By Denise Turner, ASID, CID, CMG
“If one says ‘RED,’ and there are fifty people listening, it can be expected that there will be fifty reds in mind. And one can be sure that all of these reds will be different.” Josef Albers
RED is associated with: fire, competition, energy, optimism, passion, virility, power, determination, desire, and love. Red can raise blood pressure, stimulate appetite and metabolism, and increase passion and aggression.
Throughout history RED has signaled excitement, danger, drama and sex. In every culture, red evokes the strongest of symbols and emotions: Satan and the martyred saint; love and the beating heart; or the scarlet letter identifying someone convicted of adultery.
Our prehistoric ancestors viewed red as the color of fire and blood – energy and primal life forces. Most of red’s symbolism today arises from its powerful associations in the past.
Red is the most exhilarating color, bringing up passionate emotions. It can never ignored; it commands our attention from infancy to death. It’s the color with the longest wavelength and the highest arch of the rainbow. It is believed that red is the first color that babies see. In primitive languages it is the first color named, after black and white. For these reasons, stop signs and emergency equipment are typically red.
Physiological and Psychological Responses to Red
To better understand how red affects us in our environments, we must first explore red’s physical effects as well as its psychological effects. Our human reaction to red is more physiological than psychological.
During prehistoric times, we were in constant vigilance of life and limb; red instantly signaled attention or that we were in immediate danger. Our belief of red is imprinted in the human psyche and passed down from generation to generation. Because of earlier, primal associations to bloodshed and fire, red can provoke a “fight or flight” response and that response remains with “every” human today, regardless of their geographical origin, age, faith, or gender.
Physiological responses: Red raises blood pressure, heartbeat, respiration and pulse rate, causes an increased frequency of eye blinking, increases galvanic skin response (GSR or perspiration), releases adrenaline into the bloodstream and prepares us to physically respond quickly. Red also shows what’s going on with our emotions of anger, fear, or embarrassment; we literally wear red on our face. If someone becomes enraged, we may actually “see red” as the blood rushes to their brain.
The pituitary gland is affected by red; it sends a chemical signal to the adrenal glands and adrenaline is released. The adrenaline flows into the blood stream and produces physiological changes that affect the metabolism. In turn, this can alter our homeostasis, the body’s attempt to maintain balance. Our reactions then become more automatic as the automatic nervous system takes over. Red also improves our sense of smell, heightens the sensitivity of our taste buds, and therefore increases appetite. Needless to say, if you’re constantly dieting, red is not the best color to paint your kitchen.
Although we associate red with speed, time actually slows down in red environments. Studies have shown that brain function, as measured by electrical responses, is more affected by red than any other color of the same intensity. Some researchers maintain that this is not because of conditioning, but because the brain is inherently excited by red. People are also known to make riskier decisions while under red light. The next time you go to a gambling casino, notice the amount of red lights and how frequently the color red is used in the decor.
The presence of red can also increase hormonal activity and rev up sexual desires. If your love life needs a little spark, consider painting your bedroom Passion Red.
Weight and length: Objects appear heavier under red light. For example, a small table may appear to be lighter in weight when placed under a cool LED light, heavier under a red incandescent light. Vertical striped wall covering will make the walls appear taller under red lighting.
Downside: Red can be overpowering and lead to headaches. If you love the color red, but if someone in your family is headache-prone, use more earth-based reds, and paint only one wall red, or use it for accessories only.
Photo by Cristina Gottardi on Unsplash
denise@Colorturners.com
www.colorturners.com
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