Using home-style lamps lends a friendly atmosphere to an office space and
improves productivity. Home-like table lamps provide a feeling of comfort,
because our minds are accustomed to that type of lighting. Floor lamps are also
another good supplemental light source, and have the added benefit of freeing up
work space on desks.
Use iridescent blue colored light bulbs to cool the space in summer. Likewise,
amber bulbs warm cold offices during cool weather.
Use Creative Colors on the Walls
Many colors effectively enhance creativity, including soft grays, warm tans, and
silver blues. Because gray is the only color without an "after image" left in
our brain, soft grays provide great backgrounds for in-depth thinking. Warm tans
reinforced with far-horizon desert or beach paintings sustain concentration.
Silver blues and cotton-candy pinks inspire fantasy, making these colors perfect
for writers.
Overall efficiency can be improved by using sky and navy blues, black accents,
and muted greens.
Decorative wall paint like glazing adds a greater sense of dimension to a room.
The subtle striations in these finishes make the walls appear to recede.
Dress Your Office to Impress
If you're dressing your office to impress your clients, use over-scaled office
furniture, welcoming home-style lighting, and large landscape paintings (to add
a sense of visual depth). Combine those elements with tropical foliage to bring
nature indoors, which relaxes you and your guests. Bookcases filled with books
and closed files signify that you are knowledgeable and organized.
Consider how you want your guests to feel. If you want to look like an expert in
your field, display your credentials. Relax guests with something unexpected
that portrays your humility like a photo with you in a silly costume. If you
have a known degree, don't intimidate your guests with cluttering framed degrees
and lots of awards. Be selective with wall hangings, less is better for
concentration on the important item in the space -- the people.
Using the techniques of Design Psychology can transform your office into a more
productive and enjoyable space for yourself, employees, and clients.
