Almost a decade ago while I was living in Carmel, Calif., I took knitting lessons from a lovely Welsh lady named Dawn. During one of our many therapy sessions lessons, she told me that she’d noticed a pattern among people coming into her shop. She said that nine times out of 10, the color yarn that a customer purchased was the same color as their outfit that day. I didn’t think much of her observation until gradually, I began noticing myself doing the same at clothing stores. Then at nail salons. Then I noticed the behavior in other people. I was intrigued. What does it mean?!
I’m by no means an expert on color magic or color theory, but since that incredible insight from Dawn, I have a better sense of how colors affect us and how we can incorporate them into daily life to tap into and strengthen elements within ourselves.
Moving into a new home last year made me stop to think about the colors that I choose to live in every day, and how those colors have changed over the years. Most of the time, we operate on autopilot and become accustomed to our surroundings. We don’t “see” our homes until we consciously choose to. I don’t think we should wait for a move, or a new baby, or spring cleaning to reevaluate our color choices (although those are great nudges). Try looking at your home with fresh eyes, thinking about which colors are working, which are no longer serving you and what you need more of in your life.
Different colors have different meanings and associations for different people, but below is a guide to get you started.
- Red…love, confidence, passion
- Orange…creativity, adventure
- Yellow…happiness, energy, abundance
- Green…emotional health, growth, fertility
- Blue…relaxation, peace, clarity
- Purple…power, peace, intuition
- Pink…self-care, self-love
- Gold…warmth, strength, power
- Silver…rest, feminine energy
- Black…protection
- Brown…grounding, home, emotional stability
- White…fresh start, protection
Experiment and see what works for you. Do certain colors feel more suitable for certain rooms? During certain times of year? Does the simple act of noticing give colors more power?