What do you think of when you think of the color pink? Pink is culturally associated with femininity and love and romance. It‘s emotional effects can vary. While bright shades of pink such as magenta or hot pink can be stimulating or even aggravating to some, lighter shades of pink can actually have a calming effect.
In 2005, and as a result of 45 years of scientific research, there was a psychological experiment in Switzerland to see whether painting jail cells in a little girl’s favorite color could actually calm down violent inmates. The two main hues used were appropriately called ‘Cool Down Pink’ and ‘Drunk Tank Pink’. These were color saturated bubblegum, pink flamingo pinks. At first there were signs of success that the color indeed seemed to have the desired effect. However, once the prisoners had become acclimatized to their surroundings, they became agitated and vocal about their distaste for the color. This was most likely due to the cultural connotations of pink, and thus taken as an attack on the prisoners’ masculinity. Yikes!
While pretty pink cells may not be a cornerstone of prisoner rehabilitation efforts, Cool Down Pink and Drunk Tank Pink are calming colors in their own right, even given their intensity. In the past few years varying shades of pale pink and rose have become a new neutral trend in paint color due to their calming effect and ability to work well with others. Take a look at Farrow and Ball “Pink Ground”, a pale dusty pink; Sherwin-Williams SW6028 “Cultured Pearl”; and Benjamin-Moore 2093-70 “Pink Bliss” if you are considering adding this hue to your home. It would be an excellent choice for that room in which you look to relax after a hard day’s work.
America’s Color Consultants understand the psychological and even cultural effects of color. Every client and every home is unique and a trained, experienced paint color consultant can help you choose the perfect hue for the emotion you want to evoke.