Feeling Blue? Yellow Can Cheer You Up

How Using Color Can Lead to Health and Happiness

Provided by: Christina Kittelstad

When was the last time you stopped and really thought about all the ways in which color is present in your life?

Color surrounds our daily lives. Look at what colors we paint our homes, what colors we wear each day, what foods we enjoy eating, what works of art inspire us, and what colors we surround ourselves with in nature.

Every culture around the world uses the language of color to communicate, associate, energize, and even heal. We unconsciously associate colors with certain feelings. For example, when was the last time you heard someone say, “I’m feeling blue today” or “I’m seeing red”? Scientists and color experts have studied and discovered that specific colors have the ability to encourage health and vitality in our mind and bodies on a cellular level because of the different amounts of light reaching these cells.

Incorporating color into your home is a beneficial and fun way to promote your personal health. Doctors and other health practitioners have known this for centuries and now you have the ability to use color and enjoy the benefits of feeling happier, more peaceful and balanced. If you find yourself feeling negative and unorganized on a daily basis, you would be surprised how incorporating a warm but gentle color such as Yellow into your home can increase feelings of happiness, promote physical healing and provide a more positive outlook on life. Numerous studies show that more than 12% of Americans suffer from some form of depression and a much greater number are experiencing physical illness stemming from depression. Surrounding oneself in bright sunny colors can naturally elevate the mood and help fight negative feelings.

Incorporating the color Orange into your home can also combat such conditions and make you feel more energized and ready to tackle life’s challenges. If reducing stress is your biggest challenge then consider creating a home retreat by surrounding yourself with colors of Green, Blue and Turquoise. These colors will quiet your mind and help you to experience a sense of calm. Another top health concern for many Americans is the inability to sleep at night. By surrounding your room with tranquil Deep Blues and Indigos, you can encourage rest and relaxation. All of the above health issues are created by a lack of balance in our bodies and missing color vibrations. By restoring these missing colors, we can promote a sense of well-being and vitality in our body and minds.

There are many ways to bring color into your daily surroundings to create a state of vitality and balance. The most obvious and cost-effective method is to harness the power of paint. Want the outside of your home to send a cheerful welcoming message to the world? Then why not paint your front door a bright shiny Red and add a brightly colored welcome mat. Painting the interior (and even exterior) of your home with a color that makes you feel happy and upbeat, while also meeting your lifestyle needs, can do wonders for your emotional state. Colors in various shades that match your personal style and taste can also be incorporated into your entire home through furniture, artwork, fabrics, pillows, scented candles, lighting and simple accessories.

Color Tip: One of my favorite ways to pull color into a home easily and affordably (especially in winter months) is to place a vase of beautiful fresh flowers throughout my home, as well as bowls of fresh fruit. This is an excellent way to bring a little natural color in, while enjoying the positive affects it provides to all our senses.

One of the more exciting ways color can benefit your health is through our stomachs and the foods we eat. It is no mistake that restaurants carefully select the interior colors, lighting, tableware, and the visual affects of food presentation that will stimulate our senses the most and evoke feelings of contentment and satisfaction.

Color Tip: Next time you set the dinner table, consider using a bright color (such as Orange and Yellow or Red and White) table cloth and napkins with contrasting colored plates (such as white) and brightly colored flowers.

When cooking at home, enhance your meals by incorporating foods with as many colors as possible, especially foods that are Green, Orange, Red and Yellow in color. The more variety in color usually means a greater amount of nutrients are also present in your meals. Consider visiting your local farmer’s market and selecting organic fruits and vegetables such as orange and green leafy vegetables, blueberries, eggplants, golden grains, red tomatoes, cherries, strawberries and apples.

Color Tip: When preparing these wonderful foods, maintain the color by steaming rather than overcooking. This method will prevent major nutrients from being cooked out and food colors from fading. Cooking is one of the many simple joys in life and experiencing it through the use of color makes the experience all that more enjoyable!

When it comes to incorporating color into your home and life, I hope I have shown you how the use of color can inspire, heal and assist you in your daily life. Remember – when it comes to color, have fun, mix it up and don’t be afraid to explore!