Go Bold in Your Office Color Schemes

Quiet beige cubicles and carpeting with off-white walls have been normal color schemes in office spaces for many years, but now trends show that bold colors are in and they can set the tone for a positive office experience.

Read on and see what colors and office designs can do for your space and brand.

What is Color?

Light bounces off or reflects off an object and we see the colors. Color is “the aspect of things caused by differing qualities of light being reflected or emitted by them” as defined by Pantone.com.

We interpret the colors and they can influence our energy levels and emotions. And those personal traits influence how well we perform our jobs.

How Colors Impact Office Moods and Well-Being

Colors add depth, and warmth, and stir up creativity—or end up creating a dull environment, depending on your color scheme.

Imagine having an office decorated all in white: walls, chairs, and cubicles. You’re lost in a sea of white. It would seem stark, strange, and even disorienting. Browns and other monotone color schemes wouldn’t work, either.

Who wants to work surrounded by gray cinder-block walls?

Now, if those gray walls had hardwood décor or splashes of magenta they could be fun.


Photo: Source International Axis Chair

On the 2010 Office Furniture Office Inspirations web page, you can compare various office settings and see how colors and furnishings establish the setting and tone so work areas can feel spacious and inviting.

In a preview of the upcoming industry trade show NeoCon in Chicago, June 2023, interior designer Pallavi Dean of Roar, a Dubai-based interior design studio, told DeZeen magazine that, “The safe beige, grey, and white walls are on their way out.”

She says bold hues and darker tones add depth to space.


Photo: Source International Scape Seating

Click on The Modern Industrial Office which uses wood, metal, and red brick. Let in plenty of light and the space can convey strength and efficiency instead of being dark and overpowering.


Photo: Source International Lore Chair

Dean also believes, “We’re leaving the haven of neutrals and stepping into a rainbow!”

Look at the Abstract Modern Office and how a range of bold colors creates a playful and energetic atmosphere.

What color patterns are right for your office?

It will depend on the ambiance you want to create, so read the listing of colors and the moods they create.

Qualities of Colors and Their Impact

As you consider color schemes, remember that every color has variations. So there isn’t just one blue or red, but there are numerous shades of light blue leading to a color like teal and darker blues.

The advice of Dean is to, “Tread with caution when you choose your shade; it can impact your mood and change your perception of the size of your space.”

A comprehensive summary is found in a timeless article in Smashing Magazine which lists:

  • Warm colors: red, yellow, and orange—think autumn leaves.
  • Cool colors: green, blue, and purple—water and night. These colors are relaxing.
  • Neutral colors: black, white, gray, brown, beige, and tan. These colors serve as backgrounds and can convey elegance. Brown offers warmth and wholesomeness.

Shades of blue may help reduce tensions, foster relaxation, and lead to greater employee output while yellows can get creative juices flowing. A 2018 article in LinkedIn’s Pulse, “The Surprising Effect of Color in the Office” says that “white is the worst color to paint the office” since it’s sterile and can “hinder productivity.”

Match Furnishings with Your Environment

Creating the best office designs and color schemes for your office has never been easier. If you want to refresh your office to reflect your brand and make your space a destination, then choose from the types of furnishings in the color patterns that work best.

For example, the DARRAN Chameleon Workspace comes in a variety of veneer, laminate, and metal finishes.


Photo: DARRAN Chameleon Workspace

It might fit with the Green Office or the Abstract Modern Office, depending on the colors you choose.


Photo: Rouillard Lead X Chair

Choose the right office color schemes of your ergonomic chairs and lounge furniture to blend in.

Leverage Color for Maximum Office Productivity


Photo: Source International Repeat Benches

You’re in control of your office space—from workstations to the colors of your breakroom. The available color combinations for a range of modular furniture give you the opportunity to make an environment that reflects your brand and sets the tone for your team.

Benefit from Office Color Schemes Experts

Plan your space and choose office color schemes for furnishings with expert input from the team at 2010 Office Furniture. They have over a half-century of experience assisting clients who are among Southern California’s most distinguished corporations, nonprofits, and small businesses.

Contact them with your project needs and questions.

Read Also: Design Your Office Space for Residential Comfort and Professional Results
Main Photo: Stylex Dau Seating
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: DARRAN, Rouillard, Source International & Stylex

Planning Office Space for Improved Inter-Office Relationships and Greater Employee Well-Being

A well-planned office space can improve relationships in the office and boost an employee’s overall well-being. The result is a reduction in issues like absenteeism and low output. Your environment benefits both the mindset and the physical health of your team.

Think of the office as a place where healthy relationships are needed to complete tasks.

Let’s look at easy ways to refresh a design and plan space so people have a sense of connection to their work and with each other.

Plan for Daylight

Sunshine is abundant everywhere in Southern California—from Riverside and Ontario to the beaches of Los Angeles County and Orange County. Workers with plenty of sunshine enjoy higher morale during the day and are more rested when sleeping at night.

How do you harness light?

Installing light tubes is an easy way to let more daylight into otherwise darkened spaces. If the roof isn’t accessible, then get the most you can from light streaming through windows.

Minimize the use of solid partitions when possible and reduce the height of cubicle walls.

Artificial light is still necessary so use ergonomic task lighting and also use bright colors in the breakroom so it feels as airy and relaxed as possible.

An architectural and interior design firm, Bockus Payne, moved locations and designed their new office around daylight. Company executives found that the team was more likely to greet each other positively than they had before.

Their experience is described in an article on Workdesign.com, “How Physical Spaces Shape Human Relationships and Emotional Well-Being.”

Even a design firm has to learn lessons. Here’s something else they learned: keep partitions as low as possible.

Reduce the Height of Partitions

Privacy is necessary, but partitions can make someone feel like they’re working in a closet.


Photo: Loftwall Flox Room Divider

When Bockus Payne moved offices, they learned their partitions were too high and described the change:

“The new office balances separation and a completely open environment, with lower-height panels that make it easier to interact and stay connected while still allowing people to pin up personal items, calendars, and notes.”

The result is a work environment that’s friendly and vibrant. Social relationships are a major bonus when employees are collaborating and problem-solving with peers.

Use open-plan benching arrangements and cubicles that meet the needs of your team like the Maverick Apex Open Plan Desking. It’s a modular solution that can be used with just a few people or configured for a team that’s growing.


Photo: HON Concinnity Desk

Another approach is to use a model like the HON Concinnity Desk with a partition that either rests on the floor or on a desktop like the Loftwall Hitch Space Divider.

Accommodate Different Generations and Personalities

Who are your peers at work?

Your colleagues may be quite different from each other in age and personality. This can impact work habits. One person may be most comfortable with meetings around a more formal conference table, while someone else can interact much more comfortably with a cup of coffee or tea in a breakroom or lounge setting.

Different environments affect people and their abilities to communicate with each other.


