Colors are more than just visual elements; they have the power to influence our mood, decisions and even productivity. From the calming blues of a quiet room, to the energizing reds of a workout space, color psychology helps explain how different hues impact the human mind.
Color psychology studies how different colors trigger emotional and psychological responses.
“Colors influence our feelings and behaviors in ways that can improve or hinder productivity,” Dr. Emily Dawson, a psychologist specializing in environmental factors, said in an interview in her book named Equity, Exclusion and Everyday Science Learning: The Experiences of Minoritised Groups.
For example, blue is often associated with calmness and focus, while yellow is linked to energy and creativity. Red, conversely, stimulates attention and decision-making, which is why it’s used in fast-paced settings like marketing and food branding.
Research from the University of Minnesota suggests that blue and green are ideal for environments requiring sustained concentration, while warmer colors like yellow and red boost energy levels and quick thinking.
Companies have long used color to influence consumer decisions. Fast food chains, for example, use red and yellow to attract attention and stimulate appetite, encouraging customers to make quick purchasing decisions. In contrast, companies like Facebook and PayPal use blue to convey trust and reliability, traits crucial for building customer loyalty.
While businesses use color to shape their image, students at Elizabethtown College are discovering how the colors around them can enhance their focus and creativity. Whether painting their study walls or choosing specific colors for their notes, many students are learning how to incorporate color psychology into their academic routines.
For many students, adjusting the color scheme of their study environment has had surprising effects on their academic performance.
“I never thought about how color could impact my focus, but once my dad painted my study space blue, I felt calmer and could concentrate longer,” first-year computer science major Jason Lee said.. “It’s amazing how much a color change can improve my productivity.”
“I started using yellow accents in my space after learning about its link to creativity,” first-year marketing major Sarah Martinez said. “I’ve definitely noticed that I come up with more innovative ideas when I’m surrounded by it.”
While many students experiment with vibrant hues, others have found that neutral tones work best for them.
“I used to think I needed bright colors to stay focused, but I’ve found that soft grays and whites help me concentrate better. I don’t feel distracted, and my mind stays clearer,” sophomore English major Emma Clark said.
Some Etown students had never heard of color psychology until they began exploring it. Michael Johnson, a sophomore psychology major, was one of those students.
“I always thought my focus was more about the task at hand, but after reading about color psychology, I gave blue a try. I was surprised by how much more productive I felt in a space with cool tones,” he said.
Tina Williams, a first-year biology major, shared a similar experience.
“I never knew that colors could affect my mood or creativity, but after adding some yellow to my study area, I feel more inspired. It’s helped me stay engaged in my studies,” she said.
For some students, however, the connection between color and productivity remains unclear. A senior engineering major, Arthur Cooper admits he doesn’t focus much on color when studying.
“I’ve never really thought about it,” he said. “I just focus on my work, but hearing how color affects others makes me curious. I might try it out to see if it helps.”
In Andrew Elliot’s studies on color and performance, participants were typically asked to complete cognitive tasks, such as solving puzzles or completing memory tests, while being exposed to different colors in their environment, often in the form of colored backgrounds or rooms.
For example, in one experiment, participants were placed in a room with either a red or a blue background and their task performance was measured based on factors like accuracy, speed, and attention to detail. Elliot found that the color red often hindered performance on tasks requiring attention and focus, while blue appeared to facilitate more creative and relaxed thinking. The performance was tracked by measuring how quickly and accurately participants completed the task.
In other variations of his research, physiological measures like heart rate were used, and fMRI techniques could be employed to observe brain activation, allowing researchers to examine which brain regions were stimulated by the presence of different colors, helping to clarify the emotional and cognitive effects of color exposure.
These findings suggest that students at Etown can use color intentionally in their study spaces. A student working on a creative project may benefit from the stimulating effect of yellow, while someone writing an essay may find that a blue-toned environment helps them stay focused for longer periods.
From the corporate world to college study spaces, color plays a crucial role in shaping how we feel and perform. Students at Etown are increasingly aware of how the colors in their environment can influence their academic success. Whether it’s using blue to stay calm during a long study session or yellow to spark creativity, students are discovering that color psychology is a valuable tool for boosting productivity.
Even those who had never considered the impact of color are finding surprising results. As more students experiment with different color schemes, it becomes clear that small changes to their environment can make a big difference in their academic lives. For students and businesses alike, the power of color should not be underestimated.
If you’d like to explore color theory further, here are links to the sources mentioned above:
https://www.healthdesign.org/sites/default/files/color_in_hc_environ.pdf https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/science/06color.html
