Color speaks through various meaning depending on culture, tradition, socio-political conditions, etc. However, the effect of color on human being is well researched field of studies conducted by psychologists for many centuries.
Following are some of the examples that the Color Psychologists have tested found-
Most people react to color in approximately the same way:
RED excites / stimulates/passion/ action, confidence, courage, vitality
ORANGE activates/ pessimism/ sacrifice
YELLOW cheers (it stimulates intellect usage in libraries, classrooms)/optimistic/ cheerful
GREEN refreshes / retiring / balance/ growth/ self-reliance/
INDIGO BLUE intuition/ idealism /ritualistic/ addictive
BLUE cools and subdues / relaxing/ trust and peace/ loyalty and integrity/conservatism and frigidity
PURPLE imaginative/ creative/ individual/ immature and impractical/ depressing
MAGENTA stimulates/ universal harmony/ emotional balance/ Spiritual/practical/ encouraging common sense/ balanced outlook – life
BROWN serious/ down-to-earth/ security/ protection/ material wealth
GRAY / WHITE neutralizing/ compromise
BLACK scary/ evil/ frightful/ fearful/ bad luck/ funeral color/ sadness/mourning/ unlucky
Colors may mean very different things- you must understand color by their own merit does have any meaning (read Piet Mondrian’s Pure Plastic Art), it is culturally how human beings have perceived and their psychological effect on our mind. “For example, red means warmth because of the color of fire. Likewise, it means anger because of the increased redness of the face when it flushes with blood. Purple symbolizes royalty only because the only purple dye that was available for many centuries was very expensive.” (Ref.http://changingminds.org/disciplines/communication/color_effect.htm ; June 8, 2012)
