Wednesday 22nd May

The Pulse

Colour your world

Written by
Paul Hassing

Businesses, Featured, Lifestyle

Print Page

28
Jun

How vital are hues to you?

Colour is said to have profound psychological effects on us.

I’ve certainly found it beneficial to my work space, and wonder if you have too.

Since many business owners spend so much time in their home/office/shop, the hues around us could be a good thing to

canvas.

Happy hues

When searching for colours to paint Empire House, there were two stand-outs:

Empire Yellow.
Barbara Blue.

The first was a rich, sunflower gold. Apart from the inescapable omen of the name, I’d read that yellow’s a great colour for creativity.

The second was a deep, marine blue which contained the name of my beloved mother.

As I had neither style nor home decorating experience, choosing these strong tones was a bold, rather scary move.

Combining them was even riskier.

Happily, it worked.

Mixing it up

My office is a 3 m x 3 m room with a view

of a grey, barred, two-storey warehouse.

Sitting all day in a small, off-white box was driving me crazy.

So I painted the walls before and beside me Empire Yellow.

And the one behind me Barbara Blue.

Now, when I work, I feel ‘held’ by a warm field of support.

And when I lean back, spin round and ponder, I pretend I’m gazing at sea and sky – which is relaxing.

Handyperson guides claim that painting one wall darker makes it appear to recede from three lighter walls – giving a sense of space.

This sure feels like the case in mine.

Full spectrum

My decision to write about colour at work came from following John Slaytor’s current photo project.

Penrith City Council has hired him to document the St Marys commercial precinct.

From white to pale brown to hospital green, these colour schemes would fry my brain.

Yet they seem to have no deleterious effect on their denizens.

This leads me to conclude that colour is a matter of

taste.

Your favourite

What do you think of these (and my) schemes?

What colours your working world?

Is it doing the trick?

Everyone’s a critic, so please give your impressions.

Even if you find the topic

unpalatable.

Paul Hassing | Founder & Senior Writer – The Feisty Empire

colour, colour scheme, hues, interior design, John Slaytor, office, Penrith City Council

Next Article Previous Article

Add a comment Cancel reply

We love to hear what you think, but please note, that by submitting a comment you agree to our comment policy.

Our comments work like a dinner party. Differences of opinion are welcome but keep it respectful or the host will show you the door. If you're rude or abusive, your comment will be deleted. And if you're offensive, you won't be welcome back. We reserve the right to remove any comments that do not comply with our policy. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation.

What others are saying

Author

Bridie Jenner

June 28, 2012 at 12:22 pm

Before I redecorated my office I asked the Twitterverse and several people said I should use the colours from my logo – which is exactly what I did. My main office walls are a cornflower blue, and whenever I buy new stationery or accessories I choose blue and green. I think the blue was a good choice, it always feels very tranquil in here even if I’m a bit stressed out!

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  June 28, 2012 at 2:49 pm
  
  Thank you for sharing, Bridie. Nice move on the crowd-sourcing!
  
  So, are you saying that blue and green should never be seen,
  
  unless there’s a Jenner in between?!
  
  Reply
  - Author
    
    Bridie Jenner
    
    June 28, 2012 at 4:02 pm
    
    Love it!
  - Author
    
    Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
    
    June 28, 2012 at 4:07 pm
    
    Hee hee hee!
Author

John Slaytor

June 28, 2012 at 12:35 pm

Hi Paul

your statement “Sitting all day in a small, off-white box was driving me crazy” is definitely worth exploring particularly in this anxious age where ‘presenteism’ is rife.

Many people spend more time in their office cubicles than they do at home yet they do nothing to improve their work environment like you have. Why not? My blog today on an Asian supermarket in Queen St, St Marys, is particularly apt – the owners, Andrew and Elizabeth, spend 12 hours a day in their shop and they are deeply religious. How do I know? Because of the religious icons surrounding the check out counter.

http://therestlessphotographer.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/queen-st-project-genssea-asian-mixed-groceries/

Is this appropriate in this politically correct age? Absolutely! Being exposed to different value systems enriches all of us.

So don’t just stop with painting the walls – keep going until your workspace is an extension of you!

