Modern office color schemes

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Delft by Sherwin-Williams

"For the ultimate Zoom-ready workspace, we love swathing the entire room in a single saturated hue. In various sheens, Sherwin-Williams' Delft can create a serene and sophisticated office sanctuary. " — Monica Guarnaschelli, Indigomaven Interiors

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Kelsey Mulvey

Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, and ELLE Decor, among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.

19 Best Home Office Color Schemes

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Get inspired by these simply elegant workspaces from some of the country's best design firms.

By Lauren Wicks

Jan 12, 2021

Julia Lynn

Creating a home office deserves to be just as creative an endeavor as your powder room or favorite spot for entertaining. Looking to not only your WFH needs but also your own personal style will help this space become a less dreadful place to be—who knows, it may even give you just the inspiration you need when that 2 p.m. slump hits!

We're looking to some of our favorite designers, including Mark Sikes and Miles Redd, to give us the creative spark we need to make our indefinite workspaces all our own. These 19 color schemes, from soothing blue paint colors and other neutrals to vibrant greens, offer insights to creating the type of space you're looking for—eclectic, academic, soothing, or a combination of the three.

Francesco Lagnese

1 of 19

Rustic Elements

We adore this home office color scheme by Palmer Weiss, which looked to this Big Sky, Montana, home's earthen surroundings for a room that feels inspired by the American West and completely sophisticated. Sky blue, terra-cotta, shades of beige, and a few rich browns welcome in the beauty of the outdoors.

Amy Neunsinger

2 of 19

Sumptuously Textured

This monochromatic space feels layered and luxurious thanks to natural fibers, artisan-made goods, and the genius eye of Mark D. Sikes. This space is ideal for fashion designer Karen Kane to find peace of mind and enjoy the natural beauty of her sunny surroundings at her Southern California abode.

Julie Soefer

3 of 19

Moody Elegance

Designer Marie Flanigan designed this room with its enviable floor-t0-ceiling windows in mind, displaying how powerful natural light can be in a space. This features dramatic wooden walls, a statement-making brass light fixture, and breezy white curtains that allow the light to stream through and shift throughout the work day.

Courtesy of Keith Baltimore

4 of 19

Black and White

Black and white will always be one of design's most sophisticated pairings, and it feels especially right for a chic home office space. White walls, wrought-iron windows, an oversize velvet desk chair, and accents of gold make for a luxe workspace. Plus, we love how designer Keith Baltimore created discreet storage spaces for supplies and accommodates electronics without them becoming a forced focal point.

Courtesy of Kevin Spearman

5 of 19

An Artful Blend of Neutrals

Neutrals never looked so exciting, thanks to this layered, antiques-laden space designed by Kevin Spearman. Various textures, from the parquet flooring to the marble light fixture and contrasting accent chairs all create a uniquely beautiful space that doesn't need to be loud to make a statement—perfect for long workdays.

David Tsay

6 of 19

Springtime Whimsy

Of course your home office needs wallpaper on the ceiling. Designer Peter Dunham took this small upstairs room in a guest house in a Southern California home and transformed it to an efficient and exciting space thanks to a built-in workspace with backyard views, nasturtium-themed wallpaper from Lake August, and a sage-green Bonhams chandelier that ties the space together.

VERANDA

7 of 19

Black and Gold

Designer Richard Hallberg keeps this eclectic-chic home office from feeling over-the-top by grounding the space with black and gold. Woven faux-leather walls, a textured cowhide rug, and a unique array of artifacts make this office feel like it belongs to a well-traveled owner with an impeccable eye.

VERANDA

8 of 19

Serene Neutrals

This beautiful office space feels warm and inviting and will help keeps it owner relaxed on even the busiest of days. A light grey hue that skews blue evokes a calming tone, while a mix of natural materials adds warmth.

The Ingalls

9 of 19

Richly Traditional

We love designer Jeffrey Bilhuber's artful balance of masculine and feminine in his work, and this office is a prime example. A rich chocolate-brown wall color and modern art featuring rigid lines is contrasted with a plush armchair (covered in leopard print, no less), peachy bouquets, and a delicately patterned area for a wow-worthy room.

