Colour in your office

The colours we have surrounding us have a surprisingly strong influence on our mood, behaviour and productivity at work. And yet the majority of us work in very neutral coloured offices with magnolia walls, white ceilings, grey furniture and beige window blinds. Adding colour to a bland office is an easy and cost effective way to improve staff morale, creativity and efficiency.

The key is to introduce small bursts of colour into the office through furniture and accessories. Here's a guide to the best colours to choose to bring specific qualities to the fore for your business.

Green

Green is a low wave length colour which can improve efficiency and focus. It is a colour reflected most often in nature and can evoke ideas of new life and positivity but balanced by calmness and efficiency. It is a reassuring colour which is often used in areas where money is changing hands.

Blue

This is the colour of clear thoughts, efficiency and focus. Being surrounded by blue stimulates natural tranquillisers in the brain and makes us calmer. It is a colour of stability, trust and lack of emotion so it works well in detail orientated professions such as accountancy or legal firms.

Purple

Purple is unusual, individual, creative and innovative. It is also associated with the intuitive side of our personalities. Use this colour in your work place to stimulate imagination and generosity.

Red

This colour has the most dramatic effect on us physically. It has been shown to raise heart rate, stimulate blood flow and increase appetite. It is an attention grabbing colour of emotion and passion so its great for things you want people's interest to be drawn towards. Its also a useful colour to have in workspaces where physical jobs are being carried out to improve drive and effort levels.

Orange

This is a warm, sociable, and vibrant colour. It is associated with adventurousness, losing inhibitions and risk taking. Flamboyant and cheerful, it is a great colour to create an informal, cheerful work place where people are encouraged to be more independent and extrovert. 

Yellow

Optimistic, energetic and fresh. This is the colour of fun and happiness. It is a inspires confidence and creativity in the work place. Having yellow in your surroundings can raise the spirits and the ego. One note of caution though; don't overdo it! Being surrounded by too much yellow for long periods of time can cause eye fatigue and raise anxiety levels. It works really well in small doses.