Colour Psychology Master List

Imagine living life without colour – life would be pretty dull. Not only do colours allow us to express ourselves creatively, it is a crucial part of everyday communication. Colours evoke emotions, influence our perceptions, and can provide information without words. The concept of colour psychology is a topic that can benefit your branding and marketing strategies.

 Why you should pay attention to the colours you use in your brand:

·      Colours capture attention

·      Colours have symbolic meaning in different cultures

·      Colours set the mood of your messaging

·      Colours influence your audience’s emotions

Here is our Colour Psychology Master List:

Warm Tones 

Red

The colour red is bold and considered powerful. It stands out and is often used by brands to build excitement. Known to be a colour that increases your heart rate, use the colour to grab attention or to be provocative.

·      Love

·      Warmth

·      Intensity

·      Strength

·      Energetic

·      Passion

·      Romance

·      Danger

Orange

Orange as a colour is bright and persuasive.  It is a cheerful colour that is friendly and adventurous. Orange is a very social colour that also increases the appetite. Use this colour to evoke enthusiasm, inspiration, and motivation.

·      Happiness

·      Success

·      Change

·      Stimulation

·      Creativity

·      Determination

·      Encouragement

Yellow

The brightest colour of all, yellow is a colour for fresh ideas, creative projects, or new business initiatives. Ideas are bound to pop out as it is proven by studies to enhance mental activity and increase awareness and energy levels. Use just the right amount of yellow to avoid irritation and frustration. 

·      Optimism

·      Cheerful

·      Inspirational

·      Fun

·      Bright/Attention Grabber

Pink

A colour that evokes the most contrasting emotions, pink is versatile in various contexts. It can be gentle and tender or strong and full of energy depending on the shade. It is a colour widely targeted at women and girls. 

·      Romance

·      Love

·      Gentle

·      Youth

·      Sweet

Cool Tones

Green

Associated with nature, green gives off productivity, growth, and vitality. It is a gentle and relaxing colour that gives inner peace. The colour is beneficial to the mind and body and is often used by organic and high-quality brands. 

·      Fresh

·      Natural 

·      Prosperity (Money)

·      Growth

·      Calming

·      Harmony

·      Envy

Blue

Blue is a non-confrontational colour that promotes loyalty and integrity. It is peaceful, tranquil and orderly. Blue appears to be mentally soothing for some people. However, it is also known to be the least appetizing colour and can lower blood pressure. Blue is a popular colour amongst all genders, which is a good reason to use it for business.

·      Wise

·      Focused

·      Truthful

·      Loyal

·      Unappetizing

·      Calming

Purple

Often associated with royalty and luxury, purple symbolizes ambition and power. The colour is also commonly associated with curiosity, mystery, and magic. Purple is another colour that soothes the mind and lowers blood pressure and heart rate. Lighter and warmer shades of purple give off feminine or romantic vibes. 

·      Wealth

·      Sophistication

·      Respect

·      Mystery

·      Spiritual

Neutrals 

Brown

A more serious colour, brown is associated with stability and reliability. It is not a preferred first-choice colour but guarantees loyalty, maturity and responsibility. Brown is also a common colour in nature and is a good colour for products or services that are related to food, natural products and the environment. 

·      Resilience

·      Stability

·      Comfort

·      Natural

·      Organic

·      Friendship

White

A universal colour that symbolizes purity, innocence, and cleanliness. White is effective for contrasting other colours, welcomes creativity with a blank canvas, and helps declutter our minds. Too much of it can evoke negative aspects like emptiness and isolation. 

·      Goodness

·      Clean

·      New beginnings

·      Innocence

·      Neutrality

·      Also used in certain cultures for funerals

Black

The colour black has many different facets and interpretations depending on the individual. It is often associated with a sophisticated lifestyle. Black can also evoke negativity, darkness, and mourning in Western culture. 

·      Powerful 

·      Elegance

·      Formality

·      Death

·      Evil

·      Mystery

·      Authority

·      Intelligence

The next time you observe your surroundings, see how colour is used to influence your thinking. There is always a rationale behind the colours you see displayed on the ads you scroll past. Use what you have learned to create more effective communication.