Photo: DARRAN Chameleon Workspace

Don’t consider that a problem or a barrier to accomplishing tasks and getting along as a team.

Use office designs to bring out the best in each other by planning different types of spaces within a larger office setting.

Let’s say your company is a professional services firm in Irvine or in Santa Monica so you want it to look neat, orderly, and convey expertise and credibility.

But that doesn’t mean the furnishings have to be rigid.

Modular lounge furniture comes in all styles and designs so you can have traditional-looking private executive offices with desks like the Cherryman Emerald Desk. Then you can incorporate lounge areas with furniture that’s comfortable and fun to move around, like the Krug Zola Modular Lounge Seating arrangement.


Photo: Krug Zola Lounge Seating

Browse through the 2010 Office Inspirations page to see the various office designs that are showcased. See how the colors and fabrics blend to create specific office environments.


Photo: 9 to 5 Seating Lilly Office Reception Chairs

Remember that your goal is planning for positive interactions in a supportive office setting.

The Value of Experience

Get input on your project from the team at 2010 Office Furniture. They have over a combined half-century of experience working with clients in different industries. The organizations are among Southern California’s most distinguished corporations, universities, and small businesses.

2010 Office Furniture offers space planning so you can feel confident in choosing just the right furnishings.

Contact them with your questions and project needs.

Read Also: Harnessing the Benefits of Collaborative Workspaces
Main Photo: Loftwall Gravity Acoustic Divider
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: 9 to 5 Seating, DARRAN, HON,  Krug, Loftwall, Maverick

Creative Ways to Plan and Design a High-Performance Office Space

A high-performance office space isn’t just a sea of cubicles or workstations. You can have rows of open-plan bench seating or enclosed private offices but neither of those may encourage an atmosphere of goodwill and collaboration.

What can?

Furnishings that fit spaces defined for different needs.

Depending on their moods, many people like to move from one setting to another to finish their tasks.

What are the personalities of your team and how can planning and designing a variety of spaces develop a high-performance office environment?

Because you’re designing spaces that let people adapt to their individual needs.

The Purpose of Office Space

An office is an environment where work is done in support of a company’s goals. Think back to the 1950s and 1960s and you’ll see how drastically offices have evolved.

You may not remember the GM plant in Van Nuys but that’s a great example of an assembly line where the office space supported a highly regimented workflow. The aerospace, automotive, and entertainment industries reigned supreme.

Office spaces were functional with little thought given to personal comfort. The office was more of a one size fits all concept versus a flexible or multi-use idea.

How does your company or nonprofit organization operate? Let’s see how you might incorporate more personal comfort and use different spaces for different stages of product development or carrying out services.

Brainstorming Spaces

Tossing around ideas is important for just about any type of business. If your company in Orange County designs robots, then you’re conceptualizing the uses of a tool like a robotic arm and how you’ll improve the functionality.

If you’re a nonprofit with after-school programs in the San Gabriel Valley, you also have a conceptual phase. That could be identifying how to make your services more efficient. Perhaps it’s how to put a creative fundraiser into action.

Maybe you’re an engineering firm in the Ontario, California area and you’re bidding on a municipal construction contract. You need input on what to include so you don’t miss important elements.

Your bottom line is turning ideas into action and solutions.

What makes for a high-performance office space for brainstorming?

Society has become casual, especially in Southern California. Some communities, like Hollywood, have been re-designed so people can work close to where they live. There’s a co-mingling of our personal and professional lives in ways that didn’t exist during the height of our industrial output.


Photo: Humanscale Element Vision Desktop Light

Plan and design spaces that have the fabrics, colors, and feel of home with the durability of commercial spaces. Bring in accessories like ergonomic lighting, a moveable whiteboard, and office plants to design a lounge that’s both relaxing and offers surroundings for brainstorming.


Photo: Allermuir Kin Chair

You can brainstorm in a traditional conference room setting with the requisite chairs and conference tables, or you can change your options using modular furniture with a personal touch.


Photo: Global Ballara Lounge Seating

Look into the Global Ballera Lounge Seating arrangement. It can fit in an environment like a law firm in downtown LA or a grassroots nonprofit in Sherman Oaks. Want something more playful and just as functional? Try the Arcadia Lounge Seating and Bench. Choose from bold color options and an array of seating arrangements.


Photo: Arcadia Serafinita Lounge Seating and Bench

So what happens when it’s time to get back to the desk?

The Get-the-Work-Done Space

Once brainstorming finishes, each person retreats and focuses on their individual tasks.

Your work may be processing donations, analyzing enrollment data in a university, or project managing complex web designs. You could be designing marketing collateral, troubleshooting issues for clients, or managing a portfolio of sales accounts.

And you need a high-performance office space for focus to concentrate, perform and get things done.

Try the HON Abound Height Adjustable Workstation, designed for numerous configurations that meet the needs for one person or a team of people working together.


Photo: Enwork Cayman Desk

Private offices can use a model like the Enwork Cayman Desk with pleasing lines and the ability to add needed accessories.

Sometimes you need to get away from the desk and have relaxed personal space.

Take a Breather Space

Let’s say you get a call or you’re mulling over a report and you just need to get up from your desk. Stretch breaks can give you the breather you need and so can relocating to modular furniture. It’s useful for arranging into group spaces and serving individual needs, too. The furnishings are made as multi-use solutions.


Photo: OFS Coact Lounge Seating

The OFS Coact Lounge Seating is designed to fit in a private office or a social setting like a café. Plenty of privacy options are available so you can have alone space but not feel lonely.

A lounge space with just a few seats pulled together is also ideal for meeting with clients or vendors in casual conversations. They can feel welcomed but not isolated.

Don’t forget the break room. This casual space can be a valuable area to create stimulating conversations where people can exchange useful insights over coffee or lunch. Get ideas on how you can furnish this space by visiting the 2010 Office Inspirations page and browsing through modern breakrooms.

Now, how about training spaces?

Learning Together Spaces

Need to tackle compliance issues or similar topics?

Establish training spaces that are just right for your team. Resources you can use include architectural walls in open floor plans, specially designed tables for training, and stackable tables and chairs.

Set up a multi-media space for videoconferencing or meeting virtually with clients or employees working remotely.

Rely on Experience for High-Performance Office Space Setups

Plan and design spaces to get the highest possible performance and engagement from the talent you hire.

Contact the team at 2010 Office Space, a company with a combined half-century of experience planning spaces and furnishing for clients who are among Southern California’s most distinguished for-profit corporations and not-for-profit organizations.

Let them know your needs and ask how you can maximize your spaces.

Read Also: Plan Your Office Branding for the Employee Experience
Main Photo: OFS Applause Table
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Allermuir, Arcadia Contract, Enwork, Global, Humanscale, and OFS

Choreograph Your Space: Glide with Pantone Color of the Year 2026 Cloud Dancer

Via Seating Onda Chair and Orbit Chair for Pantone Color of the Year 2026 Cloud Dancer

Head in the clouds?  Pantone’s Color of the Year 2026 suggests you may be on the right on trend.

