"What Is My Favorite Color?" Exploring Color Psychology

Color can have a significant impact on the way you think, feel, and act. This article explores what your favorite color says about you, and what having this favorite color might mean. Your favorite color can reveal a lot about your personality and your true self. 

Your favorite color, be it yellow, light blue, or green, can reveal your strong desire for a stable and simple life or your vivid imagination and artistic aptitude. The important role color preferences often play in our lives is the basis of color psychology, which can be seen as both a science and an art. Below, we’re going to discuss color psychology, its importance, and what your choice may say about you, your focus in life, and what brings you happiness.

The psychology of your favorite color

Color psychology is a study based on the various ways that colors can influence our behavior. It is a relatively new field that is backed by a growing body of scientific research. Color psychology has wide-ranging applications, including in the following arenas:

• Health
• Advertising
• Urban design
• Entertainment
• Product design
• Education
• Sports

In everyday life, hues may seem interesting, but not necessarily important. However, research shows that colors can have a significant effect on our perceptions, feelings, and behaviors.

In reviewing research in the area of color psychology, Andrew Elliot, a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, points to "considerable promise in research on colors and psychological functioning." Like many others, however, he cautions that while it is an intriguing concept, the study of the relationship between colors and psychology is still in the developmental stages, with plenty of room for interpretation. It may be hard to prove how your favorite color affects you and your personality, but this doesn’t mean there isn’t a link or that you should turn a blind eye to it. 

One important aspect of color psychology is that any analysis of color is going to depend on the context in which it is presented. For example, in many Western cultures, brides wear white as a sign of innocence and purity; but in some Eastern cultures, white is associated with death and mourning. Brides in those regions would more likely select outfits in a brilliant red, revealing their color preference. Each group, community, and family may have their own associations with different colors.

Marketers often use colors to help influence behavior in consumers. Businesses have routinely based their choice of brand colors on how they want to be perceived as a company. They tend to rely on studies that look at how our preference for and response to a particular color can be used as a way to produce varying responses in humans. For example, fast-food restaurants often use red-and-yellow schemes because they’re thought to induce hunger.

In marketing, green is typically used with natural, clean products, making people who love green feel connected to fresh air and inner peace. Similarly, blue can represent water, purity, clarity, and cleanliness, while black is often associated with darkness, edginess, and an element of mystery. These colors may reflect multiple points of one's personality, including the following: 

• Introversion or extroversion
• Emotional intelligence 
• Problem-solving abilities
• Agreeableness
• Communication style

In general, we tend to associate shades of blue, green, and purple with being cool and inviting. These shades can convey a sense of professionalism and help those viewing them feel more confident in the efficacy of an organization. On the other hand, shades of warmer colors like red, orange, and yellow suggest creativity and creative expression and are often associated with high energy and strong emotions, such as love and anger. Yellow is one of the most commonly used colors in marketing, as it feels warm, happy, and energetic. It’s often associated with joy.

What’s your favorite color?

Some people have a preference for warm colors, others for cool colors. Many people decide which color they like best at an early age, which can impact color personality.

Different colors can evoke specific emotions and prompt strong reactions. Because of this, the colors you surround yourself with may send a signal to others about your personality, what you value, and how you behave. 

Here are some meanings connected to colors:

Black

White

Red

Purple

Purple is a popular one for many. This hue's association with luxury goes far back in history as purple was often used to symbolize prosperity or royalty. If you favor purple, you may be ambitious, with a solid sense of self-worth and individuality. It may come as a surprise that a pretty color like purple is the rarest favorite color on a global scale. Though extremely popular with children, and in the US, this color is one of the least popular around the world. 

Pink

Orange

If your favorite is orange, you may be a social person with a vibrant personality, as this shade can represent energy, warmth, and enthusiasm. Orange is typically seen as a happy color, often associated with sunshine and the spring season. If your preference is orange, you may blend the characteristics associated with the colors red and yellow. 

Blue/light blue

As the most popular favorite color, blue symbolizes peace, tranquility, and clarity. This may be why blue is commonly used as a popular color for wall paint in bedrooms. If your preference is the color blue, you could be perceived as a calm, trustworthy, loyal, reliable person and a great friend. Blue is thought to promote unity and safety. In some cases, blue may be connected to symbolism for people who love the ocean or the sky.