Julia Lynn

10 of 19

Lovely in Lacquer

It's no secret we love lacquer, and this artistic Austin home office designed by Angie Hranowsky is the perfect place to bring vibrance to a workspace. Accented with light wood, a funky blend of patterns, modern lighting, and built-ins full of objets d'art, this space is ideal for any creative looking to zhoosh up their four walls.

ERIC PIASECKI

11 of 19

Earthen Elegance

Earth tones dominate this space, making it feel like an extension of any gardener's vibrant home. Designer Ashley Whittaker's choice of whimsical accents make the chocolate-brown walls come alive, and a blend of sumptuous fabrics ensures this office feels warm and cozy at all hours.

Amy Neunsinger

12 of 19

Romantic Retreat

Leave it to Mark D. Sikes to create an office space that invites romance as much as deep study. Rough-hewn textures, deep red roses, and beautifully tiled floors evokes Mediterranean glamour in case you need assistance imagining you're somewhere else in your next Zoom meeting.

Brockschmidt & Coleman, LLC

13 of 19

Bright and Buzzy

This art-filled library swathed in a golden yellow paint color is evocative of many of our favorite designers across the pond. Ample book storage, plenty of wall (and floor!) space to display art, and a whimsical chandelier make this office space feel both academic and creative to stimulate both the right and left brain.

VERANDA

14 of 19

Muted Metalics

Designer Susan Ferrier's library is the perfect place to house a workspace, where she can find inspiration in the books behind her—and her own decor. This room of curiosities allows Ferrier's finds to speak for themselves while silvery and blue tones modernize the space.

Stephen Karlisch

15 of 19

Artistic Glamour

Designer Jan Showers creates a perfect marriage of the wild and artistic with the refined and sophisticated in this study for the 2020 Kips Bay Show House in Dallas. You can just imagine Jackie O. penning letters to loved ones in here while admiring the contemporary art, classic antiques, and the one-of-a-kind chandelier.

Douglas Friedman

16 of 19

A Botanist's Study

Miles Redd brought this Connecticut home's office space to life with baby blues, verdant greens, and surprising pops of pattern. A gridded wallpaper by Iskel, a blooming chandelier, and Lee Jofa fabric for the chair and matching throw pillow make the space feel less office and more sunroom.. This comfortable, lush space is as ideal to work in as it is for an afternoon cat-nap.

Thomas Loof

17 of 19

Feeling Bookish

A black-and-beige motif is perfect for allowing an impressive and colorful book collection to shine, as shown here in this Atlanta home designed by John Oetgen. A Greek key border on the walls, an assortment of object, and a coffee table reminiscent of ancient Greek architecture feels like a study for the modern Aristotle.

FRANCESCO LAGNESE

18 of 19

Brown Beauty

Designer Thomas O'Brien's home office is decked in more than a dozen shades of brown, which pair well with the bright white windows that offer ample natural light. He layers this space with a refined eye, choosing traditional and historic pieces to make this room sing.

J. Savage Gibson

19 of 19

Vibrant and Welcoming

Starting work in the mornings may feel a little less dreadful when your office is as bright and cheery as this. Designer Meg Braff's workspace in her Long Island home features shiny metallics, breezy curtains, and a coastal teal that makes one feel like the beach lies just outside the double doors.

30 Radiant Paint Colors for Your Dining Room

Lauren Wicks Lauren Wicks is a Birmingham-based writer covering design trends, must-have products, travel inspiration, and entertaining.

Office color design

Office interior design > Blog > The meaning of color in office interior

The color shades that surround a person can have a significant impact on his emotional and psychological state. The color in the interior can soothe, irritate, cause aggression, increase efficiency. In creating office design, color solutions chosen by a specialist are of great importance. A certain color scheme can stimulate action, increase the activity of employees, and encourage a creative attitude to work. nine0003

Light colors and bright furnishings suit modern office spaces. As an alternative to the classic design, one deep color is used. The ceiling, floors and walls are covered with paint of one shade, which will become dominant. All other colors used in the interior are subject to the main shade. When developing an office design project, it is recommended not to get carried away with the main color. Partitions will help to dilute the look of the office, performing in different colors.

