Key elements in the modern workspace
With the modern way of work being so different to traditional methods, workspace design is changing rapidly. Most notably it is becoming essential to have a calm office space where employees feel comfortable. Calming colours and a growing use of natural textures and themes have become so common that now they're almost expected.
However, when creating a space focusing on employee wellbeing it is important to understand the psychology behind how we feel. And this in turn can help you to create the most effective and calming workspace interiors.
The Power & Perception of Colour
While greens and more neutral beiges are taking the floor and becoming the most popular colours in office interiors, do they actually make a difference? It is true that most people find these colours calming – but not everyone does. People’s experiences, cultural and geographical differences can influence the way they think about colours – meaning that they have different connotations to different people. For example, green makes some people think of nature and others think of greed. So, while colour can make a huge difference it is often dependent on who uses the environment and how they feel about it. However, in general the human brain tends to respond to colours in a similar way.
The colour spectrum is extremely important when talking about colour psychology. warm colours such as red, orange and yellow are often linked to feelings of excitement, energy and fun due to longer wavelengths. On the other hand, cool colours, with their shorter wavelengths are connected to feelings of calmness, relaxation and improved focus. In fact, it has been discovered that individuals surrounded by blue had less anxiety and improved performance, showcasing that cool colours may be best to create calm and focused work areas.
Including warmer tones in certain spaces can stimulate creativity and energy. Yellow, for example, can evoke feelings of happiness and optimism, making it an ideal choice for a kitchen area or even small elements within a mainly cool office scheme.
The Role of Texture in Creating Comfort
It is a similar case for textures – though more people can feel the same way about them. For example, wood is almost guaranteed to feel calming as pretty much everyone associates this with nature. Incorporating more textures into a design makes a space feel more comfortable and homely – more so than just having lots of super smooth textures. This is because we associate textures such as rugs and certain fabrics with where we feel happiest – home.
While sleek shiny textures reinforce a refined atmosphere, organic shapes and natural textiles have the opposite effect directing our minds back to the calmness of nature.
Textures can also have a massive impact on how neurodiverse people feel within a space. For example, itchy or course fabrics can be irritating, and materials with a lot of texture can be distracting for many. On the other hand, some textures help to calm and make us feel more at home. Again, this is something that is super dependent on every individual!
Creating the Right Atmosphere
But while colours and textures are important concepts of interior design, it’s the way these elements are put together that really makes a difference.
Simply – the atmosphere. It’s the biggest influencer of feelings. If the atmosphere is calm, we immediately relax which is super important at work. Its everything; colours, textures, light, air flow, furniture and of course acoustics. But mainly it’s the way they work together to create something calm or exciting.
When we enter a space for the first time, all our senses come into play. We see colours that evoke specific emotions. We touch furniture and its texture influences whether we feel tense or at ease. We notice the scent and know if the air is stale. We hear sounds around us which can either distract or blend into pleasant background noise. Together these sensory inputs shape our perception and create something that we will always feel in that space.
The Overlooked Importance of Acoustics
One aspect of interior design that is often overlooked is sound. Yet acoustics can play a massive role in how we feel and focus. Poor acoustics can lead to distractions, discomfort and a significant drop in productivity. In fact, research shows that it can take up to 25 minutes to regain focus after a distraction, making noise management crucial in any workspace.
But it’s not just workspaces that need acoustic solutions. Hospitality and education spaces also need to implement solutions as 8 out of 10 diners have reported having left a restaurant, café or pub early because of the noise and 80% of teachers are stressed by classroom noise. Sound can be hugely overwhelming to all our brains particularly in crowded spaces with no sound management in place.
Even if a space has the calmest colour scheme ever it can still feel chaotic if its full of noise. That’s why acoustics are essential to your designs – the atmosphere will feel too cluttered and stressful without something to cut through and absorb all that sound. Simply bad acoustics can break a space – but good acoustics can make it!
In summary while elements such as colour and texture are important in workspace design it is how they are used together that creates a truly calm and productive atmosphere. By taking all sensory aspects into account you can create a workspace that not only looks good but also feels good to be in.