Color theory is important when designing a mural because it helps to create a cohesive and visually appealing design that doesn’t just illustrate your idea but subconsciosly sets the vibe. Color theory is the study of how colors interact with each other and how they can be used to create different moods and emotions. By understanding color theory, you can choose colors that work well together and create a harmonious and balanced design.
Isaac Newton first developed the color wheel after using a prism to split white light into a spectrum and then wrapping it around on itself. It wasn't until then the idea of "primary colors" was proposed, debated scientifically and physiologically and finally lead to today’s ideas of modern color theory.
Understanding the color wheel is step one. Eventually researches began studying the psychological effects of colors by taking measurements of things like blood pressure, heart rate, and brain electrical activity. In general, studies have shown that cool colors are calming and warm colors are stimulating.
Blue is a great choice for most commercial spaces because it is both the most popular color in the United States and globally. Blue has been demonstrated to boost sales in retail settings. In a hospital setting, blue may also calm patients, and many pediatric patients prefer medium blue-green hues over all other colors.
Purple is perceived by many as dignified and regal. Purple is the perfect color for upscale shops and eateries that want to convey a sense of luxury because of this association.
Red offices, people work more carefully and make fewer mistakes, according to a University of Texas study. Red also enhances performance on intricate, analytical tasks. Red has been demonstrated to increase appetite as well, which might lead to customers placing larger food orders.
Elderly people appear to prefer red and green over blue, unlike children and adults possibly due to changes in vision which make it harder to see lighter colors as we age.
Yellow is typically regarded as a happy, upbeat color that people associate with vitality, warmth, fun, and happiness. Bright yellows, however, may be too stimulating for some people and heighten anxiety.
Additionally, yellow is a color that people generally dislike more than other colors, especially if it has a greenish undertone. However, in commercial settings like fast-casual restaurants and hospitals, yellow works well.
The table turnover rate in restaurants may rise as a result of the stimulating effects of vivid yellow hues, similar to red. Yellow is a good color for healthcare facilities because it is particularly liked by pediatric patients in pastel and medium tones.
Green elicits a favorable response from people and is frequently rated as their second favorite color. Green is a great color for office walls because it fosters creativity, just like blue has been shown to do. Additionally, because it lowers stress, green is beneficial in medical facilities. Green is most effective outside of retail settings, where it is less effective. High-end stores and restaurants may want to avoid using green color schemes because consumers perceive them as being low-class. Green is still a smart choice for healthy, fast-casual restaurants and shops that sell environmentally friendly goods, though, possibly due to its strong associations with nature.
Orange is perceived as being affordable, which has consequences for retail settings. Customers often assume that stores with orange color schemes are low-end, especially if they have bright, fluorescent lighting. However orange can successfully be used in other contexts, such as children's hospitals. Pale orange hues are well-liked by young children.
White is a great color for small spaces as it tricks the eye into making space feel larger. Many people aslo associate white with cleanliness, and while studies show that people enjoy working in offices with white walls over all other colors too much white is said to feel sterile and cold.
Black and brown are claimed to be the least favorite colors, they actually respond well to them in commercial settings. People associate both brown and black with luxury, according to a study published in the journal Clothing and Textiles, and they consider stores that use these hues to be upscale. However, too much back can make a space appear smaller.
Why colors are perceived in these ways is debatable, and possibly extremely circumstantial so take all of these with a grain of salt. Do most people like blue because of our blue skies, or find red thrilling because it subconsciously reminds us of fire, or purple luxurious because kings wanted to wear the most expensive pigment at the time? Society, and our tastes are continuously evolving, and so may our theories and feelings on color. As a muralist I consider all of these ideas but none more than what the client loves best. It's their mural after all. At the end of the day, you decide what you love and don't be ashamed of it, even if it's chartreuse.