Many esoteric practices regard colors as corresponding energies. In Ayurvedic medicine for example, blue is calmness and clarity,  green is compassion. Most of us who don’t believe in those practices usually won’t consider the power of color beyond a mood ring. However color has more regarded implications than we may realize.

Color psychologists consider red as an “excitement” color. Red attracts attention and raises the energy of a person. Supposedly this reaction makes people hungry, which is why if you look at the logos of food distributors (McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, In and Out, Friendly’s, Costco,) you will see red.

Businesses take this finding so seriously that some insurance companies will charge higher rates for red cars. A study by the St. Petersburg Times in 1990 showed that red cars were attributed for a disproportionate amount of speeding tickets. There are a few interpretations for this. A color psychologist may say that the red paint excites the driver and gives him an incites him to drive faster. Another theory is that sports cars tend to be red because it’s flashy, and sports cars get driven faster. Yet another theory is that the type of person who speeds, also is attracted to red cars.

Either way, there seems to be good reason to pay attention to the colors in your surrounding. Feng Shui, the art of interior decorating/arrangement for positive energy, says to never paint your bedroom red, for the same reason the color psychologists do. Red excites you and will make it hard to sleep. Red, yellow, and orange are “fire” colors that are better for a home office or gym where you want to be energized. Water colors like blue are much better for calming you to sleep. A lot of is in intuitive really. Green makes you think of nature. Black makes you think of death. Yellow is sunshine. What color is your mood ring?