Jane Seaman AICI FLC
Color! it plays a vitally important role in the world we live in. It can sway the way we think, change our actions, and cause reactions. It can raise our blood pressure, or suppress our appetite. Many people think color is just a matter of how things look, it’s often dismissed as being purely cosmetic. The truth is, color is light. The source of life itself and our instinctive, unconscious response to it is a vital element in our survival. As a commanding form of communication, color is irreplaceable. Red means ‘stop’ and green means ‘go’. Traffic lights send the same message all over the world. Likewise the colors used for a product, web site, business card, or logo cause powerful reactions. On a wider level, the colors of our environment affect our behavior and mood. When yellow daffodils and bluebells appear, we immediately begin to feel livelier. When grey skies and rain surround us we instinctively draw in and tend to hibernate. The colors of the interior environment where we live and work affects us in just the same way as those in the natural world does. Science has long recognized the link between color, mood and behavior.
It may seem a little ‘off the wall’, that the color of your office can actually affect the way we do business. But it’s true: The colors we surround ourselves with while we work can greatly affect our mood and that in turn can affect the direction of our business. It’s important we surround ourselves with colors that promote creativity, high energy and a touch of relaxation. So what colors can we use that will achieve this without becoming too distracting?
Orange is often used in fitness centers because it evokes excitement, enthusiasm and energy. It would be beneficial to add some orange to your work area. No need to paint every wall bright orange, a pale orange or terracotta could be used as accent wall, or add some great orange accessories.
Red is known to increase a room’s energy level and stir up a little excitement. It is also recognized as a stimulant to conversation and collaboration and will bring people together. So adding some red to a room where synergy takes place is a great idea. Consider a deep red accent wall color, or red chairs.
Pale colors don’t tend to evoke the same feelings of creativity and energy, but they do help us stay focused and productive and add that touch of relaxation. Blues and greens promote meditation, tranquility, and peace and can actually slow us down a little. Brown is often interpreted as ‘soothing’ and evokes a feeling of security, credibility and reassurance.
There are some colors to avoid using too much of: Yellow, as this has been identified to be frustrating to work in. Purple has a tendency to stir up romantic feelings. Bright greens, reds, pinks and turquoise are great high energy colors but if used too much it has been recognized that these colors can be distracting and overwhelming.
Whatever colors you decide on, it is important that they create a comfortable and revitalizing place that inspires you first and foremost.
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