After months of rain and grey days, now that the good weather has finally arrived, it's time to get in tune and talk about the color in the offices. Because this remains a controversial topic: How does color affect workers' mood? Is it appropriate to use bright colors in workspaces? Are light, neutral colors better for focused tasks?

As expected the answers will be yes, no, it depends and maybe, because the subject of the chromatic effect in office work is widely debated, but without a definitive conclusion.

The use of color in offices

Although it is proven that color environments affect neurologically Not everyone reacts the same way to people. There are individuals or communities who, due to their character, origin, culture, and even age, are more or less prone to using color, so it's logical that, in a work environment, not everyone reacts the same to a brightly colored room or a completely white space.

It is clear that in an office project in Brazil, India or the Philippines, The color treatment will be much more powerful and casual than that of an office in Canada or Sweden. Color has a cultural use that societies learn to use intrinsically. But how does a color scheme determined in an office?

In order to delimit the topic, in the examples that we bring you, we have selected social spaces within the offices: dining rooms, kitchens, meeting areas or passageways. We have also chosen some workspace where color is applied in a subtle but obvious way. The most controversial issue is whether, in a concentration area, the neutral colors because they are less distracting, or strong colors because they activate the mind and energize thinking. 

Before going into detail – but without intending to give deep theoretical explanations – it is useful to know that the semiotics of color studies the meaning of colors within communication systems, and analyzes how signs (in this case, colors) transmit information and generate meanings in social, cultural, and emotional contexts. This approach is based on the general semiotics, a discipline developed by the great Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure at the end of the 19th century.

There is an extensive literature on the color semantics and how the use of certain tones connotes certain types of postures, behaviors, beliefs and even, ideologies. For example, the white, which symbolizes peace and purity, is used in many non-Western cultures to denote mourning. This is a cultural code. There are other established codes, such as the colors of traffic lights, where the Red indicates danger or stop, while the Verde It is used to indicate access, clear path and permission.

Understand the codes and associations established through colors, and the ways in which color meanings change depending on the context is very important to know how to use them in interior design projects. It is important to remember that color code systems are polysemous, that is, the same color can have multiple meanings depending on the culture, the historical moment or the context.

Let's start with the basics. The choice of a particular color in an office is most often a response to the need to reinforce the corporate identity of the brand than any other criterion. 

Big brands, especially consumer and digital services brands, work in a very corporate way on the color of their product, and apply it in strategic elements of the project interior design: a wall, a staircase, a carpet, furniture, etc.

In the office of Coke, As we see in the image above, it is usually used red on structural elements, such as railings or stairs, so that, at any point along the route, the visitor is always aware that they are in the Coca-Cola offices without seeing the logo. As a curiosity, the Red This multinational's brand is registered, and only they know its exact composition (just like the formula for their brew). However, it's close to Pantone 484 C or RAL 3000, although they aren't exact.

Color, combined with other resources such as lighting or materials, It's a recurring element when it comes to marking or delimiting spaces within the office. The trend toward eliminating partitions and creating open spaces requires a system of signals and signs, in which color plays a role. We could almost call it a game of colors, a game of Parcheesi where each color has a symbolism and function.

It should also be noted that the system of signage in offices, especially in large ones, it is almost as important as that of airports: address, location, location, emergency exits, entrances and exits, etc. What the striking color enhances in this symbol scheme is the user's visual attention.

In parallel, other disciplines such as psychology or neuroarchitecture They consider that colors play a fundamental role because they have a direct impact on the emotional state, the Level of attention, the heart rate and other cognitive and physiological functions.

Although there is no catalogue of colours that trigger certain, let alone definitive, emotions, it is known that color code system It works depending on the company's activity, on the one hand, and the work being done. Let's look at some examples:

White: It's one of the most widely used colors in office spaces, as it conveys cleanliness and order, often linked to the company's ethos. Excessive use can generate coldness and be very aseptic. As expected, it works very well in clinics, hospitals, etc. If you're interested in learning more about the use of white, a while back, we published a post about why it predominates. the color white in offices.

Red, yellow and orange: This range of colors increases adrenaline, elevates the heart rate and stimulates brain activity, memory and optimism. It is recommended to use with moderation in social areas, creative spaces and learning environments.

Green and blue: Although with some nuances of difference, these colors, in softer hues, lower blood pressure, promote concentration, relax the eyes, and evoke nature. They are used in concentration work areas (reading areas, libraries, etc.), but also in rest and relaxation areas.

Multi-seat unit with Ovidio table and chair by Limobel Inwo

Gray, brown and black: The colors in the darker range are usually accompanied by their opposite color in the color scheme. However, many microcement offices are gray, as we have seen, for example, in these brutalist offices. In general, they are colors that denote elegance, seriousness and firmness (Many law firms and financial institutions use them.) However, if they are not "warmed" with other elements (warm textiles, rugs, plants, paintings), they can end up as cold and inhospitable spaces.

It is clear that the use of color is not only an aesthetic issue, but emotional and neurological. Hence, choosing a color for the office involves considering its effect. neurological, its relationship with the activity of space and how it interacts with light and materials.

OfficeSnapShot Photos