My husband informed me last week that we are redecorating my home office. He said, “We just haven’t done any major home improvement projects this year.” Stop laughing. I am NOT kidding. And this during football season.
So I started stressing over what color to paint the walls. And then I thought the subject of work environment might make an interesting blog. And then I did a little research. Using ehow.com, here is what I found out about colors in offices:
The color BLUE reflects reliability and it symbolizes wisdom, trust and loyalty. According to Bloomsburg University, blue is considered a business color. Blue promotes a tranquil atmosphere and it appeals to both men and women.
GREEN is a relaxing color, often used in offices for its calming effect. It has a balance of cool and warm undertones. Stevens Hospital chose green for its logo because the color “has an emotional correspondence with safety.” Dark green is often associated with money.
The color YELLOW promotes pleasant and cheerful feelings. Yellow is used in home offices or in an office that is informal. Avoid using yellow in a formal office, as some people perceive yellow as childish. My Space Designers notes that yellow is associated with intellect and energy.
The color PURPLE encourages creativity. Purple is calming to the mind and nerves. According to My Space Designers, purple is associated with wealth, power and luxury. Purple paint combined with black furniture creates a dramatic decor. Some people dislike purple and it can be associated with gloominess.
The color GREY provides an increased sense of sophistication. According to Projeto Gallery, gray is considered to be an executive color. It is a neutral color that can be combined with a variety of color schemes. Gray represents intelligence.
BROWN is a neutral color that tends to promote the feeling of security and warmth. It is the color that will provide an office with a sense reliability and strength. There are many shades of brown to choose from, such as tan, beige and taupe. For a down-to-earth ambiance, decorate with the colors brown and green.
The color ORANGE—an attention-getting hue—represents independence. It is a warm color that promotes a welcoming atmosphere. According to Digital Skratch, vivid orange stimulates mental activity while softer shades such as peach are soothing.
White paint will make your office seem spacious. It will reflect light and bring brightness to the room. Bloomsburg University says the color white represents simplicity and purity. Add color when you are decorating your white office, as an all-white room can appear cold and unfriendly.
What color is your office? Do you notice it? Does it have any effect on your sales performance? After all this, I’m still not sure what color to pick. Any suggestions?
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- Business Management - Marketing/Sales
Blogger, author, consultant, coach and all around evangelist for the graphic arts industry, Kelly sold digital printing for 15 years so she understands the challenges, frustrations and pitfalls of building a successful sales practice. Her mission is to help printers of all sizes sell more stuff. Kelly's areas of focus include sales and marketing coaching, enabling clients to find engagement strategies that work for them and mentoring the next generation of sales superstars.
Kelly graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Political Science and, among other notable accomplishments, co-founded the Windy City Rollers, a professional women's roller derby league. She is also the mother of two sets of twins under the age of ten, so she fears nothing.