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Colors can have a powerful effect on our moods and emotions. Some shades are energizing and vibrant, while others evoke feelings of calm and tranquility. When we think of soothing, peaceful colors, many of us instinctively turn to the sky for inspiration. The blues, purples, and grays found in nature’s canvass overhead have long been associated with relaxation and inner stillness. In this article, we will explore the science behind why certain colors taken from the sky’s palette can be calming, and how they impact our psychology. We’ll also uncover which specific shades drawn from the clouds, heavens and atmosphere tend to have the most soothing effect according to research.
The Psychology of Color
The colors we surround ourselves with can shape our inner state in subtle yet impactful ways. This phenomenon is linked to the field of color psychology. Studies have shown that certain colors and color combinations elicite particular emotional and physiological responses. These effects are tied to the wavelengths of light that compose each shade and how our eyes and brains perceive them. For example, warm colors like red, orange and yellow are stimulating and can increase heart rate, breathing and appetite. Meanwhile, cool colors like blue, purple and green have a calming and relaxing effect.
So why do some shades take cues from the sky affect us differently than others? The answer lies in how these colors are processed by our visual system and associated in our psyches. Let’s take a closer look at the science behind soothing sky shades.
Blue: The Most Universally Calming Hue
Of all the hues borrowed from the heavens above, blue is the most widely considered peaceful and calming. There are several reasons why blue has such a strong tranquilizing effect. For one, it has very calming wavelengths of light that aren’t overly stimulating to the retina. Studies show just glancing at the color blue can lower heart rate and blood pressure. This is because the wavelengths of blue light provide a type of mild sedation that counters stress and anxiety. The cool, deep shades of blue in a clear daytime sky signal a sense of constancy and reliability to our brains. As opposed to the changing colors of sunrise and sunset, the steadfast blue of midday is reassuring and dependable. We associate the hue with consistency, making it mentally stabilizing. Blue also has peaceful connotations with water, from babbling brooks to the vast open ocean. These natural associations make blue one of the most universally soothing colors.
Different Shades of Blue
While blue is calming as a whole, some shades borrowed from the skyscape are more relaxing than others. Here is how different blue hues compare:
Light blue – This pastel blue resembles a hazy sky just after sunrise or before sunset. It is very soothing but in a soft, tranquil way. Light blue is associated with peace, tranquility and ethereality.
Sky blue – This light to medium blue is often used to represent the daytime sky. It is a slightly deeper shade than light blue. Sky blue is calm and reliable, inspiring stability and emotional balance.
Azure – Azure is a rich, deep blue the color of a clear midday sky. It has a soothing energy that inspires inner wisdom and perspective. Of all the blues, azure may have the most calming and introspective effect.
Navy blue – This very deep, dark blue is the color of the night sky just after sunset. While still peaceful, navy blue has more weight and intensity than lighter blues. It encourages rest and inner stillness.
So in summary, the lighter the blue the more tranquil and delicate the effect. The deeper the blue, the more it promotes introspection and inner spaciousness along with calm.
Purple: The Color of Mysticism and Magic
Like blue, purple is a cool color associated with imagination and spirituality. In nature, purple hues are found primarily in sunrises, sunsets and night skies when blue light mixes with warm red. The rarity of purple in nature gives it an air of mysticism and magic. During a purple sunset or dusk sky, we feel wonder, inspiration and connection to something larger than ourselves. Purple has a similar effect when translated into interior colors and designs. It cultivates qualities of compassion, intuition and cosmic awareness. Purple provides many of the same calming benefits of blue but with an additional spiritual dimension. It carries a sense of the eternal, making it ideal for creating sacred, meditative spaces.
Different Shades of Purple
Here is how various purple hues compare in their soothing effects:
Lavender – This very soft, pale purple has gentle feminine energy. It is associated with spring and has a soothing, restorative effect. Lavender can relieve tension and instill a sense of wholeness.
Lilac – Slightly deeper than lavender, lilac is a calming transitional shade between pale and deep purple. It has a dreamy, nostalgic quality that inspires imagination and comfort.
Orchid – Orchid is a medium purple with cool blue undertones. It cultivates wisdom, dignity and spirituality. Orchid promotes emotional equilibrium and inner fortitude.
Eggplant – This deep, rich purple has earthy grounding qualities alongside its spiritual effects. Eggplant encourages stillness and profound self-reflection.
The lighter purples like lavender and lilac are exceptionally gentle and sweet. But the deeper shades like orchid and eggplant have the most intensely stabilizing energy. Overall purple is extremely calming and introspective.
Cool Gray: The Color of Calm Neutrality
While not a color per se, gray is a prevailing shade of overcast skies and rainy days. Cool grays also appear in thunderstorm clouds and the shadows of mountains. This muted neutral hue has a supremely relaxing effect. By mixing the tranquility of blue with the steady presence of black, gray entrains deep calm. It slows the senses and promotes levelheadedness. Cool grays are splendid at relieving both sensory and emotional overload. They bring neutrality and perspective back into focus. Gray smoothly grounds agitated mind states and hyperactivity. For therapeutic relaxation, gray is hard to beat. Its calming versatility makes it appropriate for nearly any room in the house.
