Professional Interiors Part Two: setting a productive mood

Last week I wrote about painting the front office of your business to make it more inviting, and to better brand the company.  This week, I’d like to write about the choice of paint to make the workspaces of the company as productive as possible. Different colors and finishes have different effects on offices, clinic rooms, and production spaces. Darker colors can bring more attention, while lighter are more relaxing and soothing to the senses. Warm colors incite energy, while cool colors are calming in high stress environments.

Manufacturing

A high-performance, durable paint is a must for a room where actual manufacturing happens. The paint itself must be durable enough to withstand staining and multiple washes. The application method is very important as well, whether it is brush, roll or spray, depending on what might be happening in the manufacturing area. A professional paint service, Matthew’s Painting, will be able to determine the best application and the most appropriate paint (whether it be epoxy, enamel,  latex, or acrylic based) for the environment of which will be painted. The chosen color may also be applied to exposed utilities and pipes if desired.

Blue-shades may be a great color for creating a soothing environment in a high-stress office environment, but when it comes to manufacturing, different colors may keep the environment a little more stimulating. Dark colors are not recommended as they might seem an area seem too harsh and “heavy.” Light colors and off-white tones are best for manufacturing areas because they give a calm, clean effect to the area. The light being reflected back from the light colors as well tend to give people a lighter feeling, resulting in a more-friendly demeanor. Bright colors may denote pieces of equipment or areas where caution needs to be taken.

Offices

In an office environment, you may not need a high-durability paint the same way a manufacturing area might, but it still needs to be able to withstand high traffic and cleaning. Again, a professional painting company will be able to determine the best paint base to use for the area, and best application for the look that is desired.

In an office environment, cool colors will be calming and focusing, while warm colors will incite more social and creative energy in a space. Warm colors such as reds, oranges, and yellows should be used sparingly and in a space where high energy is valued, such as a conference room. Cool colors such as blues and greens are thought to be the most calming and least distracting colors in an office area. Less saturated shades are best, as they are even less distracting than anything closer to the “pure” colors.  Adding a few dashes of a warm color do add life, however, and keep it from becoming too dull as well.

Clinical setting

Environments where cleanliness is required and highly valued to make those entering the space feel safe and well cared for, shades of white will do well. White bounces light in small spaces, opening them up, as well as contributing to a friendly and sterile environment. Again, as these areas can be highly trafficked and will need the ability to be cleaned, the type of paint and texture will need to be determined by an expert to fit the needs specifically.

Color can set an entire environment’s tone, and to maximize productivity it is important to set the stage for success starting with the wall color. Painting a high stress environment an exciting color like red may drive more delicate individuals over the edge, while painting it a soothing blue-green may keep them calm and productive throughout the day. We are here to answer your questions and help set your environment for success, from wall to wall.