A study by The University of Texas at Austin believes something as simple as the color of your office surroundings can help increase productivity.

It’s easy to forget about the walls around you when you’re setting up an office. There are many important things to think about: phone and computer connections, desk, file cabinets, lighting, space assignments, white and cork boards. Many times the color of a room is ignored and left taupe or grey. These colors can feel like a bit like a prison, especially when you realize people spend most of their waking hours in the office.

Different colors impact the sorts of productivity depending on the job.  Not ready to paint the whole office? You can add accents like office accessories to help give a burst of color where you need it.

The two most popular colors for offices are Blue and Green, but take a look at the bold color choices below and how you may be able to implement them to suit your business:

Blue is the most universal color for all job types. It gives a sense of openness and the calming freedom of the sky outside. It’s one of those obvious colors found in nature and makes everyone feel better and ready to focus on the tasks at hand.

Green is another color that make people think of nature and gives a calming feeling. Instead of painting, consider cubical dividers in green or maybe some plants to bring the outdoors in. Green is one of the colors that are said to help creativity. So creative positions can definitely be inspired by this color.

Yellow is a way to brighten up any office and create a sense of happiness. This is a solid creativity color for people with creative or design positions. This color is best used sparingly, like an accent wall or desk accessories.  A little goes a long way.  Too much yellow can be overwhelming.

Red/Orange can create a sense of energy, but like yellow, should be used sparingly in artwork or accessories.  Red is usually considered a color that evokes passion, if used in large amounts, it can also create stress. This is best used in an area employees are in for a limited time and not their major work time such as the lunch room or hallways.