For some people in Northern Virginia, winter is a time to get out and ski, snowmobile, or just generally frolic around in the cold. But for many, winter is a gloomy season that’s sometimes downright depressing. For some, “winter blues” means a deeper depression. This condition is called seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and is estimated to affect over 10 million Americans.

If you are a business owner, the last thing you want is an office full of SAD sufferers and gloomy employees. In early winter the stress of the holidays is over and now many people look at the cold months as something they just have to slog through to get to warmer, sunnier times. You know these kinds of attitudes can affect productivity.

But there’s an easy, low cost solution that can get everyone looking at the workplace with a more positive mindset.

Liven Up Attitudes with Fresh Interior Painting

All American Painting Plus, Reston’s leading painting contractors and interior painting specialists, recommends you kickstart the new year with a new look inside your office. There is no faster or more economically efficient way to change the feel of a space than to change its colors. Study after study says that color has a measurable impact on human awareness and behavior. The right color scheme applied by a professional painting service can have a significant effect on your staff’s morale and performance.

Changing out eggshell white for a more uplifting, optimistic color scheme is just the first part of a two-step strategy to chase the winter doldrums. Light is equally important. Therapists believe that the relative lack of sunlight and short days of winter are what triggers SAD. Take full advantage of what sunlight you get by keeping blinds open and windows clean. Make sure you have adequate interior lighting fixtures and there is not a hint of a shadow or “gray” space.

You Don’t Have to Make it a Big Paint Job

If your office is primarily done in the traditional white or off-white walls and ceilings, you don’t have to paint the whole place to have an effect.

If you have an open office floor plan, pick one wall and paint it a color that reflects light and changes the tone of the space into something more dynamic than institutional white. Don’t be afraid to be a bit unconventional. Pale gray (that’s right, gray) with crisp white trim can transform a space into a modern, professional space.

You may want to go bigger with smaller spaces like break rooms, conference rooms, and rest rooms. These spaces can be decorated in shades meant to elicit a specific reaction. For example, the break room might be in relaxing shades while conference rooms are done in colors that complement creative thinking.

At All American Paint Plus, we are happy to share what we have learned as commercial interior painters over the past decade. Some styles and colors are perennial, while others fade with the fad. We can give you our best opinion and a detailed painting estimate that will fit into your budget.

Get your space ready to kick out the winter doldrums. Give us a call now!

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