Colors have a direct and powerful impact on the way we feel and
react to our surroundings. Some colors excite us, while others soothe
and calm us. For example, when the Blackfriar Bridge in London was
painted green, suicide jumps from the bridge decreased by 34%.
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Research reveals that people have similar emotional responses to
specific colors and in general, the brighter the color, the stronger the
response.
Blue, for example, creates a tranquil, quiet feeling in many
people. Blue makes it easier for people to resolve conflicts and
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accept themselves. Blue also seems to act as an appetite
suppressant. People snack less out of a refrigerator when the
refrigerator light is blue. And they eat less when they use blue dishes.
Green has a soothing effect. People who work in green rooms
have fewer stomachaches and feel less pain generally.
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Orange improves mental clarity and promotes happiness.
Orange increases the flow of oxygen to the brain.
In a red room, people are more likely to feel angry and tense.
Red has also been found to stimulate the autonomic nervous system.
Yellow produces rather different emotional responses depending
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on its brightness. People in a bright yellow room feel tired. Babies cry
more in bright yellow rooms and husbands and wives fight more. Pale
yellow, on the other hand, creates a feeling of harmony.