Almost everyone has a color they consider their favorite. And even if they don’t, most of us have one color we prefer to others or one color that we really hate. Why do people have favorite colors? What makes one color more appealing to us than others?

The reason is that colors communicate something to us. They carry a subliminal message that causes us to react to them in certain ways. Some people react with dislike to the feelings a color creates and others react with pleasure. This is why we like our rooms, clothes, and cars to have specific colors.

The human brain is not color-blind; rather it is hard-wired to interact with colors. And this is why color is such a powerful element in interior design. Regardless of the age, status, and gender of people, colors can evoke an emotional response in them.

This is why interior designers deploy colors to make people feel a certain way when they enter a room. They can use room colors as instruments to influence mood and enhance the function of a room or any space, explains Real Canadian Management Solutions. But to do this, an interior designer has to know the psychological response that is created by each color.

Here are the different ways specific colors influence people's moods.

Red

Red is the color of passion. It evokes intense emotions that can tend towards drama and aggression. This is why the color is associated with love, danger, power, and sexual passion. It should be incorporated in the kitchen and dining areas because it spurs hunger. It may also be used in entryways to grab attention.

Orange

Orange is inviting because of its warm and exciting tones. It is eye-catching and makes people feel motivated, extroverted, and energetic, but to a lesser degree than red. It has antidepressant qualities and inspires optimism and independence. Orange is best used in combination with pastel shades to create a youthful, contemporary, and invigorating ambiance.

Yellow

Yellow is a color of effusive optimism. People in yellow rooms are more talkative because the color makes them more confident. It should be used in spaces where conversation and creativity are encouraged. But, for the best results, yellow should be balanced with more calming colors, since yellow can be extreme in its effects.

Green

Green represents fertility, health, and renewal. Green evokes feelings of abundance. Because of its ability to slow breathing and calm the nerves, green can be used in almost any space. It should be used in rooms where comfort and relaxation are the main concerns. Deeper greens are more intense in the feelings they inspire.

Blue

Blue is tranquil. It stabilizes the emotions and conveys feelings of quiet confidence and calmness. Blue also inspires loyalty, stability, and responsibility. It lowers blood pressure and reduces stress. But its effects can also verge on the edge of depression. It is a great color for bathrooms, adult bedrooms, and more masculine spaces.

Violet

Violet combines the passionate impact of red with the soothing effects of blue. It draws the mind into a place of balanced emotions. The color inspires reflection, creativity, and clarity of mind. It also conjures feelings of luxury. Violet is best used as an accent color and as an infusion into wall décor or furnishings.

Purple

Purple has a long history of being associated with luxury and elegance. On the one hand, it is calming, but on the other, it is mysterious. Because it also has a bold exotic edge, purple encourages the mind to unleash its creative potentials. It is best used in children's bedrooms and spaces where they play.

Pink

Pink adds a bit of a feminine touch to spaces. It effuses a good mood, warm energy, and passionate fun. It is a mix of white and red and therefore combines the passion of red with the calm of white. It may be used in small amounts to accent a room's furnishings.

Black

Black is bold and solid. It evokes elegance and stoic detachment. And when used creatively in a room, it can make a space feel more sophisticated. Black does not work well when used alone; it is best deployed in combinations with brighter colors, to create contrast. Expertly-used, black always conveys a sense of class.

White

In interior design, white is typically not seen as a color. It is considered a blank palette that serves as a background for other colors. White is good as a backdrop for displaying artwork, it is also great for creating a high-contrast look and its cooling effect makes it ideal for hot environments.

Brown

Brown brings people close to the soothing tones of earth and wood. It is warm and natural; these make the color very relaxing. Brown is safe and homely. It invokes a sense of security. And due to its versatility and mildness, it can be used alongside other colors and in almost any setting.

Using colors is fun, but when you know what those colors can do, it is even more fun. This is just a primer on the power of colors. We hope it will whet your appetite and make you want to really know why people like the colors they do.