In the ever-changing landscape of office design, we’re leaving behind the cold, industrial grays of yesteryear. As we glide into 2026, workspaces are craving a more “atmospheric” vibe—a sweet spot where productivity meets mental ease. Meet Cloud Dancer, Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year, ready to transform your office into a haven of creativity and calm.

Cloud Dancer isn’t merely a hue; it’s a revolution. This dreamy, off-white shade embodies a world yearning for clarity, fluidity, and that elusive “flow” state. In the realm of commercial office furniture and interior design, Cloud Dancer signals a shift from sterile to soulful, embracing a human-centric approach.

IN A NUTSHELL: As Pantone Color of the Year 2026, Cloud Dancer is a sophisticated neutral that reduces visual clutter. Ideal for reception areas, private offices, and conference rooms, the shade helps to enhance office environments and inspires serenity, creativity and groundbreaking ideas. Embrace simplicity and elevate your professional office space with Cloud Dancer.

Friant Novo Workstations in Pantone Color of the Year 2026 Cloud Dancer
Photo: Friant Novo Workstations

What is Cloud Dancer? Breaking Down the Pantone Color of the Year 2026 Aesthetic

Cloud Dancer might seem like just another off-white at first, but it truly shines when it meets light and texture. Unlike the flashy “millennial pinks” or “bold primaries” of yesteryears, Cloud Dancer stands as a sophisticated neutral with cool, rhythmic undertones. It captures the essence of high-altitude light—clean, crisp, and undeniably luxurious.

By 2026, “The Office” has transformed into more than just a workspace; it’s a destination that rivals the coziness of home while empowering top-tier teamwork. Pantone’s choice of Cloud Dancer captures a worldwide yearning for mental clarity. In an era drowning in digital alerts and intricate data, this hue serves as a refreshing “visual palate cleanser.”

Global Bridges II System Media Lounge with Pantone Color of the Year 2026 Seating
Photo: Global Bridges II System Media Lounge with Seating in Cloud Dancer

Why “Cloud Dancer” is the Workplace’s New Best Friend

In the world of commercial design, color isn’t just about looking good—it’s about shaping behavior. Pantone Color of the Year 2026 Cloud Dancer isn’t merely a visual decor; it’s a calculated move in the art of influence.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CLOUD DANCER: Picture a workspace where movement is as natural as breathing. Enter Cloud Dancer, the design maestro that orchestrates a symphony of motion in modern offices. By weaving a subtle visual tapestry across desks, huddle rooms, and departments, it banishes the harsh contrasts of bold accent walls. This gentle flow state not only eases the mental load but also empowers employees to dive deep into their work, unlocking their full potential.

THE LIGHTING MAGIC OF CLOUD DANCER: In the world of commercial real estate, lighting is a tricky beast. You’re juggling natural sunlight streaming through windows with the brilliance of high-lumen LED overheads. Enter Cloud Dancer, the “chameleon” shade. It dances with the day, feeling fresh and invigorating under the morning sun. As evening approaches and the lights warm up, it stays cozy without losing its crispness, keeping your office looking sharp and professional around the clock.

Nevins Synk2 Seating in Two-Tone with Pantone Color of the Year 2026 Cloud Dancer
Photo: Nevins Synk2 Seating 

Choreographing the Modern Office: Your Room-by-Room Expert Instructor

Unlock the full potential of Cloud Dancer by seamlessly integrating it with your commercial furniture and architectural elements. Here’s your guide to infusing the 2026 aesthetic into your floor plan with flair and finesse.

RECEPTION & LOBBY SPACES: 

Your lobby is the stage where your brand waltzes with the world. It’s the first handshake with clients and the gateway for fresh talent. With Cloud Dancer, transform grand architectural elements—like a sinuous reception desk or towering acoustic panels—into a symphony of openness that captivates instantly.

Cloud Dancer, when combined with sleek matte metallic touches like brushed champagne or soft silver, paints a picture of a company that’s both open and visionary. It ditches the daunting “fortress” vibe of darker lobbies, welcoming guests into a space that feels fresh and inviting.

Friant Willow Reception Desk
Photo: Friant Willow Reception Desk

PRIVATE OFFICES:

Transform your executive suite with Pantone Color of the Year 2026 Cloud Dancer, the chic alternative to those old-school neutrals. This airy hue gives even the tiniest office the grandeur of a corner suite, making it the perfect setting for high-level decision-making. 

Picture this: sleek Cloud Dancer leather chairs paired with matte-lacquered storage units, all resting on natural wood floors or light oak desks. It’s the color of a leader who stays cool under pressure—your sanctuary of style and sophistication.

OFS Slate Private Executive Office
Photo: OFS Slate Private Executive Office

CONFERENCE & MEETING ROOMS:

Conference rooms often resemble a tangled mess of screens, cables, microphones, and swivel chairs. Enter Cloud Dancer—your secret weapon for visual tranquility. By choosing this hue for your table surface or acoustic baffling, you transform chaos into calm, creating a serene space that speaks volumes.

By lessening the room’s background noise, the ideas on the screen or the whiteboard take center stage. Cloud Dancer alleviates the “glare” commonly associated with pure white tables, making extended strategy sessions more comfortable for the eyes.

“THIRD SPACES” & BREAKOUT ZONES:

In today’s dynamic workplaces, “soft” spaces are the new norm—think lounges and cafes where ideas flow freely. Enter Cloud Dancer, the perfect hue for these inviting areas. Picture bouclé-textured sofas or modular “pebble” seating in this airy shade, seamlessly blending professionalism with comfort. This “Human-Centric” design nudges employees to break away from their desks and spark collaboration.

Friant Raffe Coffee Table
Photo: Friant Raffe Coffee Table

Unlock Pantone Color of the Year 2026 Potential: Pairing Cloud Dancer with the Right Partner

Cloud Dancer is the chameleon of color palettes, effortlessly adapting to its surroundings. Its perfect balance allows it to sway between warm and cool tones, making it the ultimate team player in any design ensemble.

THE PROFESSIONAL:
Mood: Executive, Focused, Modern
Accent Pairing: Smoky Charcoal / Gunmetal Gray

THE HEALTH-CONSCIOUS:
Mood: Organic, Tranquil, Healing
Accent Pairing: Forest Greenery / Moss

THE INNOVATOR:
Mood: High-Tech, Dynamic, Cutting-Edge
Accent Pairing: Electric Ultramarine Blue

THE ROMANTIC:
Mood: Sensitive, Intimate, Amorous
Accent Pairing: Rosy Red / Blushing Pink

Global Bridges II System Open Plan Benching
Photo: Global Bridges II System Open Plan Benching

Dance With Materials that Get You Moving

To avoid having a commercial space feeling monotonous, texture is your best ally. When selecting furniture in Cloud Dancer, opt for materials that interact and play with shadows and light.

ACOUSTIC FELT: Cloud Dancer felt panels can elevate your walls with a touch of modern elegance but also hush the hustle and bustle of office life, creating a tranquil oasis for productivity.

OBSCURED GLASS: Incorporate obscured or frosted glass partitions with Cloud Dancer frames to provide office privacy while maintaining the “airy” feeling of the open floor plan.

EARTHY CERAMICS: Use Cloud Dancer in ceramic pots, planters or other office accessories for tables or desks to add a tactile yet soft personal touch.

TEXTURED METAL: Perforated Cloud Dancer metals on storage cabinets and lockers or powder-coated steel on work surface legs add a cool, almost raw industrial element that softens the overall vibe


Photo: Global Bridges II System Open Plan Benching


Photo: Global Prime Lockers

The Final Step: A Victorious Leap into 2026

As we gaze into the future of work, one thing is crystal clear: the office should nurture the human spirit just as much as it boosts profits. Enter Pantone’s Cloud Dancer, the ideal hue to usher in this transformation. This vibrant color embodies optimism, clarity, and dynamic energy, setting the stage for a more inspiring workplace.

When you choreograph your office furniture and environment using this shade, you’re not just following a trend; you’re designing a space that breathes, inspires, and evolves. 2026 is the year to break free from the heavy aesthetics of the past and embrace a sense of freedom and movement.  2026 is here, and there’s no better time to dance among the clouds.

OFS Room Phone Booths in Pantone Color of the Year 2026 Cloud Dancer

Get Expert Help: Infuse Pantone Color of the Year 2026 Into Your Office

Need professional help incorporating this year’s color into your office?  You’ve come to the right place!  Get expert guidance on Pantone Color of the Year 2026 Cloud Dancer and how to infuse this neutral, airy hue into your workrooms. The team at 2010 Office Furniture can assist you in planning all your professional work spaces, including providing work-from-home office solutions. We design environments that enhance employee engagement and boost overall productivity.

To get started, contact us today and share your project details and requirements.  From large businesses, non-profits, government projects and small business, our office furniture experts are here to help!

Read Also: You Do Hue: Choosing the Best Office Color to Boost Productivity in Your Workspace
Main Photo: Via Seating Onda and Orbit Chairs
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Friant, Global, Nevins, OFS & Via Seating

Design Your Office to Reflect Your Company’s Values and Mission for an Uplifting Experience

Plan and design your office space as an uplifting experience that shows your company’s values and conveys its mission. Take a cue from The Broad Foundation and Broad Family Offices in Los Angeles.

The famed museum named after Eli Broad got a fresh start when they moved their offices from Century City to downtown Los Angeles and the Bunker Hill area, close to the Broad museum.

The office design is a “series of curated spatial experiences,” as described on the website Office Snapshots.com.

The experience begins with the Education Library, “a warm, textured inviting social space designed to express the Foundation’s emphasis on education.”

The architecture has clean simple lines with glass for transparency and private offices with inspiring views of the Los Angeles skyline.

Design Your Office Space as an Inspiring Experience

Now maybe you’re an entrepreneurial start-up on a tight budget or a well-established for-profit or non-profit corporation wanting to refresh your office space.

Think about the experience your visitors may have as well as your employees.

What’s the first thing they see when they enter?

Likely it’s the reception area.

You can have an inviting first impression with your mission statement graphically displayed in the foyer and a reception desk that allows interaction versus one that acts as a barrier. Find one that fits with your brand, fits well into the available space, and gives the vibe that you want your customers to feel.


Photo: Krug Adesso Reception Desk

Desk solutions are versatile. The DeskMakers Overture Reception Desk makes it possible to customize the appearance using an earthen, wood outer shell or colors that are eye-catching and contrast.


Photo: Allermuir Axyl Chair

Your guest chairs can be multi-colored for a bright, cheery appearance or they can be uniform to blend in with your company’s brand palette. Compare the different tones and styles.


Photo: SitOnIt Seating Achieve Chair

The SitOnIt Seating Achieve Chair has a subtle curvature in the back and a contoured seat for ergonomic comfort.


Photo: OCI Seating Capa Chair

The OCI Seating Capa Chair and Table offers sturdy but relaxed comfort and allows for different functions. It can either serve as a lobby chair or lounge chair.


Photo: Allermuir Famiglia Chair and Lounge Seating

Make a statement with the Allermuir Famiglia Chair And Lounge Seating. It’s a unique style and offers plenty of comfort.

Why not combine a lounge feel with your lobby?

Add a stylish bookcase like the OFS Hitch Shelf and Storage which can hold books, magazines from your industry, and photo displays of your company’s achievements. Arrange the look with some plants and add a splash of nature with a maintenance-free green wall, the Nevins Bio Canvas Frame.

Planning this space is fun and shows that you value every part of your office. The reception area doesn’t have to be a throwaway space where people wait until they’re taken someplace more important.

What about your interior spaces?

How can you create a memorable experience that engages your employees and visitors, whether it be clients or vendors?

Take Clues from Your Brand

Refer to the look and feel of your website. Does it communicate trust, inspire creativity, or offer a way for users to fulfill dreams?

Look at your office in a way that’s similar to your website.

You may have very few visitors and the employees might be the only ones in the office nearly the entire time. But communicating with them reinforces that your company is valuable and they have a special place to work.

Now use those clues and visit the 2010 Office Inspiration page, where you can browse through a wide selection of office plans and designs.

Get Design Inspiration

Choose from a selection of office plans and designs that fits your company’s brand. It can be as varied as the personalities of your employees.


Photo: Stylex Trim Table

The Modern Industrial Office conveys strength. The Resimercial Office brings the most durable elements of home into the corporate environment. The Upbeat Contemporary Office shows versatile seating arrangements using modular lounge furniture and unique lounge-style seating.

Here’s another way to evaluate your needs.

Larger companies can have departments choose their own specific office design. Maybe a marketing and sales team would want the fun of splashy colors while the engineering team would choose a minimalist design or the industrial strength option.

The choices you make are based on the message you want to convey.

Bring it all together so that your office space is designed and planned for a positive experience.

Design Your Office Space as Unique as Your Brand

Designing and planning the space that meets your needs happens best with experienced input so you eliminate hunches and have confidence in the choices you make.

The team at 2010 Office Furniture has more than a combined half century of experience working with clients who are among Southern California’s most distinguished corporations, universities, and small businesses.

The 2010 Office advisors can show you how to arrange workflow, choose the right furnishings, and select the functionality and feel for your office. This way, your employees feel well-served and supported.

Contact 2010 Office Furniture with your project needs and questions.