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  June 28, 2012 at 2:52 pm
  
  I’m honoured that you’ve joined us, John.
  
  The points you make are as great as your photos – of which I can’t get enough.
  
  Thanks very much for letting me cite your work, and adding a comment to boot. Best regards, P.
  
  Reply
Author

Kanerva

June 28, 2012 at 2:38 pm

I’m currently working out of the home and one corner of our dining room, so redecorating is out of the question. (Unfortunately!). We have plenty of birch furniture and white walls, so the room is quite plain. I’ve dressed it up with some bright accessories so it feels fun (and not like the dining room), a screen separates my ‘office’ so I feel like it’s a work space.
Paul, your colours sound like Ikea to me It’s all in the execution though, and it sounds a little invigorating.
It’s too early for me to think about the move out of the home-office, I’ll cross that bridge further down the track. I like Bridie’s idea of incorporating her logo colours into the decor. That’s smart.

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  June 28, 2012 at 5:32 pm
  
  Hello Kanerva, and welcome to our forum. A Taswegian in Finland is SUCH an intriguing blog title!
  
  I agree that ‘living’ one’s brand colours is a smart move. It’d certainly make you think carefully about what hues you choose.
  
  I take your point re Ikea. Believe me: when I’m writing emails at 5.07 am, I NEED invigorating!
  
  Don’t be surprised if one of our brilliant readers has a way to spruce up (tee hee) your corner without wrecking the room. They’re full of ideas.
  
  Meanwhile, have you seen http://unhappyhipsters.com/ ? It may appeal to your acquired nordic tendencies.
  
  With best regards and many thanks for joining in.
  
  Reply
Author

Tash Hughes

June 28, 2012 at 3:04 pm

When we moved offices (from a small room on the south of the house to a bigger one to the north), I had the chance to make the office a nice environment – and decided that it was worth spending time & money on it as I do spend so much time in here.

I went with blue – it is my favourite colour, I knew I could live with it, blue is peaceful and inspiring, and blue is also my logo colour. And it is much more interesting to stare at than white (and nicer than very old daisy wallpaper in the old office!) I could afford a darker blue because we have so much window space that lets in natural light and gives me a green view. I blogged a photo of it when we moved – http://wordconstructions.com.au/blog/2009/05/our-new-office/ – and wrote about how important our working space is (interesting to reread it after all this time, too!)

Not sure I coud live with bright yellow but if it makes you happy Paul, it sounds perfect for your office

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  June 28, 2012 at 3:08 pm
  
  Hi, Tash! How interesting that three of us so far have identified blue as the way to go!
  
  I love how you’ve show us where you work. Fascinating stuff.
  
  Thank you for linking your post; it’s fantastic further reading.
  
  Reply
  - Author
    
    Tash Hughes
    
    July 3, 2012 at 8:38 pm
    
    You’re welcome, Paul
    
    I’m biassed but why would anyone choose other than blue?
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  July 3, 2012 at 9:18 pm
  
  I hear you, Tash. I was quite comfortable in my choice … until I saw the lilac! What if we’re missing some vital cosmic element?!
  
  Reply
Author

Cheryl C. Cigan

June 28, 2012 at 3:29 pm

It’s odd, but I prefer a white background. And I let the art on the walls provide the texture, depth and intrigue.

When I had my bookstore I insisted on white walls and white painted shelving. The books and the colors of the spines provided the art and color. And it was an ever-changing landscape.

I’ve never tired of either.

Cheryl

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  June 28, 2012 at 4:02 pm
  
  How ace to hear from you, Cheryl! How are things in Suttons Bay?
  
  As usual, it’s great to get your take from the other side of the earth.
  
  Your Snow White story provides a fabulous contrast.
  
  Thanks so much for taking the time to visit us once again.
  
  Reply
Author

Tina Gray

June 28, 2012 at 3:57 pm

Colours, hues, & shades of…are such a huge hidden contributor to our feeling of wellbeing…or not ! Yellow promotes optimism and being ” on the bright side of life ” & gives us a feeling of wellbeing, without limitations.
The blue which you have used is a good choice as blue promotes ” having total control ” of any situation and lets others around you know that you are not able to handle whatever they are thinking of throwing at you ( even when perhaps the day before you introduced ” your blue ” you felt totally out of your depth or comfort zone “.

