With the rapid advancement of light-emitting diode (LED) lighting technology, the use of colored LED lighting has increased tremendously. However, few studies have examined the actual effects of lighting color in interior spaces. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of six colors of LED lighting (i.e., red, green, blue, yellow, orange, and purple) (1) on occupants' emotional states (i.e., pleasure and arousal) and behavioral intentions (i.e., approach or avoidance), and (2) on spatial impressions (i.e., cheerfulness, attractiveness, comfort, pleasantness, relaxation, and warmness/coolness) based on the Mehrabian and Russell's M-R model (1974). Additionally, this study examined (3) the impact of socio-demographics (i.e., gender, age, and cultural background) on color preference of LED lighting. An experimental research project was conducted with 101 participants using a voluntary sampling method. The experiment measured participants' emotional states, behavioral intentions, spatial impression, and color preference under six different colors of LED lighting. One-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis were conducted to analyze the collected data. The results of the study demonstrated that LED lighting colors significantly affect people's emotional states, behavioral intentions, and spatial impressions. Cultural differences in color preference of LED lighting was significant, whereas no significant differences in gender or age were identified. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on color and lighting studies and provides greater insight into the application of the M-R model. The findings are also expected to provide the basis for developing practical guidelines on usage of emotional lighting color for design professionals.
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