Office space color schemes


15 Perfect Office Paint Colors

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1

Inkwell by Sherwin-Williams

“Dark colors in smaller spaces can pack a punch and make a huge impact just through tone and depth of paint. In this case, we created a focal point by using Inkwell, a really dark but neutral paint color. The art and other details make for a contrast that is more noticeable than if they were hung on lighter walls.” —Zandy Gammons, Miretta Interiors

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Catherine Nguyen

2

White Sail by Sherwin-Williams

“Choose paint colors that maximize and reflect any natural light you have in your home office space. Natural light energizes your body and mind! Try paint in beautiful whites and soft neutrals that seem to glow throughout the day as the light changes. If you want a bolder pop of color, layer in hints of calm blues and greens that reflect nature and bring the outside indoors!” —Phillip Thomas

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Eric Piasecki

3

Rosemary by Sherwin-Williams

“I love to use a rich green paint color like Rosemary by Sherwin-Williams to envelop the walls in an office. Green is both literally and aesthetically easy on the eyes and feels natural and harmonious in a workspace.” —Christina Kim

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Raquel Langworthy

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4

Fairview Taupe by Benjamin Moore

“Benjamin Moore’s Fairview Taupe is a rich, deep brown that pairs well with neutrals and blues and provides a cozy vibe without being too boring or expected.” —Erin Gates

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Sarah Grayson

5

Graphite by Benjamin Moore

“Our favorite workspaces incorporate bold color and pattern choices. We spend so much time working, why not be inspired by our surroundings? Benjamin Moore’s Graphite is both strong and contemplative so a natural fit for productivity.” —Emilie Munroe, Studio Munroe

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Thomas Kuoh

6

Fort Pierce Green by Benjamin Moore

“A blue-green color is always a favorite in an office as it can help with anxiety while working. That’s why I like Benjamin Moore’s Fort Pierce Green for office walls or even a desk to paint [as shown here] for sprucing up.” —Linda Hayslett, LH. Designs

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Lauren Taylor

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7

De Nimes by Farrow & Ball

“I love the sort of diluted richness of this color; it’s more soothing than it is bold.” —Hattie Sparks

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Jacqueline Marque

8

Super White by Benjamin Moore

“Benjamin Moore’s Super White is our go-to for home offices because it’s crisp, bright and reflects light, making the space feel both cool and energized.” —Molly Torres Portnof, DATE Interiors

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Claire Esparros

9

Card Room Green by Farrow & Ball

“This color manages to feel warm, soothing, and grounding all at one time, which creates the optimal atmosphere for working at home. Despite being a green hue, it feels almost neutral to me while still adding interest and depth.” —Gillian Segal

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Nick Mele

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10

Van Deusen Blue by Benjamin Moore

“My home was built in 1915 and had a classic pent room, which I converted to my home office and sanctuary, as I call it. I chose a deep, saturated blue from Benjamin Moore when designing this space. I recently read that the blue spectrum of light activates and awakens our brains, making this a perfect color for an office space.” —Kendall Wilkinson

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Paul Dyer

11

Dead Salmon by Farrow & Ball

“We are loving Dead Salmon by Farrow & Ball for home offices. The rich shade provides a warm and cozy vibe for the space you spend many hours in each day. It also provides a beautiful shade as a background for most skin tones—and with all the Zoom meetings, that is important!” Kristen Peña, K Interiors

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John Merkl

12

Repose Gray by Sherwin-Williams

“Sherwin-Williams’s Repose Gray is a wonderful, neutral option to offset the pure white molding in an office. It allows the upholstery and furnishings to shine when clients yearn to use pops of color.” —Traci Connell

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Traci Connell

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13

Onyx by Benjamin Moore

“For my personal home office, I opted for Benjamin Moore’s Onyx to bring in the drama. With enough natural light, this dark, moody color made the office feel modern and inspiring.” —Traci Connell

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Traci Connell

14

Butter Up by Sherwin-Williams

“When I designed my own home office, I wanted a color that would be happy and create warmth to inspire me as a designer, as well as delight my clients when I do Zoom meetings with them. Sherwin-Williams’s Butter Up is a great yellow that is bright and cheerful, yet not overwhelming. I find it acts like a neutral, so I can add elements of other colors in the space with window treatments, upholstery on furniture, pillows, and decor elements as it goes with everything. ” —Grey Joyner

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Grey Joyner

15

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’s Delft can create a serene and sophisticated office sanctuary.” —Monica Guarnaschelli, Indigomaven Interiors

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Indigomaven Interior

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.