The final decision in choosing an office design project should depend on the nature of the work and the purpose for which the premises are used. Neutral shades, as well as a successful combination of cool colors, will give employees a businesslike mood. Meeting rooms, rooms in which employees gather in between work, it is desirable to paint with warm colors. For example, yellow-orange, green, olive color will enliven the staff, creating a light friendly climate.

When choosing the “temperature” of a color scheme, it is important to take into account the location of the office space relative to the cardinal points. If the windows face north, then more red and yellow colors are used in the design. In a room with prevailing artificial lighting, office interior design is recommended to be done in bright colors. Bright shades are desirable to use in rooms where people will not spend much time. nine0003

When designing offices, the following parameters are taken into account:

1. Total area.
2. Room height.
3. Location.
4. Layout of interior areas.

In large rooms with high ceilings, it is recommended to use saturated and not too bright colors. In small offices, designers try to visually increase the area of ​​​​rooms, so they use less saturated colors. When choosing an office design project, the degree of illumination and the predominance of natural or artificial light must be taken into account. nine0003

You can visually change the depth of the room if you choose the right color for the end wall. Shades of red, gray, orange will make a long corridor shorter, and green, blue, yellow will create the illusion of great depth.

The right shade can eliminate some of the negative factors that affect the workflow. If the office premises are located on the south side of the building, and the atmosphere in them is dry and stuffy, light blue or blue-green shades should prevail in the design. They have a cooling and moisturizing effect, reducing discomfort from heat and low humidity. nine0003

Psycho-emotional discomfort is caused by high humidity and coolness. Such rooms are painted in light yellow, red-orange colors. Correctly selected color design of office reduces the psychological impact of noise, which is constantly emitted by working equipment. The predominance of dark green, brown, blue-blue colors in the interior will make the room more soothing and unpleasant noise will no longer irritate the nervous system.

There is a common color scheme for warning signs that are located in every office. They help to improve safety and mobilize people in critical situations in a short time. Therefore, it is not recommended to use such colors as the main shade of the room. nine0003

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What colors to choose for the office: the experience of DESIGNIC studio specialists

"Cheerful" offices are for IT people, but we have serious people working here.

Red color provokes aggression, and violet causes depression.

Bright walls distract employees from work.

Of course, you have heard these statements more than once or seen such conclusions in articles devoted to office color schemes. Our experience proves that there are exceptions to every rule.

In the DESIGNIC portfolio, you'll find bright offices for law, technology and management companies, work areas with colored walls, and colors that are usually not included in office selections, such as black. We do not pretend to be the ultimate truth, but people work productively in these spaces and millions of contracts are concluded, which means that the color of the office interior can be almost any. nine0013

Rare exceptions and how to correctly use bright colors are described in this article. It is based on our knowledge and practice of designing more than 100 offices for Russian and international companies from various fields.

• What colors to choose for the office and what to rely on
• How office interior color affects people
• What colors should be avoided in the interior of the office
• Bright colors: in which areas of the office it is appropriate
• How to use color wisely in office interiors to avoid overload
• Suitable colors for offices: what to consider when planning a renovation

Several factors influence the selection of colors for office interior decoration. Let's analyze them all.

Company's brand book

Every second customer asks to accurately transfer the colors from the brand book into the interior. We explain that it will not be possible to use them in their pure form, since the brand book is primarily intended for printing and website design. If you include bright colors in the interior without thinking through all the details, it will be difficult to not only work productively in the room, but also just stay for a long time. nine0003

During the discussion, we determine in which areas of the office it is important to use corporate colors, and decide how to implement them there. We muffle, dilute, make small inclusions to create not only a beautiful, but also a comfortable space.

Our task is to “make friends” between the brand book and reality.

The most indicative from this point of view was the project of the office of the managing company Cosmoservice. The brand book included blue and green colors, and kindness appeared in the list of values. We have an image of a soft and delicate company, so the design team has developed a concept using complex shades of green and blue, natural and soothing. It seemed that it would fit perfectly, but the customer did not accept the concept, citing the fact that the interior turned out to be too “calm” for his active employees. In general, I liked everything, but there was not enough energy. nine0003

This is how the first version of the concept looked, which was not agreed upon.

