A good work environment needs to have the right color scheme. Color gives different types of impressions on people who work in a particular area. They can inspire feelings of ease, space, comfort, warmth and even joy. In contrast, a simple drab grey wall inspires feelings of stress and ennui, whereas a colorful wall can help increase the aesthetic value of the workplace.
Therefore, how you choose a particular set of colors for a certain area can influence how people behave while they are in that area. So if you plan to create a positive environment in your workspace, you will need to use the right color effect, and here are several tips to help you get started.
Cool Colors
First of all, let’s talk about cool colors. These usually include blue and green, but any color which has a calming effect on the human psyche can be considered a cool color. These kinds of colors are best used in fluorescent lit offices, because they help inspire feelings of being outdoors. This is a good thing, because it reduces stress, and at the same time, helps the mind believe that everything’s calm. These kinds of colors are best used in combination with plants and soft paintings. The color green, for example, inspires creativity, whereas blue can help calm the nerves. If used wisely, these colors can help lower the stress levels of your personnel, and thus help improve their productivity.
Warm Colors
Warm colors, such as red and orange, look good on accent walls. They are also useful colors if you want a particular area to stand out. Traditionally, red inspires feelings of passion and warmth. However, you should also use them sparingly as too many warm colors can evoke stress in people who see them. The best way to use such colors is to use them for hallways and bathrooms. This way, they will be easier to identify, and they will be able to accentuate the decorations located within each room.
Bright Colors
Bright colors, such as yellow and pink inspire openness. As such, they are ideal for recreational areas and dining rooms, where people often unwind. Like warm colors, it’s best not to overuse bright paints in decorating an area. Bright colors are often agitating, and can often trick the mind into thinking that everything looks too bright. Therefore, the best way to use the effects of bright colors is to combine them with decorations which have darker colors, such as your company logo for example. This way, the bright colors will help your decorations stand out, and at the same time, create a nice balance in a particular room’s color scheme.
Pastels
Pastel colors, like peach or lilac, are best used on windows and low ceilings. They can add color to a particular area, and at the same time, brighten up even the drabbest of places. Like cool colors, pastels have a calming effect on the human psyche, which makes them an ideal candidate for offices and stressful workrooms. However, you should also be careful in how you use pastel colors. Whatever color palette you choose to try, be sure not to create too much contrasts between the shade of your walls and your furniture. There is such a thing as having too much contrast, and this is a very common problem for pastel colors.
Photo Credit: Flickr/Alan Cleaver