Home office paint colors – the 10 best color schemes for an inspiring space |

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(Image credit: Davide Lovatti / Future)

Over the past year, those of us lucky enough to have a dedicated room in which to shut ourselves away have gratefully recognized the peaceful retreat they provide. However, now working from home is likely to be the norm for many of us, we are thinking about the aesthetics of these spaces. 

But how to add beauty to what is, after all, a functional space? This is why choosing the best home office paint colors are vital to creating a successful scheme.

Home office paint colors – 10 ways to energize your space

1. Paint with a dynamic color palette

(Image credit: Mark Bolton)

‘Make your home office area a brighter space that the rest of the room,’ advises Annie Sloan, color expert. ‘Basic color psychology can come into play here, but fundamentally whichever color you choose – it should be something you love. I think strong colors are important whatever your role: this is not a room for relaxing, you want the space to feel dynamic.’

2. Instil a sense of calm with a green color scheme

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti / Future)

According to color psychology, beige greens and yellow greens are the most stress-reducing shades – so they are ideal for a home working environment. They also make a good neutral background for displaying art.

3. Make neutrals interesting 

(Image credit: Manolo Yllera / Future)

Even a room that’s lacking in color can still be bursting with visual appeal. In fact, many designers love working with a neutral color palette because I can really translate to any design style. But the key to doing is successfully is to embrace a variety of elements that will add interest. You’ll want to combine materials and textures, which will create contrast and a sense of dimension.

4. Draw on personality and playfulness

(Image credit: Future)

‘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 sombre in color. Scale up the atmosphere by painting the fitted joinery in a block color and let the books provide the detail.

5. Go for a fail-safe neutral 

(Image credit: Paul Massey / Future)

A neutral home office offers infinite possibilities for making spaces airy and relaxing, or elegantly sophisticated and timeless

There is no doubt that neutrals have been the most popular tones for home offices during the last year, and for good reason. Many people feel most comfortable when surrounded by carefully balanced colors that create an understated environment and make few demands on the eye. 

This new and updated neutral is are all about minimalism, simplistic shapes and natural finishes, so ditch the chaos and opt for an uncluttered study that inspires creativity. 

6. Paint using a selection of cool tones

(Image credit: Paul Raeside / Future)

When it comes to blue home office ideas, 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 a small room appear to have more space, which can make them a great choice also for a small home office or library. 

7. Separate your work and play space with color

(Image credit: Simon Bevan / Future)

Use color to create a 'zone' for work. Zoning with color helps you to make the most of your work space, by creating a 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. Decorate in a harmonious color palette

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti / Future)

If your home office is bursting with natural light, then why not go for a popular grey color scheme with touches of mood-boosting blue? 

Grey and blue is a harmonious color combination. Dark schemes, such as the deep, almost blue-black charcoal walls here, create an intimate environment for quiet contemplation. 

'The orientation of your space will affect the way a color looks on the walls, and is the reason why exactly the same shade of grey paint can look completely different in different surroundings,' explains author Kate Watson-Smyth.

9. Go for a marvellous monochrome scheme

(Image credit: Jan Baldwin / Future)

A study or home office will look sophisticated and smart decorated in black and white, but if you are sticking religiously to the monochrome color scheme, it's really important to ensure that you add plenty of texture into the room to ensure it feels cozy and welcoming. Texture is vital – remember that the most successful monochrome interiors combine depth and dimension with tactile pieces to create an interesting narrative.