We were asked to brighten up and incorporate the neon blue used on the website and printed materials. In nature, this color does not exist, it can only be seen on the screen.

In the process of adjustments, it turned out that if you just “twist” the blue, the concept will fall apart. One unsuitable bright-colored element can ruin everything, other interior details look dirty against its background. So it was in this case - branded blue "crushed" the rest, so I had to change the color scheme completely. nine0003

In the second version of the concept, graphics appeared on the walls and furniture, as well as "space" chairs of an unusual shape. Later, the company's brand book changed, and we developed a third option, something in between the first and second.

Features of the room

It is easy to work with a bright, spacious office - you do not want to subconsciously overload it with bright accents. They laid a gray carpet, put bright puffs, and it's already beautiful.

A space where there is little light can be disposed of in different ways: how to paint it white so that the walls do not crush, or support it with dark accents. nine0003

If the future office has different windows, a different finish, there are height differences - this is a problem with an asterisk. There is a lot of work, including with color.

There are many options. There are generally accepted rules, but they can and should be broken.

Company profile

There are no one-size-fits-all solutions. What is unacceptable for some is optimal for others.

Metso&Outotec, the world leader in integrated solutions and services for the minerals processing and metallurgy industries, we have come up with a very bold concept. Making out the new office of the company, they used dark colors, sharp contrasts, rough shapes. For some other business, the solutions might not be appropriate, but in this case they fit perfectly. nine0003

The dominant feature of the entrance area is the stone reception desk. The black color emphasizes the "brutal" nature of the company, and the unusual shape is associated with ore and minerals.

Finishing materials and coatings

When developing a concept, we always order stains, samples of veneer, carpets, etc. The palette in which the selected materials are available can also influence the choice of office color scheme.

When choosing color schemes for the office, it is important to understand what the impact will be on employees and customers. Color is able to enhance certain emotions and reactions: both positive and negative. Working with him is a difficult task, a separate area of ​​\u200b\u200bknowledge.

When working on projects, we rely on the fundamental works of 20th century theorists, such as The Art of Color by Johannes Itten, and our own practical experience. From time to time we are trained by experts who use the results of research (mainly foreign ones) in preparing programs, and we are interested in the work of colleagues in order to form a familiarity. nine0003

Let's take a look at how people are affected by the most popular colors used in office interiors:

• Red. Helps to create a “wow effect”, so it should be used where the client first contacts your company: in the lobby, reception area. On a red background, people seem more attractive to themselves and others - the use of this color in the design of photo zones is justified. Red elements in the coffee point or in the kitchen stimulate the appetite.

In one of our projects, we designed a meeting room in neutral colors and added brightness using red. Accents were placed with the help of armchairs, flooring with red and orange stripes, as well as a decorative element on the wall.

• Green. This is a suitable color for the office - it is associated with nature, has a positive effect on the thought process, improves memory. It also contributes to the adoption of important decisions and creates a trusting atmosphere, therefore it is often used in the design of negotiation rooms. nine0018

In the co-working project for the Docklands loft quarter, we provided a meeting room decorated in gray and green tones. They suggested painting the walls green, as well as picking up a green curtain with acoustic properties, which would contribute to noise reduction.

• Blue. Ambiguous color. It calms, sets you up for work, helps you get ready, and also emphasizes the status of the company, the high quality of its services. At the same time, for some people, a long stay in the blue space can cause depression and even a depressive state, so this color should be used carefully. nine0018

In the design project of the office of the law firm Prime Advice, we used colors from the brand book - blue as the main one and red for accents. This combination characterizes reliability and a serious approach to work.

It was suggested to use "smart" glass in the meeting room. When the room is free, the partition is transparent, and during meetings it becomes matte, providing privacy.

• Yellow. nine0014 This is the color of sociality, communication, it can be used when decorating a recreation area to encourage employees to communicate with each other, exchange ideas. As the experience of the ticket operator Kassir.ru, for which we designed the central office, showed, the yellow color can even compensate for the typical St. Petersburg weather outside the window. It seems to employees that it is always sunny and joyful in the office - bright accents in the interior made their life a little better.