The human mind works in a complex and sometimes strange way. Have you ever been walking around, minding your own business, only to suddenly hear a song and be transported almost back in time to a moment which your brain connects that song to? Similarly, have you noticed a smell, and the same kind of situation has happened?
Colour and artwork have been shown to have a profound effect on memory and emotions. This is an interesting thing to learn about in general, but you can also utilise that fact and use it to boost productivity in your workplace too.
How?
With the clever use of colours in certain spaces, that’s how!
How Does Colour Affect Emotions?
Just as smells and songs have a strong effect on the memory, being surrounded by a certain colour can change the way you feel. For instance, if you’re surrounded by white office furniture, you’re more likely to be upbeat and positive, compared to someone who is surrounded by dark, broken, old furniture. It’s a positive link in the mind which boosts our happy mood, and as a result, boosts productivity.
You might subconsciously group happy and positive things in your mind in bright colours, and unpleasant or unwanted experiences or items as darker colours. That’s not to say that blacks and greys are to be avoided in an office space, it just means you need to be careful not to overdo it, and to create a darker space overall.
Let’s look at the moods and feelings which common colours promote.
- Red – Associated with passion, fire, and action. We subconsciously act more cautiously around people who are dressed in red! Red is a good colour to have here and there in a collaborative space, but it’s important not to go OTT, as red is also associated with anger.
- Greens and blues – Greens and blues are the best colours to have in your office space if you want to promote a calm and serene space, as well as boosting creativity. Again, if you’re looking to allow collaboration and idea sharing, these are the colours to go for. They link back to nature, which is a natural calming mechanism for the human brain.
- Yellow – The colour of sunshine is unsurprisingly linked with feelings of positivity and happiness. Having breakout furniture in yellow, or the space decorated in this shade is a great idea, and will give your staff a boost of happiness in the workplace.
- Greys – Grey is the colour most people associate with low mood, and some studies have shown that depression is linked with grey. This depends on the shade of grey in many ways, as light greys can look very attractive and sleek in an office space. Again, it’s about how you use it, and how much you use it too. You could think about incorporating office storage ideas or a reception counter desk in greys, because this adds that modern look to your space, but doesn’t go over the top, affecting mood.
- Black & White (Monochrome) – When black and white are used together, they are modern and sleek once more, and they can be a positive addition to your workplace. Because they compliment each other stylishly, they are also associated with productivity and feelings of positivity. When black is used too much however, it can go the other way. Too much plain white can also look and feel sterile, so it’s important to use these colours in combination, in order to balance them out.
As you can see, the use of colour in your office space can be used to create different feelings and moods, and can be used to boost productivity in the places you need it the the most! Perhaps think about utilising office screens in blues and greens, as a way to boost calmness and creativity, or maybe yellow to boost mood overall. All of this will make your staff more effective, and therefore more productive.
How you design your office is a personal choice, but ensuring that you take advice on how different things affect feelings and moods is important. This means you’re getting the most out of your workforce, and that is obviously vital to your business success, and morale overall. Why not think about designing your own office furniture? This is a great way to add personality and put an original stamp on your office space. You simply need to combine different styles and pieces to create your own bespoke design. It’s easy and actually quite fun! You could also involve your staff in the process.
What do you think about colour and how it affects mood? Let us know your thoughts!
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