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Bailey Bostian
Deby Dagher
UWRT 1102-090
13 November 2014

The Psychology of Color and Feng Shui

Color, it is everywhere we look and anywhere we do not. I never used to notice how I felt
more attracted to someone wearing red? While sitting in a yellow room, I did not realize I felt
anxious (Cherry)? On a rainy day I feel gloomy and lazy, wanting to stay in bed all day? Could
this have something to do with the absences of environmental color and light (Clifton)? Its
something so simple that is over looked but has a greater effect on our mood, behavior and vibe
than we are aware of. Design and color go hand in hand. When walking into a room, though, we
may not realize we are first attracted to the color and the set up of the room. Interior designers
and artists use these associations to create something that makes us feel the greater effects on our
emotions and moods. This project has great importance to me because over the years I have
struggled with deciding what I want to do with the rest of my life. Ive always been interested in
the arts and architecture, but I did not know exactly what I wanted to do with it. My whole life
Ive always loved designing and creating my bedrooms. I love finding color pallets and patterns
that work with each other to create a relaxed and beautiful room. When I was young, almost
every six months to a year I would repaint my room and change the theme of my room. Finally,
when I was about fourteen, I created the space that to this day I am in love with. This project
came up at the perfect time, as I was moving into my apartment soon and wanted to create an

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environment where I could be relaxed but most efficient. Curious to find out the best way to
utilize my space, it hit me then that my project should deal with color and designing a room.
When moving into a new place most people get excited about creating a new and fun
space. Though you may not realize, but the colors and theme you choose will have a lasting
effect on your mood and attitude. As an interior designer, they try to figure out what will best
suit the client, they work with you to figure out what things they like and what kind of style they
have. We do this without knowing; when creating a space we are in a sense acting as amateur
interior designer, or decorator. I believe this is important for everyone; it is good to know what
colors, patterns and designs work best to create a desired image. Say I wanted to have a get
together at my place, people would feel more welcomed in a well designed and decorated room,
is more inviting than a plain and unorganized room. Trying to create an inviting space is
important not only for your happiness but even for your health (Lenz). A great way to do this is
through feng shui, which is defined as wind and water. It is known as the Chinese art of
placement and means to live in harmony with nature. (iEmily). Feng Shui is a system of
aesthetics and placement used to help improve life from positive energy (Reynolds, 74-76). It
may be crazy to think, but the way a piece of furniture is placed in a room, along with the colors
that are used can actually have an impact on the way we feel. Just as the colors a person wears
can have an affect over our feelings toward that person. For instance, most Americans refer the
color red to sex, when they see someone wearing red they are more attracted to that person,
simply because they are wearing red (Burkley). Although most of us do not realize our feelings
and moods are based off or about color, they often have a deep personal connection and are
related to our own experiences or culture (Cherry).

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Color can be used to cause a physiological reaction; certain colors can increase your
blood pressure, metabolism and the strain on your eyes (Cherry). Seeing colors targets certain
hormones that cause a number of physiological responses. Colors have an influence on our
thoughts, moods and behavior, even for those who cannot see there are triggered emotions from
energy vibration (Clifton). How is it that certain colors spark emotions? Clifton says, green
represents self-respect, red represents self-confidence, blue represents self-moderation and
yellow represents self-development. Cherry says, Red was used to stimulate the body and mind
and to increase circulation. Yellow was thought to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.
Orange was used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels. Blue was believed to soothe
illnesses and treat pain. Indigo shades were thought to alleviate skin problems. While
perceptions of color can be subjective there are some colors that have a universal meaning.
Warm colors are considered red, orange, and yellow; they evoke emotions of warmth to feelings
of anger and hostility (Cherry). However, in Western cultures white is seen as purity and
innocence, however in Eastern countries it is used as a symbol of mourning (Cherry). Now in
days, interior designers are using interesting shapes, furniture, new light and shadows, creating
symmetry and interesting angles (Jordan). Using raw and natural materials, underwater and space
as new influences for design, color and texture (Jordan). Interior designers and Feng Shui experts
agree it is important to try and create a space where you can be most productive and can work
better in (Reynolds). Interior design and feng shui compliment one another, just as color and
design correspond with one another. The goal of Feng Shui is to position items on the physical
sites for the best and most freely flowing chi (Reynolds). It has been said that through feng shui
you can improve your health. Reynolds classifies a good workspace as being situated so that the

