PAINTS
SETTING THE TONE FOR COMMERCIAL INTERIORS
Crown’s colour consultants work with specifiers to help create spaces that benefit the user, applying elements of colour psychology to make that a reality. Many environments demand different interior colour schemes depending on their use – office space, meeting rooms and canteens, for example, will all require a slightly different approach. Green, in particular, has become a popular interior colour recently, with its instant association with nature and sustainability. And with the well-known link between nature and wellbeing, it’s undoubtedly a colour to consider for commercial buildings, particularly areas where a calming, restful space is needed.
Carefully considered colour schemes for commercial buildings such as offices can benefit users by assisting with wayfinding, wellbeing and even productivity. With the majority of people still working from home at the moment, now is the ideal time to refresh workplaces to create an inviting interior that staff will look forward to returning to. Here, Crown Paints’ Colour Consultant, Kathryn Lloyd, addresses how to style a fresh and on-trend colour scheme which will tick all the right boxes. CROWN PAINTS
Wellness and wellbeing When it comes to our health and wellbeing, the use of colour is essential as it plays a major role in the overall atmosphere in a commercial building’s interior. Colour is almost entirely subjective, which means that every individual responds to different shades uniquely, so preferences can’t always be generalised. Culture, language and memories all contribute towards the impact colour has on our behaviour. The field of colour psychology explores the impact colour has on human behaviour. While this remains an area where there is so much more to learn, continuous research is developing our knowledge and understanding. FC&A – APRIL – 2021
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As a general rule, muted shades are seen as calmer, while vibrant colours are more energetic, and this can have an effect both mentally and physically. Muted colours can set the scene for quiet individual working areas, while brighter bold shades encourage creativity and are best suited to meeting rooms or breakout areas. That said, there needs to be a balance – it’s relatively easy to propose calming blue or green hues in an office, but this could result in an uninspiring space. It has been shown that bland colour schemes can result in people being understimulated, leading to restlessness. In contrast, an overly busy scheme can cause irritability and over-stimulation.
