Do Colors Affect Our Every Day Lives? by Gaby Castro February 21, 2007

What triggers moods? It may be the situation you’re in, people, a problem or maybe even colors surrounding you. A color does not only make clothing seem fashionable, a home more sophisticated, or art work seem more fascinating, but it affects the human’s everyday lives. “Why are people more relaxed in green rooms? Why do weightlifters do their best in blue gyms?” Color Psychology, David Johnson. Why do doctors wear white and why do nurses wear light blue and pink? Most individual colors do not only have a special significance, but can also change our state of mood and performance.
Colors symbolize many different things, but not in all culture do colors represent the same thing. Black may not only be one of the most popular colors in the world, but it also signifies capitulation and compliance. The example given by David Johnson is when priests often wear black. They are signifying “submission to God.” Black’s opposite color, white, signifies virtue and purity. It is said that doctors wear white because it also signifies sterility. The color green is concerned with nature, the environment and ecology. All colors symbolize different things but it all varies in cultures.
Psychologically, colors change humans’ moods and performance. It is said that nurse wear the colors light blue and pink because it relaxes their patients. Another color that relaxes people is the color green. “…red hues increase bodily tension and stimulate the autonomic nervous system…” Wikipedia. Red also increases heart rate and breathing. It is proven that people fight more often in yellow rooms and babies cry more in yellow rooms. “Yellow enhances concentration, hence its use for legal pads. It also speeds metabolism.” Color of Psychology, David Johnson. Fast food restaurants often use the colors red and yellow because they make you hungrier, waste more money and make you loose track to time. Colors affect people more than they are aware of, and even though colors are not a huge part of life, they too have their own significance.