Name: CYS: BS-Architecture 3

SN: Subject: Architectural Interiors

Assignment on Color
1. Study the meaning of the different colors applied in a room.
2. Why are such colors applied in a certain space?
3. What effects do these colors have on people?
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1.) Color is a phenomenon of light. It forms a wonderful facet of design that proved
versatile in applications. It affects the mood, thinking, and persona of the person
experiencing it. It also plays a part in perception and human culture.
As part of its allure, man tried to ascribe various meanings to various colors. Though
they differ for different people, probably because of different cultural orientations and
aesthetic inclinations, numerous studies have found commonly ascribed meanings to
each color.
From Wikipedia, the following are commonly accepted color meanings in the United
States:
Functional (F): fulfills a need or solves a problem
Sensory-Social (S):conveys attitudes, status, or social approval
Red Yellow Green Blue Pink Violet/Purple Brown Black White
Lust (S) Jealousy (S)
Good
Taste
(F)
Masculine
(S)
Sophistication
(S)
Authority (S)
Ruggedness
(S)
Grief (S)
Happiness
(S)
Negative
Issues (F)
Competence
(S)
Envy
(S)
Competence
(S)
Sincerity (S)
Sophistication
(S)

Sophistication
(S)
Sincerity
(S)
Excitement
(S)
Happiness
(S)

High quality
(F)

Power (S)

Expensive (F) Purity (S)
Love (S)

Corporate

Fear (S)


From colouraffects.uk, the following are the common color meanings:
RED. Physical
Positive: Physical courage, strength, warmth, energy, basic survival, 'fight or flight',
stimulation, masculinity, excitement.
Negative: Defiance, aggression, visual impact, strain.
BLUE. Intellectual.
Positive: Intelligence, communication, trust, efficiency, serenity, duty, logic, coolness,
reflection, calm.
Negative: Coldness, aloofness, lack of emotion, unfriendliness.
YELLOW. Emotional
Positive: Optimism, confidence, self-esteem, extraversion, emotional strength,
friendliness, creativity.
Negative: Irrationality, fear, emotional fragility, depression, anxiety, suicide.
GREEN. Balance
Positive: Harmony, balance, refreshment, universal love, rest, restoration, reassurance,
environmental awareness, equilibrium, peace.
Negative: Boredom, stagnation, blandness, enervation.
VIOLET. Spiritual
Positive: Spiritual awareness, containment, vision, luxury, authenticity, truth, quality.
Negative: Introversion, decadence, suppression, inferiority.
ORANGE.
Positive: Physical comfort, food, warmth, security, sensuality, passion, abundance, fun.
Negative: Deprivation, frustration, frivolity, immaturity.
PINK.
Positive: Physical tranquillity, nurture, warmth, femininity, love, sexuality, survival of the
species.
Negative: Inhibition, emotional claustrophobia, emasculation, physical weakness.
GREY.
Positive: Psychological neutrality.
Negative: Lack of confidence, dampness, depression, hibernation, lack of energy.
BLACK.
Positive: Sophistication, glamour, security, emotional safety, efficiency, substance.
Negative: Oppression, coldness, menace, heaviness.
WHITE.
Positive: Hygiene, sterility, clarity, purity, cleanness, simplicity, sophistication,
efficiency.
Negative: Sterility, coldness, barriers, unfriendliness, elitism.
BROWN.
Positive: Seriousness, warmth, Nature, earthiness, reliability, support.
Negative: Lack of humour, heaviness, lack of sophistication.
2.) Colors are applied for a wide variety of reasons. According to Jonathan Poore in his
book Interior Color by Design, some of the important roles color can play include
(examples with direct quotations from the book included):
1. Setting the emotional tone or
ambiance of a space
The cool and somewhat somber green,
gray, and black lend an air of calm
sophistication to this dining room which is
(F)

Figure 2 - Interior Color by Design p. 18
Figure 3 - Interior Color by Design p. 19
Figure 4 - Interior Color by Design p. 21
Figure 5 - Interior Color by Design p. 25
then balanced with the warm inviting glow of the colored glass windows.




2. Focusing or diverting attention
The red and yellow accent colors of the
display cabinet help weave together the
collection of objects which also include
splashes of red and yellow. The delightful
decorative border on the wall mimics the
shapes and colors of the display items in
the miniature.



3. Modulating the space to feel larger or smaller
The light colors of this alcove are made
more soft and luminous by being indirectly
lit from above. This adds a dimension of
airy spaciousness to this cozy little seating
area. Darker colors without indirect lighting
would have made this space feel very
closed in.



4. Unifying the space or knitting it together
Color is used here to highlight each
architectural element in the space as
though it is a freestanding piece of furniture.
The overall harmony of the color scheme
keeps these individual furniture elements
unified. The contrasting accent colors
emphasize the different layers of room-
dividing elements which create an even
greater illusion of depth and space, much
like a lively stage set. The figure dancing
across the frieze panel adds to this
theatrical quality.
5. Breaking up and defining the space
Color in this interior helps organize and
accent the exposed roof structure. The cool
gray ceiling provides a subtle contrast
against the warm brown of the walls and
rafter beams.



Figure 1 - Interior Color by Design p. 17
Figure 6 - Simultaneous Contrast (colorcube.com)

Apart from these roles, color can provide the means for which a designer can
achieve a particular principle of design. With
color, the designer can provide contrast,
comparison, and complement. He can give
focus and create rhythm. He can define space
and form. He can create mood and play of
light.
With color, he can manipulate the
behavior of light so as to evoke a particular
physiological response from the spectator.
A designer can also create color
illusions to achieve several ends. He can do this through simultaneous contrast,
perceptual transparency, and many others.

3.) Although it is generally accepted that color does affect man in a way, there is no
rigorous scientific study, to date, that is able to definitely describe
these effects. Generally, effects of color on human beings fall to
the psychological category. The effects include rejuvenating or
healing effects, mood-setting effects, decision making effects, and
thought-influencing effects.
For example, in Ayurvedic Medicine, there exists the
branch of chroma-therapy or the healing of diseases through use
of color exposure. Different colors correspond to different parts of
the body. Any disease of shortcoming of a body part is healed
through therapy with the corresponding color.
In Modern Medicine, studies show that warm colored
placebo pills work better than cool colored placebo pills.
In lighting, the color red invokes the person into action and
alertness thus its applications in military and emergency fields
while the color blue soothes the person into calm and reason thus
its application as lighting near suicide hotspots and relaxing
centers.
Generally, these effects are dependent on many factors:
1.) Cultural Orientation as stated before, different cultures interpret each color
differently from other cultures
2.) Aesthetic Preference personal preferences such as likes and dislikes
3.) Location and Surrounding colors people surrounded by warm colors tend to
gravitate towards cool colors and vice versa
4.) Perceived Color Psychology closely related to cultural orientation, any effect
of the color is highly dependent on its perceived meaning.

Sources
Books
2000 Color Combinations for Graphic, Textile, and Craft Designers Garth Lewis
Interior Color by Design Jonathan Poore
The Fundamentals of Interior Architecture - John Coles and Naomi House
Websites
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_psychology
http://www.colour-affects.co.uk/psychological-properties-of-colours
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromotherapy
Figure 7 - Chromatherapy
Color-Organ Correspondence
(Wikipedia)
Pictures
Interior Color by Design pp. 17- 25
http://www.colorcube.com/illusions/scindctn.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromotherapy