Colors speak a universal language!—one that everyone intuitively understands, but hardly anyone consciously uses. They influence how we feel, how others perceive us, and what messages we convey. Their impact is powerful!—and yet it’s often underestimated. Have you ever wondered why you keep reaching for certain colors? Why do some shades immediately appeal to you, while others subconsciously repel you? And what does that reveal about you, your personality, and the impact you have on others?

Our personalities are just as multifaceted and flexible as the colors we wear. Colors are not only an expression of our identity, but also a powerful tool for adapting to different social contexts. Just as we adjust our behavior depending on the situation, we can also use colors to deliberately influence how others perceive us.

This ability to adapt is deeply rooted in our biological and social development. In personality psychology, this is referred to as “situational adaptability”—the ability to flexibly adjust one’s behavior and appearance to the situation at hand. This applies not only to our behavior but also to our clothing and choice of colors.

You can listen to the podcast in the “Radiowissen” section of the WDR 2 media library.

Excerpt from my new book: The Big Book of Color Psychology. Droemer Knauer Available in bookstores starting October 1, 2025

Der Beitrag How does color influence our lives? erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

A dark green wallpaper with yellow flowers or would you prefer texture with wood chips? For a long time, woodchip was stuck to the walls. But there are more and more rooms that don’t just wear traffic white.

Andy Warhol, David Bowie and Vivienne Westwood have one thing in common: they all designed wallpaper. Wall decoration is on the rise and adorns interiors. The tapes, as the blanket is called in Greek, were already hanging in the tents of the nomads of the Orient 1,000 years ago. Nobles traveled from castle to castle with their wall hangings, precious tapestries. Until technology makes wallpaper a mass product.

Depending on the color and design, wallpaper can either lift your spirits or hit you on the head. “We are all color experts,” says Axel Buether, Germany’s leading color researcher. In a few workshops, wallpapers are made by hand. Young artists focus on manual work. New fabrics and digital technologies are turning wallpaper into a medium with which we interact. The signs of the times point to a change of scenery. Curiosity Suffices stares at the walls.

Author: Claudia Friedrich, Blog zum Beitrag

Editor: Barbara Geschwinde

Link to the report in the WDR media library

Der Beitrag Sticking wallpaper for a beautiful appearance erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

When we are angry, we see red, when we are desperate, we see black. And when we are doing well, we experience rosy times. Colors have a strong influence on us, but we usually only perceive them unconsciously. “Good to know” asks a color researcher for more details.

The film “Die Macht der Farben” (Christian Friedl author and director) was broadcast on October 2 on“Gut zu wissen“, the knowledge magazine of Bayerischer Rundfunk and is available in the BR media library until October 1, 2026.

Alpine hike to the nature of colors

We spent a day hiking in the Bavarian Alps to discover the nature of colors.

The color of the middle, the balancing green.

This is the home of human color. Green is the symbolic color of the natural, growing and living. In all Romance languages, “green” is derived from the Latin “virdis”, which also stands for strength, growth and life.

All the shades of green in nature are in perfect harmony with each other and their surroundings

The green spectrum is our largest color space, comprising more than half of all visible hues. The colors of plant nature form the basis for the development of our visual perception system. All the photoreceptors in our retina register the middle range of visible light. Green is the middle ground, the color of balance and equilibrium.

Confrontation with the lifeless gray

Rocks and rocky landscapes are among the oldest evidence of the earth’s history. Most hard stones such as granite, slate and basalt appear lifeless and gray. Pressure and heat erased the traces of life when they were formed. Soft stones such as marble, sandstone and limestone, on the other hand, usually appear much lighter, more colorful and more lively. But the ravages of time gnaw at them, as they are attacked by the weather and acid rain.

We encounter stone gray not only in nature, but also in our urban areas, where it gives paths, roads and squares a firm footing or lends stability to walls and buildings. Grey is a color for eternity that defies all fashions and short-lived trends. The color appears so timeless, consistent and natural, as if it had always been there. What is gray does not age, but is already old.

