Tag: neutral colors

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Lighting Up Your Office

An office which is poorly lit makes for an uncomfortable working environment. Also, many companies will have different types of lighting depending upon what type of work is done in the office. There are some common things to take into consideration when choosing what kind of lighting is needed for the office though. The different factors involved can make for a wrong lighting decision and cause lighting issues so you need to consider functionality along with style.

Below is some advice on lighting up the office:

  1. Light bulbChoose the right bulb: This is the first thing to decide about is choosing the right light bulb. Bulbs are measured for intensity and color according to the Kelvin scale. So the balance of the light provided by bulbs with these considerations is important then so that lights in an office create the same color temperature throughout the office. Also, the wrong light bulbs can create a work environment which is boring because they can make an office almost mechanical in appearance. A 6500K florescent bulb is the best lighting and a low intensity light on the desk will improve the clarity of work.
  2. Use task lighting with overhead lighting: Task lighting bulbs which have a low glare are good because of health considerations. Because using strong overhead fluorescent lighting can be the cause health issues dealing with hyperactivity and sleep problems. Gooseneck lamps are the best source of light for a desk then because these task lights can be directed where they’re needed.
  3. Choose the right size of bulb: The size of your office will determine the size of the light bulbs that you need because bigger bulbs will have more watts. If you have a small office, then you’ll buy small bulbs. If you have a large office, then you’ll need large bulbs. So how big your office is will decide the intensity of the bulbs that you will need to use. Considering how big your office then is an important part of deciding what is the appropriate lighting needed.
  4. The use of indirect lighting: Direct lighting can cause eye strain as well as severe headaches. Side lamps can help with this problem at a computer desk. If you have both types of lighting, the overhead lights can be turned off and just the side lamps used. Be sure to distribute the lights evenly around the office so it reaches all the corners or you’ll have a scary sci-fi effect.
  5. open pantone sample colors catalogueChoosing neutral colors: The colors you paint your walls can have an effect on your lighting. Don’t choose bright or dark colors, stay with neutral. Colors which are neutral reflect less light and work well with modern office lighting.
  6. Using natural light: Natural lighting comes with health benefits as well. It plays an important role when choosing the lighting for your office. If you want to mix natural lighting with artificial lighting then, be sure to purchase low-wattage task lights too which are warm colored to enhance workspace clarity. If your office doesn’t have access to natural light, then purchasing bulbs which mimic natural light is a good idea.
  7. User control: It’s important for each person to have control of a light source. Each individual will have different lighting needs. Additionally, employees may need different types of lights throughout the workday. This is especially true if they have multifaceted workloads that they are keeping up with. By providing different light sources though, then the users have control and they’ll be able to choose which lighting source that they would like to use.
  8. The age of the employee: if you have employees over the age of 50, the requirements for light is double of that of 25-year-olds. So, keeping this in mind before making any major purchases will save you money in the long run from lower productivity from inappropriate lighting. Ask your employees how the current task lighting is working for them too and what you could do to improve the lighting situation. This will help you to make the right decisions when making your task lighting purchase.

The lighting in your office can make a difference in your office production.

References:

https://nationalofficeinteriors.com/product-category/accessories/lighting/

https://nationalofficeinteriors.com/product-category/desks/executive-desk/

https://nationalofficeinteriors.com/product-category/desks/computer-desks/

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Gray is the New Neutral for Offices

Neutral colors have always been a popular choice for offices. The colors in your office set the tone for the environment and have an effect on employees. Choosing colors might seem like an insignificant detail if you aren’t focused on the details of office design. However, studies show that employee productivity is significantly affected by the color of the decor in the office. This means it’s important to consider the colors involved in decor.

Manhattan modular desksetThe color scheme of an office sets the ambiance for the environment. Like music, the office decor can have an influence on many aspects of employee behavior including energy level, productivity levels and people’s relaxation level. The right color choices can also reduce employee stress, which is an important goal for employers. Too much stress affects the quality of work.

In the past, many companies chose plain white walls for their offices, thinking this color would be bright and lively and inspire employees. This lack-of-color scheme is actually boring and doesn’t do much to inspire productivity. The color gives a clinical impression like a hospital or doctor’s office. Other employers tried a different approach. They used bright, aggressive colors to make the work environment seem as exciting as possible. They used colors like bright red, purple, yellow, lime green and bright blue to make the walls stand out so that the colors can inspire people to do create work. It turns out that this kind of decor doesn’t inspire employees. Instead, it has a distracting effect. Some bright colors, like red, have been found to increase stress and anxiety. It can make people feel distracted and it’s hard for them focus.

Colors that create a calming effect are the best choices for an office environment. Employees experience enough stress in their day-to-day lives. You don’t want your office decor to add to their stress. There are colors that have been demonstrated to reduce stress while helping people focus on their work. Gray has become a popular neutral color in offices because it has a calming effect on people. You’ve probably noticed for years that some offices have gray cubicles. There is a psychology behind this choice. Many office planners are choosing gray more and more often due to its psychological effects.

If you check in with interior designers and paint stores, you will find that different shades of gray are some of the best-selling paints in the modern market. If you check with home and office furniture stores, you’ll find that gray has become one of the most popular color choices for consumers. It’s the most neutral color choice you can pick because it combines both black and white. Therefore, gray can work with any other color scheme. Gray is a flexible color and allows for changes over time in the decor that surrounds.

Herman Miller Setu Used Mesh Chair, GrayGray is a popular choice for cubicles, chairs, rugs and modular furniture. You’ve probably noticed this type of furniture in many offices. Office planners typically purchase matching furniture so that cubicles can be rearranged to accommodate new staff arrangements. Some chairs are gray and other times the chairs are black. Typically, they match so that when areas are rearranged, the setup is similar.

The color gray has other advantages. It is doesn’t easily show dirt and easy to clean. If employees decide to decorate their cubicles or offices, their additions will blend in easily with a neutral color like gray.

Paintings, sculptures, pictures, ornaments and other decorations won’t clash with gray. People with offices can add chairs with patterns, rugs, accent tables and other items to personalize their offices. Any items like this will blend in with gray without clashing or creating an unattractive space.

If you don’t want gray to be the only color in your office, you can always pick a few complementary accent colors for a few walls. Steer away from bright, aggressive colors. Instead, pick neutral colors that work well with the gray. There are soft, neutral colors like lavender, grayish blue, off-white, grayish green, khaki, light brown and pale gray that can work well with a gray color pattern. You can also choose gray furniture and paint your walls soft, neutral colors that complement the furniture.