Color Psychology Part II: How Winter Colors Lend Themselves to Self-Care
Written by Saara Sastry
We’re coming back for a part II on color psychology for the winter season! As previously mentioned in the Fall edition, 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.
Why is color such a powerful force in our lives? And what effect does each color have on us? As it gets colder and colder each day, it's a great time to talk about what effect the cool hues of winter can have on us.
Colors in the cool area of the color wheel include blues, purples, and greens, all of which are seen during winter in some capacity.
Blue:
The color blue is typically associated with wisdom, hope, reason, and peace. What does this mean for the winter? Well, the blues seen in snow/snowflake imagery may leave you feeling quite serene. It is the perfect feeling to balance out the fiery and unstable nature of the fall colors and give you a sort of mental reset to head into the new year. According to Color Psychology, blue represents a sense of inner reflection, and a great deal of research has indicated that this impact on the body is indeed inverse to red’s, resulting in lower heart rates and even slower metabolisms. So you may even find your physical health being impacted positively by winter’s blue hues!
Purple:
The color purple is typically associated with wealth and extravagance. It is said to combine the stability of blue with the energy of red. As for what that could mean for the holiday season, perhaps you will be feeling ambitious in an attempt to attain such wealth and extravagance associated with the color purple. Seeing this color in ornaments and decorations may have you ready to make some goals for the new year!
Green & Red:
Although red is not a cool color, it is seen in tandem with green a lot during the holiday season. As mentioned in the fall edition, red is typically associated with passion, excitement, and love. This is perfectly appropriate for winter and the holiday season because it is typically a time spent with friends, family, and loved ones. As for green, it is strongly associated with tranquility and calmness, but it also signifies connection. This is, once again, perfect for a season usually spent with loved ones. Red and green are actually my favorite colors, so I have been loving seeing all the holiday decor in these colors!
As mentioned in the fall edition, 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 nevertheless, I hope you take solace in the fact that all the colors that are most present during winter indicate a tranquil, reflective, and love-filled season for you and your loved ones.
Be Well,
Saara
