How To Choose The Best Color For Your Home Office

Putting together your home office can be an exciting endeavor. Whether you’re embarking on a new career path or just want to revamp your workspace, a fresh change can help boost your energy and make you feel inspired.

When choosing your home office color, consider your working style, the amount of time you’ll be spending in your office, and even the type of work you’ll be doing. If you like bold colors but you know you’ll be spending several hours a day in your office, settling for a colorful accent wall or some vibrant pops of color is a great option. If your job or school requires plenty of focus, go for neutral or deep shades to encourage clarity and sharpness.

To help you pick the best colors for your home office, we put together this guide that lists everything you should consider when putting together your perfect space. We include well-known effects of some of the most popular office colors and unique color combinations. Whether you’d like to increase your productivity, generate creative ideas or reduce stress, this guide will walk you through your choices.

The Effects Of Color

effects of color

Colors can affect mood, productivity, comfort and energy levels. According to color psychology, color is one of the most used tools in design to help encourage certain emotions or alter the perception of a room.

If you want your office space to seem bigger, light and airy colors will create the illusion of a roomier space. If you want your office to feel cozier, go for warmer wall shades and decor like soft yellows and wooden frames.

When working for a fast-paced industry, soothing and calming shades are encouraged. A highly organized office can also help you feel at ease and focused. In creative industries, pops of color along with fun shapes and textures can inspire unique ideas.

How To Get Started

office colors yellow

Depending on your line of work, you might want to consider jotting down a few notes that include your goals and needs for your office. Knowing the main purpose of your space will help you hone in on the colors best suited for you. To get you on the right track, consider the following questions:

1. What will be the main use of your office?

Think about your typical tasks and projects as well as the physical items you need to complete them. Whether it’s writing, sketching or studying, jot down three to five main uses. If plenty of natural sunlight in a bright room helps you create your best designs, go for light, invigorating shades. If you find that a comfy seat encourages you to write more, opt for a plush couch in a grounding shade like a deep blue or gray along with few soft pillows.

2. What is your main goal for your office?

If you’re a student, you’ll want this to be a space where you can clear your mind and focus on the material in front of you. If you’ll be making sales calls or pitching ideas, your office needs to make you feel revitalized and optimistic.

3. What is your working style?

For many, clean and minimal spaces help them concentrate and feel centered. If minimalism fits your style, you might want to consider neutral colors combined with natural decor elements like an indoor plant. If you find that unique ideas come when your desk and office walls are full, try bold color combinations and eclectic decor like fun textures and a mix of canvas prints.

Best Office Colors

office colors

Whether you’re painting your walls or just sprucing up your home office decor with fun pops of color, use this list to help you choose the shades that will make up your ideal workspace.

White For Versatility And Openness 

white office

White and soft neutrals are perhaps the most versatile shades. A white office will help promote focus and organization while bringing in plenty of light. It can be easily refreshed with other natural colors for a minimalist look or bold pops of color for a unique interior.

Black For Introspection

black office

Although only recommended for an accent wall or decor, black is a very grounding and powerful color to have in your office. It’s known to encourage confidence, introspection and strength so add a few black pillows to a white couch or mount wall art in black frames to boost your sense of security in the decisions you’re making.

Red For Excitement And Strength 

red office

Similar to black, red also represents strength and it’s known to stimulate conversation and excitement. It’s great for those who work in fast-paced or ever-changing industries as it will always keep you on your toes. To balance out its intensity, combine this shade with neutral or muted tones like black, brown or gray.

Orange For Comfort

orange office

Another color known for boosting your energy levels and evoking enthusiasm, orange is perfect for those in creative industries. Its warm and vibrant tone can provide a cleansing and comforting feel. For an eye-catching aesthetic, combine with contrasting shades of blue. If you’d like a more subdued look, opt for a white office with fun pops of orange accents.

Yellow For Positivity

yellow office

Although pale yellows can be applied to every wall in your office, brighter yellows should be limited to a fun accent wall or office decor. While this color represents positivity and friendliness, studies show that large amounts of it can generate feelings of frustration. It’s also the color that’s the most straining to the eye so we recommend keeping that in mind when choosing the right tone and wall.

Green For Focus 

green office

Opposite to yellow, green is the least fatiguing color for our eyes and it’s known to increase reading speed and comprehension. If you’re an editor who has to read a few thousand words per day or you’re constantly studying difficult material, this color is a perfect match. It’s also known for having a calming effect while revitalizing the mind.

Blue For Productivity

blue office

Warmer blues can encourage serenity and productivity which makes them a popular home and office color. Businesses often use this color to communicate reliability and honesty so they’re great if you often bring clients to your office. Cooler blues are often seen as cold and distant so we recommend balancing these shades with warm or rustic decor.

Purple For Creativity And Wisdom

purple office

Royal and majestic, purples are known to unleash your imagination and represent wealth, wisdom and luxury. Although great for creative industries, dark purples often produce a sense of mystery so they’re not recommended for those who want their home office to convey clarity. For a calming and soothing effect, go for softer lilacs and lavenders.

Grey For Tranquility

grey office

Grey is another great neutral and highly versatile shade that can give your office a sleek feel. It’s also known to evoke feelings of peace and tranquility. If not paired with the appropriate decor, it can feel a little lackluster and potentially stagnate creativity so be sure to add natural elements and colors like an indoor plant or a wooden desk.

Pink For Calmness 

pink office

A surprisingly calming color, a soft pink is a great addition to an artistic office or study room. It’ll keep you calm while encouraging out-of-the-box ideas. This color is often associated with kindness and nurturing so it’s perfect for social workers, teachers, yoga instructors and even product developers.

Brown For Reliability

brown office

Brown is a go-to choice if you want to elicit a sense of strength, reliability and security. It can help create the perfect environment for those in business or law. For a sleek and serious aesthetic, go for darker browns paired with a glass or white desk, leather accents or some industrial office wall art.

For a lighter feel, soft browns can complement any home office. Like white, they’re grounding, neutral shades that can be easily refreshed by adding a single piece of decor like a hanging planter or a bookshelf.

As you can see, a fresh and inspiring workspace can be achieved with some paint, fun office wall art or colorful decor. Picking the right colors is just a matter of knowing your working style and the main uses of your office space. Now you’re ready to put together the perfect environment that’s sure to increase your creativity, efficiency and comfort.