Different Shades of Gray
Here are how the calming properties of various gray tones compare:
Very light gray – Almost white, this extremely pale gray has a clean, ethereal effect. It is more energizing than deeper grays. Very light gray refreshes the senses and mental clarity.
Light gray – This hazy, muted shade lightens spaces in a subtle way. It has a stabilizing energy perfect for relaxation. Light gray can increase focus but in a peaceful, never overstimulating manner.
Medium gray – The prototypical neutral gray, medium gray effortlessly calms emotions and thoughts. It washes spaces in tranquil stillness and quiet.
Charcoal gray – Much deeper than medium gray, charcoal gray promotes introversion and inner wisdom. It absorbs excessive stimuli and cleanses energetic clutter.
The darker the gray, the more grounding and internally focused its effect. But even pale cool grays relax the senses and provide soothing visual relief.
Interior Design Strategies for Calming Sky Colors
We’ve covered which specific colors derived from the skyscape have relaxing properties along with how different shades compare. Now let’s look at easy ways to incorporate these hues into home or office spaces for maximum tranquility. Here are some simple interior design strategies for utilizing soothing sky colors:
Paint walls in light blue or purple – Use a pale sky blue or lilac purple to paint main living spaces. These subtle shades are perfect for creating a relaxed mood.
Use accent walls or paint trims in deeper hues – Accent walls or trims in deeper azure, orchid or charcoal gray add grounding and visual interest.
Choose calming color palettes – Group coordinating sky shades like airy light blue with rich navy blue or pale purple with gray violet.
Add cool-toned fabrics – Upholstery, rugs, pillows and curtains in light blue, lavender or cool gray help soften spaces.
Incorporate natural notes – Cerulean, sage, mist or sky-inspired patterns infuse organic life.
Use soothing finishes – Eggshell or matte finishes enhance the relaxing feel versus gloss.
With some creativity, the colors of the sky can help create interior spaces that comfort, soothe and restore us. Their intrinsic tranquility translates beautifully into design.
Scientific Research on Calming Effects of Sky Colors
We’ve explored the psychological reasons why sky-inspired hues like blue, purple and gray can have relaxing properties. But what does the scientific research say about these colors’ measurable calming effects? Let’s review some key studies.
Blue Lowers Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate
In a 2008 study published in the journal Ergonomics, participants were placed in a room with blue walls versus red walls. Those sitting in the blue room had measurably lower blood pressure and pulse rate compared to the red room. These findings confirm blue has noticeable physiological calming effects.
Blue Boosts Creativity and Focus
Research out of University of British Columbia in 2009 found subjects exposed to blue light showed boosted levels of creativity and focus compared to red light. Participants made twice as many creative associations and had less difficulty staying on task in blue rooms.
Blue Reduces Anxiety
Office workers in a UK study were found to experience less anxiety in blue-painted work spaces versus white offices. Blue light also mitigated headaches and eye strain. These effects confirm blue’s anxiety-relieving qualities.
Purple Calms and Uplifts Mood
In a study published in Color Research & Application, viewing the color purple resulted in decreased heart rate and increased positive thoughts. Purple promoted both relaxation and optimism.
Gray Lowers Stress Hormones
When subjects were shown neutral gray visuals, levels of the stress hormone cortisol in saliva samples lowered considerably. This data indicates gray has a biologically calming effect.
The scientific evidence clearly validates that sky-inspired shades of blue, purple and gray positively impact mood, focus, blood pressure and more. While subtle, the calming power of these cool hues is measurable.
Feng Shui Perspective on Soothing Sky Colors
In the ancient Asian philosophy of feng shui, color is considered a powerful design tool for promoting harmony. According to principles of feng shui, sky-inspired blues, purples and grays project very “yin” energy. Yin describes qualities that are cool, calming and inwardly focused. Below are some key ways sky colors create yin, peaceful energy in feng shui:
Project stillness – Blues, purples and grays slow down spaces energetically. They counteract chaos and agitation.
Invite introspection – These yin hues foster self-reflection, spiritual growth and emotional wisdom.
Balance hot colors – Their cool essence balances spaces dominated by hot shades like red, orange and yellow.
Settle the mind – Such colors wash our thoughts in tranquility and prevent mental overload.
Promote gentleness – Soft, cool shades help spaces feel more delicate, subtle and comforting.
Inspire flow – Yin energy flows smoothly and unimpeded throughout a space.
In feng shui philosophy, yin energy provides the calm grounding that allows yang energy to rise. Using sky colors is a potent way to activate this interplay of opposites.
Conclusion
The colors found in the natural visual tapestry of sky, from soothing blue to hazy gray, have an intrinsic connection to feelings of peace. Certain shades taken from the airy heavens and atmosphere around us impart deep tranquility when translated into our living environments. Cooler blues encourage relaxation and steadiness, while purples and grays inspire spiritual connections and quiet contemplation. With their smooth, yin energy, these colors fill spaces with the same gentle consolation found in pausing to admire the faded beauty of a dusky horizon. Scientifically and psychologically, blue, purple and gray possess measurable calming and centering properties that gracefully restore our equilibrium in a frenzied world. By mindfully using these shades in our designs, we can craft sacred spaces that uplift, soothe and provide refuge.