Encounter with a striking red

Of all the colors, blood red not only attracts the most attention, but also the strongest emotions. The enormous success of flowering plants, which have co-evolved with the animal world, is based on the power of their colors, with which they were able to persuade animals to spread their seeds over ever greater distances. The pollinators received healthy nutrients as a reward, which soon became the basis of life for many new species. Both flowers and fruits only reach their greatest nutritional value and their most enticing colors when the seeds have developed to the point where they can begin to be transmitted.

The view from the summit into the blue distance

For us, the blue sky forms the familiar background to the earth’s surface, which extends as a landscape to the horizon. Blue has the character of a light color that opens up spaces for us and poses no danger due to its immateriality. There is therefore no other color that we intuitively trust more. The unattainable blue eludes any touch and therefore also our manipulation. This can also be seen in the use of symbols, where blue often stands for security, correctness and truth. Wherever companies, people and the media seek to gain our trust, blue is the perfect backdrop.

Der Beitrag The power of colors erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

Colors are the most important feature in product marketing because we intuitively trust them. If the colors of the packaging evoke the right associations, this convinces many people more than any printed text. In most cases, we therefore hardly bother to read the packaging text. Or do you always look at the ingredients and expiry date when the packaging colors look fresh, healthy and appetizing?

Packaging colors must arouse our interest in the product and activate the right emotions. Because when we take a package off the shelf, it is practically a preliminary decision for the purchase. As customers, we can only distinguish between advertising and deception if we inform ourselves in detail about the effects of the ingredients and their risks to our health. Dyes are active ingredients!

Colors are not an end in themselves, but a powerful instrument of environmental design! In the first phase of a color concept, I therefore mainly talk about what colors should do for the quality of life of the people concerned. Only when I have identified the needs, weighed them up and put them in relation to each other can I start working on the color composition. Good color concepts can also have a taste-forming effect. But at the end of the day, every color scheme must stand up to the aesthetic and practical judgment of the people for whom it was made.

More on this in “The mysterious power of colors”.

Radio discussion live WDR5 Quarks on March 8 from 3:05 p.m.

Report in the Quarks media library to listen to after the broadcast date

Der Beitrag How advertising is done with colors erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

Axel Buether likes to present himself in a colorful way. For our online interview, the Wuppertal professor of visual communication wore a yellow turtleneck sweater and a light gray jacket.

He recently published his new book “The Mysterious Power of Colors“. The next day, he surprised our photographer with a turquoise blue suit – countered by an orange sweater and knee sock combination.

WELT: Have you thought about what colors you would like to present yourself in during our interview?

Axel Buether: That was of course a conscious decision. I didn’t want to appear authoritarian, so I didn’t wear black or dark blue. I just wanted to show a bit of color, hence my sweater in a muted shade of yellow. I chose the light gray jacket as a serious counterpoint.

WELT: Very few people take such a goal-oriented approach when choosing the color of their clothes.

Buether: Only a few people are aware that when they reach into their closet, they are preparing themselves in terms of color for certain life situations. Everyone who enters into a relationship with other people wants to make an impact. You want to be noticed or camouflage yourself, appear smart or sexy, creative or authoritarian. To do this, select a corresponding color.

WELT: So this happens intuitively, without any theoretical knowledge of the meaning of the colors?

You can read the full interview with Christiane Hoffmans in the“WELT am Sonntag” (print) from 17.01.2021 or digitally on the WELT website

Der Beitrag Absenteeism has fallen by 35.7 percent. An amazing effect! erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

Atmosphere plays a central role in architecture. The way in which architecture can have an effect on this level ranges from a feeling of well-being to a sense of grandeur. Since Hartmut Seels and Gernot Böhme’s important publications on “atmosphere”, the significance of the atmospheric for architectural space has become firmly established. Not only in practical architectural design, but also on a theoretical level, thinking about the creation and effect of atmosphere in space is an important tool for architects.