10. Create a 'zone' with color and pattern

(Image credit: Future)

When it comes to color, don’t be too conservative. A striking hue will inject just the right amount of flamboyance to add energy and foster creativity, as demonstrated by this bold study, which delightfully combines pattern with strong color.

What colors are good for a home office?

Soothing colors, such as greens and blues, will offer tranquility and that all-important link to the outside. However, while these shades suit south- or west-facing spaces, and even light-filled north- or east-facing rooms, you many feel a home office that only receives cool daylight is better suited to warmer colors.

What is the best color to paint an office for productivity?

‘Choosing the correct shade for your home office as important as you 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 who role requires deep thinking should consider contemplative blues.’

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

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Contents

  • The best colors for office interiors
  • Setting the right tone!
  • What shades should not be used in the interior of the office?

The office is the place where most of us spend an impressive amount of time. That is why it is important to take responsibility for the design of the workspace. Properly selected colors can stimulate brain activity, increase focus on work tasks, reduce fatigue and nervous tension.

The office is the place where most of us spend an impressive amount of time. That is why it is important to take responsibility for the design of the workspace. Properly selected colors can stimulate brain activity, increase focus on work tasks, reduce fatigue and nervous tension.

The best colors for office interiors

As the main shade for the interior of the office, as well as mobile and stationary partitions in it, it is better to choose a neutral, light shade that will not exert psychological “pressure” on the subconscious of others, as is often the case with the dominance of dark tones in the office interior. Bright colors in the office are desirable, but only as minor inclusions, designed to invigorate and slightly stimulate the nervous system.

Setting the right tone!

  • It has been proven that warm shades in the interior of the office contribute to increased efficiency, have a slight stimulating and tonic effect on the human body.
  • The inclusion of elements of a cold range in the interior of the office allows you to visually expand the space, makes employees more focused and in-depth in the subject of their activities.

  • Muted yellow has a positive effect on mental activity.

  • Blue color calms and promotes concentration on a specific task, smoothing out sharp corners in the event of conflict situations between colleagues, subordinates and superiors.

  • Slightly illuminated shades of gray create a calm working environment, allowing you to quickly tune in to your working mood when you come from the street. Perhaps this is what becomes the decisive factor when choosing shades of gray as the main tone in the office interior.

Which shades should not be used in an office interior?

Along with “favorable” tones for office interiors and glass partitions, there are colors that should be avoided in the design of a workspace. Psychologists unanimously refer to such colors as:

  • Red. This color is too active and acts on the body as a powerful pathogen. When used as a base for an office interior, it can cause excessive aggressiveness among company employees, which in the future can negatively affect relationships within the team and in communication with customers. At the same time, small red accents can “wake up” employees.
  • Pink color relaxes and involuntarily disposes employees to laziness, infantilism, daydreaming. Therefore, it is better to refuse to use it in a business interior.
  • Contrary to popular belief, green is not the ideal color for an office interior. Indeed, at first it acts calmingly, but in the future, the peaceful mood of employees can turn into laziness and indifference.
  • Dark shades have a depressing effect on the psyche. With a long stay in a room with purple, blue or black walls, a person may develop a deep depression, which is completely undesirable for office staff.


Color is far from the only factor influencing the atmosphere in the office. But its effect on the psyche of people should not be relegated to the background when developing a design solution for the workspace.

Properly selected color is the key to a good mood, productive work and harmonious relations in the team. Use this secret to create a favorable atmosphere in the office, and very soon you will be able to evaluate the first positive results!



Office interior color scheme

March 1, 2011

Interior design ideas and tips

According to statistics, every working person spends a third of his time at work.

According to statistics, every working person spends a third of his time at work. The colors in the design of an office space directly affect the general and mental state of the people working in it, so it is very important to choose the right color scheme for offices. Consider the aspects of their choice in more detail. Color design is a rational, justified, material-saving and color-improving finishing work. The color design in the office affects the mood, general well-being and performance of people working in it.

