Well Carmen, the answer to that question is simply..whatever makes you happy. Why in the world would anyone want to pick a color for a room they spent so much time in that they didn't even like?
if you are like me, you will spend hours in your home office and perhaps sometimes have a client come within your walls.
Any color you choose can be positive. try and choose a color for the walls and then accent your desk and furniture with that color to tie everything together. For example, if you choose an earth tone such as a light beige for your walls, you can have any color carpet or flooring that you like and it will match. Try accenting your wall color by using a desk lap or desk pad or even some throw pillows on your guest chairs that match the color of the wall.
Using color to tie your room together makes a nice visual effect. It doesn't really matter what the color is as long as you are pleased and feel good in the room.
These days paint is available in an infinite array of colours and styles- it is the most versatile element of your room decor, the easiest to change, and the least expensive.
When choosing a colour it is best if you first choose a "theme" or "style" first such as modern, retro, american classic, rustic etc. When you have an idea of how you want the room to feel then you have a better idea of what colours will portray this. Do you want a very clean minimalist modern office or a traditional style study?
Choosing the right colour can have powerful effects on a room. "Warm" colours (red, yellow, pink, peach, orange etc) can make a room feel cosy and homely. These colours are good for larger spaces that get a lot of natural light. "Cool" colors (blue, purple, green etc)have a tendency to feel like they are receding (moving away from you) and so are often used to open up smaller spaces and create an illusion of more space. They also create a calm and tranquil feeling.
A good colour for your home office depends on the function of the space and the atmosphere you are trying to create. If you are a writer looking for a cosy place to ponder and create then maybe a warmer colour like a soft peach or pink is best. If you are a stock broker dealing with constant pressure and phone calls then a calming green or blue shade may be best.
Colour is often a great way to deal with problem spaces. If your office is a long, narrow room then using a neutral shade with a warm color on only one wall will make that wall appear to advance and the room will feel more balanced. On the contrary if your room is small, then painting one wall with a cool colour and leaving the rest of the walls warm will make the cool wall appear to recede and give the illusion that the room is longer.
When you think that you have chosen your perfect colour, the best way to be sure is to buy a paint sample and do a test patch. For a small price this is an excellent way to insure that this is the right colour for your room. Paint a small 12-48" square on a board or directly on your wall and look at it during the different times of the day and evening to see how it feels in different lights. Remember that wet paint often looks very different to dry paint so don't panic when you first see the colour applied to the wall. Let it dry and then judge. If you like the colour but feel the shade is too dark you can always lighten it with some white paint.
