Using specific colours in discrete ‘zones’ around the workplace can increase productivity, according to experts.
A number of top colour psychologists and design consultants interviewed by office fit-out specialist Dale Office Interiors said choosing the right shades should be a key part of any business’s design strategy to get the best out of staff.
‘Colour in the work environment is one of the most important factors that influence the thoughts, moods and behaviour of the people who work there,’ explains colour therapy consultant Suzy Chiazzari, principal of the Holistic Design Institute.
Working in a ‘colour-diverse space’ stimulates the production of endorphins in the brain, which reinforces ‘a feeling of wellbeing’ in employees, says Suzy, adding that a monotonous office can prompt feelings of ‘drudgery and constriction’.
Teacher and colour therapist Katherine Jones suggested the solution should be ‘to create zones of colour to encourage areas of rest, creativity, productivity and performance’.
Pink reduces aggressive behaviour, according to a 1979 study of American prisons. And this calming influence can be utilised effectively in the workplace, says life coach Priscilla Elliott.
Blue is thought to facilitate communication, making it ideal for media companies and departments, according to Priscilla — while green can ‘bring balance and harmony’ to the office.
Alternatively, the colour orange is known to help activate the serotonin in our brains to produce feelings of happiness and joy. Alison Standish, author of Know Your Colour Personality, says this would be perfect for the ‘time out’ areas of an office.
And since violet inspires artistic expression and mindfulness, it is a suitable shade for meeting rooms and HR environments, adds Alison.
Warren Bricknell, managing director at Dale Office Interiors, says, ‘Far from being a throwaway decision, using colour in the office environment — whether around workstations, in meeting rooms or in rest and social areas — is a vital aspect of the design process that merits a great deal of consideration.
‘Business owners and office managers, in collaboration with their appointed office design specialist, should be balancing their use of colour between the type of organisation and the cultures that exist within it.
‘Creating zones of colour, as suggested by the experts we spoke to, is an ideal way for businesses to reflect their values while supporting the working needs of staff across different departments and therefore boosting performance and productivity.’
Further reading on colour zones in the office
