Office Colours and Their Impact on Productivity

Name: Partner Create
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Few people think about the effect of a particular colour, though each one influences a person in a certain way — and the nature of that influence is linked to the unconscious part of the psyche. So office colours are not only about aesthetics but also about mood, psychological comfort and the team’s productivity.

In this guide we look at the colour impact on the work process, examine what each shade is responsible for, and suggest how to choose an office colour scheme for your business goals. After all, a well-chosen palette can noticeably raise work efficiency.

How colour affects mood and productivity

Depending on the colour, not only employees’ psychological comfort but also their mood changes. Research mentioned by the Wall Street Journal points directly to the increasingly frequent use of colour combinations to reduce stress in the office. And every employee works more productively in conditions that are comfortable for them.

In other words, colour is a tool that affects wellbeing and results. The key is to use it consciously rather than leave it to chance.

Colours and their impact on work

Each colour has its own specifics:

Blue — stands out for the highest productivity. It has a positive effect on accountants and IT workers, adds emotionality to the atmosphere and raises work efficiency.
Yellow and orange — improve imagination and thinking, lift the mood and encourage new ideas. That said, in excess they can cause irritation.
Red — belongs to the “active” colours: it stimulates physical activity and raises energy. It’s appropriate at workplaces that require constant attention and concentration.
Green — optimal for calm and harmony. It’s indispensable in offices with an active rhythm and constant rush, and it also gives the eyes rest during long hours at the computer.

Neutral colours and saturation

A special role is played by neutral colours — white, grey, black and brown. They act as supporting colours and help minimise the effect of overly bright or aggressive shades, balancing the palette.

There’s also a second approach worth noting: the colour psychologist Angela Wright emphasises that what matters more is not the colour itself but its saturation. Colours with high intensity affect work efficiency more productively, while less saturated ones have a calming effect. So the main thing is to skilfully pick the combination of shades and their intensity for specific tasks.

How to choose a palette for your business goals

There’s no universal palette — colours are chosen for a zone’s function and the nature of the activity:

for zones of concentrated work (accounting, IT), blue works well;
for creative departments — yellow and orange as accents;
where attention and energy matter, touches of red are appropriate;
for rest zones and eye relief — green and calm shades (on choosing colours for a relax area, read the article How to Set Up a Staff Relaxation Room).

It’s also important to consider lighting: the same palette is perceived differently under different light (more in the article on Office Lighting: How to Get It Right).

An office colour scheme with Partner Create

Good office design is a thoughtful combination of colour, saturation and lighting for a company’s goals. Our design and engineering department has selected colour schemes and individual colours for over 200 commercial premises, so we know how a palette works for productivity.

Partner Create provides a full range of services — from design to engineering documentation — at the design stage and delivers the office under general contracting. Examples are in the office spaces portfolio.

Office colours in brief

Colour affects the team’s mood, psychological comfort and productivity.
Blue raises productivity; yellow and orange boost creativity; red adds energy.
Green calms and rests the eyes; it suits dynamic offices and relax areas.
Neutral colours (white, grey, black, brown) balance the palette.
Per Angela Wright, saturation matters more than the colour itself: bright energises, muted calms.
The palette is chosen for a zone’s function, the nature of the activity and lighting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which colours raise productivity in an office?

Blue provides the highest productivity — it works well for accountants and IT specialists. Yellow and orange stimulate creativity, red adds energy for work requiring constant attention, and green calms and rests the eyes.

Why does an office need neutral colours?

White, grey, black and brown act as supporting colours and balance the palette. They minimise the effect of overly bright or aggressive shades, making the interior more harmonious.

What matters more — the colour or its saturation?

According to the colour psychologist Angela Wright, saturation matters more: colours with high intensity raise productivity, while less saturated ones calm. So it’s important to skilfully pick the combination of shades and their intensity.

How do I choose a colour scheme for an office?

Colours are chosen for a zone’s function and the nature of the activity: blue for concentrated work, yellow and orange for creative departments, green for rest zones. Lighting must also be considered, since it changes how a palette is perceived.

Choose an office colour scheme with Partner Create

The right palette means comfort, mood and higher productivity for the team. Partner Create will select colours for your business goals and deliver the office design with responsibility for the result.

Explore our work in the portfolio, read useful materials on the blog, or get in touch to discuss your project. Call +38 050 388 24 49.

We also recommend Office Lighting: How to Get It Right and How to Set Up a Staff Relaxation Room — they will help combine colour with light and the atmosphere of the space.