Read Also: Plan Your Office Branding for the Employee Experience
Main Photo: Source International Scape Lounge
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Allermuir, Krug, OCI Seating, SitOnIt Seating, Source International and Stylex

Office Furnishings and Ideas for Keeping Your Employees’ Energy Levels and Moral High

When considering office furnishings, let’s first remember a few things.

Energy to power office buildings and personal energy for employees are both essential so we don’t come to a grinding halt.

Where does the energy in the office come from? That may seem obvious when the electricity is on. How about your windows?

A British start-up named Water Filled Glass is doing just that—using water-filled glass to heat and cool buildings. Their window technology uses a thin layer of water between glass panes that absorbs heat from sunlight or other sources like heat leaving a room.

The warm water pumps through pipes to cooler areas of the building or is directed into thermal storage.

It’s an innovative solution that turns everyday materials we’re familiar with and turns them into sustainable energy.

How about your people? Humans are more complex than glass.

It’s always important to design and plan your office to energize your team and reduce fatigue factors that result in conditions like brain fog or absenteeism.

Energy for your office building is important, as is energy for your company’s employees.

What will energize your team? Another way of looking at the same issue is using resources to keep your employees engaged in their work.

Start with Ergonomics

You know what happens when you have office furnishings such as a wobbly desk or a chair that doesn’t fit quite right and hurts your lower back? You’re distracted and you expend extra energy trying to stay comfortable and overcome your physical obstacles.

Ergonomics benefit workers because the equipment and surroundings are fitted to their needs and people can work more efficiently instead of expending excess energy.


Photo: Loftwall Rooms Wall System

Assess your work environment and see how the right types of quality ergonomic chairs and workstations will serve your team.


Photo: Friant Amenity Task Seating

An ergonomic chair is one that lets the user sit comfortably without strain on the elbows or knees and provides needed lower back support. A good chair will also shift easily with the user’s movements so the body isn’t confined or working against the chair.

Photo: Humanscale Diffrient Smart Chair
A good example is the Humanscale Diffrient Smart Chair that’s easy to use and adjust, including a weight-sensitive, mechanism-free recline.


Photo: SitOnIt Seating Focus Chair

The SitOnIt Seating Focus Chair has wide seat cushions and padded arms that “provides a new standard to ergonomics.”


Photo: Nucraft Alev Table

Workstations are essential and fit in any office setting.

Want a sleek and unencumbered look? The ODS Artiv Desk has a minimalistic appearance and fits into any style office, including the style known as the Scandinavian office. The ODS Artiv Desk is designed for excellent wire management. Wires are routed along the structure below the desktops using wire trays that are hooked to the aluminum beam.

Ergonomics also includes details like lighting and sound.

Maximize Sunlight

Sunlight is a big deal because getting enough of it helps people stay alert during the day so they sleep more deeply at night. Get as much light flowing through the office as possible by using translucent dividers in place of solid walls. If natural light is limited, or if your office is on a middle floor, then use the more efficient LED ergonomic lighting solutions instead of fluorescent.

Reduce eye strain with LED lights. They convert up to 95 percent of their energy and only about 5 percent is considered “wasted.” The lifespan of LED lighting can be more than double the lifespan of fluorescent lights and LED doesn’t contain potentially harmful gasses.

Looking for lighting solutions?

The best task lighting solutions are ones that direct the right amount of light where you need it most so you don’t have to squint.


Photo: Workrite Fundamentals 2 Desktop Lighting

The Humanscale Horizon 2.0 Desktop Light and the Workrite Fundamentals 2 Desktop Light are glare free and are made for long life spans.

Channel Sound

Sound is a major disrupter for people trying to concentrate and it’s one of the most common criticisms of the open office floor plans. Walls of private offices were taken down so workers could collaborate. But the problem was neighboring conversations and chatter from private phone calls and keyboards clicking away irritated employees trying to concentrate.

Earbuds and headphones were used to block out the outside world and people who were in close proximity became strangers to each other.


Photo: Loftwall Arbor Wall Panel

Accessories like sound panels and green walls help absorb sound waves. But another strategy is letting workers do their work in semi-private areas if they want or settle in lounge areas for informal meetings.

Promote Mobility

Using modular lounge furniture is a way of promoting mobility. Stretches at desks and getting up every 90 minutes to 2 hours for quick walks keeps blood circulating and is a natural way to keep a person’s energy levels up.

Why?

As WebMD explains, “Oxygen-rich blood surges through your body to your heart, muscles, and brain.” Blood provides the nutrition a body needs.

Here’s an idea. Make sure people stay hydrated. It’s another way to keep their energy up. Encourage them to get up regularly and take a long stroll to the breakroom to get water so they don’t get thirsty.

Office Furnishings for an Energy Boost

Well-planned office spaces that have the right furnishings take deliberate planning. Consult with 2010 Office Furniture on developing a space that’s right for you, whether you’re refreshing an existing office space or designing one that’s entirely new.

2010 Office Furniture’s clients are among the most distinguished corporations, universities, and small businesses in Los Angeles County, Orange County and the Inland Empire.

Contact the team at 2010 Office and share your project needs.

Read Also: Create an Office Wellness Plan for Optimal Thinking
Main Photo: ERG International Carlton Stools
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: ERG International, Friant, Humanscale, Loftwall, Nucraft, SitOnIt Seating and Workrite

Easy Guide to Calculating Space for Best Office Design Layout

Companies that operate smoothly do so not just because because goals are clearly aligned with the mission and a positive culture has been built.  They’ve been able to achieve and offer the best office design layout for their operations and employees,  Fortune magazine listed several companies in Southern California in their “Best Places to Work in 2022” roundup.

Tustin-based New American Funding was listed as the 18th best place to work in the United States. Other businesses included in the listing were the Cheesecake Factory in Calabasas, the Panda Restaurant Group out of Rosemead, and Scripps Health in San Diego.

Companies on the Fortune list are part of a certification program that includes looking at the employee experience.

How do you create a great employee experience?

You ensure that people know their purpose. They know why they’re part of a team. And they’re comfortable in their workspace which is planned effectively.

Let’s take a closer look at how planning an office design to create a great company culture can make a huge difference.

Define Spaces

Planning an office space isn’t just a matter of placing cubicles and workstations in the right places. Well-designed offices have a structure that allows for a smooth flow of information and employee collaboration.


Photo: AMQ Activ Height Adjustable Workstation

Most work gets completed at workstations, but employees who want to are encouraged to move around and work where they’re comfortable. Employees are valued for their talents and not just for following rigid protocols.

Inter-office communication is important, but spaces are also offered for privacy. Informal areas known as touchdown spaces allow for personal conversations and meetings outside of more formal or closed conference rooms.


