People tend to associate colors with certain emotions and moods. It is unclear whether this is learned by hearing phrases such as "green with envy" or if we really connect to a color based on our mood. There is some evidence that supports the idea that mood is connected to color, although more research is needed on the topic.

People tend to use color to describe their moods and emotions, according to the 2010 study, "The Manchester Color Wheel: Development of a Novel Way of Identifying Color Choice and Its Validation in Healthy, Anxious and Depressed Individuals." "The Complete Book of Color" suggests that "colors can dictate our mood," so we choose a color for the mood we want to be in. This book also says that choosing the wrong colors can negatively affect mood and health. On the other hand, we are drawn to certain colors when we do not feel a certain mood and are trying to balance ourselves. According to a study called "Color Hue and Mood: The Effect of Variation of Red Hues," which researched the effect of the color red on mood, color does have an effect on a person's mood.

The Manchester Color Wheel study considered different aspects of color and mood. It suggested that a reaction to color could have resulted from the mood the person was already in before participating in the study. This study says that a person's favorite color or type of color preference could also affect his mood, as a color different from what he normally likes may cause a negative reaction.

"The Complete Book of Color" also thinks a person's current mood could affect their choice of color. This book suggests that you will choose darker colors when you are unhappy and lighter colors when feeling fatigued. Another possible aspect is that people are taught to associate certain colors with certain moods, so they may be drawing on that learned behavior instead of truly associating a color with their mood.

Different colors cause varying associations in people's minds and the meaning tends to run across the board for different people. Choose red for energy, orange for happiness, yellow to be in a contemplative mood, green for balance, and blue for relaxation. Red is the color that has been most associated with moods, including anger, irritation and excitement.

The Manchester Color Wheel study found that people with mental health disorders were more likely than healthy people to associate their moods with colors. In the study, the depressed participants often chose gray to describe their mood while anxious people chose red. When the healthy participants did choose a color to reflect their mood, most picked yellow, which is a color generally associated with happiness. This study drew the conclusion that color could be used in psychology to assess a patient's mood and mental health.

In the past, more research has been conducted to study the relationship between color and either personality or brain processes rather than the relationship between color and mood. Previous color tests such as this include the Color Pyramid test, the Lowenfeld Mosaic test, the Stroop test, the Rorschach Inkblot test, and the L�scher Color test. More research that directly focuses on color and its effect on mood is necessary.