How to Choose the Best Color for Office Walls
Published January 28, 2022
It’s simple to pick the best paint color for your home. You already have a sense of which colors you prefer and which ones will make a statement about you.
Your home will be transformed by paint into something straight out of a magazine. The appropriate hue can help you relax or liven up a room. It’s entirely up to your personal preferences.
However, selecting office paint colors is an entirely different matter. While you may adore the color lavender, it does not necessarily belong on the walls of your accounting office, correct? Or, perhaps, it should?
We’ll discuss how to choose the best color for office walls in this piece so you get the look and feel you want and the productivity you expect from your employees.
(Related Blogs: Best Modern Office Design Ideas & 10 Best Plants For An Office With No Windows)
Choosing the Best Office Paint Colors
A 2012 study on the effects of hospital paint colors discovered that white creates a “clinical appearance.” It instills fear and makes people feel uncomfortable. Instead of that, your office color scheme should be toned down.
However, what does this mean precisely?
While most people associate bright colors with power, it turns out that they may not always reflect the appropriate energy. For instance, a University of Rochester psychology study discovered that red boosts the speed and intensity of emotions. Red creates an urgency in our perceptions, which results in tension and stress.
Is this really conducive to a productive office environment? However, it is an excellent color for sales, which is why retailers use it in their sale and clearance signs. When they see the signage, they immediately think, “I need this now!”
Intense colors like gem-colored greens and blues are fantastic for energy, but that’s not useful if you work in an office where there’s a lot of thinking or collaboration involved. For instance, emerald color may assist you in losing focus.
Not only does the color itself affect your mood and behavior, but also the intensity (saturation) of the color.
(Related: 10 Best Cross-Legged Office Chairs You Can Buy Online)
What Are the Different Effects of Colors on Mood?
The Color Affects System was created by renowned color psychologist Angela Wright. Ms. Wright sought to establish a link between colors and human behavior. In 1984, she published the Wright Theory, the result of years of research on the effect of colors on human mood and behavior.
Psychologists continue to accept her theory and the Color Affects System as the reference standard for color psychology. Ms. Wright concluded using the four primary colors:
Blue for the Mind
Blue stimulates the mind, resulting in increased productivity. The blue color palette’s tones help maintain concentration in repetitious sectors. Accounting firms frequently paint their offices blue to boost efficiency and keep employees engaged.
Red for the Body
As previously stated, red inspires a sense of urgency; hence, for physically demanding jobs such as construction, red will increase their energy levels.
Yellow for the Emotion
Yellow elicits strong emotions, making it an excellent choice for those working in the creative industry. Additionally, it elicits sensations of enjoyment and has the ability to lift moods.
Green for the Balance
Green is often associated with money, and in certain ways, it is. Green is all about harmony, tranquility, and certainty. Therefore, if you work in the finance industry, green is an excellent choice for your office color.
What Is the Best Color for Office Walls?
Now that you have a sense of what has worked in the past for every industry, here is a list of the best office colors:
- Off-White
- Gray
- Teal/Light Blue
- Blue-Gray
- Brown
- Pastel Yellow
- Green
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Color for Office Walls
Picking paint colors is a huge challenge. There are so many to choose from that it’s difficult to determine which color(s) will complement your surroundings. When a few simple recommendations for selecting the appropriate tones are followed, the work becomes far less troublesome.
Consider the Purpose Of the Space
Certain colors are more appropriate for certain businesses than others. For instance, professional areas such as offices and banks benefit from subtle tones such as various colors of gray and white. Retail environments frequently go toward more vibrant, appetizing colors that entice shoppers, such as varied tones of red and orange.
Check the Space’s Natural Light Level
Your choice of paint color will be considerably influenced by light. Lighter tones may be appropriate in rooms with little to no natural light, while darker tones may be appropriate in rooms with plenty of natural light. Additionally, it is necessary to examine how light alters the appearance of certain hues.
Consider Color Impact
Feng shui, an ancient Chinese philosophy, can assist you in determining the colors that are most appropriate for your workstation. Colors have a psychological effect on workers and guests, according to feng shui. For instance, blue and black are connected with assisting individuals with their inner work and assisting them in concentrating. Red is thought to promote energy, whereas green is associated with growth and decisiveness.
The Takeaway
There is so much that goes into picking the appropriate paint colors for offices that it can be difficult to make the right choices. Gladly, we have addressed nearly every facet of the decision process, from balancing feng shui factors to designing the psychological influence of colors. Remember to think about how the color will affect your employees’ productivity and other factors you should consider — such as your office space’s purpose and its natural light level — to ensure that you choose the best color for office walls.
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About The Author
Krizzia Paolyn is an SEO Specialist and holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She started her professional career as a writer for various digital magazines and renowned publications. It has always been her passion to share her voice, and at the same time, to encourage other people to speak up.