Green

Often associated with finance and money, green can also represent nature, signal good luck, fertility, and rebirth, as well as embody physical fulfillment. If you prefer green, others may view you as loyal, composed, and independent, with a strong connection to personal well-being and a balanced lifestyle. The green color is sometimes connected to trees, forests, nature, and other green symbolism, as well. Sage green, in particular, has a subtle grounded energy.

If you love yellow, you may be an energetic and happy person. In personality color, yellow is associated with optimism, intelligence, happiness, and creativity. It can signal a fun-loving personality and a warm spirit who is generous to their friends. 

Brown is a natural color that represents earthy and organic materials. If your favorite is brown, you may be drawn to nature or enjoy a simpler way of living. An attraction to the color brown may also imply that you enjoy certainty in life and have little patience for negative thoughts. Dark shades can also be associated with depth and control.

How can you use color psychology to your advantage?

You will likely use the colors that appeal to you most in a wide variety of ways. For example, you might incorporate color into your:

• Wardrobe
• Accessories
• Vehicle
• Home 
• Creative pursuits
• Meals

Surrounding yourself with more colors that positively affect you can help you feel more comfortable and confident in life. It is suggested, however, that to achieve balance, you make a conscious effort to incorporate other colors, even small samples of colors and different shades you are not so fond of in the color scheme of your life.

Color in context: Environment, sound, and emotion

Your favorite color may be more than “such a pretty color.” Colors are often used to evoke emotions in art and various settings, and they are frequently associated with deeper meanings. Consider how you feel walking through a room that is painted black compared to a room that is painted with a light blue shade. Similarly, think about the effects of nature, which is typically filled with greens and blues, thanks to plants, the sky, and the sea. Even a single flower of a contrasting color can create a response. Pairing colors with sounds can contribute to an even more immersive experience.

Color quizzes and self-discovery

Taking a favorite color quiz online can help you discover what your “fav color” says about your true self. Once you start the quiz, you may realize that your favorite shade has a deeper meaning and can inspire self-reflection.

Using color psychology for growth and happiness

Color psychology can be used for growth and happiness in a few different ways. For example, you can consider the associations of each color when choosing the clothes you’ll wear each day. If you want to embody happiness and joy, wearing yellow could be a good idea. Similarly, you might think about the meanings behind colors when making interior design choices. Maybe you’re decorating a room to serve as your home office and want to promote focus and clarity. Green or blue could be good options to cultivate these traits.

You can also use color psychology to aid in introspection. You might consider both the colors you love and the colors you hate and think about whether there are any deeper reasons behind your preferences. Color choices also matter when creating art. You might experiment with colors you rarely use or give extra consideration to each shade you include in art projects.

Sharing and reflecting: How color connects us

Color can connect members of a group or community in a variety of ways. For example, different cultural holidays are often associated with specific colors. Christmas, for instance, tends to be associated with red and green, and seeing Christmas decorations in these colors can spark joy for those who celebrate. Similarly, certain shades tend to have clear associations that may bring people together through shared meaning. When a person chooses to describe their favorite color to their family or other loved ones, others can comment and begin a discussion that helps all participants learn about each other.

Exploring your psyche in online therapy

If you wish to learn more about yourself and what your preferences for certain colors suggest about your good natured character, consider getting matched with a qualified therapist online through BetterHelp. BetterHelp works with thousands of mental health professionals—including psychologists—so you’ll have a good chance of matching with someone who can help you explore psychology-related topics that are relevant to your life, such as understanding other colors and their impact. Online therapy is also an affordable option—BetterHelp subscriptions start at $70 to $100 per week (based on factors such as your location, referral source, preferences, therapist availability and any applicable discounts or promotions that might apply), and you can cancel anytime.

If you wish to learn more about yourself and what your preferences for colors suggest about your character, consider speaking with certified therapists at BetterHelp. Speaking with a licensed therapist can help you uncover truths about yourself, and can help you deepen your understanding about your personality, colors meaning, and the intersection of the two. They will do their best to help you understand why your preferred color is what it is, and if that shade meaning fits your personality. They can also help you learn about your true self in-depth, as well as focus on personal growth and happiness.