Repaint Your Office: top four office color schemes for resale

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How do you use color schemes to motivate and increase employee productivity, create the right mood for your customers and repaint for potential resale value? Just a few short years ago, using color psychology for employee motivation and productivity was all the rage. Today, resale considerations trump color psychology when repainting the office.

As a businessman, you know image and first impressions are still important, but the economy makes it difficult to maintain appearances. Repainting your office space is still one of the best and least expensive ways to quickly put a successful polish on your entire operation. I had a boss who used to say he could tell everything he wanted to know about a person by looking at their shoes. Your clients and employees view the office area much the same way.

The Office Color Palette

The key is to use popular color schemes for all the main office areas. The neutral palette should fit well with the type of business you operate while being neutral enough to be adaptable to most business color schemes. The idea here is you want a prospective buyer of your office space to consider your space as move-in ready.

The Best Paint Colors are Neutrals

  • Beige, Light Brown, Tan Color Scheme:
  • Beige, light browns, tans and even wheat colors tend to promote a sense of security, have been shown to be comforting and relaxing colors. They invoke a sense of natural earthiness, solidity and sturdiness. Be sure to stick to lighter, subtler shades for the best resale value.
  • Gray Color Scheme:
  • On the cooler side, light gray is a very good background color. It is cooler; it also goes well with bolder color accents. It is a good choice if you have a creative business such as writing, art or fashion design. By itself it is very sedate and lends itself to many types of businesses, but clothing stores, pottery shops, beauty shops can add a great deal of flare with accent colors.
  • Off-White Color Scheme:
  • True whites tend to be glaring and disturbing. True white may even distract workers or customers. It is best to use an off-white shade. It can be warmer or cooler, depending on what suits your needs and goes best with your current furnishings.
  • Green Color Scheme:
  • Muted shades of olive, sage or even very pale shades of a brighter green can go well with professional and creative-based businesses. Be careful not to go with too vibrant a shade. Earthiness and neutrality are important when working with green. Remember, you need it to be a suitable background for your business or a business looking to buy or rent your space.

    • Color and Psychology

    Using the neutral color schemes is important for resale considerations. However, you can still create the right mood for your employees and customers through accents. You may want to consider an accent wall, but it may need repainting if you have to sell. Better alternatives for adding personal style are through accents such as wall art, furnishings, accent pillows and area carpets.

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    , Colorado Springs Workplace Issues Examiner

    Jeri Baker holds a bachelors degree in Technical Journalism She is a freelance writer who lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her writing has appeared in the Collegian, Art & Times and Associated Content. She is a former Realtor, has over 20 years experience in financial services, management,...

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