The use of color in a workplace can have a strong effect on employee morale and productivity. Learn about the effects different colors can have in the workplace.

1. Color Psychology in the
Workplace
Influencing Mood & Productivity Through Color

2. Employee morale and productivity is shaped by many different
factors, ranging from the general layout of an office to a person’s
unique attitude toward their job, office lighting, and perks and
benefits, just to name a few. But one factor that often goes
overlooked is the use of color in the workplace.

3. What is Color Psychology?
“Color psychology is the study of colors and how they affect people. Scientists
observe changes in the body and brain that occur when people view certain colors.
Studies have found that colors impact factors such as productivity, creativity, and
communication.”
Source: Connecting Elements

4. “Color has the ability to change how people feel. It can
calm people, it can bring people together, it can make
people excited.” - Ada M. Tremonte
Source: HR Dive

5. Colors and their
Effects

6. Blue
Blue is one of the most popular colors for offices.
Because of its association with things like water
and the sky, the color blue evokes feelings of
calmness and tranquility, making it a great choice
if you want your office to have a peaceful,
non-stressful atmosphere. Research has also
found that people tend to be most productive in
blue rooms.
Image: Office Snapshots

7. Green
Like blue, green is another very popular color
choice for offices because of its associations with
nature. Green is associated with things like
growth, healing, and rejuvenation. Studies have
found that the color green has been correlated to
creative thinking, lower stress levels, and
improved reading comprehension.
Image: Colourware

8. Yellow
Yellow is connected to warmth, optimism, and
fun. In the workplace, yellow is a great choice for
any area you want to have an energizing effect on
people. It encourages communication, making it
ideal for collaborative areas where people often
spend time brainstorming and discussing new
ideas.
When used in excess, yellow can be
overwhelming. To avoid this, mixing various
softer shades of yellow gives you the benefits of
yellow without being too much.
“Of all the colors in today’s trending palette, yellow is
perhaps the best office color for collaborative spaces.” -
Coalesse

9. Red
Red is another color with strong exciting,
energizing effects. Studies have found that the
color red increases heart rates and boosts blood
flow. Like yellow, it can be very overwhelming
when used in excess. The brighter the red, the
more powerful it can be. To use red in the office
without being overwhelming or evoking some of
the negative feelings red can be associated with,
limit bright, highly saturated shades of red. Pink
is in the same family as red, but has a more
calming, rejuvenating effect.
Image: Wave Office