Colour Psychology is a vital key in branding.

You might think the colour you choose to represent your brand just needs to be appealing to the eye, right? Wrong, your brand colours tell the viewer a lot more about your brand than you might realise. Today we are going to take a look at colour psychology and what it means for your business.

Colours have an emotional impact!

Colours evoke emotions and have a strong impact on customers. In fact, Brand Minds state that 80% of consumers believe colour enhances brand recognition and can raise visual appearance by 93%. That’s a lot of influence so it’s important to get it right.

Colour Meanings

Choosing the right colour and then using it effectively will have a real impact on your business so understanding colour psychology can be a really vital tool. Let’s explore each colour in detail.

Red is the colour of passion. It increases you heart-rate and provokes excitement. It’s energetic, aggressive and intense. It also encourages appetite making it a great choice for McDonalds.

Purple exudes luxury and elegance. It’s the colour of royalty and often associated with high-end products such as Rolex. It also conjures feelings of mystery and spirituality.

Blue is one of the most popular colours used by brands. Associated with feelings of trust and security it gives the viewer a sense of confidence and can boost customer loyalty. LinkedIn uses this effectively to give its brand a sense of credibility.

Green symbolises wealth and serenity. It is often associated with health and tranquility and not surprising environmentally friendly brands. Hello Fresh uses green to promote themselves as a safe and fresh food brand.

Yellow is the colour of happiness and positivity. Giving off feelings of hope and optimism, it’s a high energy and uplifting colour.  Snapchat embodies the feelings associated with yellow so it’s no wonder they have integrated it into their branding.

Orange is a creative and cheerful colour. Blending the passion of red and the brightness of yellow it gives off a warm and friendly vibe that Amazon has used with great effect.

Brown embodies simplicity and nurturing. Associated with the earth it is a very grounding colour but needs to be used carefully. Gloria Jean’s is a great example effectively using brown to evoke comfort.

Black is a classic choice. Sophisticated and timeless, it can elicit strong emotions or add an air of class. Well used by high end brands like Nike and Ralph Lauren, it’s another luxurious colour choice.

And last but certainly not least is White, the colour of purity. It’s a simple and clean colour eliciting feelings of trust and innocence. The symbol of new beginnings and neutrality it’s a favourite of cosmetic brands and cleaning products alike.

What does all this mean for you.

Think about what your brand represents and use colour psychology to bring you closer to your target audience. Using the right colour will greatly enhance both the experience of the viewer and their connection with your brand, the wrong colour also has the potential to disuade engagement. Think also about cultural references. What a colour means in the western world can be different from other cultures, so if your business plays heavily in other cultural markets, make sure you colour choices are not alienating those markets.

Have you heard of colour psychology before? What are your brand colours? Do you agree with these meanings? Share your thoughts in the comments.

About the Author

Alysha is a seasoned graphic designer and brand educator with over a decade of experience in marketing and design. She specializes in crafting bold, unique brand identities, publication designs, and impactful presentation revamps. Working primarily with small and medium-sized businesses, she partners with entrepreneurs who seek a long-term design collaborator who truly understands their brand, audience, and business goals. While she serves a wide range of industries, she has a particularly strong presence in financial services, investor relations, and the creative entrepreneurial space.

Beyond design, Alysha is passionate about educating small business owners on the power of branding. Through her blog, she shares expert insights on design, brand strategy, and proactive marketing—helping business owners stand out, build credibility, and attract their ideal customers. Her brand education work focuses on guiding women entrepreneurs over 40 in understanding their competitors, defining their audience, clarifying their brand’s deeper purpose, and developing a compelling brand personality and messaging.

With a friendly, efficient, and results-driven approach, Alysha ensures her designs and branding strategies are not only visually compelling but also strategically aligned to help businesses thrive.