Colour

“Colour is a power which directly influences the soul.”

- W. Kandinsky

We all have a relationship with colour. Whether we surround ourselves with it or avoid it entirely. It provokes an immediate response in us which we often find hard to explain.

In this post I will explore what colour is, how and why we respond to it in different ways, and how we can use this in our lives.

What is colour?

To avoid going too deep into metaphysical discussions of how we define reality, I will define colour as “our brain's interpretation of differing wavelengths of light entering the eye.”

Light is a form of energy, released as photons, and can come directly from a source (the sun, a flame or lightbulb) or be reflected from a surface (how we see everything else).

Without a light source we cannot see objects, and if no light is reflecting off of an object into our eyes we also cannot see it. This happens if an object is too far away from a light source (think of shining a torch into the distance at night) or if the surface of the object has no reflectivity (NanoSystem's “Vantablack” comes close with a reflectivity rating of just 0.04%).

So in essence colour is energy.

Different wavelengths are interpreted by our brain to give us the range of colours we see, with the longest wavelengths appearing red and the shortest appearing violet. Between these two colours is what we call the visual spectrum: all the colours of the rainbow.

Outside of the visual spectrum are longer and shorter wavelengths of light which the human eye cannot see, but other animals can.

Light with a longer wavelength than red is called “infrared”. Some insects and reptiles can see infrared, and humans have developed cameras in order to see it too. At the other end of the spectrum, beyond violet, is “ultra violet”. Many animals can see ultraviolet light including cats and dogs.

Thinking of the spectrum of light in defined sections with names (such as “red” or “yellow”) is a purely human invention to help us to describe what we see. In fact the spectrum is a seamless gradient from one end to the other, and for this reason some cultures are known to differentiate between colours differently, and have different words to describe certain ranges of colour. (A really interesting video here from the BBC “Do you see what I see” series)

Now, although we defined colour above as “different wavelengths of light entering the eye” and black is just a lack of light, I still believe we can define black as a colour when we are discussing it in this context, as we still interact with it in the same way as the other colours. Similarly white is a combination of all the wavelengths of light at once, and so I will continue to define it as a colour in this instance.

So we know that colour is energy, it is light waves entering our eyes (or lack of it in the case of black), so why do we often have such a strong physical and emotional response to it?

How we respond to colour

There are several reasons we respond so strongly to colour. In Frank H Mahnke's book “Colour, Environment, and Human Response” he describes a series of reactions which culminate in our ultimate experience of a colour.

1. Biological & Collective Unconscious:

This is the response our bodies have based on experiences gathered during the evolution of our species. We see colour the way we do because we have evolved to do so, it has been useful in the survival of our species. This includes recognising ripe fruit among unripe fruit, reacting to the changing light levels during the day and night, and recognising warning signs in other animals.
This is the very basic level of perception of colour.

2. Conscious Symbols & Associations:

This is the response based on our own personal experience during our lifetimes. Learning in childhood that when you fall over and cut your knee that red is the colour of blood and pain, pink is the colour of sweet strawberry ice cream, and green is the colour of feeling free running around on the grass, .

These reactions are individual to each person, but will often have overlap with other people due to similar experiences. (This is also where colour blindness might come into play, as a person with colour blindness might form different associations based on their own experience of colour.)

3. Cultural Influences:

Your personal exposure to and experience of a colour will be very different depending on where you live, your culture, and religion. Take red for example: here in the UK we might associate red with danger or anger, whereas in China red is seen as a very auspicious colour and is used for festivals and celebrations.

This can also apply to the era in which you live, for example nowadays green is often associated with healthy living, but in medieval times it was associated with bad luck.

4. Trends & Fashion:

This applies to colour trends and branding in design, and fashion. Through the powers of marketing and repetition you may begin to like a colour when it is presented to you in certain ways. This taps into the human desire for belonging, and can be hugely influential.
This is the last level of influence on our view of colour and is likely to change many times throughout our lifetimes.

At the end of this process of factors we end up with our instant reaction, and relationship with a colour.

How to use colour

Using colour in how we dress or decorate our homes can sometimes cause us to feel fearful of “getting it wrong” and for that reason many people choose to play it safe with neutrals or avoid it entirely.
I think this is a shame because, as we have seen, colour has the power to provoke such strong responses in us that I believe it can be a helpful tool in promoting certain states of mind. If you are the kind of person who needs a bit of help feeling cheerful and energised, then using a colour in your home or clothing which you associate with these feelings can be a great start to improving your mood.

Of course some people are quite avoidant of colour for many other reasons. There is a stereotypical view of architects wearing all black, with many speculative ideas as to why this might be, but perhaps so as to pare the human form down to its most simple representation. Remember that black is an absence of light, so it is really the ultimate “no colour” choice.
In contrast many modern buildings are pure white, with minimalists favouring pure white interiors. White spaces have the potential to be the brightest because of the way in which white reflects all wavelengths of light. Much of modern architecture is a focus on the “form” rather than ornamentation or decoration, and using black or white is an expression of this. However I also believe that white and neutral colours have their own effects on us, and by defaulting to these colours we are actually choosing to be influenced in ways we might not be aware of. While some might find white spaces to be calming, I personally find them quite oppressive.

Many people may also choose to avoid artificial colours in favour of natural colours and textures. You can add a lot of colour to a space without using anything which has been specifically “coloured” for example by using wood, stone, or plants.
This also shows that the context of a colour can be just as important. You may not like the idea of decorating with brown, but wood is a very popular finish because of the surface patterns and texture and its association with nature.

As we can see, there are so many complex reasons that we might respond to different colours in certain ways, but my main piece of advice is to do what feels good to you. Choose colours (or lack of colour) based on your own response, rather than what you feel is fashionable or acceptable. We don’t need to understand why we enjoy or dislike a colour, those immediate feelings are enough.

Remember that introducing colour to your home doesn’t necessarily mean painting the walls. You can add colour using accessories and furnishings, which is a great option if you want to keep things flexible, or try out a few different options.

If you do choose to paint or wallpaper, a good basic rule is to remember that a colour will look more vivid when in a large area on the wall than it does in a small sample.

I believe that design should be all about you and your relationship to a space, not about trends and fashion, so take the time to think about what you really love, and create a home which makes you feel your best!

For more ideas on how to use colour in your home, take a look at my Pinterest!







Amy Thompsoninterior design, home, organise, tidying up, colour, color, psychology, science, frank h mahnke, visible light, spectrum, rainbow, decoratingComment