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Bearing in mind that first impressions only
take90secondstoformandover85%
of buyers cite colour as the key factor in
determining their purchasing decisions, the
importance of paying attention to the effects
of colour within your business should not
be underestimated.
Chromatherapy ­ the use of colours to
influence emotions ­ has its roots in ancient
Egyptian and Chinese cultures. Around 1000
AD, the Persian philosopher Avicenna wrote
that colour was an "observable symptom of
disease". His view was that red moved the
blood, blue or white cooled it and yellow
reduced muscular pain and inflammation.
Using colours in interior design to
influence emotions has particular relevance
to the healthcare field. Ask yourself if there
are any hues that could be used in your
recovery rooms to help the healing process?
Orwhataboutthecalmingeffectofcolours
chosen in your waiting rooms, which may
help to de-stress your patient before
their appointment?
We all recognise that certain colours
bring out different emotions in us. You
would never see a spa's relaxing massage
room painted red for instance, or a child-care
centre in neutral greys, so how do we use it
for the best effect in the healthcare industry?
If you want to have a positive effect on your patients from the second
they walk into your practice,
Mike Watson suggests exploring the
colour spectrum.
Mike Watson is Director
of Innova Design.
COLOUR CUES
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