Gaming Chair Color Psychology: Physical & Mental Effects

How Colors Influence Body And Mind

Light energy directly influences physiology — but its effects are wavelength dependent. Different colors send different inputs to the hypothalamus. ⁽¹⁾. That part of the brain controls your appetite, body temperature, and sleeping patterns.

As an example, blue light facilitates alertness. This is because blue light energy activates the melanopsin photoreceptor system. That, in turn, activates brain structures involved in higher-order attentional processing⁽²⁾.

At night, exposure to blue hues will suppress melatonin, making it hard to sleep. But at a desk, that effect is a perfect way to jazz up the senses and maintain focus.

Pictured is the Secretlab World of Warcraft Alliance chair. Its royal blue base will stimulate your attention levels. Meanwhile, the golden accents recall opulence. That adds an extra touch of motivation to keep grinding to the rewards you deserve.

Chromatic vs Achromatic Colors

Chromatic hues on the color spectrum produce a range of cool to warm effects. As the nanometer count gets higher, the color gets warmer.

Meanwhile, achromatic neutrals are off the color wheel as (technically) non-hues. Black is the absence of light. White is the absence of color. The most common neutrals are back, white, and gray.

Putting these concepts together gives us a 3-part color wheel. Cool hues are on the left, neutrals in the middle, and warm colors on the right.

These are defined as such because colors influence the body (and mind) on a biomechanical level. When light strikes the eyes, it converts into electrical impulses.

Warm colors reflect more light energy, yielding a more vibrant dynamic. Bright reds and yellows (like McDonald’s colors) stimulate appetites while evoking energetic optimism. Meanwhile, cool colors stimulate creativity while fostering calm.

All chromatic colors speed up the heart rate to a degree. In contrast, achromatic (neutral) colors slow the heart rate. As a result, neutral hues give off a more formal and harmonious dynamic⁽³⁾. That’s a perfect fit in shared corporate spaces.

Green: Easiest On The Eyes

Green exists in the middle of the color spectrum at around 550 nm. The human eyes perceive this color almost instantly. In contrast, warm and cool hues require more processing time before recognition. That makes green the easiest on the eyes and also the brain⁽⁴⁾.

Notably, green also enhances the perception of blue and red light waves. Some speculate that this quality has primordial roots. In hunter-gatherer days, being able to differentiate between berries and foliage was crucial.

That gave humans an edge over other mammals on the foraging scene. In modern times, green is believed to deliver a calming effect for a few reasons.

First, because of its ancient connection with food sources. Second, on a biomechanical level, the body needs less strain to perceive green. That eases strain on the nervous system. Combined, these aspects deliver the calming effect of nature at its most serene.

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Pink: Soothing & Fun

Color saturation refers to the purity of the light. With more saturation, colors become stronger. In its strongest form, red is a warm color that conveys fiery intensity.

Adding white dampens that intensity. As more white gets added, red becomes less saturated until it turns pink.

Colors with low saturation convey a sense of calm⁽⁷⁾. When blended with non-contrasting colors (like white), the calming effect intensifies.

On a psychological level, pink is revered as a calming hue with a nurturing, loving dynamic. It recalls childhood and sillier, more carefree times.

These qualities aren’t sex-specific. For instance, prison cells painted in pink make inmates less aggressive⁽¹⁾.

As a result, in modern times, rather than being considered a ‘girly’ color, its loving tones can soothe the most savage of beasts.

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White: Reflects ALL Light

White is the opposite of black. Instead of absorbing light, it reflects all colors of the spectrum. For instance, if you shine green RGB lighting on a Stealth vs Ash Titan chair, the absorption vs reflection is clear:

Beyond reflectivity, white conveys cleanliness, reliability, and integrity. One reason that doctors wear white is so that they are easy to spot in a hospital.

Another is because dirty white clothing is easy to see⁽¹⁰⁾. As a result, a clean white color is also associated with cleanliness and purity.

My time spent in a milky white Titan Ash supports this. Compared to my funky yellow Cyberpunk chair, it yielded a sterile feel at my workstation.

The biggest biomechanical reaction it triggered was a desire to keep my workstation as clean as the chair. Interestingly, adding contrasts to a white chair veers the effect away from sterility.

For example, the black accents and Stark wolf sigil give the House Stark chair a chilly, wintery feel. Even so, white isn’t ideal for everyone.

Too much color stimuli can alter breathing patterns and blood pressure. On the flip side, white produces too little. That can cause anxiousness and a loss of concentration⁽¹¹⁾.

Although I didn’t notice such extreme effects, a sterile, barren vibe always exists when I use my Ash chair. That’s a bonus when I’m feeling sharp and productive. At other times, it makes me feel like I’m at the dentist.

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