Photo: OCI Seating Breeze Lounge Seating and Table

Touchdown spaces are created using the styles of modular lounge furniture that suit your surroundings. Add indoor plants for a green touch. This also welcomes remote workers who are coming in for meetings and gives them a place to operate from.

Let Light Flow for Best Design Office Layout

Natural light is a highly desired office perk. Sunshine flowing through the office lifts moods and helps employees maintain a healthy rhythm of waking and sleeping. Various lists show that the LA area, including Ontario in the Inland Empire, gets over 280 days of sunshine annually.


Photo: Loftwall Hitch Space Divider

To let as much light as possible spread through the office, use translucent floor-to-desk panels and dividers for desks and workstations like the Loftwell Hitch Space Divider. Ergonomic lighting solutions can pinpoint the amount of light needed and will reduce eye strain.

Apply Ergonomic Design

You want to fit your equipment to the work habits and physical needs of employees. OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) defines ergonomics as “The science of adapting workstations, tools, equipment, and job techniques to be compatible with human anatomy and physiology.” The goal is to reduce the risk of stress on the body.


Photo: Global Princeton Design Workstation

Use furnishings that promote the well-being of your employees like ergonomic chairs and height-adjustable desks.

OSHA doesn’t have specific ergonomic standards, but this overview of ergonomics describes the risk factors:

  • Awkward postures, or unsupported positions that stretch physical limits, can compress nerves and irritate tendons
  • Static postures, or positions that a worker must hold for long periods of time, can restrict blood flow and damage muscles

(Source from the Timber Products Manufacturers Association)

Fitting your employees with desks and other furnishings that support them shows that you’re investing in their well-being and it will keep them engaged in their work.

Know Your Colors to Achieve Best Design Office Layout

Bring a cohesive color design to your office using color schemes and fabrics that reflect your brand and meet the overall personalities of your employees. Choose to go bold and inspire passion with shades of red and orange, or for quiet and relaxation use shades of blue.


Photo: Senator Group Haven Pods Meeting Lounge

A creative design can use a variety of shades and colors to vary the atmosphere. See the 2010 Office Inspiration page to see the possibilities.

Some offices design their spaces using a local look and feel when possible. The offices of Google in Pittsburgh make use of a red brick interior to pay homage to the region’s industrial heritage.

We know how much urban sprawl there is from Santa Monica to Redlands, but nature is still on display. The mountains, oceans, and late afternoon sunshine offer lots of colors to incorporate into our office environments.

The Santa Monica Mountains and San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena have a purple hue; the hills around Malibu and in Orange County have green and golden tones. Redlands still has orange groves and the Chino and Chino Hills area still has farmland, so tap into this dimension.

Incorporating local elements into your colors and overall office design gives your employees a sense of continuity. They’re not shutting the door on one place to enter another world but are blending the environments in a pleasing way.

Stay Flexible

Flexibility remains key to retaining top talent and making the corporate office a desirable place to work. Be flexible in different ways. Allow your team to take their laptops and phones away from their workstations and go to lounges if they decide they can work better there.

And if they stay at their desks, then encourage your employees to stretch once an hour and get up for a brief walk every couple of hours. Movement helps the blood circulate throughout the body and to the brain. This reduces foggy thinking and aids in clarity throughout the day.

Flexibility also means accommodating remote employees who split time between their home office and the corporate office. Have dedicated space for teleconferencing by using architectural walls like the OFS Obeya Architectural Structure.

Involve them on the inside, too. Ask members of your remote team to come into the office and lead meetings when appropriate. This way, they’re involved internally and feel as engaged as someone coming in full-time.

Plan for a Great Office Environment

Looking for help and guidance to create the beast office design layout? Contact the team at 2010 Office Furniture on planning your floor space and choosing the furnishings that are right for your employees.

Tap into more than a half-century of combined professional experience that 2010 Office Furniture has earned in assisting clients who are recognized as Southern California’s most distinguished corporations, universities, and small businesses.

Read Also: Easy Guide to Calculating Space for Best Office Layout
Main Photo: Senator Group Mote Workstation
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: AMQ, Global, Loftwall, OCI Seating, Senator

Designing a Sustainable Office Environment

Interior designers are imagining a sustainable future for the products they create. The cubicle you erect or the next ergonomic chair you sit on may have come from a collection of commercial waste metal and fashioned into a product you can use for many years, thus contributing to the ongoing efforts for sustainable office design.

Read on to see how circular design, artificial intelligence, and sourcing local materials are inspiring this movement in product design and office furnishings.

Necessity Inspires Creativity

The life cycle of products is changing so when a product no longer serves its purpose, it can be transformed into something completely different. It’s a practice known as circular design. The trend will be featured during 3 Days of Design at NeoCon 2023 in Chicago June 12 – 14.

Issues bringing circular design to the forefront include environmental concerns and the desire to reuse materials instead of discarding everything. This extends the traditional life cycle of products. There’s also a push to source materials locally and reduce the cost of manufacturing products during a time of inflation.

Today’s modular office furniture fits current design trends because of the various benefits it offers.

3 Benefits of Modular Office Furnishings

MULTI-USE

Modular office furnishings are similar to the circular design and multi-use concept. Separate pieces of furniture can be brought together in a cohesive unit or used separately.

Think of a sectional sofa that can be used as one large unit or broken into sections. The same furnishings can fit appropriately in larger corporate environments, small business operations, and nonprofits.


Photo: DARRAN Honey 120° Workspace

Look at the variety of cubicles and workstations that can be used in a Fortune 500 corporation with teams of people or configured to be functional in an office of just a few people.


Photo: Scale 1:1 G Series Workstation and Desk Lounge

Something unique like the Scale 1:1 G-Series Nester Workstation and Desk Lounge adapts well to different office settings. The two-seater sofa is integrated with workstation capabilities.


Photo: Friant Novo Workstation

The Friant Novo Open Plan Workstation is another solution that adapts to various environments. It has whiteboard panels and acoustical panels made to diffuse sound.

DURABLE

Modular cubicles and workstations are easily configured by one person or just a few. They’re convenient to set up and add onto as needed, and they’re built to last for the sustainable office.


Photo: HON Accelerate Workstation

A leading brand that 2010 Office Furniture makes available is from the manufacturer HON which states on its website, “Thoughtful material choices, precise engineering, and lean manufacturing practices result in products that withstand extended use, multiple reconfigurations, and continue to look great over time.”

ACCOMMODATING

Photo: Friant System 2 Workstation

One of the greatest advantages of modular furniture is that pieces can fit the available space. The Friant System 2 workstation can have a variety of configurations. Several people from one department or who are working on a project can work and collaborate, or, if needed, one office manager can comfortably make use of it.

The products are made to support the sustainable office as much as possible. Friant Novo, under the heading Embracing a Green Sensibility, says it has “found a way to use 40% more fabric from each roll, resulting in less landfill waste.”

Cubicles have improved over the years, but other more dramatic changes are coming to offices.

