Inspire your Office With Art

The presence of art in the office plays an important role in the success of your business. It can make better/happier employees and help build your corporate identity. Just as you would decorate your home to reflect your identity and inspire you, it is probably more important to do the same in the office. After all, don't you spend more time (awake) at the office than at home?

Having your office decorated with art can benefit your company by making better employees. It can inspire your company. Art can help improve morale, relieve stress, and promote creativity, productivity and diversity. Attractive art can provide a simple benefit just by breaking up the day for your coworkers, providing a pleasant distraction from staring at a computer screen all day.

It can stir the creative juices that reside in all of us. It may as simple as having a beautiful picture that we enjoy looking at every day. Or it may be something to inspire us emotionally. Or even just a daily reminder of what our personal goals are, why we are at work to begin with.

As far as subject mater goes, you have a great deal of flexibility. Rule number one is to make sure that it isn't controversial! After that, landscapes, still-life and abstract pieces work great. Select pieces that are soothing and tranquil, but not ones what put you to sleep. Select pieces that inspire you and will inspire your employees.

Color can have a big impact on the culture of your office. When choosing art for the office, pay attention to the color as much as the subject matter; color can have just as big of an impact. Pay attention to what the color means to you. In general, colors can represent emotions in the following ways:

* Red - Passion/Romance or Violence/Anger
* Yellow - Joy/Intelligence or Criticism/Scared
* Blue - Peace/Tranquility or Fear/Depression
* Orange - Energy/Confidence or Slow/Pain
* Purple - Royal/Religious or Bruised/Beaten
* Green - Growth/Soothing or Greed/Envy
* Black - Strong/Commitment or Death/Evil
* White - Good/Pure or Cold/Distant

These color/emotional associations are also cultural. As an example, in some Asian cultures, white (not black) is associated with death. In those cultures, people wear white to funerals, not black. Make sure that you consider the emotional reaction that you would like people to take from the art that you choose.

Art work in your reception area is just as important as the rest of your office, but you have a different target and different goals with art in that area. Your goals with the decor here is to portray an image for the company. Your main audience here is a visitor to your company, whether it is a vendor, customer or potential employee; first impression is key. The main image that you want to portray is one of success. This is a great area for sculptures or oil paintings.

You also want to try and influence your visitor’s emotions with the art you choose. Pay attention to color choice here as well. For professional practices, choose colors and art that are soothing and calm. For entrepreneurial companies, use bright colors to give the feeling of youth and energy.

You may not think of your products as art, but the reception area is a great place to present your products as "works of art". Present your widget on a pedestal with museum lighting. Have framed photos of your products in action on the wall. Hire a local artist to create a sculpture out of your widgets. Be creative; show that you are a company of artists creating beautiful products.

Whether it is fine art posters, prints, limited edition artwork, prints on canvas, sculptures, or our own "works of art", make sure you decorate your office for success.