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Working from home is a challenge in itself. You tend to encounter more distractions than you would in an outside office. That being said, you want your office space to be as productive as possible. The best place to start in creating that space is with the perfect home office paint color.
When I picture an office, I envision bulky desks, fluorescent lighting, and drab paint colors. This setting doesn’t sound like it would be the most productive place to get work done. Honestly, it sounds pretty depressing. Can you imagine working there?
Luckily, if you work from home, you have control over the design and decor of your home office. However, many things go into creating a productive space—for example, the layout of the room and furniture style.
But where is the first place you should begin?
Paint color! It all starts with choosing the perfect home office paint color.
Now, I know I say this often, but a room’s paint color can make a world of difference in how the space will feel. So, whether bright and airy or warm and cozy, the paint color can instantly transform a workspace.
Studies also show that certain paint colors can potentially boost productivity and possibly even reduce stress levels. And isn’t that what we want from a home office?
For the sake of this post, I’m going to get into some of my favorite home office paint colors. These colors are inspiring energizing, and promote productivity.
What are The Best Home Office Paint Colors?
Off-White/ White
Off-white and white are the perfect home office paint colors for several reasons. They provide an amazing neutral, no non-sense backdrop for when you strictly mean business. It can also be the one neutral in a room filled with pops of color in decor and inspiring artwork.
Off-white is the best paint color for a windowless home office. Keeping the paint color light will help reflect the light that is available. Especially when there are no windows allowing natural light in.
- Sherwin Williams Alabaster SW 7008– Alabaster is almost off-white. It has a slight warmth to it however it rarely shows any sneaky undertones. This paint color is the perfect alternative to a sterile white.
- Benjamin Moore White Heron OC-57- White Heron is a clean and cool white. This sophisticated white will bring tranquility and peace to a home office.
READ MORE: POSSIBLY THE BEST WHITE PAINT COLOR FROM BENJAMIN MOORE
Remember to swatch your paint colors. Pick up your Samplize Peel & Stick paint samples today!
Blue
Blue is a fabulous option for your workspace. But not all blues project the same vibes.
A lighter blue-gray paint color is said to stimulate the mind, which is perfect in a home office. Light blue grays also promote a sense of calmness and tranquility. If you have a high-stress job, those may be traits you want in a paint color for the space.
Deeper blues clarify thinking and help you make decisions. Great colors for when you mean business. Since darker colors can sometimes make a room feel smaller, paint an accent wall in a deep blue instead of the whole home office.
- Benjamin Moore Hudson Bay 1680 –Hudson Bay is a gorgeous, deep, rich blue. It has a tad bit more blue in it than, say, a navy.
- Sherwin Williams North Star – North Star is a beautiful light blue gray. This is a great calming color for your office walls.
Use Samplize Peel & Stick Paint Samples for a mess-free way to test paint colors!
Gray
Using a gray paint in your home office is another fantastic neutral color option. Grays are elegant and classic and work well in all spaces, including the office. Like white and off-white paint colors, gray provides a background that works well with any decor style.
Gray paint colors work well in the home office because they inspire intelligence and discipline.
It’s also an excellent option for when you want a hint of color but still want to stay on the overall neutral side. How can you achieve that? With undertones. For example, choosing a gray with a green undertone will give you a hint of green in the color.
Warm grays, as well as cool grays, make a stellar home office paint color because it’s super easy to decorate around. For example, add a pop of color with a piece of art, desk accessories, or even your desk.
- Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray – Agreeable is an awesome gray paint color. It’s a warm gray that will work with just about any other color.
- Sherwin Williams Repose Gray – Repose Gray is a great gray option because it’s quite neutral with just a hint of warmth in it.
- Benjamin Moore Thunder AF-685 – Thunder is an amazing mid-toned gray for home office walls. There is a slight warmth to it which gives it a cozy feel to it.
Be prepared to swatch! Grab yourself some chippy brushes.
Yellow
Yellow represents happiness, optimism, and inspiration, 3 great qualities to have in a home office. Yellow paint colors are also said to increase focus and clarify your thoughts. Yellow is one of the best home office paint colors. This cheery paint color will make it easier to get your work completed.
READ MORE: FUN SHERWIN WILLIAMS YELLOW PAINT COLORS
- Benjamin Moore White Rock 918 – White Rock is a very light yellow. It’s a cheery paint color that is sure to brighten up an office space.
- Sherwin Williams Daisy SW 6903 – Daisy is an electric yellow that is not for the faint of heart. This is a bright and bold yellow that will lift your spirits every time you see it.
Remember to swatch your paint colors. Pick up your Samplize Peel & Stick paint samples today!
Purple
Want to add a little boost of energy to your home office? Try a purple paint color. It’s the best home office paint color to use for a high pace job. However, purple can be a little intimidating for some people. Choosing a lighter purple will keep the space open and airy. A darker purple would be best used as an accent.
- Sherwin Williams Izmir Purple SW 6825 – Izmir Purple is a deep purple. This dark and saturated purple will not only make a bold statement in an office but also add an energetic vibe to the space.
- Benjamin Moore Whispering Wind 1416 – Whispering Wind is a very soft subtle lavender purple. It is a great paint color for smaller offices that have little light.
Use Samplize Peel & Stick Paint Samples for a mess-free way to test paint colors!
