Bar Botanique Cafe Tropique / Studio Modijefsky. Image © Maarten Willemstein

How many changes have you done to your interior space during this past year? Whether it was a change of furniture layout, repainting the walls, adding more light fixtures or perhaps even removing them, after spending so much time in one place, the space you were once used to didn’t make sense anymore. We could blame the overall situation for how we’ve been feeling lately, but as a matter of fact, the interior environment plays a huge role in how we feel or behave as well. However, if you were wondering why some neighbors seem much more undisturbed and serene even in the midst of a pandemic, it could be because the interior is greener on the other side.

Green 26 / Anonym. Image © Chaovarith Poonphol

In theory, the human eye and brain translate the light reflected on an object into color. The retinas in our eyes have receptors that are sensitive to blue, green, and red (unrelated to the cyan, magenta, and yellow, the primary colors of the color wheel), which are responsible for the perception of color. The combinations and variation of these three colors create the visible color spectrum we are all familiar with. Then, the human brain creates a link between the color it is seeing and the context it is accustomed to see it in, influencing the psychological perception of the color. Color psychology is the study of hues and tints and their influence on human behavior. According to a study conducted by German neurologist and psychiatrist Dr. Kurt Goldstein, colors with longer wavelengths such as yellow, red, and orange are stimulating compared to those with a shorter wavelength, such as green and blue, which evoke calmness and serenity. However, the way people perceive colors differs from one another due to several factors such as cultural differences, geographic location, and age.

Pantone Shades of Green. Image © Pantone

So what is green mostly perceived as?

“The color green may have a special connotation in terms of human evolution due to its correspondence with fertile natural surroundings where factors such as a temperate climate and the availability of food were more conducive to survival. Humans have tended to migrate toward and settle in green fertile geographic regions of the world and therefore, the propensity to experience positive moods in natural surroundings is an innate instinct in which greenness has a particular significance.” Akers, et al.

Artwork | Deco_01 by FLORIM

Instinctively, the human brain links the color green to nature and vegetation, and in nature, one usually finds freshness, health, and tranquility. It is the unengineered area in life that has long existed before the human race and is a vital symbol of renewal and prosperity. Many psychologists and researchers have found green to be a healing color, which is why it is commonly used in doctor’s clinics and waiting areas. Even in media studios, guests and interviewees of television shows wait in a “green room” to relieve the stress of being on air. In addition to its calming qualities, green is often linked to the “go” notion, as used and seen on traffic lights and infographics. This endorphin-releasing value provokes a call for action, as if the human is “ready to go” or is “on the right path”, which is why study areas are often painted green to provoke motivation, creativity, and imagination.