Categories
Business writing Nonverbal

Colour your communication––what colours really ‘mean’ to your communication’s audience

Colours are powerful communicators.

Colours in our communications can affect our moods and our understanding. Knowing what colours represent to our viewers helps us understand why fast-food chains use lively oranges, yellow, and reds, and why the cool, tranquilizing blues and greens and the earth tones of navy, burgundy and chocolate are in airlines. 

Research has shown that colour can even effect the IQ scores of children. 

So below I present a table of colours, with what moods they create and what symbolic messages they convey.

ColourMoodsSymbolic Meaning 
RedHot, affectionate, angry, defiant, contrary, hostile, full of vitality, calm, tender Happiness, lust, intimacy, love, restlessness, agitation, royalty, rage, sin, blood 
BlueCool, pleasant, leisurely, distant, infinite, secure, transcendent, calm, tender Dignity, sadness, tenderness, truth 
YellowUnpleasant, exciting, hostile, cheerful, joyful, jovial Superficial glamour, cowardice, sun, light, wisdom, masculinity, royalty (in China), age (in Greece), prostitution (in Italy), famine (in Egypt) 
OrangeUnpleasant, exciting, disturbed, distressed, upset, defiant, contrary, hostile, stimulating Sun, truthfulness, harvest, thoughtfulness 
PurpleDepressed, sad, dignified, stately Wisdom, victory, pomp, wealth, humility, tragedy 
GreenCool, pleasant, leisurely, in control Security, peace, jealousy, hate, aggressiveness, calm 
BlackSad, intense, anxiety, fear, despondent, dejected, melancholy, unhappy Darkness, power, mastery, protection, decay, mystery, wisdom, death, atonement 
BrownSad, not tender, despondent, dejected, melancholy Melancholy, protection, autumn, decay, humility, atonement 
WhiteJoy, lightness, neutral, cold Solemnity, purity, femininity, humility, joy, light, innocence, fidelity, cowardice 

Author

If this resonated

The Quiet Half is where I write most of this kind of thinking. A midweek essay, a weekend digest of what's worth reading. Free, twice a week. Sign up below.


If you'd rather have it in book form, I have fifteen books across psychology, neurodivergence, and Đà Lạt-set fiction, plus conversation card sets and an audio course. Each is available on Amazon — or, for paid Substack subscribers at US$90/year, the whole library comes included.

Browse the books on Amazon →


If you've read a few of these now and want to talk about something specific to you — neurodivergence, masking at work, the thing you've half-named but haven't said out loud — that's a different conversation. Email me at lee@mindblownpsychology.com.