Working from home, or partly from home and partly from the office, is a change that’s proving hard to reverse. Many people report higher job satisfaction, mental health and overall wellbeing than their counterparts who have returned to full-time office work.
This new reality created some new interior design needs, as people looked to create or improve permanent spaces within their homes where they could continue with their jobs. A workspace is, after all, decidedly different in nature from a conventional home space such as the kitchen – unless you’re a chef, of course! Now that working from home has been with us all for almost four years, the new consideration is ongoing maintenance and/or revamping of the home office in a way that will continue to encourage productivity.
Colour is an easy way to update an interior. When it comes to choosing Plascon colours for these home workspaces, there are a few handy guidelines that can be followed, and some valuable insights from colour psychology to help steer choices in the right direction.
People instinctively know what colours resonate with them, what ‘feels right’, but not everyone knows why this is the case. The reason why some colours encourage positivity and are uplifting and others are, well, just downright gloomy has to do with more than simply context. Colour comes from light and is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, with each individual colour having its own unique frequency or wavelength. Those on the ‘cool’ side of the spectrum have shorter wavelengths (with violet having the shortest), while those on the ‘warm’ side have longer wavelengths (with red having the longest).
According to colour psychology, cool tones are the most stress-reducing shades, so they are ideal for a home working environment. Greens, blues and green-blues are all colours that put people at ease because they bring a sense of tranquillity. These shorter-wavelength colours are less agitating, so if you work in a fast-paced industry, then opting for a cooler tone such as Green Light Go (G2-A1-2) or Mulberry Leaf (G1-C1-1) can help contribute to easing work stress by inducing a sense of calmness.
If you want to create a sense of wellness, or if you work in the healthcare sector, then a soft light green is a wise choice because it is known to be a healing colour. Lighter pastel colours, such as Isle of Green (G2-A1-4 ), are calming.
There’s also the climate and location of the room to consider when choosing colours for a workspace. The general rule is that if the walls are painted in cool colours, the room will feel cooler than it would if the space were painted in warmer hues. So a space that receives a lot of sunlight, or which isn’t well insulated, and thus is hard to cool, benefits from the use of a cool colour.
If you’re a fan of the warmer shades, brown, taupe or sand hues can keep walls from looking dreary.
Opting for a neutral white or grey – which are considered neither warm nor cool – is always a safe choice. But white comes with its own issues: it reflects the highest amount of light and heat, so a pure-white room can be energy-draining. Also, if you are working in front of a computer all day, then white is best avoided, as the glare caused by the high reflective properties of white can cause optical fatigue, resulting in excessive strain on the eyes and, as a result, affecting productivity levels in an office-like environment.
Neutral colours may appear to lean more toward one side of the spectrum, depending on their undertones – for instance, a cream colour with a yellow undertone will appear warm, while a grey with blue undertones may seem cool. If you’re a lover of neutral colours, rather look to an off-white, such as Sandy Bay (87), Lagoon Mirror (3) or Afternoon Shower (Y4- C2-3).
When it comes to the use of bolder colours, blue is calming, and aids productivity focus and communication, which makes it ideal for meeting rooms. That said, too much blue can become cold. Yellow is energising and stimulating, and ideal for an accents in a room. Red should be used sparingly, as it is overstimulating – an individual with anger issues, for example, will be pushed into an agitated state when exposed to a wall painted in this colour. Instead, deeper, richer colours are better because they give a more comforting, homey feel, even if you are working.
When deciding which colours to use in your work-from-home space, these choices should be made with plenty of consideration for not only the area being painted, but also the individual using it.
For more advice on what colours are best to use where, and why, please contact the Plascon Colour Consultancy via email: colouradvice@kansaiplascon.co.za.
About Plascon
Plascon has led the way in the coatings business since 1889. The company continues to innovate, with a focus on developing pioneering products while being conscious of its environmental impact. With an extensive range of high-performance decorative, automotive, industrial and professional coatings, Plascon is set to continue as South Africa’s coatings company of choice.
