The Psychology of Color in Packaging for Gift-Giving
Gift-giving is useful year-round. Presents are appropriate in times of celebration, and you want to make sure you make a good impression. Did you know that your gift packaging can influence a person’s mind before opening the present itself? There’s an entire science behind the psychology of color for gift-giving. We’ll dive more into it below.
What Is Color Psychology?
Color psychology is the study of how color affects the mind. Its effects are more far-reaching than you might expect. Colors can be warm (red, yellow, and orange) or cool (blue, green, and purple). Warm colors energize and offer greater awareness of our day-to-day experience. On the other hand, cool colors lull us into a sense of calmness, and they can soothe our nerves. We’ll start by examining what these colors mean if you want to add some flair to your high-quality packaging design.
Warm Colors
As we said earlier, warm colors help energize and activate the endocrine system. People around these colors often remark that they feel increased energy, optimism, and enthusiasm. For instance, red is the color of courage, bravery, and aggression. Orange often has an association with sunlight. We see these colors everywhere, so they connect with various situations or things in our minds.
Some perfect examples of this include a stop or “caution” light at a crosswalk, a stop sign, or a reflector light on the back of a bicycle. Warm colors contribute to a sense of alertness, which is why we use them for these purposes. If your gift will excite your loved one or coworker, red is the perfect gift wrapping hue to use. This is one of the best ways to use the psychology of color in packaging for gift-giving.
Cool Colors
Cool colors have the opposite effect of warm colors, as they’re soothing and promote a sense of calm. Blue has an association with the ocean and its waves. We also associate light blue with the sky and navy blue with the nighttime. When we look at cool colors, we often associate them with security. This is why people instinctively paint nurseries in blue pastels. We want to create a calming atmosphere for our children. If your gift is calming, such as a massager or a facemask, try packaging it with cool-colored wrapping paper or a cool-colored box.
