Freud's couch: the psychology of office design.

• Author: Wilhite, Brent
• Position: Small Business Advisor

HUMAN BEINGS relate to inanimate objects in symbolic terms. Take a typical office chair, for example. Whether we realize it or not, that chair plays a key role in the company. Sure, the chair serves as the nucleus of where we work, but more than that, it has symbolic significance. It nonverbally reveals the office hierarchy, functions as a motivator, a status symbol and a reflection of how its occupant is valued.

Obviously, other aspects of the office environment have a profound impact on employees. Many aspects of design will affect how employees interact and how well they can do their specific work.

Office design affects us in ways we don't even realize, according to William Persch, owner of Salt Lake's Corporate Office Environments. "If people would look at the big picture and start to recognize the benefits of office design, they would realize that having a properly designed office is one of the smartest things they can do for their company. It will pay them big dividends by affecting employees' morale, efficiency, productivity and attendance."

Today's economy demands extremely productive people in the office. We are constantly asked to do more with less. That's part of the importance of office design -- how to maximize productivity, while not placing too much strain on employees. More than ever, small business owners need to provide well-designed spaces. Effectively combining office colors, size and furniture will reap rewards for small business owners.

The Color of Success

"Color can influence morale, our attitude and outlook," explains Persch. "Drab colors, such as gray on gray, can drain your energy, making you feel tired and sluggish." He notes that in contrast to using drab colors, "bright, intense colors can make you edgy, like you've had six cups of coffee."

Imbalaned colors in the office can have more than just a psychological effect on us; it can produce physical problems, as well. Persch explains that if we are constantly shifting our eyes from a dark surface to a computer screen, our eyes have to adjust to the color change, producing eyestrain and headaches.

Is Bigger Better?

"An appropriate scale needs to be observed when it comes to office size," says John Shinners, vice president, sales and marketing for CCG, a Salt Lake-based office furniture dealer. "Hopefully, everyone can see the inherent problems when the head of the company has a palatial office, while those lower down the totem pole spend their days crammed into...