Colours and moods

Colours can affect our mood and influence our well-being, not to mention that studies have shown a clear connection between colours and health when used in hospitals.

It is accepted that colours affect our mood and can be used to increase energy or make us relax. Colours also hold a high symbolic value and send clear messages to people. The meaning and symbolism of colours vary from culture to culture and this must be considered as well when decorating a massage room.

For most massage rooms you would want colours which are warm, comfortable, encouraging trust, relaxing and peaceful. One colour can easily become dominating and counter-productive, which means to consider complimentary colours which can break the dominating colour and add to the messages that are sent.

When a colour is muted by either adding white or black it still has the same energy, but acts on a less dominating level.

As a quick reference the following keywords can be attached:

• Red - Activity, energy, movement
• Orange - Happiness, enjoyment, play
• Yellow - Objectivity, liberty, thought-patterns
• Green - Balance, hope, healing
• Cyan - Cool, comforting, immunity
• Blue - Relaxation, calming, security
• Violet - Dignity, meditation, mental activity
• Magenta - Letting go, completion, self respect

Many colours used for painting are composed of several basic colours and this must also be taken into consideration when paints and decoration is chosen.

Inspiration: The Book of Colour Healing - Theo Gimbel