White: Pure, clean, innocent in western cultures;
mourning in eastern cultures; creates a sense of space so consider draping a
small or dark room in white.
Black:
Sophistication, power, elegance; in some cultures it represents death or
mourning but in others it can mean life or rebirth; appropriate color for
high-end, black tie events.
Red:
Excitement, passion, intensity; creates very strong emotions and attention-grabbing;
causes blood pressure and heart rate to rise; great color for themed events
where guests are encouraged to move throughout the venue.
Orange:
Vibrancy, energy, excitement; creates a playful environment for your guests;
attention-drawing so a great color to use at a fundraiser, especially in a
silent auction area.
Yellow:
Cheery, warm, alert; this color can also create frustration and anger and is
fatiguing to the eye; probably best to use with another color or as an accent
and not as a major backdrop, for example, or focal point in a large room;
increases the metabolism so a good choice for a breakfast meeting or brunch
event.
Green:
Natural, healthy, tranquil; creates a calming effect, relieves stress and helps
heal; hence, the symbolism behind the term “green room” as a place to relax
prior to going on stage to perform; also a color to consider for a theme where
“growth” is the topic.
Blue:
Peace, trust, loyalty; a popular and neutral color on a global level; lowers
pulse rate and body temperature and creates productivity; perfect color to use
for a business meetings or corporate team training function.
Purple:
Royalty, wisdom, wealth; an exotic color that is associated with luxury and
extravagance but also a spiritual connection; can be used in creating special
effects with lighting, for example, when designing a VIP lounge area.
