Setting the Mood:  Choosing Color

We have focused in previous articles on the importance of coordinating lighting and projection background choices (when you have the ability to vary lighting) in a worship setting. But let's say that we are already in agreement that these two tools should be coordinated. Is there an effective method for choosing color schemes for worship?  Does it make any difference?

Projection and lighting are tools to help the folks in our congregations enter into a place of true worship where their hearts are connected to God's.  They merely help to set the table and make a space for spiritual things to happen.  They are sensory in nature, and it turns out that our choice of colors does significantly influence our response and mood (even though actual worship itself is still a choice and decision of the will).
Although reactions to colors are, to a degree, subjective, there are some universal truths regarding the way most people respond to certain colors.  Here's a brief, generalized run-down:

Red.  The color red is the color of intensity and energy (think love, anger, etc.).  It can actually increase our pulse rate and breathing.



Orange.  Orange tends to invoke feelings of warmth, energy, and excitement.



Yellow.  Most people associate yellow with hope, happiness, and cheerfulness.  What you may not know is that yellow creates the most strain on the human eye.  And as a side note, people most often lose their tempers and babies cry more in yellow rooms. Hmmm - I don't really need more of either one of those.

Green.  Green is the easiest color on the human eye.  It tends to have a calming, relaxing effect on people.  One negative with green however, is that in stage lighting, green light on human skin can sometimes produce an undesirable, washed-out look - so experiment, and be careful with your light focus.

Blue.  The color blue causes the opposite reaction from red. Blue is calming and peaceful, and actually causes the body to release calmining chemicals.  It lowers the pulse rate and can even lower the body temperature.  The downside of blue is that is can invoke feelings of cold, and dark blues tend to invoke feelings of sadness.

Purple.  Purple tends to have the same calming effect on people that blue does, but without the sense of coolness (warmer).  It tends to have a restful quality.


So what does this mean for your worship space?  Only that you might want to experiment with differing color schemes matched with different types of songs.  For instance, you may want to try more reds and oranges with a high-energy, upbeat praise song or "power song", and test more blues and purples on slower, more "worshipful" songs.

If you make the decision to experiment with color, afterwards ask whether or not the different service elements seemed to flow together better.  The answer will determine whether or not color schemes are worth considering.