Dulux, a Colour Design to Office Design

When designing office spaces, it is important to consider functionality as well as beauty to ensure all employees feel welcomed, at ease and able to perform to the best of their ability. In this article, Dawn Scott, Senior Colour Designer at Dulux Trade, explains how this can be achieved with well-considered specification of colour.

People spend 80-90% of their time indoors and for many, a large proportion of this is spent at work. It is therefore crucial that office spacesare carefully designed to ensure that all occupants feel comfortable and inspired to do their very best each day. As such, when it comes to designing workspaces, building users should be placed at the heart of design. This means selecting products and colours that will serve their needs and help to improve their well-being and productivity.

When designing workspaces, it is important to assess each area of the office and identify how it will be used, as this will influence the design requirements. For example, in the main work areas and meeting rooms, employees are more likely to need concentration spaces, whereas break out areas may be designed to help people unwind or relax. However, it is also important to provide a mix of neutral and visually stimulating spaces, to provide employees with a choice on where they want to work, as everyone will have a personal preference, and there are also cultural associations with different colours. This is a particularly important factor for neurodivergent people as some might prefer calm spaces, while others might thrive in a workplace with brighter tones on the walls.

A great place to start is with a Biophilic colour palette, which reflects the balance and spectrum of colours found outdoors. By echoing the colours of nature, designers can begin to offset the sterile feel of a tech dominated space and help create an environment employees want to spend time in.

Entrances and lobbies...

Entrances and lobbies are the first space people will encounter when entering a building. First impressions count, which means it is essential to set the right atmosphere in these areas. Depending on what your business or brand stands for, you might want to create an uplifting atmosphere and if so, then brighter tones like the bright yellow High Summer or the violet Fragrant Peony will be the perfect option. On the other hand, if you want to create a more down-to-earth and trustworthy welcome, then muted shades of blues like Ocean Stone, greens like Pea Shoot and delicate tones like Sweet Embrace may be best.

The office...

Colour can be a great tool for improving focus and boosting productivity. In fact, carefully selecting colours for a workspace can positively impact employee productivity, engagement, creativity, and happiness. However, colours with high contrast and excessive brightness can strain eyes over time, which can lead to discomfort and fatigue. As such, it is recommended that nature-inspired shades, such as calm colours like Tranquil Dawn and Horizon View or the soft blue Serene Waters, should be applied to surfaces that are to be viewed for extended periods. This is because nature-inspired tones typically have softer contrasts and lower brightness levels, which allow for a more visually comfortable working environment
to be developed.

Break out spaces...

Everyone needs some downtime during the workday and colour can be used to help people relax. For break out spaces or areas like the kitchen that might be used during breaks, consider warmer shades that feel homely and welcoming. Brighter colours like Winter Pumpkin or deeper colours like Pink Sandstone work well - especially when complemented by a creamy neutral tone like Treasured Memory.

Conclusion

To bring the Biophilic theory to life, Dulux Trade partnered with BRE, Oliver Heath Design and other manufacturers to create the BRE Biophilic Office demonstrator – an innovative space which showcases how connectivity to the natural environment can have a positive impact on office occupants. The office demonstrator features colours from Dulux’s Biophilic colour palette. In conclusion, placing occupants at the center of colour and design is crucial to ensuring office spaces work for everyone. Using colour to lift people’s moods and help them make the most of their downtime, is just as important as creating a link back to nature to support productivity and well-being in the work area.