In the design of the optimum workplace, job Performance, as it relates to
employee satisfaction, is Enhanced by colors that are stimulating, cheerful,
and Comforting. Because the work environment has a direct Relationship to
employee efficiency, colorless offices can Be counterproductive. Off-white,
buff and gray need to Be balanced by additional colors to stimulate the user.
Muted colors occurring in nature tend to produce Comfortable office
environments.
Specific areas of interior environments require special Attention. Cool hues
should be used in areas where a Great deal of concentration is necessary.
Similarly, Calming colors should be used in high stress areas. The colors of
furnishings are also important because they Contribute to the balanced
contrast between black and White. Gray may be ideal for desk tops and work
Surfaces since it is a neutral color and not distracting. It Creates a good
balance in contrast with either black or White, and it helps maintain a
comfortable and uniform Brightness level. Color palettes and combinations
affect different users of A space in different ways. It is up to the designer to
Develop a basic knowledge of the most common human Responses to
different colors and color combinations and Then to determine those
responses specific to the end-User. The following is a list illustrating some of
the most Common human responses to different colors and color
Combinations.
• Reds are associated with tension and danger. They may Add life and cheer
to blends of blues and greens; but they Generate unpleasant tensions when
used with strong Greens.
• Oranges share qualities of reds. They may be used to Stimulate or modify
otherwise neutral or cool color Schemes.
• Yellows are the mildest of the warm colors and are Often associated with
cheerfulness.
• Greens are the cool colors closest to the warm on the Color wheel. They are
often perceived as peaceful.
• Blues are the coolest of the cool colors, suggesting Rest, repose, calmness,
and dignity. If overused they may be perceived as depressing and gloomy.
Intense blue in Small areas can be a helpful accent in warm and warm-
Neutral color schemes.
• Violets fall between cool and warm colors. They are Often perceived as
artistic, suggestive, and sensitive but May be perceived as ambiguous or too
strong.
• Black is a powerful accent color. It is often associated With—and suggests—
weight, dignity, formality, and Solemnity.
• Neutral colors tend to convey, in milder form, Impressions of the hues that
they contain. Neutral grays Make background colors easy to live with but are
subject To dullness, and sometimes appear monotonous.
• Whites and near whites suggest clarity, openness, and Brightness. Whites
are generally safe colors and can be Used in large areas to a highly
satisfactory effect if offset With small areas of chromatic color. Too much
white can Produce glare.
The nature of emotional responses to the environment Will depend heavily
on the value and saturation level of The hues. Greens and blues, thought to
be calming, Become very effective when used in high-stress areas Such as
doctors’ offices. More saturated colors, such as Deep greens and purples, are
often used as accents to Give a feeling of status and dignity, for example in
Executive offices or reception areas.
Color is one of the first elements that people respond to When presented
with a design concept. Each individual Will respond uniquely to a color
presented them based Upon upbringing, education and socio-economic
Background. As a designer, it is important to determine The impact of color
within the essence of the space. Color and light are effective means by which
space may Be articulated or defined. The surface treatment of walls, Floors,
and ceilings articulates the spatial boundaries of a Room. Color, texture,
light, and pattern affect our Perception of relative positions in space and,
therefore, Our awareness of a room’s dimension, scale and Proportion.
Spaces may be made to appear larger than They are by unifying them with
color and light that blend Surfaces rather than fragment them.
The effect of color and light on the perception of space (the apparent, versus
the actual, size and distance of Objects from a viewer) will vary among
individuals; However, the following are some general guidelines of How color
and light may be used in the design of a space.
• Light, cool spaces are generally perceived as Expansive; dark, warm
spaces as diminishing.
• A strong, warm color on an end wall will shorten the Apparent length of a
room by drawing that wall forward. Cooler colors will cause the plane to
recede, thereby Expanding our perception of the room.
• Dark ceilings will lower the apparent height of a room. Light ceilings will
raise the apparent height of a room. However, a combination of a dark floor
and ceiling can Greatly reduce the apparent height and may seem
Oppressive.
• Strong-valued ceilings and floors may help to unify a Space.
• A brightly colored wall will appear larger than it Actually is.
