What colour schemes are
good for stress-free work?
‘In a working environment,
you want to stimulate your
creativity while keeping the
stress levels down. A perfect
colour scheme for a working
environment would include
neutral colours with accents
of blue or green, accessorised
with natural elements such as
timber f loors, water features,
good lighting and vegetation.’What if we need to do a lot of
thinking...?
‘Stay away from bold and
saturated colours, especially
red, which can make us feel
stressed. Soft shades of blue
are great colours to increase
productivity, intuition and
creative thinking. Soft shades
of yellow are inviting, cheer-
ful and great for stimulating
the mind and increasing
blood pressure. Use it as
accents around the room,
such as cushions, art and
the odd piece of furniture.’What can we do to keep our
workspace calm?
‘Less is more and everything
in moderation. Dominate the
room with neutral colours
and use accent colours to add
some interest. The last thing
you want to do is overfill a
space as that can lead to achaotic and stressful vibe.
If you pick a busy piece of
furniture, the rest should
remain simple and sleek.’What if we have little space?
‘Smaller rooms will require
light-looking furniture. This
can be achieved with lighter
tones, slimline frames and
raised legs. You do not want
to block any natural light
from entering the space, as
light is what makes a room
feel spacious. Scandinavian
and French provincial styles
work well in a smaller space.’What decorations will keep
us calm and inspired?
‘Plants are a must, especially
succulents, as they never die.
Not only are they beneficial
to the air we breathe, they
bring a bit of nature into our
busy office lives to assist in
relaxation and comfort.’What helps productivity?
‘Pictures of nature, such as
landscapes and ocean views,
will subconsciously take our
minds to a comfortable zone
and assist with productivity.’Any tips on decluttering?
‘If it’s broken, throw it out.
If you have too many, throw
some out. If you never use it,
throw it out.’ #We ask Brosa interior designer
Tracey Bright about the most
inspiring colour schemes, how
to create a spacious and serene
environment, and how to be super
productive (and organised) in
your work space – or anywhere!
5 INSPO-
GRAMS TO
FOLLOW@LABLONDEBLOG@HARLEYQUINNANDCO@JOVANVASILJEVIC@DESIGNBYAIKONIK@THEDEFECTORSDID YOU KNOW COLOUR HAS
A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON OUR
SUBCONSCIOUS MIND?COLOUR
CODE
Blue causes the body to
produce calming chemicals
and enhances productivity.Green is calming, refreshing,
relaxing, easy on the eye and
gives relief from screens.Purple implies wealth and
sophistication, is inspiring
and ignites the imagination.Yellow enhances concentration
and speeds up metabolism
but can be overwhelming.Aggressive and active, red is
an appetite stimulant, so avoid
WORDS BY SALLY HUNWICK. GETY IMAGES; INSTAGRAM if you’re trying to resist snacks.
COSMOPOLITAN SEPTEMBER 2017 85
work