When decorating a home office, nailing the color scheme is one of the most important factors. While first and foremost, home offices are functional rooms that need to provide a productive workspace, it's important to keep them fresh and energizing with stylish colors.
But what are the best paint colors for a home office? We enlisted the expertise of interior designers, who share their favorite ideas below. Balancing professionalism and design flair, these 10 home office room color ideas will ensure your space is an inspiring space to work that's anything but boring.
Read on to gain some fresh home office paint ideas, whether you're looking for dark and moody hues that ooze sophistication or lighter neutrals that prioritize a calm environment.
Home office paint color ideas
‘Choosing the correct shade for your home office is as important as your job,’ says Annie Sloan, color expert. ‘Select the best hues depending on your personality traits and what your job requires of you. For example, those who lack focus will benefit from bright colors, while those whose role requires deep thinking should consider contemplative blues.’
1. Create a sleek and sophisticated space with dark colors
Stepping away from anything too bland is always a good choice for a home office color scheme. While whites and beige can risk making the space feel stark and uninspiring, dark paints will give the room interest and a homey feel.
'Sherwin Williams 7665 Wall Street, is one of my favorite home office paint colors,' says Shaunn Quayle of Britt Design Group. 'This dark blue hue creates a calming and serene atmosphere, which is perfect for maintaining focus and reducing stress while working. This shade of dark blue infused this home office with a neutral relaxed mood and complemented the richness of the walnut finishes and furnishings.'
2. Decorate with calming greens
According to color psychology, beige greens and yellow greens are the most stress-reducing shades – so they are ideal for a home working environment.
In this timeless home office designed by Courtney B. Smith Design, Benjamin Moore's Martha’s Vineyard was used across the walls and cabinets, creating a classic and relaxed look and feel.
'We selected this deep green to create a cozy destination and a dramatic but clean backdrop for frequent video calls,' says Courtney Smith, founder and principal designer. 'We lightened things by covering the ceiling in a small pattern, and added pretty light fixtures that serve as jewelry.'
3. Opt for neutrals for a timeless space
Light neutrals are a failsafe choice for home offices, creating a space that feels light and airy and not too stimulating. Opt for neutrals such as Farrow & Ball's Pigeon which have more interest than classic beiges or grays, as used here by Meg Lonergan.
Another benefit of soft neutrals is that they have a timeless quality, withstanding the latest interior design trends, meaning you'll be less inclined to redecorate in the short term.
4. Channel personality with playful hues
‘With many of us working from home these days (at least some of the time), it’s important to foster a creative and inspiring home office environment – and not play it too safe when it comes to using pattern and color,’ says Sarah Peake, founder, Studio Peake.
Your book storage and home office setup need not be staid in character nor somber in color. Scale up the atmosphere by painting the fitted joinery in a block color and let the books provide the detail.
5. Keep it simple with classic whites
A neutral home office offers infinite possibilities for making spaces airy and relaxing, or elegantly sophisticated and timeless. If you're not sure where to start with your home office color choices, opt for a classic white, arguably the most timeless of all neutrals.
In this home office designed by Vernich Interiors, Benjamin Moore's White Dove provides the perfect backdrop to sophisticated decor, nodding to the quiet luxury trend.
'This study is on the darker side of the home so we wanted to keep the walls and ceiling light,' explains Connie Vernich, principal at the Nashville-based design studio. 'The soft white plays well with the black fireplace ideas and cabinetry.'
'We used beautiful saddle leather swivel chairs and a warm wood desk to give warmth to the white and black color scheme. The color scheme is simple but gives a sophisticated feel to the room.'
6. Embrace cool tones to inspire creativity
When it comes to blue home offices, Jane Rockett, co-founder of Rockett St George, says, ‘Cool blues and deep navy tones promote creativity and are the perfect choice for your home office – typically spaces that you go to for visionary thinking.’
Because cool tones aren’t overpowering – in fact, they often feel like they are receding – they often help small rooms appear to have more space, which can make them a great choice also for a small home office or library.
Farrow & Ball's Stiffkey Blue is a go-to choice when it comes to choosing blue paints; cool-toned and dark but slightly muted to give it a gentle quality, as seen in this traditional home office designed by Bambi A’Lynn Interior Design.
'I love Stiffkey Blue by Farrow & Ball for a home office paint color,' says designer Bambi A’Lynn Bratton. 'I like home offices to have deep, rich colors. One trick to achieve this look is to paint the walls and cabinetry the same color.'
7. Separate your work and play space with color
Use color to create a 'zone' for work. Zoning in interior design with color helps you to make the most of your work space, by creating distinct areas for you to shut yourself away from the rest of the home.
A full immersion of color, with one stunning shade for all walls, can bring interest into the room without overwhelming the eye; deep-tone colors work particularly well for this. The style also complements strong architectural features in a fresh and modern way. Plus, once you step out of the 'zone', you won't feel like you are at work.
8. Or, choose colors cohesive with the rest of your home
Rather than separating work and play, an alternate approach is to keep the colors cohesive throughout so the decor flows and doesn't single out your workspace too much.
This was the approach taken by Smith Home Studios in this classic home office featuring navy blue, white, and wood tones.
'Many of our clients work from home during the week so we want to ensure their home office feels cohesive with the home’s aesthetic but also feels separate from their daily life,' says Jamie Lyn Smith, owner of the design studio.
'Our Coleman Project required our client to have a comfortable place for long days at the computer and video calls. By choosing the moody Westcott Navy by Benjamin Moore for the walls, she can easily transition from home life to working professionally a few steps away. In the corner, a comfy swivel chair, footrest, and little drink table provide a perfect spot for a fresh perspective.'
9. Consider earthy pinks for a cozy scheme
Pink room ideas for a home office are a great way to create a cozy feel, ideal if you want to transition away from neutrals without overdoing it. Choose earthy, muted pinks like Farrow & Ball's Sulking Room Pink for a grown-up take on this color trend.
'Of course, it comes down to personal preference but a dark pink study feels versatile for me,' says Jenny Luck, interior designer and color expert at Jenny Luck Interiors. 'It compliments the green of the exterior whilst providing a colorful yet not overpowering base layer. I love adding darker metals for an industrial edge.'
10. Make a bold statement with black
To make the ultimate statement in your home office, consider decorating with black. Although bold, black can be an incredibly effective color choice that feels rich and sophisticated, as seen here in this moody space designed by Inside Stories.
The paint color used across the built-in cabinetry is Benjamin Moore's Midnight Oil, creating a moody and statement look. The trick to decorating with black paint is to fully embrace it and paint all the walls, avoiding any harsh cut-offs that would appear when teamed with white.
First and foremost, your home office should align with the purpose it needs to serve. If you're looking to boost inspiration and reflect personality, colorful tones may work best; but if you need the space to channel professionalism, more timeless, neutral hues should be considered.
Whether you're inspired by the trending dark paints or the lighter tones, these expert-suggested paint color ideas will ensure your home office feels stylish as well as hardworking.
