Quiz: How does color affect you?

While certain shades of light green and even pink can be soothing to some, lighter blue hues are widely believed to have a naturally soothing effect on most people.

Red is a color often associated with passion, anger, aggression and energy. It's no surprise that some salespeople paint their offices red — the color can help bring out their natural energy and assertiveness.

While white will bounce light throughout a room, it can be a harsh color to use in this situation. Dark blue won't take advantage of the room's light, while yellow can enhance the warm glow of the sunlight.

While plain white or beige can enhance the sense that a room is very large, using a light tone (light blue or smoke gray may work well) with a darker accent wall at the room's longer end can emphasize the size without making it feel vacant.

Colors can be arranged using the color wheel, a model developed by Sir Isaac Newton in the 1600s. Colors that are closer together on the wheel are less complementary than colors that are far apart.

Contrasting colors can add strong focal points to rooms, but they're best if used with restraint. One or two key items in a strong contrasting color can give definition to an entire room.

Natural light, incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs can all make a paint color look different. Painting part of a wall with a sample will help you determine what a color will look like in your home.

In a traditional home, a light shade of gray is probably best. Use darker grays if you're selling a modern loft, and save shiny hues for accent pieces.

Green doesn't cause a lot of eyestrain, so you can save your energy for getting work done.

Researchers have found that orange actually energizes you by increasing oxygen supply to the brain.

The color of passion, of course — red.

Women won't respond quite the same way if a man dresses in the color of passion, so blue, which indicates stability, is the way to go.

Yep, visiting teams have to suit up in a pink locker room.

Blue is known to lower heart rate and promote calm and hopefulness.

Green is associated with money and reduces anxiety.

A 1999 study showed that NHL teams in black jerseys were assessed more penalties.

In Ethiopia and China, for example, white is a color of mourning.

Chromotherapy is still practiced by alternative healers, and orange is said to stimulate the lungs.

Even though none of the placebos were having any effect, the study found that people thought the warm-colored pills were more effective.

Blue-tinted streetlights are reportedly crime-stoppers.

In the study, students presented with a red participant number scored about 20 percent lower than the students who got a green or black number.

Back in the day, purple dye was difficult and expensive to make, so it was worn only by those who could afford it.

Yellow tires out your eyes because it reflects so much light.

Studies have shown that people tend to fight more in yellow rooms, and babies cry more.

The theory goes that Baker-Miller pink, otherwise known as "drunk-tank pink," is such a tranquil color that it's impossible to maintain violent behavior.

Gray connotes passivity and lack of energy, which is not exactly what you want to convey at the office.

Blue is generally considered to be the least appetizing color.

No surprise here that it was red. Fifty-five percent might not sound huge, but the researchers found that it was statistically significant.

Blue was reported as a favorite color by 57 percent of the men and 35 percent of the women.

Brown and orange were the big losers.