What are the most soothing colors for an office?

[susans]

Do you think the color of an office makes a difference?  Is a mauve or pink make for a gentle office, where dark blues and greens for a bolder look?   Does lots of glass and black make it look sleek?  What do you think?  Are grey cubicles professional looking?

Does your office have a color scheme?  If you could do the interior design what color would you pick and why?

[bluefire21]

Blues, Teals, and Mauves tend to feel the most soothing for me.  Muted colors are pretty effective.  Anything but red or yellow.  They energize, but not soothe.


Ellen (Red makes me ANGRY!) in TX

[countrigal]

It is proven that color does affect people... which is why newer hospitals use certain color schemes for promoting calm, soothing, healing, etc.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[diamondlady]

I prefer the cool blues.  I had an argument with my boss over at our other building that our office was a cool blue, but he said no it wasn't because he selected the color himself and it's gray.    Right now ours are a warm off white.  Very nice and calming, but the other colors around the building are not so calming.  One wall is a burnt orangish color with mostly lots of red tone in it, and other walls are olive green and a cool blue mixed down different halls.  Rather dark, yep, but it's not on our side of the building.  Good thing, and no wonder they are on the road lots, colors are aweful.  The two main walls are that orange/red color.  Rest are a mix of the dark blue and olive green colors.  YUCK!

Anyway, in case you can't tell, I don't care for our color schemes, but it seems to work in this building for some reason.  Anyway, if I had a choice I would have cool blues/gray tones in the office with splashes of color in artificial plants and flowers to bringten things up.

Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

[spitfire78]

One time when we were given a choice, my office partner and I chose pink.  You should have heard the negative comments made about our choice!  By the time it was done and we had the gray furniture installed and dimmed the lighting, it was very soothing and calming.  We still took some ribbing about it, but we enjoyed it thoroughly.  And this place needs calming and soothing!!!!  Unfortunately, now we just have a blah off white which I detest.

[misslynn]

They painted my work area when I wasn't there one day, I came in and it was an icky orange-brick-like color.  I made them repaint it the same color as my boss's office, 2 walls a warm blue-gray and the other a dark gray for contrast (I have an open work area, only 3 walls).  With the mahogany furniture, it looks very nice.

[raindance]

Our offices are painted in a buttermilk shade, which is OK.  We don't have cubicles, although most of our office space is open plan.  Desks are mostly arranged in work groups and departments.  All our furniture is wooden, apart from filing cabinets.  We have lots of natural daylight everywhere, so our building is bright and airy if a little dull. No exciting oranges or yellows!

Raindance

[msmarieh]

In a past office, one of my favorite color schemes was a seafoam green (maybe teal?) and purple. Was just a beautiful combination. One of the prettiest offices I have worked in.

My current office is a pale greyish/green with maple furniture - lots of curves - very stylish, but in my opinion, not as practical since I lose desk space.

Marie

[tiffanyctd]

Most of our walls and the cubes are plain gray, but they did do something interesting to wake things up. They painted one wall that runs the length of the office a brighter, not quite yellow taupe, and in the break room, they did the same with cranberry. It doesn't sound great, but it actually does seem to energize the office. With that and all the green from plants, it looks almost Mediterranean.
Tif

[countrigal]

I forgot to put the actual colors here...  Walls are standard government white (off-white or greyish, depending on the lighting) and the cubes are all grey with brick-red colored padded dividers in places.  Not that calming and not too beneficial for promoting energy, in a work-place that could use both in high doses.  But ya get what ya get here...

CountriGal
Peer Moderator