The Color Factor

摘要

Color professionals associated with the Alexandria, VA-based Color Marketing Group come together in this piece to offer counsel on choosing and incorporating color into your buildings... Study after study has shown that color influences not only mood, but wellness and productivity as well. Using bright, rich colors in combination with moderate colors or neutrals can create visual interest for visitors, define workspaces, and distinguish between various business divisions. According to Cleveland-based The Sherwin-Williams Co., color also carries important associations in the human brain that may augment or reduce perceptions of stress. Colors used in commercial office spaces 10 to 15 years ago are no longer appropriate today: With most workers now spending hours on computers each day, the constant viewing of brightly colored screens creates the need for softer, more restful colors that simplify physical surroundings. Sherwin-Williams indicates that successful color specification in the office environment relies on creating a balance between four factors: hue or color family; degree of lightness, darkness, and grayness; saturation or level of brightness and intensity; and LRV (degree of light reflected). Color used in moderation in the office environment is a good thing: It conveys a welcoming, professional environment but doesn't distract or overwhelm workers. Decisions about color in the office should also take into account current office equipment - particularly since computer housings and other machines may be visually dominant. If older, bulkier equipment does exist, neutral colors can be chosen to blend in with equipment housings so they become less noticeable.