Why (and How) You Should Add Color to Your Workplace

Think of it this way: when you come to work each day, you’re usually in the same room or cubicle, staring at the same four walls and typing away on your laptop. This sight is something you associate with the concept of work; it’s an automatic reaction created by your brain.

Believe it or not, your brain reacts automatically to other things, too. Color is one of those things. After all, wouldn’t anyone feel bored, dull and uninterested in a room that’s entirely gray and devoid of bright colors?

Many scientists have studied the effects of colors on behaviors and moods, but because of the subjective nature of people, not all of these studies can be universally applied. The best bet is to talk to your team and get to know their preferences—not about which color is their favorite, but which makes them excited, or inspires them to be creative. It’s also a good idea to talk to an interior designer, who would be able to tell you what colors work best for certain types of businesses.

• Step 1: Base it on your business.

  For example, businesses that need people to be creators (like digital designers, artists or writers) go for dynamic spaces. Artsy people need a splash of color or two to wake them up and get their creative juices flowing. Go for colors on the bright side of the spectrum, too, for excitement. Reds and yellows are a great example for this. Why do you think so many restaurants use that particular color scheme?

  On the other hand, many tech businesses don’t like having too many bright colors in one confined space, because it might be distracting. A fun design on the wall or a stack of colorful Post-It notes might be welcome for a little bit of life in a monochromatic room, but having too many things going on at once can be very chaotic, and the last thing people working in tech need is to have their attention divided among everything in sight.

  If your business is related to food, on the other hand, the best colors are—surprise—the ones that don’t look like food. Ever wondered why cooking show kitchens are usually white? In part it’s so that no one gets distracted, but it also allows for a sense of order, which is crucial in a restaurant kitchen. A white background means it’s easier to find the specific tool, ingredient or piece of equipment you need. In the high-pressure environment of a restaurant kitchen, this efficiency is absolutely required.

• Step 2: Associate.

  To understand common psychological reactions to color, it all comes down to what we associate certain colors with.

  For example, it’s been found that colors like green and blue, the colors most commonly found in nature, have a calming yet focusing effect on most people. These are called low-wavelength colors, and they’re seen to provide a sense of well-being. These are good colors to have if you want your team to feel happier or more effective.

  On the other hand, red is associated with passion, excitement, and sometimes even alarm. Let’s just say if you want to make a really important point, red is the way to go. Because it’s a high-wavelength color, it’s very active and will usually get your team to feel strongly about something, be it positive or negative. So if you’re a business running a lot of high-pressure and short-deadline projects, red may be the way to go.

  Finally, as anyone who’s seen a smiley face (or in the case of millennials, an emoji) will know, yellow is widely seen as a color representing happiness or optimism. But it’s also a creative color. Thus, many businesses who employ artists or creators have a dash of yellow in their offices, not just to keep these creatives happy, but also to inspire them on a daily basis.

• Step 3: Do your research.

  If you really want to understand how color might affect the people in your workplace, look into it. There are so many studies you’ll find online, on paper, or even through discussion with some experts, business owners or designers. As mentioned above, the best way to know which color works is by asking your team. After all, they’ll be the ones benefiting from it.

These tips have just barely scratched the surface of color psychology, but hopefully it’s inspired you to get colorful with your office. Because one thing’s for sure: no one wants to work in a place where everything is dull, dreary gray.

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