Green
For a space that calms and promotes wealth, paint your home office a shade of green. It’s also a great color for fresh starts and growth. If you are just starting your business and looking for success and growth, a green paint color is the best way to go. Sure the paint color won’t do the hard work for you, but it can be a good motivator to work hard toward your goals.
- Sherwin Williams Sea Salt SW 6204 – Sea salt is a very light green-blue color. It’s perfect for higher-stress jobs because it’s very soothing and relaxing.
- Benjamin Moore Cushing Green HC 125 – Cushing is a dark muted green. It’s the perfect shade of earthy green to use as an accent color in your home office. Cushing Green is also in Benjamin Moore’s Color Trends 2020 Palette.
How do you choose the best home office paint color?
Before you decide on the best paint color for your office walls, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself regarding the vibe you are looking to achieve in your home office.
What is the primary use of your home office?
Think about what type of work you will be doing. What are your day-to-day tasks, and what do you need to accomplish them? Do you need a cozy spot for reading, or do you need a large table for creating? These are things that will help you decide what paint color to choose. Ultimately determining the look and feel of your office.
What is your goal for your home office?
Think about what you want to get out of your office. If it’s a place to focus on the task at hand without distraction, neutral colors are a great choice.
If you want more of an upbeat and energizing vibe, a possible pop of color as an accent wall may be the solution.
Your paint color choice for your home office will highly depend on what vibe you are going for.
What’s your working style?
Finally, what is the style in which you work? Is it energetic and creative? This can be the perfect opportunity to use a paint color that inspires you. Try a paint color that gives you a boost of energy the minute you see it.
If your style is more on the focused and grounded level, muted paint colors could work well for you. They won’t cause any unnecessary distraction, allowing you to focus on what’s important: your work!
Be prepared to swatch! Grab yourself some chippy brushes.
Things to Remember
When it comes to choosing a home office paint color ask yourself these 3 questions:
- What’s the main use for your home office?
- What is your goal for your home office?
- What’s your working style?
Knowing how you intend to use your office space will help determine the right paint color to use.
Use these Paint Colors in Your Home Office
- white / off-white
- blue
- gray
- purple
- yellow
- green
Final Thoughts
When it comes to your home office, it needs to be a productive space regardless of the work you are doing. Whether you are looking for high energy or a sense of calm, using paint colors to create the workspace the way you want will help accomplish that goal.
Don’t forget, when you are deciding on a paint color for your home office it all depends on the space you are working with. Is there a ton of natural light, Is it a windowless room, or is it a large open space? These are all things that are important when choosing a paint color.
Not all paint colors will work for every space. If you love a color and know it won’t work on your home office walls use it in other areas of the room. Try a bold desk or a bright vase to add some color you love.
It’s all about making it work for the space you have.
Don’t start painting until you have the right tools!
SHOP MUST HAVE PAINTING TOOLS
Don’t Forget!
Finally, as I say in all my paint color posts, make sure you swatch the paint colors you are thinking about using. This is a painting mistake you need to avoid! The colors you see on the computer look different than a swatch on your home. So choose a few colors you want to try and swatch those babies. LARGE swatches too!
READ MORE: HOW TO TEST PAINT SAMPLES
Check out my review on Samplize, it’s an easier, mess-free way to swatch!
Trust me choosing the wrong paint color is an expensive mistake you do not want to make.
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I’m Cate. As a seasoned paint color consultant and former proprietor of the highly regarded painting company WOW 1 Day Painting in Bergen County, my journey in the world of design and home improvement has been a colorful one, quite literally. Nestled in the scenic landscapes of Northern New Jersey, I’ve cultivated a passion for transforming spaces through the power of paint, furniture restoration, and thoughtful home decor.
Julie Gilbert
Monday 22nd of May 2023
I painted my office with SW Bamboo Shoot; Cashmere Flat finish. I thought I may have lost my mind, but it is STILL one of my favorite rooms in the house. My inspirational piece was a gorgeous 90's TV hutch thingy that I use for storing files, etc. It has multiple earth tones, mostly green hues...really French country run amok. Room is filled with antique prints that have lots of green/earth tones. Its amazing that a very saturated somewhat scary color can really look gorgeous and even sophisticated. I've never gotten sick of it. BTW, SW Cashmere Flat is my GO TO paint for basically every room (except for bath/kitchen i suppose). Not chalk board flat, slightist hint of sheen. Very dummy proof as long as you use 2 coats. It looks like velvet. Gorgeous.
Heather Boone
Wednesday 29th of April 2020
Hi I am trying to change my business office colors and I want to go with grays... What color would you suggest??
Cate Griffing
Thursday 30th of April 2020
Hi Heather, My go to gray paint colors are Agreeable Gray and Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams. Agreeable has a tiny bit more warmth than Repose Gray.
Rebecca Gardner
Wednesday 29th of April 2020
It was interesting when you talked about how the ideal paint color for a home office with natural light will be different than the ideal color for a space with no windows. My husband and I want to hire an interior home painter to change the color of our home's walls before we choose new furniture to buy this summer. Thanks for giving me these tips to keep in mind when choosing a color for my small upstairs office!
Dori Turner
Sunday 5th of April 2020
This is such a timely post as me and my husband are both working from home and homeschooling our kids, as well. Our office space has been critical during this and definitely seeing where we can make some needed adjustments!