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Style and Home, The Psychology of Color

Once you have considered the space for your home office, determined where your desk and chairs will be and how they will be used, it's time to start incorporating elements of personal style into your office decor. The simplest way to do this is to paint one or more walls. But what color is right for your office?

Red: Red is seen as a power color, but it has been known to impair performance because the color is associated with danger, warnings, and failure. Red is also used in many food advertisements and restaurant signs because it increases appetite. If you have a red office, keep the snacks far away.

Orange: Orange contributes to feelings of enthusiasm and warmth, which may assist if your work involves meetings and you want to give a warm impression to your guests.


Orange can also indicate caution, as it is commonly used on warning road signs, and it can increase appetite just like its red cousin. Stick with softer tones of orange, rather than Halloween or traffic-cone colors.

Yellow: Yellow is cheerful, brightens a room, and is an invigorating color choice that can boost energy. However, yellow contributes to eye strain and eye fatigue, so stick with soft tones instead of bright yellows if you decide yellow is your style. Studies have also shown that babies are prone to crying the most in yellow rooms - if you have small children, you may want to pick another color.

Green: Green colors contribute to tranquility and good health. Studies have noted that green workspaces have fewer instances of stomach aches among workers. Green also evokes thoughts of money. Especially if your work is high-stress, green may be a good color choice for your home office.

Blue: Blue is the most common office color, as it has been reported to be a color that inspires productivity. Blue is calming and peaceful, and has even been shown to curb appetite.

Purple: Purple is evocative of royalty, wealth, and success. Lavender or lilac shades are calming and allow you to relax easily. Consider this color for an office if you have a lot of work stress. If purple is your style, consider doing one royal purple accent wall with lavender or lilac on the rest of the walls to create a calming space underlined by a powerful color statement.

Pink: A pink office is not impossible, though a more subtle and light pink is more office-friendly than one outfitted in hot pink like a store aisle full of dolls. Pink is a calming color that is warm and inviting. Consider accents in pink, or light carnation-pink walls.

White: White is a great choice for small spaces, as it creates the illusion of more space. Pairing white walls with a white or glass table or desk, white chairs, and white office supplies can create a space that feels much larger than it is.

Brown: Brown is a neutral that can be paired with almost any color to complement it. Brown evokes a reliable, practical feeling in your workspace.

Black: Not typically a color for walls, black can be a good accent color. Ancient Egyptian culture viewed black as a symbol of life and rebirth, but many consider it to be a poor choice due to common perception of black as a symbol of negativity.

The possibilities are endless for the color scheme of your home office. Consider the advice here, and choose a color palate that works for your office's needs and your own personal style. Mix and match a wall color and one or two accent colors for accessories and storage containers for a creative office aesthetic that is pleasing to you and your visitors.


Article Source: Caitlin Reed

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