Today, employers are recognising the significant impact an office environment can have on workers. Research has shown that various aspects of design, including colour, can influence employee motivation, job satisfaction and productivity1. With staff retention being a critical factor for business stability and success, organisations are eager to create workspaces that look and feel good for workers.

Additionally, with 15-20% of people now considered neurodiverse, forward-thinking employers are ditching ‘designing for the masses’ and realising the importance of incorporating employee-centric working spaces that adapt to individual needs2.

Strategic use of colour can transform workplace dynamics. Mauvilac Colour of the Year 2027, used with its complementary palettes, can contribute to a sensory design scheme that maximises wellbeing for workers and that supports mental sustainability.

A bright palette – such as Mauvilac Lift Colour Story – can energise or stimulate creativity, so these tones are ideal for collaboration spaces, such as meeting areas and stand-up zones3. By contrast, an understated palette, such as Mauvilac Light Colour Story, promotes relaxation and focus. Studies have shown than visual distraction is one of the biggest factors reducing performance and effectiveness4 in the workplace. This simple colour scheme can help people perform at their best in quieter working areas.
Given their association with the natural world, greens can form an integral part of a consciously biophilic office design scheme – something that has been shown to have a positive impact on mental and physical wellbeing, creativity and productivity5.

1.  Human Centric design 2.0, AkzoNobel
2. Making-sense(s) of the workplace: Sight, TSK, November 2023
3. The top 10 office design trends for 2025, OP, April 2025
4. What’s influencing workplace design trends in 2025, TSK, January 2025
5. A green and bright workplace: how biophilic design boosts employee wellbeing, British Safety Council, January 31, 2025

With its harmonious but contrasting tones, Mauvilac Lift Colour Story can create an uplifting open-plan office aesthetic. Here, greens and browns, used for the window area, enhance the connection with nature outside; while warm ochre defines an interior space. With splashes of vivid orange in the furnishings, this multipurpose working space feels friendly and inviting.

Biophilic office colour schemes have been shown to improve employee wellbeing, leading to increased creativity, productivity and overall job satisfaction. Here the soft, natural Mauvilac Colour of the Year brings a sense of calm focus to a meeting room. With muted tones from the Light Colour Story used for the details, this understated natural scheme promotes an uncluttered feel and fosters a comforting connection with the world outside.

Soft but stimulating, the light and joyful tones of the Mauvilac Lift Colour Story are perfect for a friendly, flexible reception area, offering workers and visitors colour-coded spaces to help them navigate the space. A natural wooden bench defines an integrated seating area, while walls in ochre and green separate different sections of the main floor.

The natural neutrals of the new Mauvilac Light Colour Story are perfect for office facades – creating a simple, elegant aesthetic that helps make the building feel part of the landscape. Here, each building is defined with a different colour: rich brown and the ethereal Mauvilac Colour of the Year Soulful Sage™