The difference between the thoughtful architecture of a beautiful old church compared to a utilitarian office building is shocking.

The church inspires us. Almost instantly, it helps to bring us to a state of peace and joy.

The office building does the opposite. It’s dark and demoralizing.

On paper, the rational for an ugly, uninspired rectangle make sense. It’s much cheaper to make something simple out of steel and concrete than it is to add a craftsman’s flair to stone or wood. And theoretically a pretty building doesn’t help to make better work.

But there’s a cost in only thinking about the bottom line – both for the people who work in the building and for anyone who passes by. It isn’t physical, or even obvious, but it’s there.

Beauty is a choice.

And I think it’s a worthwhile one.

Fortunately it doesn’t always need to be black and white, or even about money. We don’t need the finest furs and the purest marble to make something beautiful.

Simple decisions such as color, styling, or even tone and communication style can go a long way in adding beauty to the world.

-Brandon