Most of the time, we choose colours
for decorating based on our personal taste and our sense of
aesthetics. But, a number of colour experts believe that colours
have an effect on our emotions and that it would be wise of us to
be conscious of that before settling on a definite choice.
Some of the effects of colours are
well known and accepted by most people. In fact, those effects have
been the subject of serious research and experiments and have been
scientifically proven. But not all scientists agree on the validity
of the results.
When we become interested in the
psychological effects of colours, it is important to know that not
all societies share our perception of those effects on our
emotions. What we hold as an "objective" observation on a colour is
often nothing more than a reflection of our cultural affiliations,
which has attributed properties to that colour for generations.
Why is it not possible for us to
hold a really objective discourse on the subject? In part, because
it is very difficult to separate the psychological from the
symbolic. The symbolic aspects are definitely cultural. Often, and
this without our realizing it, they influence our perception of
colours and the ensuing emotions.
Black and white are good examples.
In western countries, black is considered serious, dramatic and
sometimes sad. People are warned against its potentially depressing
effects on a decorating scheme. Black is the traditional colour of
mourning. White, on the other hand, is associated with purity,
peace and optimism. For those reasons, white is the traditional
colour of bridal dresses. No one would think of attending a funeral
in white. Nor would it occur to a bride to wear black. We simply
remain convinced that it is not in the "nature" of those colours.
Yet, in certain oriental countries, it is white, not black that is
the colour of mourning.
That having been said, there is
some overlapping in the properties different cultures attribute to
certain colours.
For example, Feng Shui, the
traditional Chinese philosophy that distinguishes between good and
evil influences interprets colours much in the same way as the
majority of western colour specialists. Is that to say that colours
have real natural properties which all humans perceive in the same
way? Or is the phenomenon an example of the cross-influences that
affect the thinking of cultures brought closer to one another by a
certain Venetian named Marco Polo? It is difficult to say.
But, be that as it may, colours do
affect us. And if you feel emotions for a certain colour, note them
and remember them. You may even wish to consider them next time you
are planning to decorate. The decision is yours!