This Wall Color Will Support Your Creativity Flow
Ocean, sky, cornflowers and sapphire — hopefully, you’ve pieced together what’s in common. You can find the color blue almost everywhere, including nature — a reason many often describe having a sense of tranquility and calm when they see it. Others claim blue helps their creativity flow.
Blue is known for reducing stress and allowing creative people to concentrate better. As a result, they often experience greater productivity and the ability to develop fresh ideas and perspectives in their work. Could that be the reason it appears so often in the workplace? Even in your home, the right shade of blue will support your creativity flow. Cover photo by Ian Livesey.
The Psychology of Blue
Have you ever noticed how the color blue makes you feel? If you go by the infamous color wheel, blue psychologically impacts your mood and sensitivities in significant ways. Blue is usually associated with a wide range of emotional responses, including the following:
- Security
- Productivity
- Creativity
- Calmness and relaxation
- Loyalty
- Trustworthiness
- Depressed or low mood
Because blue is an excellent color choice for increasing your creativity flow, it’s a good option for an office space, home office or craft area. For instance, painting the office a shade of blue can help create a more balanced workspace for employees with cut-throat jobs and high stress.
Blue in Nature Promotes Creativity Flow
We already know that blue appears throughout nature — and people’s reaction to it perfectly demonstrates its effects. Imagine the feelings that wash over you while staring at a clear, blue sky on a sunny day or walking alongside roaring ocean waves. Both natural experiences are powerfully tranquil for an overactive mind.
Various studies have explored how nature impacts mental health — overall, the consensus is that exposure to the natural world has psychological and therapeutic benefits. Spending time in nature is especially important for those living in heavily urbanized areas.
Consider how exhausted everyday life makes you. Maybe you have frequent deadlines you must meet or juggle work-life responsibilities — dinner isn’t going to make itself, no matter how complex your day is. Busy schedules and daily challenges can ultimately drain our attention and cause extreme fatigue.
Creative individuals must reserve space for inspiration — some might call it an intuitive reaction or the eureka effect. Yet, external stimuli can cloud our focus and hinder our ability to think outside the box and problem-solve.
One study, in particular, examined how nature influences creative ideas and flexibility by enhancing our focus. Researchers referred to this experience as a “creative incubation period,” in which nature rejuvenates a person, allowing them to view the world differently.
A Different Shade of Blue
Of course, blue isn’t just blue — it’s midnight blue, turquoise, azure, navy, cyan, baby blue, blue-gray and cerulean, among others. Depending on your preference, you might choose a subdued shade of blue for your walls or something bold and electric.
When choosing blue for your wall color, consider the blues you see in nature that inspire your creativity flow. You could also select the perfect blue based on your location — for example, a business near the coast might feel inspired by aquamarine.
Blue doesn’t need to cover every wall in a room, either — a darker hue can make the perfect accent wall for those looking to create visual interest in a given space.
Blues may not be the only colors representing businesses, but they are certainly some of the most popular shades. Aside from inspiring greatness and creativity in the workplace or home office, blue is often found in marketing. Many businesses select blue for their online presence, be it their logo, website or other web and print content.
For example, Spiagge — an Italian-based resort management software company — utilizes blue in its website with hints of bright yellow. This color combination is reminiscent of days at the beach, which its consumer base will recognize.
Canva’s logo is another perfect example of utilizing different shades of blue — in fact, the blue transitions from blue to purple. If you’ve never used Canva, it’s the perfect website for digital creatives to find inspiration in designing brochures, invitations, posters and social media posts.
Enhance Your Creativity Flow With the Color Blue
Choosing the best color to paint your walls takes some thought. Sure, you could paint them neutral or tap into color psychology for a hue that inspires your creativity. If you want your walls to represent a calm environment for fresh ideas, blue should be at the top of your list.
