Colour Therapy
Why it’s easy being green and exciting to be red
A few years ago, the visitor’s locker room at the University of Iowa’s stadium was painted pink. It caused controversy because it was seen as a sexist attempt to emasculate visiting opponents. But the real reason behind the room’s colour had more to do with the calming effect pink is supposed to have on humans rather than any girly connotations.
It’s not just pink that can affect your mood, according to colour therapy or chromotherapy. Surrounding yourself with colours from the rest of the rainbow can change your emotional, spiritual, and even physical well-being. While chromotherapy is usually practised by alternative medicine professionals, painting your bathroom walls pink à la University of Iowa might just extend the benefits of a soothing bath. Find out what other colours mean and how they can alter the energy around you.
Red: Rooms for making love or war should be painted in red. Red, as cliché as it sounds, is the colour of passion. It increases blood pressure, metabolism, and the rate of breathing. Use light red for love and deep red for that confrontation room you were planning. Need to break up with someone or quit your job? Don’t wear red.
Orange: Orange, like a happy sun, is cheerful and makes us alert. It increases oxygen to the brain and stimulates mental activity. It’s a great colour for a breakfast nook or bedroom if you’re not a morning person. An orange bathrobe is a great idea if you don’t want to commit to a persimmon wall.
Yellow: It’s cheerful and stimulating like orange but much more attention-getting. Yellow doesn’t give a feeling of stability; it’s more childish and light-hearted—perfect for a confrontation or casual get together, or even for a living room.
Green: Green is a healing colour. It represents stability. It’s eye catching and can actually improve eyesight and concentration, which make it a great colour for a home study, den, or library.
Blue: Representing peace and calm, blue brings about a state of tranquility. Blue slows metabolism and suppresses appetite. It can actually relieve headaches and muscle pains. Light blue is a good colour for a relaxing bedroom.
Purple: Combining the stability of blue and the energy of red, purple symbolizes royalty. It’s the colour of emotion and facilitates meditation. This is the colour to wear when having a heart-to-heart.
Written by: Vanessa Grant