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Every room requires special décor and attention, depending mostly on its function or purpose. That means that interior design is a serious deal of planning and combining; and connecting material elements to feelings and needs.
As an example, living rooms are social areas which need to appear dynamic, while bedrooms must boost with relaxation and serenity. One special case where design seems to blow hot and cold are home offices.
It’s not rare for people to get all confused when deciding how to decorate a home office. The process is, in fact, quite contradictory: you’re supposed to create a working environment that motivates you, but you still expect it to feel comfortable and homey.
Image source: Huang Iboshi Architecture, Inc
At the same time, offices should be elegant and adorable, but not to the extent of distracting you from your professional activities.
That’s why office paint color schemes are so important. Picking good colors for home office matters because it ‘has a final say’ on how the office will look or function. The versatility of colors makes choices difficult, especially if you’re not aware of how each color makes you feel.
Image source: MOD Construction Inc.
Narrowing the choice down, we could divide colors in more and less suitable ones for a working space. Still, the choice of best colors home office paint is individual, and will depend on what you really like or enjoy.
As a matter of fact, finding an ideal color solution is a challenging process. Initially, you would have to think about colors that inspire positive mood, and make you want to work even harder on your assignments.
It sounds like common sense, but many people fail to understand it (look at all those black offices, which look elegant and sophisticated, but are the most frequent reason for persistent headaches!). Why would you do something like this to yourself?
Image source: Randall Architects
Wouldn’t it be simpler to choose colors that make you happy or such that have an obvious influence on your peace and productivity? Energizing choices also matter in the case of offices, assuming that they are not too strong or overwhelming.
The first thing to consider is the nature of your job. Is it a creative profession that requires details and motivation? Is it an accountant’s position where you have a lot of numbers to focus on? Obviously, offices will vary depending on professions, which is why all of them can benefit from different color schemes.
Blue
Image source: Jennifer Pacca Interiors
Does your job require a lot of thinking and analyzing? Are you supposed to examine different options? If that’s the case, go for the mind-stimulating blue.
Blue has the power of calming people, which is why stressed workers like to have it in their offices. Besides, there are many nuances with different effects (turquoise, for instance, promotes socializing and communication, which makes it a perfect choice for communicators, call agents, etc).
Darker shades of blue, on the other hand, inspire confidence and security, and they make a place look balanced and harmonious (ever wondered why some banks have blue logos?).
Since we are discussing a cold color, we should have in mind that occasional popes of warm orange or yellow could reinforce emotions in such an office.
Purple
Purple is also a very smart choice, since it is often related to peace, intuition, and wisdom. The same as blue, purple is likely to relax minds and to engage people completely, so that they would focus on their tasks.
This is why it is the favorite color of academics, or other workers that rely on intellect and critical thinking.
Still, there is a significant difference between dark and light shades of purple: the first can make a room look really dramatic, while the later imposes a serene and soothing tone.
Green
Image source: Schell Brothers
There is no better way to relax than to be surrounded by extensive ‘greenery’. Green offices are perfect for stressful jobs, or such that involve anxiety, short deadlines, and a great amount of responsibility.
Image source: Mark Reuter
The more demanding your job becomes the bigger dose of green your office would use. As usual, different tones will have different interpretations, but we recommend mellow–green for your walls, or the largest pieces of furniture you have in your office.
As rich as a palette is, green will always be the first color to attract and maintain attention. Results-orientated people prefer green because it keeps them stable, motivated, and ready to balance between various activities.
Yellow
Image source: Echelon Interiors
Did you ever wonder why reminders and stickers are mostly yellow? The answer is that they help you focus, and they empower your memory.
As a creative worker (writer, designer, painter, etc) you may not be inspired by dark and cold colors (blue, for instance).
Image source: Positive Space Staging and Design Inc.
The right choice for you are warm nuances, or every shade you thing could bring your creativity on the table. Most of the time, creative people like to experiment, which is why they endorse playful concepts and brave, warm solutions.
Orange
Image source: Melissa Lenox Design
Orange has the power to transform even the dullest room into a motivational environment, full of energy and positive vibes. What else could you ask for to get the job done? Orange is your best friend whenever you need to boost the productivity of your work.
Red
Image source: B Fein Interiors LLC
The same as orange, red will keep you motivated and full of energy. According to some studies, red can even increase your working speed, which is why many people with extensive workloads make this choice. Still, the color is very intense, which is why you should avoid large and strong doses of it.
As you already assume, shortened timing can have serious drawbacks, which is why designers sometimes blame red to be the culprit for serious working mistakes.
Analyzing what has been said, we could conclude that red is more productive for physical work, since it stimulates the body, rather than the mind.
Still, every low-stress job could benefit from red accessorizing, just as much as to motivate work without necessarily increasing the blood pressure.
Extra tips for office painting
Image source: CASA & RESORT
Choosing the right colors for your office doesn’t only refer to appearance and aesthetics. It also underlines the need to buy excellent-quality paint, so that tall and important elements will not be damaged with time.
An office is expected to have oversized furniture (wall-to–wall shelves, for instance), and that means you’re supposed to coordinate palettes on larger spaces than the usual ones.
There are many things to be considered when purchasing office paint. You need to be aware of the color’s effect, the undertones, the impact of natural light, or every other occurrence that may affect the attractiveness of the place.
Luckily for us, digital technology enables us to check whether a color matches an already furnished office, and to choose another one that could be combined with it.
Image source: Inouye Design
Still, do not take these concerns as personal efforts: investing in a decent color choice is very beneficial, both in terms of main elements and accents (if red is your primary choice, choose similar decorations that will make an even more powerful statement).
Another advantage is that sellers usually have pre-planned sets, both with similar or contrasting colors which have a pleasant effect on the human mind.
Last but not least, you should be really careful with the type of paint you are applying. Glossy paints generate more energy, while their flat counterparts make the environment soothing and serene.
What we recommend you is to use environmental-friendly paints, such as those whit volatile organic compounds (low-VOC), since you’re going to spend a lot of time in your office.
Painting is an investment, not an expense
Image source: Polsky Perlstein Architects
This is so true! While repainting and redecorating can ease the pocket, or make you run out of time and efforts, it is a process that will make your work pleasant and productive. Basically, it means you’re investing in your future.
Wherever your home office is located (a sunny room, or even an attic), colors can transform it, and make it feel like a personal success haven.