Program of the lecture series

10.11.2020 | Introduction GERNOT BÖHME Philosopher, TU Darmstadt (em)

17.11.2020 | Function and space JÓRUNN RAGNARSDÓTTIR Architect, University of Stuttgart

01.12.2020 | Man and Space DR. THERESIA LEUENBERGER Architect, Sociologist, TU Berlin

08.12.2020 | Color and space DR. AXEL BUETHER Architect, perceptual psychologist, University of Wuppertal

15.12.2020 | Geometry and Space KAZU BLUMFELD HANADA Architect, Artist, Münster University of Applied Sciences

12.01.2021 | Inspiration for atmospheres ANDREAS DENK & UWE SCHRÖDER Architectural theorist TH Cologne & architect RWTH Aachen University

Time: Always 7 pm via Zoom

Join the Zoom meeting: https://th-koeln.zoom.us/j/89650849320
Meeting ID: 896 5084 9320
Access code: 095129

Link to the organizer’s website: TH Köln, Faculty of Architecture

Link to the announcement of my lecture “Color Light and Space”

Der Beitrag Color in architecture. The atmosphere of built spaces erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

Spiegel Bestseller Rank: No. 44 in non-fiction (50KW)

Germany’s leading color expert, Dr. Axel Buether, gets to the bottom of the secret of colors in this popular non-fiction book. They are not only beautiful, but as a product of evolution they fulfill vital functions for nature and humans. We constantly communicate with our environment through the language of color, which secretly has a great influence on our emotional life, our social behavior and our health.

When we open our eyes, we see – colors! The world is colorful, colors give it contour and form, but we only consciously process one percent of it. Dr. Axel Buether reveals them to be the largest communication system on earth and explains how we humans perceive colors. He describes how they control our behavior without us realizing it and what role they play in our well-being and even our health. Above all, he reveals how colors affect our psyche. To this end, Buether looks at the 13 primary colors, traces their symbolism in cultural history and breaks down their effects on our psyche.
An informative and exciting color panorama that gives us an insight into the latest findings of color research and shows us how we can use this knowledge in our everyday lives.

Publication date: October 1, 2020 – Distribution: DROEMER – Verlag, buecher.de, amazon.de

Der Beitrag Spiegel bestseller “The mysterious power of colors. How they influence our behavior and feelings” erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

Initial situation Planning knowledge:

There is currently a lack of scientifically proven criteria for the effectiveness of color and lighting design in school buildings in the specialist literature. The requirements and needs of the most important user groups such as pupils, teachers and parents with regard to the atmospheric design of school buildings are largely unknown. Systematized empirical knowledge and concrete planning aids on the subject are not available.

Furthermore, this topic is not given sufficient attention in research and teaching at architecture schools across Europe, which is why architects and design professionals today must rely on manufacturers’ color collections and their own individual preferences both during and after completing their studies.[1] However, the application of color systems offers no guidance on the effects of light and color on specific user groups and usage situations within a space.[2] The widespread neglect of the systematic use of light and color to create atmospheric spaces in modernism has resulted in the fact that design principles on this topic are hardly taught today. Empirical knowledge from the “pre-modern” and “classical modern” periods is no longer part of the repertoire of design fundamentals.

The symbolic color of modernity and the generally accepted standard for interior design is still white, even though colorfulness is on the rise again today. In the area of color and lighting design, aesthetically sophisticated practical examples can be found that are regularly published in trade journals. However, discussions with the authors show that color and lighting concepts are strongly based on subjective parameters such as intuition and a sense of beauty, whereas participatory methods and scientific foundations are lacking (Buether 2014). [3]

Research results on architectural practice with light and color in school construction based on participatory procedures and scientifically proven findings and evaluations of the perception and behavior of relevant user groups could not be found in advance research. The research project therefore serves as a model. The aim of the research project is to produce basic knowledge that will subsequently be made available to the general public in the form of scientific publications, specialist presentations, etc. Subsequently, guidelines and recommendations for color and lighting design in school buildings will be drawn up, which are based on the current state of research and practice and can be used in the opinion-forming, planning and decision-making process.

