It’s 3 p.m. Though you’ve had plenty of coffee, your energy is on a decidedly downward trend. You try to struggle on the task at hand, but there’s something that’s just keeping you from concentrating. The answer might be right in front of you — literally. That is if that wall is the wrong paint color.
When it comes to workplace environments, bold might not be better. “Colors that are very saturated and not very bright — like emerald green and sapphire blue — generally promote an energy level that puts people into overdrive if they’re trying to do thoughtful work alone or to collaborate with others. They just can’t concentrate well,” says Sally Augustin, Ph.D., an environmental psychologist, and principal at Design With Science, via email. Augustin also cited a study by Andrew Elliot, a psychology professor at the University of Rochester, which found that exposure to the color red lead to distraction, worry and a reduced ability to focus on mental tasks.
