We first understand why home office painting ideas may not be at the top of your design planning list.
This space is less intimate and far less sociable than any other room in your home – after all, it’s a place to focus more on work and less on your inner choices. However, the fact that this space is for work means just the opposite – and your painting ideas in this room matter as much – if not After – than any other. And it goes beyond cursing the perfect backdrop for video calls.
5 colors to avoid painting a home office – according to interior designers
Interior designers urge us to put our home office ideas at the top of our priority list because our decorating choices influence our productivity and creativity in the room that matters most. These are the colors they avoid – and why.
1. Red
(Image credit: Future/Paul Massey)
“While I like to embrace bright colors in a room, I don’t recommend red in a home office,” says interior designer Georgia Zikas of Georgia Zikas Design (opens in a new tab).
“Although it’s a vibrant and fiery color, it can be distracting and perhaps a little too intense for a space where you want to concentrate and put your best foot forward.” Therefore, reds, and often bright oranges, are best left beyond the home office.
2. Gray
(Image credit: Jan Baldwin/Future)
It’s no secret that designers love to decorate with gray. This color is deservedly a perennially popular favorite among connoisseurs, in almost any room of the house. However, Georgia has a limit when it comes to your home office.
“I love all shades of gray, but gray in a home office can feel dull and depressing. After all, some corporate offices are gray, and they feel boring and uninteresting. There are many other ways to keep your home office neutral while still being attractive and inspiring,” she says.
“I struggle with grey, especially light grey. It reminds me of clouds, which can be depressing after a while,” adds designer Samia Verbist of Samia Verbist Interior Design. (opens in a new tab). However, the designer adds that gray box act as an excellent base for adding bolder pops of color throughout furniture or art. “Then you will bring energy and happiness,” she says.
3. Black
(Image credit: Paul Massey)
While decorating with black can have a powerful impact in many rooms, Georgia explains that this color can have a similar impact to gray in your home office.
I would largely avoid it because it can create a more moody, melancholy feeling throughout your office. The only exception here would be a beautiful mosaic or black and white graphic print, which can add personality,” she says.
4. Bright Green
(Image credit: Davide Lovatti)
“I love the color green, but bright green isn’t good for a home office. It can be too loud and energetic, which doesn’t allow for a long attention span,” says Ellie Redders of Ellie Redders Interiors (opens in a new tab).
“While bright green can stimulate creativity, it also causes a feeling of restlessness that leads to a lack of focus.” Stick to muted shades of green that evoke feelings of calm and nature. So while this organic hue may dominate room color ideas in many spaces around the house, it may be less appropriate for your home office.
5. White
(Image credit: Carolyn Barber)
“A lot of office walls are white, it’s neutral like a blank page, and that’s the problem,” says Samia. The designer warns that this neutral might seem sterile and tedious, especially if you’re looking for creativity.
“If your goal is to be minimalist, you can go all white and add a few touches of light oak wood for an earthy, warm feel,” she adds.
And in addition to knowing which colors to avoid, it’s equally important to know which colors work best in our home office. At Little Greene’s (opens in a new tab) Creative Director Ruth Mottershead has the answer.
What should you remember when painting a home office?
“When decorating a home office, it’s important to always consider how you use the space and the atmosphere you want to create; this is especially true when choosing paint,” says Ruth. “A home office space should be somewhere separate from the rest of the house, whether it’s a study space or just a nook in another room. By using color and pattern, you can create a space for creativity and concentration that helps you focus.
Ruth suggests opting for soft pastel colors and earthy shades that will anchor your home office while bringing just the good vivacity to the room.