Offices are a peculiar environment. Unlike our partners and friends, people do
not get to choose their colleagues (usually).
And unlike our homes, employees do not choose the environment they work
within. Most offices and colleagues are
simply handed to employees. And they are
often told to make the most of it.
These offices are meant to be both functional
and enjoyable (as rather staid working environments often lead to high employee
turnover). There are things employers can
do to improve both facets of an office, and indeed, these do not need to cost a
fortune. Usually, one goes hand in hand with
the other; it is just about making considered choices.
The Call for Colour
People are affected by the items and objects
around them. Above all, people strive
for environments that are clean. Dirty
spaces tend to make people feel the same way – and decidedly uncomfortable at
that. Assuming your office is generally tidy,
you have cleaners to handle the hard bits and (most) employees clean up their work
spaces every evening, then you are half way there. (Incidentally, ensuring everyone tidies their
desk at the end of the day is a terrific way to ensure positive moods the next
morning.)
The cleanliness of a space is just the beginning. People react differently to the different colours
around them - or the absence of colour altogether. Certain colours evoke different feelings in people,
and it is all done subconsciously. Green,
for example, reminds people of the fresh outdoors, and this connects indoor office
workers to the greater world outside their indoor space. The colours you choose for your office will have
an impact on the productivity of your staff – it is a matter of choosing the right
colour for the work your company does.
Above and beyond the influencing of moods
and working styles, colour appeals to the eye and draws people in. Even spaces, which are largely white and airy,
will have dashes of deeper colours, which attract the eye. Consider the large halls of an art museum; the
walls are typically painted a light, natural colour, with similarly neutral flooring. As you cross into a new room, it is the colours
in the paintings (whether light, dark or bright) that grab your attention as
they pop in the otherwise dispassionate space.
Offices with a bit of colour do the same;
they draw people in and assist them to feel more comfortable in the space. Even sterile hospitals avoid too much white as
it makes everything feel a little too cold and clinical. Huge white spaces are best reserved for the
magazines.
How to Liven Your Office with Colour
Once you realise that your office needs a bit
of colour, it becomes a question of bringing it into your space appropriately. After all, too much colour and too many
patterns can become a distraction which can be disastrous in an office. Fortunately there are really only a few ways
to bring colour into an office. Nicely balanced,
they will naturally create the mood you desire.
Wall
Coverings
The first thing you are likely to notice
whenever you walk into a room is the colour of the walls. Whether it is a hotel room, and office or even
a restaurant – those walls speak to you.
However, office walls are different than the ones in your home. These must appeal to a wide range of people,
and that includes clients and investors, as well as staff members.
Creative areas of your office may do well
with bright, stimulating colours, but most work spaces demand something a little
more subtle. Most employees need something,
which helps them to focus on the task at home - and most employers prefer focused
work rather than the frenetic pace of a trading room floor.
Try to keep walls as neutral as possible,
adding in light, natural tones throughout most working areas. However, if you cannot get away from the idea
of colour on your office walls, work towards feature walls, or a few stripes or
contrasting patterns.
Office
Flooring
This is one of the best – and easiest ways
to add colour to your office space. Done
properly, they will lift the entire mood of the office – and employees will not
even realise why. When selecting a colour
for your office carpeting, try to steer away from the traditional grey, and possibly
even lighter blues, as these are the most common colours for offices around the
world. Instead, opt for punchier colours
that create a vibrant mood without overpowering your space.
Carpets, when placed in rhythmic, linear patterns
can help you to create divisions in working spaces. Whether it is a contrast in colour, or simply
a darker tone of the same hue, a differentiation in carpeting can separate a space
almost as well as a wall can. In this way,
colour can actually influence the productivity of an office directly, by separating
brainstorming areas from the more stoic responsibilities of your business.
Add
in Accents
Everyone has something on their desk; and it
starts (usually) with a computer. To
this, a range of stationary and electronics cover a bit more space, and this is
usually peppered with personal mementos (or even lunch boxes). To unify these items, properly placed accent pieces
do the work that carpets and walls cannot.
Start with engaging artworks, or create colour
combinations through deeply hued storage cupboards and containers. These objects will pull attention away from the
myriad of different photo frames and lunchbox lids.
Remember that accent pieces are exactly
that. They are meant to complement the other
tones in the room. To create a
comfortable space, accents must work with the primary colours used in an office
space. If your office already has an
accent theme, consider choosing your flooring and wall colours around
them. Otherwise, make sure you have done
your office planning and re-carpeted your space with the flooring you plan to
keep for the next decade before bringing in smaller pieces as you may find they
suddenly become all wrong.
And don’t forget – your office may not be
your home, but it does not mean you cannot have a bit of fun in it!
For more information about adding colour to
your office please visit the birch Carpets website - http://www.birchcarpets.co.uk/
