Art can cheer us up, inspire us, and provide us with comfort. This is more than an abstract claim. Psychology confirms art’s influence on the mind. We know that education in the arts benefits academic performance in children, but why is that? Art benefits brain function. It promotes blood flow to the brain, increasing it by 10%. This encourages critical-thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and decision-making.

Art influences emotions by raising serotonin levels. Serotonin promotes happiness, lowers anxiety, and improves memory. This happens through a process known as embodied cognition. Through embodied cognition, mirror neurons turn what we see in art into actual emotions that we can feel. Basically, mirror neurons observe and then reflect what they observe.

We know that stress slows productivity. If employees are calmed by your workplace’s art, stress levels decrease, and your employees become more productive workers. We think distractions are solely negative. However, taking a second to view a piece of art provides a well-needed calming distraction that benefits overall productivity.

We’ve established the positive influence that art has on people. However, we should be cautious about some types of art in the workplace. Those listed below are not necessarily destructive in every workplace. Every company is different. In general though, these types and characteristics should likely be avoided.

Overly complex pieces of art can be distracting to employees and can even impede productivity by having a negative influence on mood. Why? Extreme complexity is unfamiliar and confusing. Within the context of an art gallery, these pieces give observers a deep and engaging experience. In the workplace though, it’s just a bit too much stimulation.

We’ve all seen home décor canvases made solely of stripes or a chevron pattern. This might look pleasing and symmetrical in a home environment. However, it does nothing for motivation and inspiration. If you want increased productivity, consider making things more interesting. This is perhaps the opposite end of the spectrum from extreme complexity. The point to take here is to be balanced and avoid extremes.

The following types of art and characteristics are items to consider. In no way should you try to include all of them because some do not go well together. Instead, pick which options best match the environment you want to create for your company. Think about your values. If you value creativity, you’ll see options for this. The same goes for professionalism, positivity, hospitality, and more.

The current workspace trend is to incorporate collaborative spaces for team brainstorming. If your company values collaboration, consider adding abstract art into these spaces. Abstract art is up for interpretation. People see it and experience it differently. This is exactly the sort of environment you want in a collaborative space. You want different perspectives coming together as one. Obviously, abstract art is not for formal meeting rooms. As such, this type of artwork is best for companies who consider creativity amongst employees to be a core value.

Break rooms and recreational rooms are places that need to be inspirational. These rooms need to look vibrant and energetic. A great way to accomplish this goal is to use graphic art. Graphic art emphasizes lines and tones. This artwork should be fun, creative, and of high spirits.

We know that colors affect emotions and are an important consideration in the workplace. Plain gray furniture and walls can be depressing, but bright colors evoke positivity. They are known to increase efficiency, focus, and brain activity. Make sure to consider the entire color spectrum and use a contrast color to really tie it all together.

Contemporary artwork with bright colors is great for waiting rooms. Clients will see it and experience the positivity associated with it. They’ll carry this positivity into their meetings with your company, which will likely influencing them in your favor.

Maybe eye-popping bright colors don’t quite fit your company. If your company wants to appear as professional as possible, a pastel color palette is a great option. These colors look classy and elegant, especially light blues and yellows. Choose artwork with sleek lines for simplicity and functionality.

You might think of mural walls as backdrops, but they have so much more to offer. Murals make spaces feel more open and can light up the room. They immediately draw in customers’ attention because there’s no way to overlook a mural. Even better, a study by the Sign Research Foundation found that murals increased sales by 10% in 60% of businesses.

Scenic views and nature pictures are great art designs for murals. Contemporary-style companies might consider incorporating graffiti-like art into these murals. If you are one of the professional-style companies mentioned above using pastel colors, murals are a great way to bring class and character to your office.