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Step 1
Pick a color that you like. This is a room you have to spend a lot of time in, and that you hope to be productive in, so it's important that it's a room you enjoy. It doesn't matter if it clashes with the rest of the house's color scheme, or if it's not a typical room color. Workers often find themselves lost in thought or frustration, staring at the walls or furniture. It's helpful those surroundings don't add to the frustration.
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Step 2
Choose a vibrant color. You want your mind to be active when you're in your office, so choose a color that makes you feel awake. Bright reds and oranges are popular for offices, but you can also choose blues, purples, greens or yellows as long as they're in a bright enough shade to keep your mind stimulated.
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Step 3
Keep your eyes open for information and inspiration on color choices. Home decorating magazines and television shows can give you ideas you might not have considered before, and you can see the finished product in its entirety. Bright colors can look great on a small sample, but you may not appreciate them as much on a larger scale. Study any offices, stores, restaurants you visit; you can find design inspiration wherever you go. Furniture stores often have full displays to give you an idea of how your home office will look. Gather ideas wherever you can to make the most informed decision.
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Step 4
Fabric or art pieces can also be a great inspiration for the color of your office. If you find curtains or furniture fabric that you would love for your office, take these to the store with you. Paint can be mixed to perfectly match these items, and you can shop for other furniture and décor items in this same color family.
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Step 5
Bring home paint samples. Home improvement and specialty paint stores have color sample cards that you can bring home and test out in the room you're hoping to redo. Colors can look very different at home than in the fluorescent lighting of the store. Grab as many shades of the colors you're interested in as possible. Even if you don't think it's a tone you'll like, bring it home. You'll often be surprised at which shades you end up liking the best.
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Step 6
Make sure the color you select matches any existing furniture and flooring that you have. Remember that it's better to contrast the colors completely rather than having tones that both seem slightly off when placed together. If you have cherry furniture, for example, it may be best to select a deep green for the walls rather than another shade of red.
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Step 7
Choose a neutral trim and ceiling color. It is possible to have too much of a good thing. When dealing with a bright or very rich wall color, it's important to break it up so it doesn't become overwhelming. Bright white trim gives the room a sunny, modern feel with reds and oranges, and a Victorian vibe with deep blue, burgundy and purple. Rich colors can be paired with cream or tan trim. Consider what will work best with the furnishings you plan to add to the room.
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Step 8
Select a contrast or accent color for any furniture, flooring or décor in the room. Again, a lighter or more neutral shade is a good choice. Birch furniture and tan fabrics can look stunning against a deep red or orange wall and help to balance the intensity of the room.
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Step 9
Choose a few patterned pieces for warmth. Painted vases, landscape photo, and print fabrics can tie your dual color scheme together and make it less linear feeling. If you have a navy and yellow color scheme, for example, some navy and yellow (with even a hint of red or green) plaid pillows on the chairs would help add interest to the room. Art that incorporates other colors and includes the room colors will stand out without clashing with the surroundings. Another great way to warm up the space is with a patterned area rug that incorporates your room colors with a few interesting hues. Again, choose pieces that you like and will enjoy having in your office.
