Color psychology: How colors impact emotions

In RISMEDIA, August 3, 2006 from About.com

"In 1666, English scientist Sir Isaac Newton discovered that when pure white light is passed through a prism, it separates into all of the visible colors. Newton also found that each color is comprised of a single wavelength and cannot be separated any further into other colors.

While perceptions of color are somewhat subjective, there are some color effects that have universal meaning.

Colors in the red area of the color spectrum are known as warm colors and include red, orange, and yellow. These warm colors evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility.

Colors on the blue side of the spectrum are known as cool colors and include blue, purple, and green. These colors are often described as calm, but can also call to mind feelings of sadness or indifference.

In several ancient cultures color psychology was used as therapy. For example, the Egyptians and Chinese practiced chromotherapy, or using colors to heal. Chromotherapy is sometimes referred to as light therapy and is still used today as a holistic or alternative treatment.

In this treatment:

• Red was used to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation.

• Yellow was thought to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.

• Orange was used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels.

• Blue was believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain.

• Indigo shades were thought to alleviate skin problems.

Most psychologists view color therapy with skepticism and point out that the supposed effects of color have been exaggerated and that colors have different meanings in other cultures. Research has demonstrated in many cases that the mood-altering effects of color may only be temporary. A blue room may cause people to feel calm initially, but the effect will be lessened once they regain their equilibrium. " 

I went with a client Tuesday when she picked out colors for her new house.  Neutral, all neutral! Oh I guess there is some color in the brick and the front door, but mostly neutral...Smart lady.

Room for Color - shopping

Real Living Color Quiz  - Choose your color palette!

This Saturday is the 7th annual City Hop sponsored by Columbus Landmarks Foundation. 

"On Saturday, June 17, City Hop welcomes all to its 7th anniversary event that features 17 stops, with up to 2 to 3 homes at each site from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The City Hop starts at the Showcase of Downtown Living, this year to be held at the Galbreath Pavilion at 55 E. State."  

City Hop 2006 Locations:  
                     

199 S. 5th
225 N. 4th St.
8 on the Square
Arena Crossing
Buggyworks
Burnham Square
Carlyle's Watch
CityView at 3rd
The Condominiums at
North Bank Park
Connextions Lofts
EcleXtion Lofts
Grayson's Living Ideas
Hartman Lofts
LaFayette Lofts
Lofts at 106
Rich Street Lofts
SIXTY SPRING
Terraces On Grant

"Lofty Idea" talks by local architects, designers etc. will be held at City Hop tour stops. Topics:

Space Within A Space.
Urban Gardening.
Mid-20th Century Design.
Storage.
Entertaining.

"Established in 1977, Columbus Landmarks is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating Columbus' architectural legacy. Landmarks encourages community action in historic preservation and quality design of the built environment throughout central Ohio. Our members are individuals who both cherish the past and embrace the future, and include a dynamic array of residents living in historic neighborhoods, architects, developers, land use planners, leaders in the government and business sectors, and investors." 

Harley E. Rouda Jr. on DT Columbus living  "Harley E. Rouda Jr. is CEO and managing partner of Real Living, parent company of Columbus-based HER Real Living. "  

SNP online reports:

"According to information from Columbus Landmarks, the organization that produces City Hop, the city's Downtown residential population has grown by 21 percent since 2002."

No worry about cul-de-sacs in downtown Columbus but I have heard concern with where do the new urban residents do their grocery shopping! 

Copyright 2006 Columbus Best Blog and Maureen McCabe

Cul-de-sacs are in the national news and on real estate blogs.  Nationally cul-de-sacs are under fire from urban planners, architects and other critics. Cul-de-sac's still seem popular in Columbus and it's suburbs.

National Public Radio (NPR)  had a story about the cul-de-sac being the root of all evil (urban sprawl, suburban lifestyles, not being able to walk to the grocery store, use of automobiles,  global warming, obesity in America...... etc.etc. etc. OK that IS highly exagerated...*)  WSJ Real Estate Journal also had an article about cul-de-sacs  written by Amir Efrati, on The Wall Street Journal Online.

"And because most cul-de-sacs aren't connected by sidewalks, the only way for people who live there to run errands is to get in their cars and join the traffic." 

Many Central Ohio cul-de-sacs are connected via sidewalks to the Drives, Lanes  and Boulevards within the development but no you can't easily walk to the store in most of Columbus suburbs.  According to the  WSJ Online article:

"If these critics have a leader, it is probably William Lucy, a professor of environmental studies at the University of Virginia. He says a national debate is brewing about the future of the cul-de-sac."

Lucy's new book started the "national debate."  A University of Virginia press release says: 

"Professors William Lucy and David Phillips' New Book Featured on NPR's "Morning Edition" In a story entitled, "Cul-de-Sacs: Suburban Dream or Dead End?," John Neilsen of NPR News discusses the American mythology surrounding cul-de-sacs and the effect they have on the suburban lifestyle. The research of Urban and Environmental Planning Professors William Lucy and David Phillips is quoted, and an excerpt of their new book, Tomorrow's Cities, Tomorrow's Suburbs," is available for download from the NPR website."

The NPR Article says:

"In Charlotte, where the suburbs have emerged as a leading cul-de-sac battleground, a recent study by transportation planners found that almost all of the city's heavily congested intersections were located near residential developments from the 1960s, '70s and '80s, which are filled with cul-de-sac neighborhoods. The biggest traffic problems aren't in the old central cities these days, says Orlando, Fla.-based traffic engineer Walter Kulash, "but rather in the suburban periphery."

"Some communities are moving away from culs-de-sac.  It's thought that communities designed around culs-de-sac discourage walking to destinations and increase the amount of car use.."

The NPR article says:

"But one important group still appears to be in love with the cul-de-sac: homebuyers."

Remarks about newly constructed Central Ohio listings on cul-de-sacs include:

"HARD TO FIND ONE FLR PLAN ON QUIET CUL-DE-SAC IN RURAL SETTING"

"Quality, Luxury & Best Price on the Court!"

"LARGE KIT W/ 42' MAPLE CABINETS AND GRANITE COUNTERS, COMPLETE MEDIA ROOM W/ BAR, JACK & JILL BATH AND ON A CUL-DE-SAC"

" All of this located on a cul-de-sac!"    

NEW (homes built in 2006)  Southern Delaware County neighborhoods where I found descriptions of cul-de-sacs in the MLS (the multiple listing service of the Columbus Board of REALTORS® ) included  Seldom Seen Acres, Scioto Reserve, Meadows of Millcreek, Wedgewood Park Estates, Woodland Glen, Cheshire Crossing , The Shores, Tartan West and Rutherford Estates.  Buyers in  New Albany, Buckeye Lake, Madison and Union County developments also seem to still covet the cul-de-sac.    It seems the cul-de-sac is alive and well in Central Ohio.   

cul-de-sac on other real estate blogs

Someone in my office told me about dogs at Polaris Fashion Place.  She was revolted by  "dog poo" on mall carpet.  The mere possibility of poo. 

Last week a friend called and left me a message  I could take Buddy (my dog) to the mall.  My friend had been to the Polaris mall.  She saw dogs.

Monday's story in the Dispatch confirms it... the Columbus Dispatch  mentions Paris Hilton et al and their purse pooches.  It's all the fashion:    

"Blame the nation's  affection toward its mutts. Or perhaps Paris Hilton andHilary Duff, who seem to tote their pocket-sized pooches everywhere."

"Individual merchants choose whether to allow pets.  Saks Fifth Avenue, for example, permits dogs, while the Great Indoors does not."  

Curbed LA is a big blog from an alternate planet ... real estate is really, really local, mansions, monkeys, living quarters for animals...Curbed LA has a story about Paris Hilton's NEW LA home.  What is that on Paris Hilton's shoulder? that's not a dog, that's not a monkey...)

"it also comes with a designated pet living area:  There is a special gated section inside the house where Paris's dogs will sit on pink pillows and drink from pink bowls.  Each dog has its own personal crown, as well. Not one to exclude any of her pets, Paris has also commissioned a custom cage for her monkey, though the last time we heard about the monkey, it was supposedly being confiscated by LosAngeles officials"

Curb's article is a retelling of the Paris Hilton's new home story from Luxist.  Luxist is another real estate blog.

My Buddy weighs about 40 pounds and he is an  old beagle mix adopted from the Capital Area Humane Society years ago... long before dogs became a fashion accessory.   I do not think Buddy is  Polaris Fashion Place material.

Both Curbed and Luxist use images of Paris Hilton to illustrate the story and I use a photo of Buddy!

Polaris is not the only local mall which welcomes or "put's up with" Columbus'  canine companions according to the Dispatch.   Tuttle too?    

Copyright 2006 Columbus Best Blog and Maureen McCabe