When was the last time you really thought about colour? From choosing what to wear this morning to picking up items during the weekly shop, subconsciously or not, colour plays a huge role in our decision-making process as well as our moods. That’s why choosing the perfect colour palette is one of the most important processes involved in workspace design, especially when it comes to helping keep employees productive and happy.
Working in a sea of beige, cream, and taupe can not only leave employees feeling a little lacklustre on a Monday morning, but recent studies have shown that colour can affect worker mood and ability to stay productive too. The psychology of colour has been studied for years, now, with hundreds of companies — Myo included — implementing these ideas and findings into enhancing their workspace design. But not everyone gets it right. As you’d expect, the devil really is in the details.
So, let’s take a look at exactly how colour can affect workplace productivity, shall we?
The link between colour and productivity
With the average person in Britain spending over 3,507 days at work in their lifetime, creating a workspace that can promote productivity, well-being, and overall performance has never been more important.
“Colour in the work environment is one of the most important factors that influence the thoughts, moods, and behaviour of the people who work there. Our sight is our primary sense, so the atmosphere on entering the office space will set the tone of one’s experience for the whole day.” explains colour therapy consultant, Suzy Chiazzari, principal of the Holistic Design Institute.
Colours to boost productivity
Myo’s offices are designed to promote productivity, foster creativity, and enable businesses in all sectors, and of all sizes, to thrive. Working with leading architects, our calming and specially curated colour palettes are made to do exactly that, no matter which of our locations you choose.
Understanding how different colours can affect our productivity, creativity, and overall performance will help you select the best palettes for your work environment.
Blue: The mood enhancer
It is no wonder blue is often favoured in the workplace as it is believed to be the ultimate colour in promoting well-being and efficiency. As a harmonious and stress-relieving shade, blue is perfect to encourage adaptability in fast-paced and demanding environments.
However, blue should be used in moderation as certain shades can be considered ‘cold’. Especially in cases where there is minimal natural lighting and little to no open space. Alison Standish, author of ‘Know Your Colour Personality’, states that blue “would be great to use in an office where communication is key — such as the media. However, blue should be used in moderation and in contrast with other shades to offset the ‘sad’ associations”.
Despite these connotations, in the right workspace, blue is the way to go to bring calm and stability. This mind-stimulating colour is sure to make those detail-oriented tasks much easier to carry out.
Green: Creating balance and growth
There is little surprise that green workspaces are associated with balance and growth due to green’s strong connotations with nature and the outside world. For offices in built-up, urban areas especially, green can add the vibrancy and light that your space may be missing.
Another positive of using green is that, when it comes to issues such as screen-induced eye strain, green is the perfect choice for a remedy. Studies have shown that this colour can actually be soothing to your eyes, making it the perfect choice for those with longer working hours working on screens.
Similarly to the colour blue, green has a calming effect and is perfect for creating the balance between the great outdoors and inside. Whether through adding plants and foliage to add a pop of green to the office, or furniture to implement green accents and create a more luxurious feel, choosing the right shade can give your space a sleeker, more natural feel.
Yellow: The source of creativity
Often considered an optimistic and inspiring colour great for use in areas of collaboration, yellow is usually a go-to for innovation labs and other creative spaces.
Despite the obvious connotations of fun, happiness, and joy, yellow is often used to aid information retention as well as highlight key learning and information. Lee Chambers, environmental psychologist and wellbeing consultant states that those with creative jobs would benefit most from exposure to the colour yellow, as long as it is not overused within the workspace.
Red & Orange: Active stimulants
Although red and orange tones can be considered overpowering when used in excess, when looking to energise your team these hues could be the best choice.
“If you wanted to inject more energy into the environment to create a more dynamic atmosphere, then splashes of red would be great. It could be especially good if your employees are working to deadlines as red is a ‘driving’ and dynamic energy,” says Allison Standish, author of Know Your Colour Personality. “We use these colours to deal with feelings of negativity and depression. We know it can help activate the serotonin in our systems and make us feel happy. These colours are great in areas where people are taking time out and need to ‘let go’.”
When looking to boost energy levels and performance, these emotive and passionate tones are there to help when used wisely to avoid overstimulation.
Boost productivity with Myo
At Myo, our shared spaces lean heavily on colour theory to combine comfort and versatility. With plenty of greenery, natural light, and controlled air quality, we are big on promoting well-being at work all with the perfect palette in mind. Discover more on our blog.
Whether you are hosting a one-to-one interview or a large presentation with your team, our varied and versatile spaces are designed to bring about flexibility, productivity, and creativity — right down to the colours on the walls.
Get in touch with us today to book a tour and download our brochure to find out more information about our locations. Or, feel free to contact our friendly team by emailing [email protected] or calling us on +44(0)20 3876 669.
