Mood

MOOD

Blue is cool. Red is warm. White reflects light. Black absorbs light. These scant facts are what the average person knows about the physical properties of color. But ask that same person his or her opinion about the color of a room and you'll get an earful. People respond to color on a multitude of levels-psychological, cultural, physiological. Is it all subjective? That's the question to which Faber Birren, the world's reigning colorist through the '50s, '60s, and '70s, dedicated his life. He studied how colors affect human behavior, and the result of his experiments influenced generations of paint choosers.

COLOR ACCORDING TO FABER BIRREN

Red increases sexual activity, heals wounds, raises blood pressure, makes weight seem heavier, and makes time seem longer. Excellent for the creation but not the execution of ideas.
Blue decreases hormonal activity, inhibits the healing of wounds, lowers blood pressure, makes weight seem lighter, and time seem shorter.Unsuccessful in schools, offices, and hospitals.
Yellow speeds the metabolism.
Green reduces nervous and muscular tension.
Visual and mental concentration is easiest in a green, gray , or blue environment with low brightness.
Small children become relaxed in actively-colored rooms.
Peach, red, orange, brown , buff, yellow, and clear green stimulate the appetite. Pink and violet are "dessert" colors because they're perceived as being sweet.
Blondes prefer blue; brunettes prefer red.

(* references : CHIC SIMPLE : PAINT by Kim Johnson Gross & Jeff Stone *)