Don’t underestimate the power of colour in your office space. Taking the time to consider the colours that make up the different work spaces within your office can have a huge impact on the overall productivity of your space. Read on to find out all you need to know when choosing the right colour scheme for your office.

There is a whole psychology behind colour. Certain colours have the power to elicit different emotions, making it a powerful tool that can influence mood and behaviour. When it comes to office spaces, you want your employees to feel focused and productive, and you want your customers to feel welcome and at-ease, inspired or entertained. All this can be achieved with the right colour scheme and so don’t hesitate to ask your office interior designer or commercial office fitout company before making any major changes.

When choosing your colour palette, you want to think about both your business and your work space. Here’s what you need to consider:

Representing your business through colour:

What kind of business are you and how do you want to portray yourself? Often, this has already been thought about in the development of your branding and is reflected in your logo, website and social media pages. Choosing your office colour scheme could be as simple as lifting colours from existing brand documents. If you only have one or two colours to work with and need some help expanding on those, here is a quick guide to the major colour palettes:

• Neutral and Dark Colours: Neutral shades such as white and beige as well as dark shades of navy blue, forest green and charcoal are good for serious businesses as they communicate an air of sophistication.
• Warm Colours (yellow, orange, red): Warm colours stimulate the brain promoting creativity and thought. These colours would be suitable for office spaces serving writers, designers and other creatives.
• Cool colours (green, blue): Cool colours are known for being calming. A cool colour scheme would be suitable for stressful jobs such as lawyers or accountants, or in spaces where you want customers or clients to feel at-ease such as medical clinics, as these colours relax and calm.

Colour in your work space:

The size of your work space should be a major consideration when picking a colour palette for your office. Smaller office spaces benefit from more white spaces such as walls and ceilings to give the illusion of a larger space so workers don’t feel confined. Bigger spaces can benefit from the use of darker colours to make rooms feel more compact or cosy such as in the case of meeting or consultation rooms. However, in some cases this may not be the desired effect and that is okay. Your second consideration when it comes to work space should be purpose. Ask yourself, what is each space used for and how do you want people feel when they are in it.

Reception areas and waiting rooms:

First impressions count. Reception areas and waiting rooms act as the face of your business in terms of a physical space. You want to use brand colours in a meaningful way as to give a lasting impression. These spaces along with comfortable office furniture should feel welcoming and showcase your business personality. Is your business playful and cheeky or sophisticated and responsible? Reflect this personality through colour. Avoid stark white spaces that can often feel clinical and un-friendly.

Throughout the office:

These are working spaces where you want to promote productivity and collaboration. Cool colours, like blues, greens and greys are soothing; they boost concentration and minimise anxiety. Adding warm elements and accents such as splashes of red, orange, pink or yellow can up energy levels and drive productivity to balance those cool colours.

Meeting rooms:

Green is the colour for concentration and collaboration as well as balance. It is good for spaces where you want to promote collaboration within a group of people or when you need a neutral space to discuss differing opinions as the colour brings balance, calm and reassurance.

Break rooms/ spaces:

Staff lounges, kitchens or canteens, even hallways; these are all spaces where people seek downtime and reinvigoration. Stimulate energy and invoke optimism by experimenting with colour and personality by using bursts of colour such as in an accent or feature wall.

It is important to remember that there are no wrong office colours. It’s all in how you use them. Taking the time to consider your business and physical work space are two simple things you can to do to make the most of your office colour scheme. With the great emotional and physical power colour has, your office colour palette is not something you should overlook.