The R&E Journal

Calming Art for Offices: What to Look For

The best calming art for offices is not always the piece that makes the biggest impression. In a client-facing office, reception area or consultation room, people may arrive with a lot on their minds. Choose artwork that gives them somewhere gentle to rest their eyes.

The same question works for a home office: would you want to look at this piece between tasks, day after day?

Four questions to ask before you choose

-Does it feel spacious? Look for a sense of open sky, water or a wide field.
- Is there room for your eye to settle? As a simple rule of thumb, start with artwork that has one or two main focal points.
- Is the palette gentle? If you want a quieter feel, compare soft colours with bright, neon options.
- How do you respond to it? Do you find your gaze relaxing, or do you keep getting pulled into the details?

Check it from the place it will be seen

For a client-facing office, imagine the artwork from the visitor’s chair, not just from the doorway. For a home office, consider the view from your desk. The right piece is one you want to return to, not one you feel you have to study.

Where to start: Explore the collections at Recalibrate & Exhale Art and use these four questions to narrow your choice.