Choosing A Colour Scheme For Your Home Office

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A home office is a big investment - it can have a huge impact on the resell value of your property. Yet, it’s also a space in which you’ll spend large amounts of time - so you’ll want it to be cosy and personal. How can these two dissimilar aims be reconciled when putting together a colour palette for your newest home addition? Nailing a colour scheme is easy when you follow these simple rules.

1. Take colour seriously

Many people overlook the importance of picking an appropriate wall shade and jump towards a muted beige or simply their favourite hue. Colour has both emotional and physiological effects on the human body. Blue and green have been favourites in the bathroom because they calm the nervous system, whereas red has been a staple for kitchen appliances because it increases heart rate and appetite - add to that the emotional associations with tranquility and nature compared to fast, urban bustle and 1950s Italian glamour and you have two very distinct styles. Yellow can increase general feelings of contentness, while darker greens are good for balancing an industrial or personality-less space. Bear in mind, however, that some research suggests it is the intensity and not the shade itself which can be linked to different states of mind.

2. Take it down a step

It’s a tough call in a home office - you want a colour which is good for your mood and encourages productivity, but which is also fairly neutral. The danger is picking something so bland it’s mind-numbing or going overboard on colour and decoration and creating an environment which is rich with distraction. Entrepreneurs spend a huge amount of time in their office space and are guaranteed to get sick of anything ‘too statement’ within a few weeks. Glossy paint is a good option - it’s bursting with energy but is also quite muted. Another option would be to go for a warm or cool white and simply hang a few pieces of artwork or keep fresh flowers, a bright cushion or even a throw-rug to give the space a bit of life. In in doubt, grays, browns, creams and pastels are all good choices. As with any interior painting, remember to check out your proposed colour at different points throughout the day.

3. Take your time with accessories

Don’t get too caught up in matching every little item in your home office to your central colour scheme. Not every chair, desk and shelving unit will be available in exactly the shade you want - and more importantly, you shouldn’t let this be a priority over finding products which are good for your purposes. A dull ergonomic chair is a far better investment than an uncomfortable one which looks fantastic! One good trick to ensure aesthetic continuity across the space when you’re mismatching furniture is to ensure your linens (curtains, cushions, table runners etc.) are the same colour.