Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
In today’s fast-paced academic environment, many students struggle to stay motivated. But a simple change in the colour scheme of your study space could boost your energy levels and focus.
According to psychology educator Peter Chan Kin-yan, the way colours influence our emotions and decisions can be explained by colour psychology, which examines our basic responses to colours. Chan is the founder of TreeholeHK, a company that promotes psychology education.
According to Chan, colours in the natural world have symbolic meanings, which can vary for different people.
For example, red signified ripe fruit for early humans. But the colour could also be related to blood and danger, which could trigger fear.
Some people feel anxious when they see red because it is often used to convey negativity, such as mistakes marked in red ink.
Colour theory in practice
Understanding how colours can affect thinking is important when designing your study space.
Chan pointed to a 2009 study published in Science. It suggested that specific colours could encourage convergent and divergent thinking.
Convergent thinking involves following familiar steps to complete tasks, such as solving maths problems. Divergent thinking is used for generating new ideas, such as in creative writing.
The study found that red improves focus on detail-oriented tasks. Chan said that it may be related to the evolutionary association between red and alertness or danger. Thus, red can encourage careful, convergent thinking.
In contrast, blue is often associated with the sky and the ocean. Many people connect blue with calmness, which can encourage divergent thinking and creativity.
Tips for an ideal study environment
To create an effective study space, Chan said you should consider colour tone and natural light.
“A piece of advice would be to study or work in a bright, cool-toned environment,” he said. “For sleeping, a softer colour tone is preferable.”
Cool-toned lights – white and blue – remind us of daylight and can improve focus. Warm-toned lights, such as yellow or orange, help release hormones that regulate the body’s circadian rhythm.
“This is very important for students because focusing on studying and getting a good night’s sleep are arguably two of the most important tasks,” he said.
If your study area is in your bedroom or eating area, Chan recommended adding a focal point that reminds you about studying.
“This makes it easier to create a feeling of ‘this is where I focus,’” he said.
You could also use brighter colours in study areas to visually separate them from relaxation areas.
“You can consider installing a desk lamp with cooler light, while the room has a warmer, more yellow tone,” Chan suggested.
Still, personal comfort is more important than colour charts and psychology, he emphasised.
When designing a room, “it should first and foremost be comfortable for you,” Chan said.
