Understanding Colour: The Basics of Colour Psychology

What are the basics of colour psychology?

In retail and the food & hospitality industry, colour psychology plays a major role. Colour has a huge role in visual perception, emotion and human behaviour. It is interesting to understand our subconscious and how we react to the colours we see. Most people are unaware of how much a colour or ‘chromatics’ can influence reactions and trigger our appetites. Does the saying, “we eat with our eyes” sound familiar?

Why Colour is Important for Your Project.

In this article, we’ll summarise the basic colours to help us understand why colour is important for your project. Whether you’re choosing a colour for a logo, branding for a micro market project, or simply selecting furniture finishes.  This will give you an understanding of which colours to use and which to steer clear of.

Red Palette

Psychological Properties: Stimulates and excites, related to passion and energy.
In Relation to Food: Enhances appetite, triggers energy boost, and increases heart rate.
Examples: Common and effective in the food industry, often used in logos and branding like Oxo and KFC, Rustlers and vending operator Hallmark Vending.

Blue Palette

Psychological Properties: Represents security and trust.
In Relation to Food: Suppresses appetite, considered unappetising.
Examples: Successful in blue candy (e.g., blue M&M), but generally not ideal for restaurants but works well in branding such as Lavazza.

Orange Palette

Psychological Properties: Energizing, bold, optimistic, and fun.
In Relation to Food: Encourages impulse, associated with good value.
Examples: Tropicana, Fanta and Easyjet; successful in high-end brands like Hermes.

Yellow Palette

Psychological Properties: Portrays happiness, uplifting, enthusiastic, and youthful.
In Relation to Food: Encourages sales, stimulates appetite and conversation.
Examples: Burger King, McDonald’s, Subway, Lay’s and vending operator The Vending People; caution on an all-yellow palette, though.

Green Palette

Psychological Properties: Portrays wealth, relaxation, balance, and nature.
In Relation to Food: Associated with being healthy, fresh, and vegetarian.
Examples: Starbucks, Whole Foods, and Green Giant; commonly used in organic food brands.

Pink Palette

Psychological Properties: Associated with sincerity, calming, feminine, and romantic.
In Relation to Food: Often associated with sweet and feminine brands.
Examples: Pink M&Ms, candy, and the new health food shop Portoberry.

Black Palette

Psychological Properties: Portrays power, authority, strength, and sophistication.
In Relation to Food: Often used in logos for simplicity and sophistication.
Examples: Many top restaurants have black logos; popular in packaging for alcoholic beverages

Grey Palette

Psychological Properties: Solidarity, maturity, and reliability.
In Relation to Food: Grey is not commonly used alone but is popular in combination with accent colours.
Examples: Common in tea packaging and brands such as Taylors of Harrogate, often associated with natural ingredients.

White Palette

Psychological Properties: Represents innocence, clarity, purity, and hope.
In Relation to Food: Used in restaurant design to neutralise food colors and contribute to cleanliness.
Examples: Common in black and white logos for simplicity.

Purple Palette

Brown Palette

Psychological Properties: Represents being grounded, sincere, reliable, and wholesome.
In Relation to Food: Associated with coffee shops, pastries, and chocolate.
Examples: M&M’s, Aero, Hershey’s and vending company Bettavend.

Clear Palette

Psychological Properties: Represents transparency, honesty, and in some cases, health.
In Relation to Food: Often used in transparent packaging to showcase the product.
Examples: Widely used in plastic packaging, emphasises product essence.

This article highlights how colour choices play a powerful role across the food industry. From logos to interiors, shaping perception and influencing customer behaviour. But it’s not just about the colour itself; tone, saturation, and contrast all impact how a brand or space is experienced.

Design Services Are Inclusive, Not An Add-on At Nebrak

At Nebrak, design isn’t just a step in the process; it’s a core part of what makes our projects stand out. Our in-house team are not only experts in vending furniture and micro market design, but they also understand the power of colour to shape brand identity and customer experience.

From selecting standout palettes to crafting spaces with the right vibe, we know what works, and we include that design expertise as standard, not as an add-on.

To take things even further, we’ve invested in cutting-edge print technology that brings colour to life with greater depth, texture, and vibrancy. Because to us, branding isn’t an afterthought; it’s what sets your project apart.

Need help with colour and design for your next vending installation? We’re here to make it bold, cohesive, and unforgettable.