05/31/2025
My trip to 📍St. John’s, Newfoundland — where the ocean roars, the wind bites, and the houses smile. 🏠🌈
They call them Jellybean Row — a kaleidoscope of cheerful colours lined up along steep hills and foggy cliffs. But these aren’t just pretty pictures — they’re powerful psychology in action! 🧠💛
Here are 5 psychology-inspired reasons why these vibrant homes make so much sense:
1️⃣ Colour Therapy (Chromotherapy)
When the world outside is grey, frozen, or foggy — bright colours can help lift your mood. Warm hues like red, yellow, and orange are known to boost energy and optimism. These houses are basically happiness wrapped in vinyl siding!
2️⃣ Cognitive Reframing
Living in a cold and harsh climate? Paint your house pink! It’s like telling your brain, “Winter’s not that bad!” The colours help us reinterpret our environment in a more positive way — a small act of resistance against gloom.
3️⃣ Sense of Identity
Each house has its own personality. Choosing a unique colour can give homeowners a sense of control, individuality, and even belonging — all important for mental well-being.
4️⃣ Environmental Psychology
Research shows that our physical spaces affect our emotions. Streets filled with vibrant, inviting colours encourage walking, social connection, and even lower stress levels. It’s harder to feel isolated when your whole neighbourhood looks like a candy store!
5️⃣ Memory & Recognition
The colourful facades also make it easier to navigate and remember places — especially helpful in a city where fog rolls in like a blanket. And there’s something comforting about easily spotting “the blue house with yellow trim” — it grounds us in familiarity and safety.
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Next time you’re feeling grey, take a cue from St. John’s — and maybe paint your world a little brighter. 🎨💙💚💛