Colours DO have considerable affects to everyone…even you although some may shrug off this fact as being total hogwash due to the fact that they are around colours every single day and so have never given thought as to what their ” mood triggers ” may be…ALL COLOURS ARE MOOD TRIGGERS…FACT!

Home/office decor is not the only way to create or trigger a particular mood or feeling…the decor colours cannot be changed daily can they!. Maybe there will be days when you want to ” get lost in yourself ” for a while to clear your head and de-clutter your mind from any mood or emotion…these are the days ahead of you when white walls will be wanted but cannot happen…so what do you do?

The best way to use colour therapy as your mood/emotion trigger is to WEAR THEM. Your walls could remain white forever if you chose the colour associated with promoting ” your mood/emotional ” need for each day of the week…white walls, pink walls or black walls won’t matter when youyr mood/emotion trigger is upon you…REALLY ! Lol

Ok so I guess you may think I’m talking tripe but hey…DO NOT knock this information untill putting me to the test…to avoid having to come back here to delete any comment you might be thinking of adding right now Lol.

Here is a web page I wrote for you to ponder over whilst admiring your blues and yellows…half way down my page is a section dedicated to this very thing…COLOUR THERAPY/ MOOD/EMOTION TRIGGERS, which lists the colours of the rainbow with the appropriate mood/emotion/personality effect attributed to each…READ IT…you can thank me later ! x Love Today x http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-feel-amazing

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  June 28, 2012 at 5:25 pm
  
  WOW, Tina! Such a colourful comment. You seriously need to change your surname!
  
  As control freak who seeks wellbeing, it sure looks like I lucked into the right colours. And when I hightlighted your Squidoo lens paragraph on yellow, it turned blue! Such omens must not be ignored …
  
  Ironically, as I type this, I’m wearing black on black. (I’ll explain why in another post.)
  
  I always get a kick out of meeting Squidoo colleagues and I’d like to thank you right now for brightening our day.
  
  Reply
  - Author
    
    Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
    
    June 28, 2012 at 5:44 pm
    
    Speaking of wearing colour, who better to tell us what’s what than our Helen Robinett?!
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9jT5-lpbNs
Author

Belinda Weaver

June 28, 2012 at 4:37 pm

Oh I love this post Paul! I recently painted my office a bright, vibrant orange (from a nice but dull beigey-brown). The difference is that I feel energised walking in each morning. I actually like spending time in there.

I have a mix of accessories in shades of brown, cream and red including a cow skin rug but my favourite addition is my Dr Who poster, which I have positioned in my line of sight

I also have a wall and a half that is painted with whiteboard paints (called Ideas Paint if you’re interested http://www.ideapaint.com/). I can blat my ideas and lists onto the wall or just draw some happy images to make me smile as I work.

Considering I spend so much time in there, I think it’s really (really) important to create a vibe that inspires and uplifts. I also realised as I type that my office matches the colour scape of my branding! Now THAT’S living the brand

Reply
Author

Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

June 28, 2012 at 4:43 pm

IdeaPaint?!? The things one learns in this blog!

I’m so grateful that yet another reader has detailed her work environment. And while I don’t think orange would work for my inner flipper, I LOVED visualising the scene as you painted it so beautifully. Thanks heaps, Belinda. A big burnt-umber star sticker is headed your way.

Reply
- Author
  
  Belinda Weaver
  
  June 28, 2012 at 4:47 pm
  
  A sticker? Awesome! Thanks Paul.
  
  Reply
  - Author
    
    Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
    
    June 28, 2012 at 4:49 pm
    
    Nothing’s too good for our precious readers …
Author

Nina Sunday

June 28, 2012 at 8:13 pm

I like to play with colour in the office.

I once spruced up a (leased) office by (with owner’s permission) having a professional painter paint one wall of one room cornflour blue, and the other wall of the other office, terracotta. I created two feature walls. I just loved it. When the office sold and we moved out, the new owner painted over them in white.

My current office is exposed brick. A colour challenge.

