When it comes to selecting a color scheme for a project, it's important to understand what specific emotions each color can evoke. Color makes the world vibrant, and combinations of various colors can elicit emotions. But if you're deciding on a monochrome palette for a project, it's best to know which colors elicit which emotions.
Warm Colors
Warm colors operate on the high end of the visible light spectrum. These are reds and yellows and other colors that bring vibrancy and energy to any palette or color combination. Use these colors when you want to invoke positive emotions.
Red
Red is perhaps the boldest and most noticeable of all the colors. Operating on the high end of the visible light spectrum, red brings energy, strength and confidence. In a lot of Asian countries, red is the color of good fortune. Red is the color of love and passion—think of Valentine's Day and roses.
In the right context and setting, red can also mean negative emotions like anger and blood. Be mindful of red's placement when considering its use as a color.
Pink
Pink is the color of femininity—it is usually the dominant color in an aisle of toys meant for girls, and typically means a product is meant for a female-identifying individual. While it seems pink's use is limited, it can be so much more.
Pink is also the color of youthfulness, romance, and sentiment. It can be used as an accent color to bring vibrancy or subtly to a larger scheme.
Orange
In branding, orange is a color that is not seen very often. Orange is the color of energy, freshness, and fun. In light, pastel tones, orange can be sweet, conversational, and affable. In its more saturated and vibrant tones, orange can be encouraging, energetic, and bring vitality to a project.
Yellow
Yellow is both the color of happiness and the color of caution. On the emotional side, it represents sunshine, cheerfulness, joy, mental clarity and intellect. Use yellow when you want to invoke these types of emotions.
Fun fact: yellow is the most visible color from a distance. For this reason, it's often used to accompany a warning. Life vests, police tape, hazard areas, and warnings all use yellow because of its high visibility.