The impact of colour on well-being and especially productivity has been debated for decades. The breakthrough came in 1979 with a study published by Schauss.
The study was conducted in prisons and examined the link between inmate behavior and repainted walls. And indeed – there was a reduction in aggression in prisoners who had their prison cell repainted pink. Even though prison and office spaces are different ( despite sometimes thinking otherwise 🙂 ), the study showed the impact of color on human behavior.
Colour affects our daily lives more than we realise, and when it comes to the office environment, the strategic use of colour can help increase productivity, health and employee happiness.
Lund University in Sweden has also studied the impact of colour on well-being and our behaviour.
The study measured the brain and heart activity of the participants. The result was that the brain was significantly more alert in colored rooms compared to rooms in neutral colors.
Which colour is best for productivity?
Blue is good. In fact, according to several studies, blue shows the best “production” results. This color is ideal for those who work in fast-paced and demanding jobs.
But it is not blue as blue. Shades that are too dark can make some employees feel sad or even depressed, which in turn dampens productivity.
Test the appropriate shade in both daylight and artificial light, as the shade can vary quite a lot due to the impact of different light.
Yellow is also known as the colour of creativity, which is why you can often find it in advertising agencies and production companies. Yellow is seen as an upbeat color that can inspire an increased level of creativity and is great for collaborative areas.
Again – too much yellow can cause eyestrain and is distracting, so it needs to be handled with care.
Red may look a little aggressive at first, but with the right shade and coverage it is beneficial.
Red is known as an extremely stimulating color that can indicate power and excitement. Red has been proven to increase blood flow and heart rate, which is why you may find it in gyms, for example.
Red boosts performance when employees have detail-oriented tasks such as proofreading or tasks that involve the use of memory cells.
What about white paint?
Half of the people consider white to be drab and unproductive. Terms like uninspiring or sterile are also associated with it. The advantage of this colour is that it goes with almost all other colours and creates contrast. In addition, it visually enlarges the space, so its effect on productivity is rather indirect.
If you’re also remodeling or furnishing your office, give us a call and we’ll work with you to fine-tune even the smallest details to make people feel comfortable and be more productive.
