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Pablo Picasso once remarked, “Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.” Everyone has an opinion on color. And, while it seems as though our responses to them are entirely subjective, decades of research support the theory that color can affect our mood, behavior, and even influence physiological reactions. This is why color has been so extensively explored as a communication tool in art, design, and marketing.
Feelings about color are often rooted in personal experience or shaped by one’s cultural background. Despite these individualized influences, existing research does allow for the following generalizations to be made:
(Saturation is defined as how “pure” a color is.)
Studies have shown that color has a strong influence on people’s perception of an environment. In fact, color accounts for up to 90 percent of first impressions, according to color psychologists. A study of the world's 100 top-performing companies discovered that the majority used blue in their branding. This is most likely because the color blue conveys trustworthiness and credibility to customers. For employees, this can be interpreted as accountability and transparency—feelings known to boost morale.
Color not only has the ability to affect a person’s mood, but it also can hinder effectiveness. There have been numerous studies conducted which show that certain colors can have an impact on performance and productivity. This is why more and more interior designers are considering the psychology of color when designing workplaces. Here are some of the ways color can be used in spaces to help facilitate specific actions:
While it may be tempting to use color boldly throughout a space to induce specific worker behaviors, research has also shown that having too much of one color can leave us feeling off-balance. Carefully considered accent colors are an effective way to influence work activities while creating harmony and balance in a workspace. See hon.com/fabrics-finishes for ideas pairing colors.
HON’s extensive finish offering featuring Colorwav™ pops of color allows for a limitless number of combinations when creating your space using chairs, desks, tables, or storage. This allows you to use color in the ways it makes the most sense for your organization, whether that’s to increase focus or to add energy to collaborative areas. Colorwav is available on Voi® desk and storage solutions, Abound® workplace tools, Solve® seating, and Fuse™ personal storage. When applied strategically, these colorful accents can convey the brand and culture of your organization as well as impact the mood and productivity of those in your space.
Sources:
https://www.fastcompany.com/3044601/why-you-should-never-paint-office-walls-white
https://www.scienceofpeople.com/color-psychology/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4383146/
https://www.verywellmind.com/color-psychology-2795824
https://www.thoughtco.com/color-psychology-and-human-behavior-4151666
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/243749
https://digitalsynopsis.com/design/workplace-office-productive-color-palette-psychology/
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