There’s a lot to consider when you’re in the market for a new office chair. Besides size and features, one of the most common questions that come across a person’s mind is: What is the best color for an office chair?
Well, the answer isn’t so simple to find.
Beyond just being “pretty” and “aesthetically pleasing,” several other factors come into play when choosing the best color for an office chair.
Let’s talk a little about the psychology of color before we proceed to figure out that question. Hopefully, this will also help you understand the importance of office chair colors and how to choose them.
Table of Contents
- What is color psychology?
- How do different colors affect mood and productivity?
- What are some of the most popular office chair colors?
- What is the best color for an office chair?
- What office chair color is the easiest to maintain/clean?
- What color should I NOT use for an office chair?
- Should I use a combination of colors on my office chair?
- How do I know which colors to combine?
- What if I want to change the color of my office chair?
- The bottom line
What is color psychology?
Have you ever felt anxious or excited in a yellow room? Or perhaps you feel like you do your best work when surrounded by the color blue?
Colors can affect the way we think and feel in certain situations. To study this phenomenon, experts turn to a concept called the “psychology of color” or “color psychology” to study this phenomenon.
Color psychology supports the belief that color has a strong influence on a person’s psychological functioning. And although there’s still quite a gap present in the study, it’s become quite the hot topic in the industries of art, marketing, advertising, and design (this includes furniture design).
Color also influences the ambiance and style of your offices and rooms. So, if you don’t want your office chair to clash with the interior design of your office or to interrupt your productivity, it’s important that you choose the right colors.
How do different colors affect mood and productivity?
Color has a significant effect on our mood and productivity levels. And while color perception is subjective for the most part, there are some instances when perceptions come together and create a universal meaning for all.
Here are a couple of examples:
White
In western countries, we often think of the color white as a symbol of innocence, purity, and peace. It’s why we choose to paint the walls in our living rooms white or why wedding dresses are traditionally white.
However, in eastern countries, white is often a symbol of mourning or death. You’ll often see people wearing the color to funerals and wakes.
Red
Red is a lucky color in most eastern countries. Brides get married in this color. Royal families are frequently bundled in varying shades of red.
However, in some western cultures, red has a grimmer connotation, often depicting anger and rage — even murder.
Orange
The color orange is often used in company break rooms and meeting rooms because it’s believed to boost a person’s creativity levels. Orange is also said to improve energy and enthusiasm, which is why many sports teams use this color in their uniforms.
On the other hand, some cultures believe that orange may promote arrogance and pride in a person.
Blue
When strategically used, blue can help calm people who are going through particularly challenging emotions. It’s why we like going to the beach and watch the waves crash into the shore. The activity offers a relaxing and rejuvenating experience.
For some cultures, blue can mean sadness and aloofness.
Black
The color black is often associated with power and strength and is believed to conjure up elegance and sophistication. This is why you’ll often see this color in executives’ offices. It advertises authority and prestige, which is important for executives to showcase.
Some people might see black as a color of decay or death. It may also be connotated to evil activities.
What are some of the most popular office chair colors?
Black and brown have always been the industry standard for office chairs. However, recently, manufacturers have started incorporating other shades and hues into office chairs, making them more appealing to a broader audience.
Nowadays, it seems that you can buy office chairs in almost every color, but the most popular colors remain to be the following:
- Black
- Blue
- Brown
- Red
- Orange
- Green
Some manufacturers combine different colors into one chair. Others, like Herman Miller and Steelcase, Inc. may even let their customers personalize their office chair colors.
What is the best color for an office chair?
The best color for an office chair is the color you think will give you the most value.
To figure that out, you have to ask yourself:
“What aspects am I focusing on exactly: style or influence? Maybe both?”
If you’re aiming for style, you want to make sure that the color you choose doesn’t clash with the interior colors of your office.
For example, if your office is painted with a strong brown or grey, a bright neon orange chair will look bad against your wall paint. To avoid this, it’s important to choose more “natural” shades/colors. A powder blue or a soft green would look well against brown walls.
Alternatively, if you’re focusing on color influence, you want to choose a color that won’t interfere with your productivity and focus. After all, the office is a place for work.
Bright colors tend to distract the mind from work. This is why it’s best to avoid using colors like pink, red, yellow, and orange for office chairs.
It’s recommended that you choose colors that promote concentration and focus, such as green, blue, and black.
What office chair color is the easiest to maintain/clean?
Dark colors are generally easier to maintain than brighter colors such as green, blue, and red. This is why if you’re working in an area where there’s a particularly high likelihood of spills, it’s important that you choose colors like black or brown to prevent stains. This also makes cleaning up easier and more convenient.
On the other hand, getting light-colored office chairs should be alright if you’re using your office chair in a relatively clean environment, e.g., your bedroom or home office. Just be careful about eating and drinking near your office chair.
Read our guide on how to take care of your office chair.
What color should I NOT use for an office chair?
While there’s no hard and fast rule as to what color you shouldn’t use, we do recommend you stick with natural colors, especially if you’re using your office chair for work. As we mentioned earlier, bright unnatural colors like hot pink and neon green can very easily distract your mind from your responsibilities. This can disrupt your productivity and affect your performance at work.
On the flip side, be careful of muted colors like grey or charcoal black. These colors tend to put a person in a “gloomy state of mind,” which isn’t the best for productivity and work. Perhaps consider combining these colors with brighter shades like red and green.
Should I use a combination of colors on my office chair?
Combining different colors for your office chair can be a great way to spice up your office ambiance. Just be careful not to overdo it. You don’t want it to look like you’re sitting on a pile of Skittles.
We recommend keeping color combinations to at most three colors to avoid overstimulation.
How do I know which colors to combine?
When combining colors, it’s important to consider what type of business or industry you’re operating. For instance, if you’re in the healthcare and medical industry, mixing light colors such as blue and white have a generally calming effect on both patients and medical practitioners.
If you’re running a software development company, combining the colors blue, green, and orange for office chairs can help improve brain function, increase energy, and keep employees feeling enthusiastic and energetic throughout the day.
You can also refer to the color wheel to see which colors are best to combine:
Image source: CND.com
What if I want to change the color of my office chair?
If there’s one thing for sure, it’s that our tastes for certain items and colors change over time. In the event that you grow tired of your office chair’s color and you want a new change of pace, you can always dye your office chair another hue.
Read our guide on how to dye an office chair.
The bottom line
Office chair color can have a significant effect on the way we process information and do work. Choosing the right colors and color combinations can either help or harm your productivity. Above, we talk about the role of color psychology in selecting the best color for an office chair. We also discuss why carefully considering office chair colors is important.
By following this guide, you’ll hopefully be able to find an office chair color that will be beneficial to you and your coworkers.
Good luck!
My name is Vance, and I am the owner of To Ergonomics. Our mission is to improve your workflow by helping you create a supportive and welcoming environment. We hope that you’ll find what you’re looking for while you’re here.