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door is in your view, have soothing or natural lighting, bring plants, bringing the outside inside
and to have abstract artwork.
As I look back and read over all the information I gathered, I would agree with almost all
the facts I have received. Of all the information I found I would say Daphni Clifton and Kendra
Cherry had the most insightful facts pertaining to the psychology of color. April Reynolds had
the most useful information on feng shui and the meaning and uses of feng shui. At the Sherwin
Williams presentation by Jackie Jordan I learned more about how interior designers are thinking
and how they are now getting their inspiration from space, underwater and buoyancy. I would
say the subject of psychology of color and feng shui directly correlate with one another. My
whole point with this topic is to show that color sparks emotions, that though you may not notice
it color has more to do with your everyday life. Color and design has an effect on our mood and
attitude toward the space we are in. For example, when you walk into a plain white doctors
office you might feel cold, anxious and feel as though you dont want to be there. Whereas, if
you walked into a cool-colored and well decorated room you would feel more welcomed and
might want to stay awhile. I wanted to show you that there is a deeper mean through color other
than just what you see on the surface. I believe its important to realize your feelings and moods
are based off the colors you see. Pablo Picasso said, Colors, like features, follow the changes of
the emotions. (Cherry).
Coming to the end of the semester I realized I had lost my original topic and headed more
into how feng shui can improve your health. As I looked over and reviewed my work I was
looking for a way to tie the two together. As I did more research I found they compliment one
another and that there was a link between the two. When designing my next home or workspace,
I will use tips from feng shui and find colors that best suit me and help me do my best to create a

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space in which I can work the best and be most relaxed. Although the psychology of color is still
a new topic being discovered and worked on many of my questions were answered. My main
focus was to show that color sparks emotions and has an effect on your vibe; the information I
obtained has answered those questions. I found exactly how color stimulates and sparks your
perceptual control system. If I had more time I would like to figure out more about how color
and feng shui compliment each other. I want to show that through feng shui and color you can
improve your health and improve your everyday life, attitude and mood.

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Works Cited
Burkley, Melissa. "Seeing Red: Does Wearing Red Make You Sexy?" Psychology Today.
Sussex Directories, Inc., 12 Aug. 2010. Web. 1 Dec. 2014.
Cherry, Kendra. "Can Color Really Change How You Feel and Act?" About. About.com, 2014.
Web. 01 Nov. 2014.
<http://psychology.about.com/od/sensationandperception/a/colorpsych.htm>.
Clifton, Daphni. "Basic Needs in a New Light- A Colorful Diagnosis." International Journal of
Reality Therapy 26.1 (2006): 18-19. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 Oct.
<http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=6ef0243f-

2014.

e1d3-4a52-

b244-0d24ce0f1e5f%40sessionmgr115&hid=108>.
IEmily.com, Health and Wellness Site for Girls." IEmily.com, Health and Wellness Site for
Girls. Healthcare Providers, July 2000. Web. 17 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.iemily.com/article-210.html>.
Jordan, Jackie. "2015 Colormix Color Forecast From Sherwin-Williams." 2015 Colormix Color
Forecast From Sherwin-Williams. The Sherwin-Williams Company, 2014. Presentation.
The Furniture Connector, Charlotte, NC. 1 Nov. 2014.
Reynolds, April. "Focus on Productivity: Creating Your Own Zen Zone." AMWA Journal:
American Medical Writers Association Journal 27.No. 2 (2012): 74-76. Academic Search
Complete. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
<http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=fc9e3511-216d4c52-81a3-1e72f939b9f5%40sessionmgr110&hid=108>.

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Sybilla Lenz. How To Improve Your Health Through Feng Shui. Online Video Clip. Youtube.
Youtube, 28 Feb. 2013. Web. 15 Oct. 2014.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEDnO5Q5fy4>.