Artificial Intelligence

As stated in Business New Daily, artificial technology is “expected to take digital technology out of the two-dimensional screen and bring it into the three-dimensional physical environment surrounding an individual.”

AI solutions are adding a futuristic twist to dictation and that’s another development coming to NeoCon 2023 as described in Dezeen magazine:

“While using AI in the creation of products or buildings is nothing new, last year saw an explosion in software such as the popular Midjourney, which converts text or audio information into computer-generated images.”

Imagine a meeting between a marketing team and graphic designers where someone describes a logo or image for marketing material and the group sees the result on screen.

How about sensors on ergonomic chairs to help employees keep their posture and avoid stress on the joints and lower back?

Sound far-fetched?

A new AI product, Tempo Move, delivers trainer-guided home workouts using smartphones or TVs and lets users check their form. Sensor technology is easy to implement for a variety of uses.


Photo: OFS Obeya Architectural Wall

Developments like this, along with the ongoing use of video conferencing, mean audio and visual spaces will take on greater importance. Consider the use of architectural walls to easily create these types of interactive centers.

No matter how technology changes, the goal of improving office settings and furnishings remains the same: caring for employees and helping them do their best.

Expertise for the Sustainable Office

Stay on top of office design trends to plan your spaces and use the furnishings that meet your needs the best. The team at 2010 Office Furniture has over 50 years of combined experience assisting clients who are among Southern California’s most recognizable brands.

Contact them with your project needs and questions.

Read Also: Illuminate Your Office Space Intelligently
Main Photo: OFS Modelo Chair
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: DARRAN, Friant, HON, OFS & Scale 1:1

Indulge with Pantone 2025 Color of the Year Mocha Mousse

2025 Color of the Year Darran Mocha Mousse Fion Lounge Chairs

It’s that time of the year again!…to announce the 2025 Color of the the Year.

With the end of 2024 approaching, the Pantone Color of the Year program meets once again to bring the design community and color enthusiasts together in a discussion about the relationship between color and culture. At the conclusion of this conversation, Pantone selects a color that captures the ambience and expectations of the new year—the Color of the Year.

Pantone Color Institute has declared PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse the Color of the Year for 2025.

2025 Color of the Year Darran Mocha Mousse OFS Fleet Tables and Stools
Photo: OFS Fleet Tables and Stools

A Little Background

Before diving into why the 2025 Color of the Year is Mocha Mousse, a little more background on the selection process is needed.

Pantone Color of the Year originally started off as an educational program with the purpose of drawing attention to how current events in global culture can be expressed through color. Nowadays, a global team of color experts at the Pantone Color Institute look all over the world for inspiration. This includes places like the entertainment and film industry, art collections, fashion, lifestyles, travel destinations and even socio-economic conditions. Inspiration doesn’t just come from the arts; new technologies can also influence the Color of the Year.

2025 Color of the Year Darran Mocha Mousse Darran Central Park Private Office
Photo: DARRAN Central Park Executive Private Office Suite

After much research and analysis on color trend forecasting, the global team come together and lend their different perspectives and weigh factors like color psychology and the mood of the global zeitgeist to identify the right color.

So Why Mocha Mousse?

Mocha Mousse, like all Color of the Years past, are deliberately named to tell a story.

Mocha Mousse is a warm brown hue that evokes the rich, satisfying qualities of chocolate and coffee. This color answers our desire for comfort. It is a gentle continuation of the 2024 Color of the Year, Peach Fuzz, which conjured feelings of kindness and tenderness.

2025 Color of the Year Darran Mocha Mousse OFS Heya Workstations
Photo: OFS Heya Mobile Workstations

And while Mocha Mousse is similar to Peach Fuzz in its peacefulness, this new shade represents a shift towards quiet luxury and sensorial richness. In Pantone’s Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman’s words, “…Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence… [and] extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe.” The message Pantone hopes to convey is to enjoy the little things—to treat yourself to small indulgences that bring an overall sense of comfort and make the world seem softer and lighter. 

2025 Color of the Year Darran Mocha Mousse Global Corby Wood Storage
Photo: Global Corby Wood Storage Collection

How Are Industries Using 2025 Color of the Year Mocha Mousse?

We are already seeings signs of brands utilizing the new color of the year.

Motorola, a long time Pantone partner, showcased Mocha Mousse with their latest line of phones.

2025 Color of the Year Darran Mocha Mousse Global Collaborative Workspaces
Photo: Global Collaborative Spaces Meeting & Media Table

The beauty industry is forecasting a subtle, elegant Mocha Mousse trend. Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year is popping up in fashion in the form of Mocha Mousse hair, earthy brown lips, blush and more.

Renowned fashion houses like Bottega, Loewe and Tory Burch are embracing Mocha Mousse by incorporating it into everyday wear.

2025 Color of the Year Darran Mocha Mousse OFS Ramble Workstations and Riggs Dividers
Photo: OFS Ramble Mobile Workstations & Riggs Work-surface Dividers

Mocha Mousse in Interior Design

Mocha Mousse is endlessly adaptable to any occasion and situation.

Interior designers have been loving brown lately, and the 2025 Color of the Year fits right in with the latest trends. When used on walls, Mocha Mousse transforms the space into a warm and inviting open area. The mellow hue creates a sense of intimacy and gives an organic feel because of its earthy tone, echoing our commitment to eco-conscious practices.

2025 Color of the Year Darran Mocha Mousse OFS Blush Seating
Photo: OFS Blush Lounge Soft Seating

If you don’t want it to take center stage, this color can be incorporated in accents such as sofas, throw pillows, rugs, ceramics and more. 

2025 Color of the Year Darran Mocha Mousse Darran Nomi Poufs
Photo: DARRAN Nomi Poufs

As noted by Pantone, Mocha Mousse has diverse applications, capable of being used alone or as a versatile foundation. Because of this, they recommend pairing Mocha Mousse with bright white for a modern look and natural feel. If white is too stark, Pantone created five unique color palettes that harmonize with the 2025 Color of the Year. Each have their own distinct feeling and mood, making customization a breeze.

2025 Color of the Year Darran Mocha Mousse Darran Tea Liaison Tables and Seating
Photo: DARRAN Teo Liaison Tables & Seating

A New Era of Decadence

Remember: the message of this year’s color is to convey a move towards comfort and warmth, and this resonates in emerging design trends. Inspired by “little treat” culture, the Pantone 2025 Color of the Year encapsulates the global desire for contentment and connection. Unlike the other vibrant or deep colors chosen by other companies as color of the year, Mocha Mousse stands out because it bridges the gap between trends and timelessness with its rich, earthy hue. Indulge in the things that make you happy—this year is all about the simple pleasures.

