Color psychology: how fall colors lend themselves to self-care
Written by Saara Sastry
You’ve probably heard the phrase “There is no beauty without color” before, and it’s certainly true! Color is all around us–from the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to even the photos we post on social media–color surrounds us. Although a lot of the colors we see in our everyday life are out of our control, scientists are beginning to realize the benefits of surrounding ourselves with certain colors over others.
Color psychology is a relatively new field of study that focuses on how color affects our moods, emotions, actions, and behavior. Psychologist Sally Augustin believes that “color provides opportunity,” and that the three elements of color (hue, saturation, and brightness), have a major effect on how we take control of our mood and creativity. When I first read that quote from Dr. Augustin, it made a lot of sense to me, because we are often told to go outside and be surrounded by nature and other green things when we are stressed (notice how our Berry logo is a soothing forest green). Personally, I have definitely noticed myself gravitating towards less saturated colors when I have some ability of control. For example, my study spaces only contain pastel pinks and greens because I’ve always found them to be the most relaxing colors. I guess color psychology is the explanation for that!
Why is color such a powerful force in our lives? And what effect does each color have on us? As fall is coming to an end, I want to talk more about how fall colors (warm hues of red, orange, yellow, and gold) lend themselves to self-care!
Colors in the red area of the color spectrum are known as warm colors and include red, orange, and yellow. These warm colors evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility. Let’s break each of them down:
Red:
The color red is typically associated with passion, excitement, and love. What does this mean for fall? Well, the beautiful reds that we see in the fall foliage, food, and clothing may influence your feelings towards relationships! Whether it be romantic, platonic, or familial, you may experience an outpouring of love in your life during the fall season. Dr. Sally Augustin also says that looking at the color red gives you “a burst of strength.” So, you may find yourself going outside your comfort zone and overcoming obstacles when exposed to this color this season!
Orange:
The color orange is typically associated with warmth, kindness, and joy. You may experience an increase in overall happiness during the fall season, as orange is the most seen color! From the leaves to pumpkins and cinnamon, different shades of orange and brown may provide you with a sense of comfort and coziness.
Yellow:
Yellow is the only fall color that is somewhat mixed in the effect it could have on you. Although it signifies hope and joy, it is also connected to negative themes such as danger (think of all the cautionary signs). This shouldn’t worry you, though— after all, fall is the season of change! Although the leaves change during fall, they bring with them a sense of comfort and ease.
Of course, with color psychology being such a new field of study, it’s important to take such information with a grain of salt and live your life in whatever colors you want! But since fall is ending and we are beginning to see colder temperatures (and colder colors, for that matter), I hope this analysis has provided you with some clarity on how your autumn has gone so far. I, personally, am off to buy a red purse before fall is officially over!
Be Well,
Saara
Sources:
Shea, Molly. “Why Color Psychology Deserves a Spot in Your Self-Care Routine.” Shine, advice.theshineapp.com/articles/why-color-psychology-deserves-a-spot-in-your-self-care-routine/.
