With so many people working remotely or on hybrid schedules, the home office has become an important room in the house. Work areas have been thoughtfully carved out of living rooms, kitchen nooks, attics, basements, spare rooms, closets and even garages. Regardless of size or location, a considerable amount of time is spent in this room each day. Productivity is the #1 consideration for a successful workspace and colour plays a role in achieving that.
When choosing colour for your home office, consider the types of activities that take place there. How does the room need to feel for you to do your best work? Do you need to sit quietly and focus, or will you take calls and join video conferences? Will you need to move around the room or have tables available to spread out projects? Is this your private workplace, or do you share the area with other family members?
Proper lighting is a must. Natural light from a window helps keep energy levels at their peak. Task lighting can also keep eyes from becoming fatigued if they have to focus on small details for a long time. Colour also looks better in well-lit rooms!
Let’s take a look at how colour can impact your working style:
White is a great colour for small spaces to help areas feel larger and more open.
Gray is a colour that feels balanced, does not distract, and easily coordinates with other office furniture or colour accessories.
When the need to focus is essential, neutrals create a non-distracting background. Try using warm shades of brown, taupe or sand to keep walls from feeling ho-hum or dreary.
Blue is a tranquil colour. Lighter blues have positive associations, which can promote clear thinking.
Darker blues are known for creating a stable atmosphere.
Aqua and turquoise offices have a peaceful balance of blue and green and are easy to live with, while also helping with focus.
Natural and calming greens are great for people working long hours and do not fatigue the eyes.
Dark greens create boldness and balanceinwhere concentration and focus areneeded.
Yellow is associated with optimism and helps stimulate creativity. This is a great colour for designers to have in their spaces.
Terra cotta tones provide a sense of warmth to all white spaces and can suit a variety of home- office styles.
Walls: Smoky White BWC-13; Trim: Polar Bear 75; Desk: Canyon Dusk S210-4
For a room that feels less serious, pink is a colour that adds an element of charm and playfulness toan office.
Red is a high-energy colour, which is great for rooms where lots of conversations or activities will take place.
Wine red makes this traditional office look stately and formal.
When projects call for out-of-the-box thinking, purple is known to stimulate creativity, making it a terrific choice for studios or craft areas.
Your home office can be professional, but still feel personal with a little bit of colour. Show off family photos, favourite pieces of art or book collections, and make sure your favourite coffee cup is always nearby!
Colourfully yours,
Erika
