Using Color Psychology in Office Design

Do you have a favorite color? There’s actually science behind that choice. Colors can affect our emotions in various ways and thus influence our behaviors. This knowledge underscores the importance of office design. If clients and/or visitors are turned off by your environment, they probably won’t want to do business with you.

Keep in mind, however, that the following suggestions aren’t going to be universal. Reactions to colors can be highly individualized due to a person’s past.

Colors and Their Responses

When considering what colors to use in your office space, think about the emotion you want to elicit. While blue is a great color, pink may evoke the emotions you’re seeking for your space. Here are a few options and the emotions they typically carry:

1. Green sparks creativity. A symbol of balance, green can also suggest growth and calm. Dark green is used to indicate wealth and prestige. Turquoise green is the color of creativity and mass communication, so it’s a good choice for training room walls.

2. Red reduces analytical thinking. However, it promotes productivity in physical activities. Depending on your industry, red may be a good choice.

3. Blue denotes honesty, loyalty, wisdom, conservatism, security, and confidence. It also stimulates the mind, so it can increase analytical thinking.

4. Yellow is the least likely to be a favorite color. It should be used sparingly.

5. Orange is associated with a good deal.

6. Pink calms people down. It generally helps settle most people down for about 30 minutes, after which they can remain in a calmer state.

7. White may lead to boredom. Too much of a monochromatic look can cause people to reflect on their own thoughts or daydream.

Color design elicits emotions, and if it’s used correctly, even a small change can optimize operations. Depending on your industry and use for your space, different colors can be used to help your productivity. Our team of office design specialists can help you choose the right color for your job. Contact us to schedule an appointment with a design expert.