subject: What Color to Paint an Office? [print this page] What Color to Paint an Office? What Color to Paint an Office?
An Office in a Corporate Setting
1. If you're in a corporate setting you may be limited to neutral colors, but you still have a lot of leeway. A neutral color is one that will go with most other colors and is usually light to medium-toned. Gray and beige are neutral but don't have to be blah. Visit a paint store and pick out as many paint chips as you like. Look for grays that have undercurrents of green or brown for a warmer gray. Similarly, beige covers a very wide range of colors and hues, and some darker beiges and light browns can be distinctive, even dramatic, but should still be conservative and versatile enough for a corporate setting.
Home Office
2. Your home office should be a distinct space within your house. Unlike a corporate office, you can do whatever you like with the walls. Paint it a complementary color to the adjoining spaces to make it feel like a separate space. If the color scheme in the rest of your home centers around warm taupe and earth tones, consider an energizing pale orange or terracotta, or a tranquil seafoam green or dusky blue. Take your office furniture and decor into consideration. Cool colors make cherry office furniture pop, while blond wood looks elegant with gray walls. Paint a single focal wall in a dramatic color to highlight prints, photographs or framed certifications.
Match the Color to the Business
3. Add character befitting your business to the walls with faux or specialty paints. Faux leather-look walls in deep red or rich brown add gravitas to a legal or financial office. If your business centers around the creative arts, echo that energy on your walls with a mural, stenciling or lettering. Greens and blues are calming and may help you focus, while spicy reds and golds are energizing and uplifting. Remember that your office reflects both your personality and your professionalism, and color can affect the way you feel in your office, as well as make an impression on clients and visitors.
