10 Best Paint Colors for Home Office to Boost Productivity

As more and more Americans are working from home full-time, at-home productivity has never been more critical. If you’re lucky enough to have an extra room in your home that you call your home office, why not ensure it is as productive of a space as possible?

Believe it or not, the right interior paint color can make all of the difference in your productivity. Instead of staring at a blank white home office wall color all day, why not be surrounded by a color that inspires you, calms you down, and motivates you to work hard?

With so many factors contributing to the color you pick and thousands of home office wall color ideas out there, you may not know where to start. Choose a color that increases productivity with the following tips from our team.

Color is scientifically associated with inflicting an emotional response. Some associations are more evident and mainstream, while others are more obscure. For example, warm tones such as red, yellow, or orange can help increase your energy and motivate you to feel more productive.

On the opposite end of the color spectrum, cool tones such as blues, greens, and purples are known for reducing anxiety, lowering stress levels, and relieving stress.

If you’re unsure how to determine the best color for office walls, you might consider a professional color consultation to help you get started. Below are just a few of the factors a consultant might have you think about.

What Is Your Individual Preference?

Perhaps one of the most important factors to consider when choosing your office paint color is what you naturally prefer. If you are forcing yourself to like a specific color because you believe this is the best approach scientifically, you’ll end up not liking the color in the long run.

Maybe you prefer a more neutral approach to all things color, and you don’t want your home office to be any different. Or perhaps you simply love all things color, and you’re looking forward to painting your office something bold and beautiful.

Who Will Be Using the Space?

If it is just your home office space, the color you choose only needs to make you happy. However, if multiple people will be using the same space, such as your significant other or a roommate, make sure that you have factored in their working style and are on the same page with color.

What Is Your Profession?

What you do for a living will undoubtedly factor into your paint color decision. Are you in a profession that requires number crunching, data analytics, or math all day? Consider opting for a color that promotes a sense of focus and relaxation.

If your profession is more creative and laid-back, you can opt for an inspiring and bright color to spark your bolder side.

Consider the Natural Light

How much natural light you get in your home office and where it is located in your home will impact both your energy level and how the paint shade reads. If your space naturally receives a lot of light throughout the day, consider choosing a deeper tone to add warmth, and promote relaxation.

If your home office doesn’t get a ton of light, choose a tone that is naturally cool and bright to help lighten the space.

Test Out Samples

The paint color may look different in the store’s swatch than how it appears from the can. To ensure you choose a color that you genuinely love, we recommend narrowing down your options to 3-4 paint colors and getting samples of them to test.

If you don’t want to test your paint colors directly on the wall, consider purchasing some poster boards that you paint and tape to the wall to get an idea of what the color will look like. This approach can help save you time and effort in the long run.

Though each of us has our personal color preferences, much study has also gone into the more objective effects of color on mood. Color psychology has been used by restaurants, hospitals, retailers, and more to effectively encourage certain moods and behaviors. Because of this, it is helpful to keep in mind the possible effects of color psychology when choosing the best wall color for home office.

Blue: Mind

Blue is a soothing color, known for stimulating the mind and boosting productivity. Often used in offices, it is perfect for someone whose work involves several repetitive tasks.

Red: Body

Linked to power and strong emotions, the color red can increase circulation and is best for physical jobs that require a high energy level.

Yellow: Emotion

Bright yellows can lift one’s mood and increase happiness. Yellow is also connected to emotions and imagination and is, therefore, a great choice when working in a creative industry.

Green: Balance

Green may signal “go”, but it also signals peace and balance. A green wall is both reassuring and motivating, inspirational for ambitious souls in finance or business.

Secondary Colors

Mixing two primary colors, such as red and blue to make purple, can combine their effects. Dark purple can signal power, while a muted lavender is more calming.

Whatever atmosphere you’re aiming to create in your work space, we’ll help you choose the best wall color. For home offices, we’ve compiled 10 of our favorite office paint color ideas that are calming, inspiring, and simply plain beautiful. Consider any of the following for your home office color schemes.

1. Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams

You may not associate black paint with a top office paint color choice, but give it a chance, as the result may blow you away. A rich, decadent black tone like Tricorn Black is a bold yet sophisticated choice for your office.

It pairs well with nearly any color palette, and it is incredibly versatile. Black is an excellent choice for an artsy and modern home office, and Tricorn black is a true black without blue or purple undertones.

2. Island Getaway by Sherwin Williams

If you want a bright, creative color to fill your home office, consider Island Getaway by Sherwin Williams. This is a green and blue mix that will help inspire your next business idea and push you to be your best.

Bright office paint colors help energize your mind and even transport you to a natural oasis. Add in some house plants, and your space will keep you inspired year-round!

3. Webster Avenue by Magnolia

The color purple is often associated with luxury, power, and ambition. Magnolia’s Webster Avenue is a beautiful, bright yet semi-muted shade of purple that will instill a sense of confidence in you.

Seeking the best paint color for home office? Energize your mind and your body throughout the day every time you soak in the look of your purple office walls

4. Celestial by Sherwin Williams

Sherwin Williams’ Celestial is a stunning light blue shade that will immediately instill a sense of tranquility in you. For many, the color blue is strongly associated with serenity and calm, two important emotions to keep track of throughout the workday.

Breathe deeper and lean into your most zen self with this at-home office wall color combination.

5. Yellow Brick Road by Benjamin Moore

It’s hard to have a bad workday when you’re surrounded by warm, inviting yellow walls. Each day will feel a bit brighter and more tolerable with an inspiring color around you.

Perhaps unconventional, but this is one of the best home office paint colors. If you’ve been feeling tired, bored, and unmotivated during the workday, consider Yellow Brick Road to reignite your passion.

6. Recycled Glass by Sherwin Williams

For those who love a work-life balance and want a fresh, relaxing office environment, consider Recycled Glass by Sherwin Williams. This is a light, earthy green color that will remind you of the outdoors.

It will instill a sense of relaxation and keep you focused if you have repetitive work projects. Plus, it pairs well with wood or other neutral accents.