Tips for Selecting Paint Colors for a Home Office

Color choices aren’t meaningless. Scientific research into color theory tells us that we often have associations with colors, and those associations are ingrained deep within us. From efficiency-enhancing greens to high-energy pops of red and yellow, the colors you choose for your home office can make all the difference.

General Advice

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to picking the colors. The color mood you want in your office may depend on the obstacles you see in productivity. For a general introduction, consult research on color psychology or study the color wheel.

Don’t feel restricted to just one color. Painting an accent wall is a great way to add drama. Mixing colors can do wonders to increase mood. Not sure where to begin? Ask a Cardinal Home Center team member for advice.

Warmer Colors

To convey energy in your office, go with a warm color. Warm colors like red, yellow, and orange stimulate us physically and psychologically. There’s a reason that fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s and Burger King use friendly color patterns: they whet our appetites by getting us ready for activity.

Red: Red hues increase productivity by activating the brain’s left hemisphere. You can’t go wrong with a red office if you need a boost whenever you go to work.

Yellow: Yellow is the strongest psychological color. It energizes us, makes us more positive, and increases our creativity. It affects our emotions and lifts our confidence. It’s also a great warm color choice.

Peach and Soft Corals: These colors are warm but less intense. They help improve focus and boost concentration and creative energy.

For some people, stimulation isn’t the issue. Maybe you have too much anxiety and energy going into things and need something less stressful.

Cooler Colors

Green: Natural and calming greens are suitable for people working long hours. They create boldness and balance without fatiguing the eyes.

Blue: Blue is a classic calming color. Like green, it helps keep you focused.

Violet: Violet has a blue base and carries many of the same effects.

Calming Whites, Greys, and Beige

Grey and Beige: Even grey can be good for an office. By turning down visual distractions, we can reduce eyestrain and – like other cool colors – increase our ability to focus. Greys and beiges calm us, decreasing the effect of visual and emotional stimuli.

White: An incredibly calming color.

Add a Writable Wall

There’s more to an office than just the color. Among other things, there’s workplace organization. Benjamin Moore also offers specialty paints that can turn any wall into a writable wall! Keep your day organized or create a brainstorming space with Ben Chalkboard Paint, available in any color.

Alternatively, add a coating of Benjamin Moore Notable Dry Erase Paint to any wall for an instant dry-erase board.

For more advice on selecting paint colors, visit any of our three locations in Madison, Charlottesville, and Crozet, or check out our Benjamin Moore page. Find additional inspiration on Benjamin Moore’s website.