At bottom of the stairs is a niche area. I bought a wooden plinth made of recycled Indonesian fishing boat driftwood (distressed and multicoloured). Each month I display an item of art. Last month was four framed photos from Luna Park – very colourful. This month a turquoise painted Buddha.

My 18 year old Research Assistant hardly notices, but for me, it’s an outlet for artistic expression.

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  June 29, 2012 at 9:19 am
  
  Dear Nina, I sensed you might have something to say about this topic, but never imagined such a fascinating response. Thank you kindly for enriching our discussion with such singular images.
  
  Reply
Author

Kate James

June 28, 2012 at 9:13 pm

I’m with Cheryl. I like a blank canvas so that I can colour my world with all of the books, art, photography and textures that appeal to me at any given point in time. For the most part, I find too much colour a bit overwhelming. My favourite room in the house at the moment is our bedroom which is beautifully monochromatic with a striking (and huge) b & w photo of New York behind the bed.

It’s a very personal thing isn’t it!

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  June 28, 2012 at 9:22 pm
  
  Hi, Kate! I recall your New York trip. The photos were amazing. Any one of those would be enough to own a room, so I see where you’re coming from. Many thanks for joining us. I hope you have a wonderful retreat in Bali. From what I can see, you jolly well deserve it! Best regards, P.
  
  Reply
Author

Anna @ Copybreak

June 29, 2012 at 10:45 am

My office is one of my favourite rooms – and like Kate and Cheryl, I too lean toward a neutral background using artwork, books and cushions to add splashes of colour.

I actually find too many colours or textures upsetting and distracting. My white desk suite, black couch and charcoal carpets are quite calming and soothing – while the splashes of red add a dash of interest. I also have a pinboard filled with pictures of some of my favourite people and a big framed B&W photo of my little brother and me when we were little tackers (it’s one of the most precious things I own).

It might not be to everyone’s taste… but it doesn’t need to be. It puts me in a happy space where I can be productive and that’s all that matters.

It would be so interesting to meet everyone in person to see if our personalities reflected our colour preferences. Do those people who love bright bold colours come across and bright and bubbly people. Are those of us more inclined toward monochromatic schemes more reserved in person?

Fascinating stuff!

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  June 29, 2012 at 2:01 pm
  
  Dang! Yet another beautifully detailed and generous share. I find these insightful vignettes absolutely fascinating. Thanks, Anna; you’re a generous soul. (And yes, a meet-up would really be something.)
  
  Reply
Author

Helen Robinett

June 30, 2012 at 11:09 pm

Loving this conversation! Yes colour matters. It matters in our clothing, our surroundings and influences and thoughts and feelings. Major corporations invest bucket loads of cash into making sure they get the colours right. Check out Crown Casino’s food court, McDonalds, KFC – red excites hunger. I know with my own clients as an image stylist that reflecting your eye colour in a tie or a garment close to the face is brilliant to enhance rapport. It’s not a gimmick. It really matters. I love opening up my wardrobe to view the sea of colour that I get to choose from every day to serve and enhance me in every way for my day. As for my walls, I prefer Dulux Whisper White so I can go to town on my furnishings with animal print, rich reds and calming greens and blues in the bedroom for rest. So, no coloured feature walls for this little duck!

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  July 1, 2012 at 8:05 am
  
  Dear Helen, it makes me so happy when a Master like you visits us from their professional world.
  
  I can bang on about my views on colour, but you have years and years of experience actually working with it. Having you take the time to share your expertise with us feels likes summoning Great Spirits – and seeing them actually rock up.
  
  So thank you kindly for this – and for sticking with The System after your first comment went AWOL. Best regards, P.
  
  Reply
Author

Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

July 2, 2012 at 9:17 am

Here’s a good way to deal with colour: go black and white!

http://therestlessphotographer.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/queen-st-project-marias-cafe/

Reply
Author

Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

July 3, 2012 at 10:12 am

Behold lilac!

http://therestlessphotographer.wordpress.com/2012/07/03/queen-st-project-st-marys-spangles-and-treasure/

Does anyone know why this businesswoman might have chosen this colour? Is it significant?

Reply
Author

Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

August 9, 2012 at 8:39 am

Excellent further reading from our Joanna:

http://workincolour.com.au/blog/post/173/whats-your-ideal-work-space/

Reply