The Colour Gray
The colour of detachment, indecision and compromise
The colour gray is an unemotional colour. It is detached,
neutral, impartial and indecisive - the fence-sitter.
From a colour psychology perspective, gray is the colour of
compromise - being neither black nor white, it is the transition between two
non-colours. The closer gray gets to black, the more dramatic and mysterious it
becomes. The closer it gets to silver or white, the more illuminating and
lively it becomes.
Being both motionless and emotionless, gray is solid and
stable, creating a sense of calm and composure, relief from a chaotic world.
The colour gray is subdued, quiet and reserved. It does not
stimulate, energize, rejuvenate or excite.
In the meaning of colours, gray is conservative, boring,
drab and depressing on the one hand and elegant and formal on the other, yet
never glamorous.
Gray conforms - it is conventional, dependable and
practical. It is a colour of maturity and responsibility, associated with the
gray hair of old age. It will never be the centre of attention, the dynamic
leader or the director - it is too safe and toned down.
Gray can stifle and depress energy but it is also the stable
base from which the new and positive can come.
Gray is controlled. It has a steadying effect on other colours
with which it comes into contact, toning down the stronger and brighter colours
and illuminating the softer colours. Rarely is gray a perfect mix of black and
white - it often has elements of other colours such as blue, green, pink, mauve
or yellow within it which lift it and energize it.
Too much gray creates sadness and depression and a tendency
to loneliness and isolation. Add some colour to change this.
Most people are indifferent to gray- it relates to the
corporate worker in the gray suit - conservative, reliable, formal and
independent and maybe boring.
Positive and Negative Traits of Gray
Positive keywords include: reliable, conservative,
dignified, neutral, impartial, professional, mature, intelligent, classic,
solid, stable, calming, reserved, elegant, formal and dependable
Negative keywords include: indecisive, non-emotional, indifferent,
boring, sad, depressed, lifeless, lonely, isolated
Gray Represents:
Neutrality: gray is impartial and dispassionate, it doesn't
take sides.
Compromise: it is the transition between two non-colours,
neither black nor white. It takes the middle ground, neither one way nor the
other.
Control: gray is reserved, quiet and conservative. It has a
steadying effect on other colours around it.
Effects of Gray:
Indecision: Gray prefers to sit in the middle, not making a
decision either way, sitting on the fence.
Detached: being non-emotional, gray can appear indifferent,
uncaring, cold and aloof.
Depression: gray can stifle and depress energy but it is
also the stable base from which the new and positive can come.
Unemotional: gray can appear neutral, disinterested,
objective or impartial.
Variations of Gray
Light gray is soothing and calming. It enlightens saves and
rescues those in difficult life situations.
Dark gray is conventional and constrained. It is serious and
solemn, inflexible and strict. It relates to self-denial and self-discipline.
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