[1 ] Axel Buether is a recognized expert on this topic. He is the organizer of numerous symposia and congresses, author of numerous specialist publications, speaker at numerous specialist conferences, is doing his doctorate on the subject of “Semiotics of the visual space – neurobiological foundations of spatial-visual perception, design and communication”, Professor of “Didactics of Visual Communication” at the University of Wuppertal and Chairman of the Board of the German Colour Centre – Institute for Colour and Light in Science and Design.

[2] Buether, Axel. Application of color systems in architecture – benefits and limitations. Article in DETAIL 12/2016 – Color, material, surface

[3] Buether, Axel. Color. Design principles, planning strategies, visual communication. DETAIL Practice 2014

Objective Research project “Donarstrasse elementary school”:

1) Assessment of the psychological effects of color and lighting design in school buildings:

• a) students’ motivation, academic performance, and well-being
  b) teachers’ motivation, teaching performance, and well-being
  c) parents’ satisfaction and acceptance

2) Development of a participatory process methodology for the implementation of successful color and lighting designs for school buildings

1. a) Collection of research data using quantitative and qualitative methods
   (documentation, questionnaires, and interviews).
   b) Analysis of the research data and establishment of representative criteria for planning color and lighting designs in school buildings.
   c) Systematization of the criteria and development of guidelines for color and lighting designs in school construction, which are intended to become an integral part of participatory planning processes.

The colors of fear

Selection model project: Donarstrasse elementary school:

The “Donarstrasse Primary School” property meets the main criteria for the research project:

1. The size and layout of the rooms are within the structural standards for elementary school. The property is in great need of renovation.
2. The condition before the renovation can be documented and related to the statements of the three status groups, which is a prerequisite for the subsequent evaluation of the effects.
3. The condition after the renovation will show what effects can be achieved under almost identical structural conditions for the three status groups through targeted interventions in the areas of light and color. Criteria for the prototypical development of a participatory process methodology for the implementation of successful color and lighting designs for school buildings are derived from the verified research results.
4. The three status groups – pupils, teachers and parents – as well as the school management are willing to actively participate in the research project and have already demonstrated their commitment in a kick-off workshop.

Der Beitrag Participatory strategies for color and lighting design in school buildings erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

Assessment of the psychological and health effects of the environmental factors color and light on patients and staff in the intensive care unit B2-2 Helios University Hospital Wuppertal

Project partners:

Prof. Dr. Axel Buether
University of Wuppertal
Faculty of Design and Art

Dr. Gabriele Wöbker
Chief Physician, Department of Intensive Care Medicine
HELIOS University Hospital Wuppertal
Witten/Herdecke University

Location and scope of the study:

HELIOS University Hospital Wuppertal – Clinic for Intensive Care Medicine Ward B2-2, scope: entire ward with 15 patient rooms, 21 beds and 4 doctors’ roomsWard B2-2 is the third and largest intensive care unit that we have designed and examined in the current research project. The results of our first study were incorporated into the planning for the redesign of Station B2-2.

Investigation period: 24 months (2018/19)

Research questions:

• What influence does the color and lighting design of intensive care units have on the well-being and state of health of patients?
• What influence does the color and lighting design of intensive care units have on the work motivation, attitude and well-being of medical and nursing staff?
• What influence does the color and lighting design of intensive care units have on staff sickness levels?

Summary of the results:

Significant improvements in the quality of stay and experience for patients and staff were observed and demonstrated in all areas surveyed. The sickness rate of staff on the ward fell by 35.37% within one year compared to the two previous years. The acute shortage of skilled workers lends additional relevance to this result.