 

Read Also: Life’s a Peach!…With Pantone 2024 Color of the Year
Main Photo: DARRAN Fion Wingback Lounge Chairs
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: DARRAN, Global & OFS

You Do Hue: Choosing the Best Office Color to Boost Productivity in Your Workspace

Best Office Color Scandinavian Spaces Big Talk Chair

Choosing the right color palette for the office can be difficult. Before your can decide on best color for an office desk or best color for an office chair, you first need to understand the delicate science behind color, as well as other necessary considerations. There are a lot of factors to take into account: what industry your company belongs to; what message you want to deliver to both your employees and customer base; the atmosphere you want to create; and the size and shape of your office. Beyond that, there’s also an entire discipline called color psychology devoted to color and how it elicits different emotions.

Sounds challenging, right?

Here’s the good news: there are very few wrong answers when choosing the best office color to boost productivity and make your employees happy – even if some may offer more benefits than others.

Colors such as blue, green, and neutrals are great colors to consider when designing your workspace. Other bright pops of colors could work as accents.

Blue

Blue has been consistently noted as the best office color for productivity, and for good reason. This color has historical significance: in ancient times, it was believed to have mystical properties before becoming the color used for royalty and eventually turned into the standard hue for police uniforms and banks. Through all these changes, the factor that remained constant blue’s association with power, authority, safety and trust.

What does this mean for the office? Color psychologists claim that blue’s effect on emotions is hardwired into the human psyche. When we think of blue, we think of the sea and sky—two things linked to relaxation and freedom. Blue decreases blood pressure and stimulates the mind. It has a calming and creative effect that results in increased productivity, possibly making it the best color for office walls (next to neutrals).

Be careful in choosing what shade to use. Generally, dark shades can evoke sadness—like how cloudy days make one feel down and lethargic—while certain shades of light blue can make a room feel cold.


Photo: Senator Group Mote Seating


Photo: ERG International Carlton Lounge


Photo: Via Seating Splash Chair, Stylex Luna Lounge, Senator Group Orb Workstations

Green

Color psychology dictates that green is associated with tranquility, balance, and peacefulness. Green puts people at ease and balances moods because of its cultural significance as a symbol of growth, new life, and nature. Humans correlate green with the natural world and outdoors scenery; places where we go for peace and rest.

Symbols aside, green has numerous health benefits. The color has been scientifically proven to lessen eye strain and fatigue, leading to longer term focus and attention. Pops of green can be added to the office in the form of plants, which improve air quality and increase productivity while lowering anxiety, tension and stress. 

Use green as an opportunity to introduce freshness and vitality into the office. Since it’s linked to safety and calm, green is especially fitting for environments like counseling and psychiatric clinics, kindergartens, art therapy centers, hospitals, and dentist offices. 

Green and blue are the best office colors for ADHD, particularly those of hyperactive-impulsive presentations, because of their soothing effect.


Photo: Stylex Cove Lounge Sofa


Photo: Via Seating Vooom Chair


Photo: Scandinavian Spaces Pixel, Senator Group Play Storage, OFS Fleet Planters

Neutral Colors

With recent trends focusing on comfort and flexibility in the workplace, neutral colors are making waves in office design. Take, for example, the resimercial office: our present work culture blurs the line between work and home, resulting in the need to bring the comforts of home into the office. Neutral colors are a popular color scheme because of their soothing and reliable qualities. They include, but aren’t limited to, the colors beige, brown, cream, gray, taupe, white and black.

Muted shades like this represent newness and possibilities. Because of their inoffensive coloring, they are the most versatile types of color for areas like the office, front lobby, and break room. Neutrals also do very well in the home office, as the best office color for walls and best office color for Zoom meetings. These hues are perfect for making rooms appear bigger and brighter.  But be careful because when used in excess, neutrals can seem bland and unexciting. That’s why they’re often paired with bolder, more vibrant colors to create a contrasting palette of vigor, creativity, and productivity.

The best part about neutral colors are that they are timeless and adaptable.  Neutral shades offer much flexibility and compatibility with other colors.  They can also be seamlessly applied to the many different trends that we see come and go into office design.


Photo: Friant Novo Workstation


Photo: Via Seating Chair


Photo: Senator Group Pailo Workstations, Allermuir Axyl Chairs, Allermuir Qu Ottoman

Yellow

Yellow is the color of creativity, happiness, and enthusiasm. According to color psychology, yellow brings to mind sunshine, warmth and energy. We equate yellow to positive things because the hue helps the brain release a mood stabilizer called serotonin. It’s a striking, vivid shade best used as an accent color and tempered with more calm, cool colors.

Take care when using yellow. Yellow is the brightest color on the spectrum to the human eye. It’s an eye-catching, attention-grabbing color that can boost confidence and innovative thinking. But that’s also why it should be used with caution: too much yellow can cause the opposite intended effect and increase stress and anxiety. Apply yellow to the office when designing creative spaces or collaborative rooms.


Photo: Senator Group Play Work Pods


Photo: Senator Group Mote Seating


Photo: Nevins Phone Booth, Allermuir Host Tables, ERG International Breakroom

Red

What do you think of when the color red comes to mind? Red is a strong color—and strong colors come with strong connotations. Red is a warm color associated with energy, drive and urgency. They are stimulating colors that should be used in competitive, fast-paced environments to boost confidence and activity.

As with yellow, warm colors evoke uplifting, energetic responses. But they bring the same warning too: too much can increase negative emotions like anger and frustration. Strike a delicate balance with red as an accent color or combine it with less vibrant tones to bring out the best qualities in the shade.


Photo: Stylex Free Address Lounge Workstation


Photo: Via Seating Edge Chair


Photo: Maverick Reception Desk, Global River Lounge Scale, Scale 1:1 G Series Workstation

When Choosing the Best Office Color…Do you!

Color palettes can be challenging to curate, but don’t be discouraged. Choosing the best color for your office space is ultimately an opportunity to express your company’s personality and style. Remember, the colors mentioned in this article are just guidelines to  the challenge of finding the perfect office color design. Think of it as a math problem. We have two parts of the equation: color psychology and the end goal of creating an efficient, productive office. The only part missing are all the possible colors you can use —and there is no one way to solving the equation. Have fun and be creative!

Turn to Expertise for the Best Office Color

The team at 2010 Office stays up to date on trends to help clients plan their work areas as well as work from home office spaces.  They help design environments to improve employee engagement, and equip companies for improved productivity. Get input on connecting home offices with corporate spaces.

Contact 2010 Office and let them know your project needs.

2010 Office works with clients who are among Southern California’s most distinguished corporations, nonprofits, and small businesses.

Read Also: Design and Plan Your Office for Collaboration and Inspiration
Main Photo: Scandinavian Spaces Big Talk Chair
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Allermuir, Friant, ERG International, Global Furniture, Maverick, Nevins, OFS, Scandinavian Spaces, Senator Group,  Scale 1:1, Stylex, and Via Seating