Boosting the morale and efficiency of employees can be as simple as a fresh coat of paint or a new uniform, according to colour experts. Studies have shown that shades in the workplace can influence workers' moods and can either negatively and positively impact on their productivity. Coloraction International director and colour designer Anjel O'Bryant says more and more business owners are hiring colour consultants to ensure their workplace gives off the right colour vibes.

O'Bryant says hues also have the ability to keep employees motivated. "If you don't have the right colours, it can kill a person's energy and vibration," she says. "I've noticed that when I do offices, it halves the absenteeism, because employees want to come to work."
O'Bryant says the type of business is an important factor in colour choice, but there are certain hues that generally work better in certain environments than others.

"For instance, the managing director often has a lot of stress, so the colour of the desk in their office is important," she says. "It's best not to have a black desk, as using a warm tone will stimulate the brain, while walls in blue help to calm and support their energy."

A study conducted by the University of Lund, in Sweden, found that red rooms are effective in stimulating people who are conducting monotonous tasks, whereas cool-coloured blue rooms enhance interesting tasks by putting workers in a calm, creative mood.

"Every single environment is designed specifically to work with the people who do the job in that space," O'Bryant says. "In jails, for instance, you've got to have colours that are going to be creative for rehabilitation."

NCS Colour Centre Australia design manager Rebecca Harkness says it's also important for global organisations to consider the cultural symbolism of the colours they plan to use. "Most colours do have negative and positive effects, so it's recommended to look into both sides of colours," Harkness says. "For example, white is usually innocent, but in Asian cultures it represents mourning."

Harkness says using colours associated with a company is a good way to reinforce its corporate identity and instil loyalty among employees as well as visitors. Anjel O'Bryant says dirty shades of brown and green and "nothing colours" such as whites, greys and blacks are generally best avoided in the workplace. And she says only businesses that specialise in relaxation should use lavender: "It puts you to sleep, so if you're doing meditation, a lavender room is good for that."