Creating a home office deserves to be just as creative and detailed as the rest of your home.
Combine your work from home needs with your own personal style to create an inspirational home office.
We are going to explore 10 home office paint colour schemes, from soothing blue paint colours and other neutral tones to dark greens, but first let's look at how colour affects your mood.
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Image & interior by Winch Design
THE DIFFERENT EFFECTS OF COLOURS ON OUR MOOD
Famed colour psychologist Angela Wright developed the Colour Affects System.
Angela set out to prove there was a correlation between colours and human behaviour.
In 1984, she wrote the Wright Theory after years of studying colours and their effect on our moods and behavior.
Psychologists still use her theory today and the Colour Affects System as the benchmark of colour psychology.
Interior & image by Louise Holt
USING THE FOUR PRIMARY COLOURS, STUDIES CONCLUDED THE FOLLOWING:
BLUE: MIND
The colour blue stimulates the mind, leading to more productivity.
The hues of the blue colour palette are ideal for staying focused in repetitive industries.
Accounting offices often use blue paint colours to increase productivity and keep their employees focused.
RED: BODY
Red evokes a sense of urgency, so for physical jobs like construction and warehousing, red will stimulate workers energy levels.
YELLOW: EMOTION
Yellow stimulates emotion, which makes it an ideal colour for creative industries.
It also evokes feelings of happiness and can brighten spirits.
Interior & image by Louis Holt
GREEN : BALANCE
Green is all about balance, tranquillity, and reassurance.
So if you work in the financial industry, green works well as an office colour.
Interior & image by Louise Holt
SECONDARY COLOURS
When you mix two primary colours together, the effects of those colours mesh into the secondary colour.
For example, orange combines the happiness of yellow with the passionate energy of red.
It’s said that orange will increase the oxygen supply to your brain.
Purple combines red's energy and blue's productivity and it is associated with royalty and power.
A light purple, like a lavender is ideal for spas and feminine environments.
01 NATURAL ELEMENTS
I adore this home office colour scheme which has incorporated a soothing blue and a huge natural element with all the wood office furniture, making the room that feel clean and sophisticated.
Sky blue, pale oak, white, and a few fresh greens with plants, welcomes in the beauty of the outdoors.
One might think that too much blue in an office space would be cold, but when paired with wood it’s makes for an inspiring and motivating work space.
Try Made x lick Paint offer Blue 01 which I find warm and clean at the same time.
02 WHITE TONES
This monochromatic space feels layered and luxurious thanks to the wood furniture, oversized plant and artwork.
By using a white paint for a backdrop and then pairing pieces of art with white in it, creates a beautiful contrast.
I prefer a crisp and clean palette for my home office.
Made x Lick Paint White is bright, serene, and fresh without feeling too stark, white allows you to begin each day with a clean slate and a clear mind, and allows you the ability to easily switch up your taste seasonally.
03 BLACK
Black will always be one of design's most sophisticated pairings, and it feels especially right for a chic home office space.
Pair with white furniture to keep the look fresh or layer with richer colours such as walnut and velvet for a lux feel.
You could consider painting your walls with a black chalkboard paint, which can be wiped clean.
Black Cab by Graham & Brown is softer than jet black due to it not having any blue undertones, therefore feels milder, whilst still retaining a modern atmosphere when used.
04 NEUTRAL PALETTES
Neutrals never looked so exciting!
Various textures, from the hardwood flooring to the muted ceramic vases and wooden chair, all create a uniquely beautiful space that doesn't need to be loud to make a statement— ideal for those long workdays.
Off-white tones act like Instagram filters, select a colour with a warm undertone to give the room that perfect warm glow that you only get with natural sunlight.
Try Baked Cheesecake by Graham & Brown for a soft neutral tone.
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MY GUIDE ON PAINTING STRIPES ON YOUR WALL
05 TEAL BLUE
Because teal is a combination of blue and green, it can turn any workspace into a productivity machine, but don't over do it.
The brightness and intensity are important for the desired effect.
Made x Lick Paint's Teal 01 goes well in a professional setting such as solicitors office.
Use it as an accent colour with grey for a refined look.
06 DARK GREY
Grey falls between black and white which gives off a neutral mood.
There are different hues and shades of grey which evoke different psyches.
Smog by Graham & Brown is a dark moody grey which gives depth and definition to a home office.
Creating a distinctive look, like smog on a misty winter's morning.
THINKING OF GREY FOR YOUR HOME OFFICE? CLICK HERE TO GRAB MY 10 WARM GREY PAINT SHADES
07 DARK GREEN
A rich, sage green like Graham & Brown's Botany is perfect for healthcare and financial industries.
Going brighter or darker will alter the mood of the room.
Anytime you’re looking at greens, keep in mind the way the light will hit it as this will effect the desired shade.
08 CORAL ORANGE
Painting all four walls orange may be a little too much intensity but accenting one wall with an orange like Brazil by Graham & Brown, which is described as 'Hot, tangy and bang on trend, Brazil embraces exotic vibrance,' may be the perfect remedy for low-energy afternoons.
In all these suggestions, adding accent colours complement the rooms aesthetic.
Choosing the best paint colours for window frames, skirtings and doors are important too, so be sure to take surfaces into consideration.
09 SHADES OF PURPLE
Purple has many shades on its palette but going with something like Graham & Brown's Lavender is a great choice for a feminine space like a salon.
If you want your space to be darker, try Velvet Fig by Graham & Brown.
If you want a softer purple, Made x Lick's Purple 01 is perfect for a calming yet majestic feel.
Use a few purple tones and create geometric shapes to create a focused work space.
Image by Style by Emily Henderson
10 NAVY BLUE
Navy works very well in a space that needs to feel powerful and strong.
Coupled with rich Walnut office furniture, Firework by Graham & Brown will give off a dark warmth.
Opt for Brooklyn Blue by Graham & Brown if you want to go a little lighter.
HOME OFFICE DESIGN TIPS
In general, people who work from a home office feel that keeping the wall colours neutral is best.
Opt to add an accent wall or paint the woodwork a different colour.
Some prefer a revamped workspace without any interconnection to the rest of the colours in the house.
This helps them to focus on work and not get tempted by personal comforts.
Balance in a home office is important.
If you paint your walls a sky blue, don’t use a similar blue for the trim or an accent wall. Break it up a bit with white stripes.
Yellows and blues work well together if you choose the right shades and finishes.
Graham & Brown's Breathe is their colour of the year for 2022, it's a soothing mid blue colour, perfect for creating calm and peaceful spaces, like a home office.
Yellow 01 by Made x Lick is a bright and airy tone that brings a level of energy to the space.
I hope that by reading this article, choosing the best home office paint colours will be a little easier now that you know what to look for.
It does not matter on the size of your home office space, you can paint your wall like a pro by downloading my FREE EBOOK GUIDE HERE.
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