Whether you have a home office or an office at work, you want your work space to be comfortable and inviting. Surprisingly enough, the color of your office can have an effect on your stress levels as well as how productive you are at work. Who can deny that a room painted sunny yellow has a different psychological impact than one painted in somber tones such as dark browns and black? Whether you want your office to have a relaxed feel to it to help you relieve stress or you simply want to increase your productivity, it's important to consider the colors you use to decorate your office. Here's how to use color to enhance the general mood of your office:
Establish the Mood You Want to Create
Do you find yourself stressed while at your job? Do you experience headaches and anxiety during your workday? If so, you can use color to help relax you during your work day. To do this, incorporate cool colors into the décor of your office. Consider using soft, pale blues and greens to enhance your walls. Pale blues have a pronounced calming effect and have been shown to reduce blood pressure, possibly because people associate them with blue skies.
If you feel sluggish at work and want to be more productive, add warm colors to your office. Reds and oranges are two of the best colors for achieving this effect. Another trick is to use complimentary colors which are colors located on opposite sides of the color wheel. This can give a room a feeling of intensity and high energy. Do you sometimes feel down and depressed while at work? Add some touches of yellow, the ultimate mood lifter. Don't go overboard since yellow tends to be hard on the eyes if used in abundance.
Open Up a Small Office
Does your office make you feel claustrophobic? A tiny office can make you feel closed in an isolated from the rest of the world which can increase your stress levels. Use light colors on the walls to help open up the room and give it a more spacious feel. Many people use white in an attempt to visually expand a room but plain white can sometimes feel too sterile. Select a white that has yellowish undertones to make your office feel friendlier. Using textured wall paper in a pale shade can also add spaciousness with a touch of warmth.
Add Color With Accessories
Another easy way to add mood altering color to your office is to use colorful accessories. A vase of vibrant red or yellow flowers can add energy to an otherwise somber office. Even adding a colorful trashcan or desktop organizers in bright shades can have a subtle effect on mood. Don't forget about adding artwork to the walls. A peaceful painted scene in soft blues and greens can be restful on the eyes while a vibrant scene in shades of orange and red can help to rev up your energy level.
Why not take a fresh look at your office and see if it can use a color update? It may be the key to increased productivity and a more comfortable working environment.