The results of the patient surveys were particularly significant:

• Patients perceived the medical and nursing staff to be significantly more relaxed during care (improvement of 35.7%)
• after the redesign, the intensive care unit appeared much nicer (improvement of 56.8%), more stimulating (improvement of 51.4%), more inviting (improvement of 50.0%) and warmer (improvement of 34.6%)
• the atmosphere in the room appeared significantly quieter to the patients (reduction in noise level by 48.6%) and less hectic (improvement in quiet level by 40.6%)

This was particularly significant in the staff surveys:

• Staff satisfaction with the employer (improvement of 35.7%) and the work (improvement of 35.1%) increased significantly
• well-being was reflected in satisfaction with the condition of the workplace (improvement of 51.2%), the break room (improvement of 66.7%), the patient rooms (improvement of 48.8%) and the corridors and other work areas (improvement of 45.2%)
• The color design had a particularly strong impact on the assessment of orientation (improvement of 42.9%), colorfulness (improvement of 58.7%), artificial light quality (improvement of 52.4%), daylight quality (improvement of 48.7%) and identity (improvement of 50.0%)

Evaluation of the patient survey

Evaluation of the staff survey

Improved patient status in intensive care unit B2-2 after the color redesign

Der Beitrag Color lighting design reduces sick leave among nursing staff by 35.37%! erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.

The psychology of colors is not just something for experts, because it also accompanies us in everyday life. Just think of the morning look in the closet, which confronts us with expectations, self-assessments and prejudices. When we intuitively reach for colors, the choice is usually made very quickly because we have learned how other people react to them. This often limited personal color palette corresponds to the conventions of our living environment and has proven itself in most everyday situations. But beware, the colors of our clothes have something to do with us and the other person! You can use it to specifically influence how you are perceived by other people, which can have a significant impact on the behavior of those around you. How we perceive something is reflected in our feelings, thoughts, actions and social interactions. (Excerpt from my book“The Mysterious Power of Colors“)

Eric conducts several experiments to find out what meaning colors have for us humans and how colors affect us. Colors not only bring a lot of joy and sensuality into our lives. It’s amazing what our clothing colors say about us without us noticing much of it.

Together we do a color experiment with a school class. The children clear the contents of their closets into large bags and lay out their things in a circle. Logos, shape and specific features of the garments are hidden so that only the colors are really visible. The first half of the children start by laying out the color circles. Then all the children line up next to each other. The second half of the class now enters the room and has to assign the children to the color circles based on their character traits. After a few minutes, all the children stand in the color circles. Eric takes the test. All children stand correctly! This is also repeated for the other half of the class. Colors tell us more about ourselves than we think possible. We just hardly notice it because more than 99% of the information remains unconscious. Without realizing it, we classify everyone we meet into certain “categories” according to their appearance. Colors act like gestures that allow other people to form a picture of our personality.

All students had to name their favorite colors. The result was as I expected, as it always is in such surveys. Most people in the world prefer blue, which was also the case in this class. Red, black and white are also very popular everywhere, which was also the case here. Brown and gray were not included, which is completely “normal” in such surveys and no longer amazes any color psychologist today. Who wants to be perceived as stuffy or grey, even if they really like wearing these colors? Surprisingly, favorite colors such as “rose gold” were mentioned twice.

So what does our favorite color actually say about us? Without a specific context, stating our favorite color becomes a matter of personality. Blue is ahead in the polls worldwide, as character traits such as openness, truthfulness and trust are of the utmost importance to us all. Sometimes suppressed desires and character traits also come to light. The contradiction was particularly striking among boys who indicated pink, yellow and purple as their favorite colors. The influence of the peer group reliably ensures that desired behavior is reinforced in all of us, while unconventional character traits and behaviors disappear from view. We should therefore not suppress our color preferences any more than we should suppress our desires, inclinations and dreams. Colors are important in every phase of life, as they are also a means of self-discovery.

Link to the film clip on the ZDF website: The power of colors

Der Beitrag PUR+ The power of colors erschien zuerst auf Farbpsychologie.