Blog |

August 01, 2018

The importance of colour in office design

Colour has such a huge effect on our mood, without us even knowing it. There’s much more to it than just, red makes you angry and yellow makes you happy. In fact, there’s a whole science behind colour choice and the effects it has on us as humans.
Let’s have a look at the positives and negatives of different colour in office design so you can make an informed choice when it comes to redesigning your space.


Oh so natural – Green
We’re sure nature is the first thing that many people think of when they hear the word green. Lush green grass as far as the eye can see and beautiful old trees with deep green leaves. Well, scientifically, green evokes energy – so you’re not far off when you’re thinking of the growing green grass! As well as this, the colour green:
• Is gentle on the eye and helps to reduce eyestrain
• Helps to maintain focus
• Encourages creativity and innovativeness
• Helps to relieve stress
So next time you’re feeling worked up and all out of ideas… head somewhere green!


Focus on me – Blue
Blue is similarly associated with the natural world – silvery blue skies and powerful blue oceans – and therefore helps people feel positive, which you can learn more about by checking out our blog about eco-friendly office design and its benefits for employee wellbeing.
However, we’d suggest you don’t go overboard as it can go the opposite way.
• Blue has a soothing and calming effect
• Helps people to focus on the task at hand
• Can lower heartrate and reduce an anxiety
• Enhance performance on ‘new idea’s’ tasks
• However, too much can reduce productivity and sometimes cause feelings of sadness
Overall, blue and green are deemed as positive colours and therefore both get the thumbs up from us when considering the importance of colour in office design in 2018.


A colour of two halves – Red
Red. Now this is a tricky one. A splash of red can have a positive impact by encouraging excitement and optimistic-risk, however too much can start the tensions rising in the office:
• Red sparks the imagination and creates inspiration
• Helps to form a lively atmosphere whilst remaining focused
• Useful for negotiators or sales assistants
• Increases heart-rate
• Can be too stimulating which may cause unwanted stress

So, maybe just some red artwork or an ever-popular red SMEG fridge – just don’t use it for all four walls!


Shine bright – Yellow
The colour yellow evokes feelings of happiness and joy, creating images of sunshine and holidays. It’s a colour that many people associate with the nicer things in life – but as with everything, it’s not all rosey. Let’s take a look at the positives and negatives of adding a splash of yellow to your workplace:
• Great colour to use in a creative/artistic environments
• Promotes innovativeness
• Improves an employee’s enthusiasm and motivation towards their work
• However, too much can cause eyestrain
• Can lead to frustration
Yellow in moderation can lift the mood and maintain an optimistic atmosphere in the office – but moderation is key!


There’s more to colour in office design than you thought, isn’t there?
It’s crucial that the developer knows what atmosphere they want in the office before making a decision on what colour will be used.
Remember that different businesses will want different outcomes – a PR agency may want to use orange as this stimulates a sociable atmosphere, however an accountant may want to opt for something blue as this helps when concentrating on numbers. So, what we’re trying to say is, think before you paint!
If you’re currently developing a new commercial site that’s in need of a fit-out and design specialist, get in touch with us at Workspace Design & Build and we’ll be able to help you out.
For more information about our services just send us a message on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.