it’s important to think about the kind of atmosphere you want to create and which colours will help you achieve your goal. Our life experiences and memories trigger emotions into happiness. Finding a colour that reflects happiness is the best way to connect to a colour.

How to Choose Happy Colours

Deciding on colours for your home can feel overwhelming. With some planning, you can find colours that will make your home an expression of how you want to feel.

If you want to give your home more energy, a refreshing take on orange might be just what you need. Orange is a fun and energetic colour. It’s the perfect alternative to the aggressive impact of red, and it can make you feel energetic and adventurous. The colour orange evokes excitement and enthusiasm. Its warmth enhances positive energy and makes one feel energized and alert. Pair orange with earthy tones like beige and brown to provide a comfortable, cozy feel.

Perhaps you’re looking to stimulate the nervous system, promote communication, and spark creativity. If this is the case, a sun-kissed yellow is a bright idea! Yellow is the colour of warmth, wisdom, sympathy and prosperity. Rooms painted yellow can make people feel cheerful and optimistic. Yellow feels like a warm ray of sunshine and awakens all five of our senses. It’s a natural source of positive energy. To implement this colour into your space, be sure to use it in limited applications, and choose a shade that speaks to you.