Structured filing and storing are already difficult in the office environment and require a lot of discipline. In the home office, you are responsible for a clear and sensible system. Colours can be a real help for this issue.

According to a 2018 Kyocera research, about 2 hours are spent daily searching for files and documents. This time can be spent a lot more meaningfully. Especially in the home office, the work materials are often distributed over the entire living area. To make this daily task easier, there is a simple solution with a big effect: colour!

Colours give structure

The systematic use of colours for folders, trays or storage boxes helps enormously with structuring documents. With the different colours, everything can be assigned correctly at just one glance, because colours have a subconscious effect. They allow us to intuitively recognize certain patterns through optical bundling, without having to think much about them. As a structuring system, colours help to capture categories and areas immediately and save a lot of time for searching and storage.

Colours influence mood

Colours have also been shown to have a direct influence on human emotions. Another effect that can be used for the home office organization. In principle, one is completely free when it comes to colour assignment to certain topics such as tax, invoices or inspiration and can be guided by one's own association. However, it can also help to select the colours according to their attributes.

The characteristics of the basic colors:

Yellow:

The colour yellow stands for balanced  energy and constant dynamics. It looks friendly, bright and is ideal as an alternative to white.

Tip: The office basics such as punches, scissors and boxes in the colour yellow form a good basic equipment, which ensures a pleasant ambience without much distraction.

Green:

The colour green is associated with positive thinking and success.  It conveys a hopeful feeling and motivates an ambitious way of working.

Tip: Successful projects, good results and ingenious ideas can be seen literally. A folder or tray in green for successfully completed work or good inspiration motivates for future tasks.

Blue:

The colour blue stands for seriousness and balance. It has a calming effect in stressful situations and difficult work phases.

Tip: Complex and long-running tasks such as tax returns and calculations require a high degree of concentration. Here, the colour blue is ideal as a label.

Red:

The colour red is associated with strong energy potential and high productivity. However, it is also considered a signal colour and calls for caution.

Tip: Deadlines, pins and credentials should not be overlooked. In order to have the most important documents ready immediately, it is helpful to mark them with the signal colour red. This avoids stressful searching.

In general, the following applies:

• Do not use more than 3 or 4 colours, otherwise they bring more restlessness than structure into the workplace.
• It is essential to keep the colour system consistent and also assign digital files and emails accordingly.
• Consciously enjoy the moment of relaxation: Creating structure with colours can be very joyful and a nice change to the concentration time.