Harnessing the Influence of Color

Timeless design. We have heard it from many clients over the years. “Don’t give me trendy colors, but colors that last the test of time.” Yet in the world of design, from clothing to teapots, color is very trendy. Remember the Harvest Gold and Avocado Green appliances in the ‘70’s? Or how about the teal and mauve craze of the ‘80’s? The color trends certainly affect architectural interiors – but colors have so much more power beyond popularity.

Where do the color trends come from?

The PANTONE Color Institute™ forecasts the hot colors for each year and even picks a color of the year. The color for 2017 is Greenery, “a refreshing and revitalizing shade, Greenery is symbolic of new beginnings,” according to Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the PANTONE Color Institute™. PANTONE® presents the color of the year as a snapshot of our global culture that’s an expression of mood and attitude – because after all, color evokes emotion. So, what emotion do you want to evoke? What mood do you want to set in your office? Have you thought about how the colors within your space can hinder or encourage productivity? In an article published by Fast Company, Why You Should Never Paint Office Walls White, researchers revealed how the color of our environment impacts our work. The researchers tested the impact of color on productivity by giving three groups of employees clerical tasks to complete in three different rooms, each painted a different color: red, white and aqua. Some individuals were able to block out the color “noise,” while others were distracted by it. The article goes on to discuss how colors will affect people differently and evoke a different mood or attitude. Because at the end of the day, it goes back to how we individually respond. Each employee will respond differently to space and color, but take a chance and add some color into your life!

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