How Color Affects Mood in The Workplace

Most of us have suspected that the colors we see influence us, but knowledge as to how color affects mood has gotten quite precise. We’ve all had to wait in a room whose walls were bright yellow and gotten that clammy, uneasy feeling. Well, scientific research has confirmed our suspicions and found that colors, not just yellow, can in fact can influence our emotions and thought patterns in a variety of interesting ways.

How color affects mood has a wide range of practical applications for all sorts of people. It could impact the decisions we make about everything, from clothes that we wear on dates versus what we would choose for job interviews, all the way to the best way ease tensions in a space like a doctor’s office. If you know how to wield color effectively, it becomes a powerful tool that can be used to create any emotions and atmospheres that you crave. 

It makes sense that business leaders would look to use colors to enhance their workspaces, hoping to improve outputs, focus and mood, and to make the workspace somewhere that their employees want to be. Company culture is multifaceted, but is substantially impacted by intentional office design. Your company values, mission, and attitudes are reflected in your office space, which is important for making an immediate impression on employees, clients, and other visitors. 

If you haven’t been prioritizing office design, it may be time to start. It’s what’s going to take your company from idle to innovative and keep you ahead of competitors.

Here are some ideas of how workplace designers can use color schemes to improve office culture and function.

Paint your welcome area YELLOW.

Photo from Pinterest.

Sunny shades resembles solar energy and make all who enter feel cheerful, calm and concentrated. It’s a great way to welcome people into your space and to beckon positive energy inwards. 

Keep yellow out of confined spaces where too much of it can inspire a “spaced out” feeling. 

Use BLUE for all your positive needs.

Photo by Scott Brown Painting.

Blue is proven to make people more agreeable, relaxed and quiet. Since colors tend to evoke feelings of where they appear in nature, blue’s connection to a clear sky and a vast ocean evoke feelings of calmness, dependability, loyalty and wisdom. Wear blue to show you’re an expert and have confidence in what you say and do.

Blue could be a good color for larger walls, or main rooms in a workspace. It isn’t overwhelming, but creates a calm energizing atmosphere that’s perfect for productivity and focus. Blue is centering and leveling, which will be reflected in the quality of work which is produced in a blue workspace.

Accent your office with GREEN.

Photo by Hewden UK.

Green is the best color for a desktop background because it causes the least amount of eye strain. Since blue can lower heart rates and green reduces anxiety and is associated with money, combining them is the best for a high-powered and effective workplace.

Green also brings connotations of earthiness, health, and environmentalism. It can be a calming, yet modern choice for a workspace and creates a regenerative effect in workers. Especially when combined with natural wood tones, green is a very chic choice for any office space.

Use RED and BLACK sparingly.  

These colors can evoke conflict, aggression and rising blood pressure and should be avoided if office flare ups are a threat. Also it is best to largely avoid grey, which is passive and dampens energy.

If red is utilized, it is best used in accents or detailing. A small pop of red can be beneficial for a bit of energy or visual excitement in a workplace. It can elevate energy and passion in the workspace, while avoiding the tendency of red to overwhelm.

Use Colors To Invoke The Mood You Want

Now that you know understand mood color meanings and how colors affects mood, you can choose the colors to enhance the workplace operations around you. Don’t forget that the use of a mood color can also make a statement about your organizational values and its culture. 

For many, completely rehabbing a workspace can be difficult. Painting an entire space might be a hassle, that’s unworkable without disrupting normal office function. If you have a single wall easily available, you could use a workspace wall mural to change up color schemes.

Otherwise, consider bringing in an outside art consultant to curate intentional artwork for your workspace that highlights and encourages certain color schemes. You could also bring in an art rental service for a rotating set of art prints that keeps your workspace fresh.