"Green is one of the pervasive colors in the natural world, making it an ideal backdrop in interior design." ~ Kate Smith
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Color Psychology: Green
Understanding how color affects our world.
- by Kate Smith
Green is considered the color of peace and ecology. It’s a tranquil and refreshing color with a natural balance of cool and warm undertones. Green occupies more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye than most colors and is second only to blue as a favorite color. Green is one of the pervasive colors in the natural world, making it an ideal backdrop in interior design.
Feeling Green
Green affects us physically by:
- Soothing and relaxing mentally and physically
- Alleviating depression, nervousness and anxiety
- Offering a sense of renewal, self-control and harmony
Green in the Garden
Green is considered one of the cooler colors in landscape design. It brings a soothing element to the garden. Green plants visually recede, making a small space appear larger. Green’s complementary color in the garden is red.
Unique Facts About Green
- Green was the favorite color of President George Washington.
- The color green is used by U.S. intelligence agencies to denote a low or guarded threat level when dealing with terrorist activities.
- Night-vision goggles use the color green because the human eye is most sensitive to that color and able to discern most of its shades.
- Bright green is the color of the astrological sign for cancer.
- The color green is associated with resurrection and regeneration in several religions.
- In auto racing, a green flag is used to start or resume a race.
- Driving a dark green vehicle may suggest you are traditional, trustworthy and well-balanced; bright green says trendy, lively and whimsical.
Seeing Green
Green is the signature color of a number of products, companies and organizations:
- H&R Block
- BP
- Heineken
- Starbucks
- The Masters Golf Tournament
- Rolling Rock
- Garnier Fructis
- John Deere
Speaking Green
- Green light: approval to move ahead or proceed with a project or task
- Green corn: the young, tender ears of Indian corn
- Green thumb: an individual with an innate ability to make plants grow
- Green room: a room in a theatre or studio where performers can relax before or after appearances
- Greenback: paper money, legal-tender note issued in the United States
- Greener pastures: something new or better such as a new job
- Green with envy: jealous or envious
- Greenhorn: a novice, trainee or beginner
- Green around the gills: marked by a pale, sickly or nauseated appearance
- Turn green: to look pale or ill
- Going green: to make changes that protect the environment such as recycling or reducing pollution
Singing Green
- “All the World is Green” by Tom Waits
- “Blue in Green” by Miles Davis
- “Early Morning Blues and Greens” by The Monkees
- “Evergreen” by Barbara Streisand
- “Evergreen” by Switchfoot
- “Everything’s Gone Green” by New Order
- “Forty Shades of Green” by Johnny Cash
- “From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea” by The Cure
- “Green River” by Credence Clearwater Revival
- “The Grass is Green” by Nelly Furtado
Green Around the World
Throughout history, cultures around the world have associated green with honor and beauty.
- Green is used worldwide to represent safety.
- In Iran, green represents paradise and is considered a sacred color.
- In Ghardaia, houses painted green indicate the inhabitants have made a pilgrimage to Mecca.
- In Ireland, green represents the country’s patron saint, St. Patrick.
- In Japan, green is regarded as the color of eternal life.
- Libya’s national flag is solid green and currently the only national flag of a single color.
- In China, jade stones represent virtue and beauty.
- In Scotland, people historically wore green as a mark of honor.
- In Aztec culture, green was associated with the royal or ruling class as it was the color of the quetzal plumes worn by Aztec chieftains.