9. Use Soft, Natural Colors
While color preference is highly individual, the moods elicited by specific colors appear to be tied to evolutionary roots and nature. “Think about a meadow on a lovely spring day — breezes, birds, sunshine — colors found in that environment, which aren’t very saturated, give us a positive emotional charge,” Augustin says.
According to a study published in 2018 in Psychological Research, an individual’s emotional response to color is affected by its saturation, hue, and brightness, but less saturated colors are associated with a lower arousal of emotions (a calmer state) than brighter or more saturated colors.
So if you’re trying to create a mood through lighting that calms and lifts the spirit, soft greens, blues, yellows, and whites are likely to do the trick.
10. Paint Your Home Office Green for Creativity
The most common question Augustin receives when strangers learn what she does for a living is: “What color should I paint my home office?” Believe it or not, there’s a “correct” answer. It’s green.
Research has shown that looking at various greens boosts visual creativity, Augustin says. “And that can be handy while working.” She says shades of sage may be best.
If you’re not a fan of green, though, simply do what you can to amp up the natural greens in your office — plants, windows that expose you to trees and grass, and even images of landscapes can help.