Color, arousal, and performance—A comparison of three experiments

TLDR

Three studies examined how colored room interiors affect people’s psychology and physiology, and these experiments were among the first conducted in full‑scale rooms painted in various colors. The authors suggest that future research should place greater emphasis on color as one component of complex real‑life situations. Experiment 1 compared a colorful room with a gray room, while experiments 2 and 3 compared red and blue rooms. The studies found that interior color influences perception, emotions, physiology, and performance—strong colors such as red can excite the brain and paradoxically slow heart rate, especially affecting introverts and those in negative moods, and moderate color use can improve overall mood and well‑being. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Col Res Appl, 34, 141–152.

Abstract

Abstract Three studies of the psychological and physiological effects on people of colored room interiors are described. Experiment 1 compared a colorful and a gray room, whereas in experiments 2 and 3 red and blue rooms were compared. The results indicate that the color of an interior space will have effects on many different levels. The perception of the room itself was affected, and the colors also had an impact on the emotions and physiology of those who stayed in the rooms. Strong, especially red, colors and patterns put the brain into a more excited state, sometimes to such an extent as to cause a paradoxical slowing of the heart rate. Introvert persons, as well as those already in a negative mood, became more affected than others, which caused severe changes in their performance. The series of experiments described here were among the first to be carried out in full‐scale rooms painted or otherwise decorated in various colors. One practical implication is that a moderate use of good color design will serve to improve the overall mood and well‐being of people. In future research more emphasis should be placed on color, as just one component in the highly complex real‐life situations. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 34, 141–152, 2009