The correct color design of the office will stimulate the following factors:

  • calm mental state;
  • attention;
  • thought processes.

The types of painting works when creating the color scheme of the office are as follows:

  • painting with silicate, glue and oil paints;
  • painting with lime;
  • painting with varnishes;
  • painting with cement laitance;
  • painting with various enamels;
  • coloring with disperse dyes and;
  • draft, impregnation.

The decorative color scheme of the office is:

  • surface treatment with various decorative compounds;
  • wallpapering;
  • fabric upholstery;
  • plastic coated;
  • use of decorative elements: screens, paintings, etc.

For the color design of office space, there are general provisions:

Warm gray and light brown colors are preferred for painting the walls of an office or study. The following indicators influence the choice of color design:

  • height, area, location and furnishings of the premises;
  • breakdown into internal zones;
  • decorative elements;

In a large and tall office, saturated and bright shades of suitable colors are allowed. In small offices with low ceilings, saturation should not be strong, it can visually reduce the office space. Insufficient lighting in the office creates a gloomy atmosphere, which can be changed by using the right color scheme in it. Light and warm colors are preferred, they will help eliminate this negative factor, which reduces efficiency and causes nervousness in the team. Color can hide the imperfections of the office space and emphasize its beautiful elements.
Optically, you can change the depth of the room by painting the end wall with the appropriate color. Colors such as orange, red, red-brown and gray optically shorten the room, while light tones of green, yellow and blue, on the contrary, lengthen it. The correct color design of the office will stimulate and solve the following tasks:

  • improve the well-being of the team;
  • provide elation and business activity;
  • improve office hygiene;
  • create improved visibility conditions that do not tire the eyes, since each color has a level of reflectivity: white - 80%, ivory - 75%, yellow - 60%, red - 30%, green - 25%, blue - 15%;
  • improve the organization of the work process and labor protection;
  • to stabilize the positive emotions of the employee, which will subsequently increase the efficiency of both the employee and the entire team;
  • increase labor productivity;
  • smooth out the negative impacts that arise in the process of work and interactions of individuals within the team.

To stimulate and solve these problems, the following colors and their shades are suitable:

  • yellow-green
  • light yellow
  • yellow-pink

In this case, it is permissible to paint the ceiling and one of the walls in one of the following colors and their shades:

  • taupe
  • grey-green
  • gray blue

Proper selection of colors that counteract negative working conditions will help correct some of the negative factors that can negatively affect the work in your office.

In hot and dry environments, using blues and blue-greens and their lightened hues, whose cooling and moisturizing effect can greatly reduce the feeling of heat and dryness.

In damp and cool rooms, to eliminate depressing psycho-emotional discomfort, use yellow or red-orange, and their lightened shades. With their qualities, they will significantly reduce the feeling of dampness and coolness.

Strong and constant noise is a very insidious and dangerous enemy to human health and performance. The level of man-made noise in the city can lead to various physical and mental disorders and diseases. Dark green, blue-blue, brown colors and their lightened shades will help to solve these unpleasant problems. They have a calming effect on the nervous system and muffle a little noisy environment. Another problem is that the quiet and monotonous depressing atmosphere in the office also does not have a very good effect on the state and performance of the team. Because of it, labor productivity decreases, lethargy and apathy appear, and interest in work is lost. You can fix this problem by adding bright colors to the design. It is enough to bring into the office a few details of the appropriate tones: orange, yellow, yellow-green, which will remove the monotony.

The acidic smell and dampness in the office can negate even the heaviest activity. You can eliminate this problem on a psychological level thanks to the beneficial effects of red-orange and pink colors and their shades. Thanks to these colors, the human perception of dampness and acidity will be practically not felt.

The presence of sweet smells also negatively affects the process of working in the office. Yellow and blue-green colors and their lightened shades will help to fight them.

There is a warning color scheme of colors and their combinations, which helps to improve the organization and labor protection, and mobilizes a person in force majeure situations. There are four types of warning colors: