Colour is more than just visual stimulation, it’s an emotional and energetic force that can influence our mood, mindset, and even physical wellbeing. As interest in holistic health continues to grow, colour therapy has emerged as a popular tool for enhancing mental clarity, reducing stress, and restoring balance.
In this guide, we’ll explore what colour therapy is, where it originated, and how different colours can be used to support emotional and physical health. From ancient traditions to modern practices, discover how colour can become a powerful part of your wellness routine.
What is Colour Therapy?
Colour therapy, also known as chromotherapy, is a complementary healing method that uses the energy of colour to promote wellbeing. It’s based on the idea that different colours correspond to different frequencies and can influence our emotional and physical states.
The roots of colour therapy can be traced back to ancient civilisations. In Egypt, sunlight filtered through coloured glass was used in healing temples. In Greece, coloured stones and salves were applied to the body to restore harmony. These early beliefs were grounded in the notion that each colour carries a distinct vibration that can either stimulate or soothe the body and mind.
Today, colour therapy is used in a variety of settings as a non-invasive way to support mood, manage stress, and promote healing.
What are the Types of Colour Therapy?
There are several ways to experience colour therapy, each using the unique impact of colour to affect our environment, mindset, or behaviour. Some approaches involve simply surrounding yourself with certain hues, while others incorporate colour into light, textiles, or reflective materials.
Let’s look at how individual colours can influence our wellbeing:
Blue Colour Therapy
- Emotional Impact: Blue is associated with calm, peace, and serenity. It can ease stress, reduce anxiety, and quieten an overactive mind.
- Physical Benefits: Blue has cooling properties and is often used to soothe inflammation and support the nervous system.
- Use Cases: Ideal for spaces designed for relaxation, such as bedrooms or therapy rooms.
Yellow Colour Therapy
- Emotional Impact: Bright and uplifting, yellow stimulates creativity, boosts optimism, and encourages clarity of thought.
- Physical Benefits: Often linked with digestive health and increased energy, yellow is sometimes used to combat fatigue or low mood.
- Use Cases: A great choice for workspaces or areas where focus and motivation are needed.
Green Colour Therapy
- Emotional Impact: Green promotes harmony, balance, and a sense of renewal. It’s thought to ease frustration and create emotional stability.
- Physical Benefits: Associated with healing and immune support, green can help lower blood pressure and encourage physical recovery.
- Use Cases: Works well in living areas or wellness spaces where relaxation is key.
Red Colour Therapy
- Emotional Impact: Red is a stimulating, energising colour linked to courage, strength, and drive. It can boost motivation and passion.
- Physical Benefits: Known to increase circulation and metabolic activity, red supports energy and vitality.
- Use Cases: Often used in fitness areas or anywhere you want to enhance physical activity.
Orange Colour Therapy
- Emotional Impact: Orange is joyful and sociable, helping to lift the mood and foster creative thinking.
- Physical Benefits: It may support digestion and respiratory health while promoting immune function.
- Use Cases: Suited to social spaces like kitchens or collaborative environments.
Purple Colour Therapy
- Emotional Impact: Deeply calming, purple is linked to emotional healing, spiritual awareness, and intuition.
- Physical Benefits: May assist with sleep disorders and offer balancing effects for emotional wellbeing.
- Use Cases: Ideal for meditation zones, bedrooms, or places of reflection.
The Top Colour Therapy Techniques
Beyond simply noticing colours, there are many ways to actively incorporate colour therapy into your daily life. Here are some of the most popular colour therapy techniques:
Visual Exposure
- What it is: Immersing yourself in specific colours through décor, clothing, art, or lighting.
- Why it works: Visual exposure to colour can influence mood, trigger emotional shifts, and promote healing without conscious effort.
Colour Reflection
- What it is: Using mirrors or reflective surfaces to enhance the presence and effect of specific colours.
- Why it works: Reflection can amplify or soften the energy of a colour, shaping the atmosphere of a space and its psychological effects.
Colouring in Books
- What it is: Engaging in mindful colouring, especially with books that incorporate principles of colour therapy.
-
Why it works: Colouring fosters relaxation and concentration. It’s been shown to reduce anxiety and promote emotional regulation.
Colourful Environments
- What it is: Designing your surroundings with therapeutic colours, such as using green for calm or yellow for focus.
- Why it works: A colour-rich environment subtly influences behaviour, productivity, and emotional state throughout the day.
Dietary Choices
- What it is: Eating colourful foods to engage the body's systems. Think leafy greens for detoxing or orange fruits for immunity.
- Why it works: Natural colours in food align with different body functions and can be an easy, nourishing way to practise colour therapy.
Colour Based Outfits
- What it is: Wearing specific colours to influence your mood or express an emotional intention
- Why it works: Clothes become a tool for mood regulation, like how wearing blue may help you feel calm or red may boost confidence.
What Are The Benefits of Colour Therapy?
Colour therapy offers a wide range of benefits for emotional and physical health:
Can Reduce Stress & Anxiety
Soothing colours like blue and green are frequently used to promote calm. Their presence can lower heart rate, reduce cortisol levels, and create a sense of emotional safety whether in a meditation space or simply through a mindful colouring book.
Enhances Mood & Energy
Warm hues like red, orange, and yellow can energise and uplift. These colours are often chosen to combat low moods, fatigue, or periods of low motivation.
Supports Physical Healing
Colours are believed to work on a cellular level. For example, red may improve circulation, green may stimulate immune function, and purple could help with sleep issues.
Encourages Emotional Expression
Using colour creatively offers a safe way to explore and express feelings. It’s especially helpful for those navigating emotional transitions or mental health challenges.
Promotes Mindfulness
Engaging with colour invites focus, whether you’re colouring, observing a landscape, or choosing a palette for your home. This can lead to increased self-awareness and a break from anxious thinking.
Discover the Transformative Power of Colour
Whether you’re painting your walls, wearing a bold new outfit, or simply colouring in your favourite book, colour therapy offers an accessible, enriching way to nurture your wellbeing. At Colour Your Streets, we believe that colour can bring joy, clarity, and calm to everyday life.
Explore our collection of adult colouring books and let colour guide you towards a brighter, more balanced state of mind.