Fortune White Papers:
Judith Ingalls on design
The Power of Color:
The successful use of color in a commercial
interior is the most vital element in establishing the
visual order that gives a space
its identity. However, the power of color goes beyond the
visual experience. Color can affect emotions and behaviors,
evoke
memories and contribute to healing.The importance lies
in understanding the target audience of a given environment,
and how color can impact their attitude and spirit.
From the carpet on the floor to the paint on the walls,
how color is used can contribute to image perception, mood,
activity levels,
and general levels of comfort.Any commercial environment
(corporate, retail, hospitality or institutional) has purpose.
In corporate, the purpose could be all about a working
environment for employees, or it could be a service destination
for
clientele
as well.
Both hospitality and retail are always destinations; it
is just a matter of identifying the demographic of the
customer and their
expectations from the experience, whether leisure or more
business oriented. Institutional settings are destinations
as well, but
not always by choice. As schools and hospitals have become
more competitive, the interiors and use of color can give
an edge to
those times when use is optional. Each color family has
its own properties that contribute to the emotional experience
in a space.
