Red is often associated with danger. It’s the color of blood and fire and a bold color that can quickly catch someone’s attention. So, it’s frequently used on warning signs to alert people of a possible threat.
Yet, red isn’t always a scary color. It has lots of meanings that can vary based on the context. In many cases, red is an excellent color, representing passion, strength, and energy. Despite all its positive associations, many people still consider red a negative hue.
It’s easy to form opinions about colors based on what we’ve heard and seen. However, every color has multiple meanings, so we shouldn’t look at them in just one light. Doing so may cause us to make assumptions and not truly appreciate their richness. Let’s put some of the most common color myths to rest.
1. Dark Colors Are Depressing
Many people shy away from dark colors because they assume they’re depressing. While hanging out in a dark room or looking at a dark art piece can sometimes make you feel down, these colors have many meanings that depend on the context.
If you’re having a bad day, excessive amounts of colors like black, dark blue, and deep purple could make you feel overstimulated or frantic, worsening your mood. However, these colors could also promote comfort, sophistication, and control. So, just because a color is dark doesn’t mean it’s depressing. It all depends on how it’s used and the colors it’s paired with.
2. Neutral Colors Are Boring
Neutral colors, such as white, brown, black, and gray, are simple hues that are frequently used to balance out vibrant colors, so many people falsely label them as boring. While using only neutral colors can be uninteresting in certain contexts, that doesn’t mean they’re dull. Neutral colors are essential and versatile. They’re perfect for walls and large furniture pieces, and color patterns would be chaotic without any neutrals. Plus, neutrals appeal to nearly everyone, no matter your age and interests. So, calling these hues boring just doesn’t make sense.
3. Red, Yellow, and Blue Are Always Primary Colors
In school, you probably learned that red, yellow, and blue are the primary colors. This idea is correct from a traditional perspective and applies to some artistic contexts, such as when artists mix paints. However, not all color mixing uses the same primary colors. For instance, mixing colored lights uses additive colors rather than subtractive colors. The primary colors for additive mixing are red, green, and blue. Combinations of these colors have different results than mixing paints.
So, if someone asks you what the primary colors are, the answer is more complicated than it seems because it differs depending on the context and whether using additive or subtractive color mixing.
4. Blue Is a Sad Color
When someone says they’re “feeling blue,” it usually means feeling sad. So, of course, blue can evoke sadness, but it’s not always a sad color. Blue is the most popular color in the world, and it has more positive meanings than negative ones. Most of the time, blue is a soothing color. It symbolizes trust, relaxation, and security. So, it’s a good color to have around. The only time it might come across as overly sad is if you’re exposed to too much blue at once or already in a bad mood.
5. Animals Only See in Black and White
There’s a common misconception that animals can only see black and white. Yet, almost all animals can see some colors. Many see fewer colors than us, while other animals can see colors humans can’t perceive. For example, dogs can see yellow and blue clearly but not red and green. On the other hand, the mantis shrimp may be able to detect far more colors than we can, making their color perception something we can’t even imagine. The world is colorful for most animals, just like it is for us, but the colors animals can see vary greatly depending on the species.
6. Red Makes Bulls Mad
Another animal color myth is that the color red makes bulls furious. The reality is that bulls can’t even see the color red. Red is traditionally used for the capes in bullfighting, which has led people to believe it’s the color that angers bulls. This myth has appeared in many cartoons, which is why people commonly think it. Yet, the reality is that bulls most likely hate seeing an object waved at them. They react the same to capes of other colors. So, they hate the movement, not the color. Even though bullfighting is now considered inhumane, people still associate red with angry bulls because of how long this myth has gone on.
7. Pink Is a Feminine Color
Blue is for boys, and pink is for girls, right? At least, that’s how society typically thinks. Yet, those colors used to be swapped. Pink used to be viewed as the stronger of the two colors, so it was initially associated with baby boys, while blue was seen as a delicate color meant for baby girls. The two colors eventually swapped to what we know today after World War II, but this just goes to show that colors aren’t inherently associated with gender. Instead, it depends on how society categorizes them.
While people still regularly see pink as a “girly” color, the narrative is starting to change. Like all colors, pink has lots of meanings. It’s a symbol of love, playfulness, and comfort, which aren’t automatically feminine things. So, pink is a versatile hue that we shouldn’t be afraid to use outside of what we deem “feminine.”
8. Everyone Sees Color the Same Way
Since we only see colors through our own eyes, it’s hard to imagine that other people might see them differently. Yet, research suggests that we likely don’t see colors the same as everyone else. First of all, we might perceive colors differently depending on our location, gender, ethnicity, language, and other lifestyle factors. The photoreceptors in our eyes responsible for color vision, called cones, aren’t always identical either, which can also affect our color vision. While there’s still a lot to uncover, there’s a possibility that someone else’s blue might be your green. It’s a strange and fascinating concept to consider.
9. You Should Only Wear Colors That Match Your Skin Tone
Choosing colors that match your skin tone can be a great decision in many cases. Warm colors look great if your skin has warm undertones, while cool colors look great if your skin has cool undertones. Many people like to keep this in mind, but it’s not a strict rule you have to follow. Several factors determine whether or not an outfit looks good on you, such as style, brightness, and occasion. Skin tone isn’t the only aspect to consider.
Don’t feel limited by what colors you can wear. While some colors might complement your skin tone better than others, it’s more important to choose colors you feel good in. It can also be beneficial to consider color psychology so you can think about the vibe you want to give off when choosing a colorful outfit.
10. Shade and Tint Mean the Same Thing
Many people use the words “shade” and “tint” to describe a different version of a color. While that’s technically true, the two terms aren’t interchangeable. A tint describes a lighter version of a color, which usually involves adding white to it. A shade is a darker version of a color, which involves adding some black to it. So, both words describe different versions of a color, but one is for lighter versions while the other is for darker ones. If you hear the word tone, that refers to when you add a mix of white and black (gray) to the color to tone down its intensity.
11. Nurseries Should Be Bright and Colorful
Rooms designed for babies and toddlers are often filled with bright colors. Exposing children to all the colors can help with their development, but it might not be the best route to take for a newborn baby’s nursery. When babies are born, they can only see white, black, and gray at first. So, the bright, colorful room will only look black and white to them, preventing them from appreciating all the different hues.
Taking this information into account, the best color schemes for a nursery are usually high-contrast colors. Using two very different colors, such as black and white, navy blue and orange, or yellow and gray, can ensure the baby experiences all the patterns of the room even before they develop color vision. At about two months of age, babies can finally see red, and the other colors will appear in their vision within the months after that.
12. Colors Always Have the Same Universal Meanings
Every color has common associations and symbolism, which can help us understand their meanings. However, that doesn’t mean colors always have the same interpretation. One color can mean different things to different people. People’s color perceptions can vary based on experiences, culture, and contexts.
For example, one person might see green as a symbol of growth and health, while another might see it as a symbol of envy and judgment. Neither person is wrong; instead, it just means they perceive the color differently. So, while general color meanings are fascinating to learn about, they don’t guarantee that colors will have the same effects on everyone.
