14 Home Office Paint Colours
Ideas & Inspiration

A home office with a light blue painted upper wall, dark blue wainscotting, a modern gray desk, and a white chair. A home office with a light blue painted upper wall, dark blue wainscotting, a modern gray desk, and a white chair.

Whether you want a place to centre your thoughts during the workday or an energizing space to maximize productivity, your choice of home office paint colours can fuel your focus and ignite your creativity.

From inspiring greens to energizing pops of red and yellow, the best paint colour for your home office is the one that makes you feel calm and ready to take on the day.

Let Benjamin Moore help you get started on your home office makeover with can’t-go-wrong paint colours that inspire and invigorate.

Favourite Paint Colours for Home Offices

Set yourself on the path to success with our robust home office paint colour palette. Featuring some of our most popular paint colours, this muted, thoughtful palette will give your home office a satisfying dose of colour without being distracting.

The 14 Best Paint Colours for Home Offices

An office with a two-tone green painted wall, a white door, a modern desk with shelves and coloured vases, and a green chair. An office with a two-tone green painted wall, a white door, a modern desk with shelves and coloured vases, and a green chair.

1. Green Home Office Paint Colours

Inherently tranquil, green has long been considered one of the best paint colours for home offices. Whether you choose a radiant emerald or a sweet mint, or even colour block them for a modern “feign”-scoting design, green is sure to help you stay on task. Get started with one of these hues:

A modern white desk, chair, lamp, and mirror in front of a pretty two-tone pink painted wall with white trim. A modern white desk, chair, lamp, and mirror in front of a pretty two-tone pink painted wall with white trim.

2. Pink Home Office Paint Colours

From pleasant peach tones to cheery corals, versatile pink works wonders in any space. Pair it with midcentury modern furniture and white trim for a look that feels both fun and functional. We love these ultra-flattering pink paint colours for home offices:

A home office area with built-in gray painted upper cabinets, shelves filled with books, a desk with drawers, a cushioned beige chair, and a pretty star-shaped chandelier. A home office area with built-in gray painted upper cabinets, shelves filled with books, a desk with drawers, a cushioned beige chair, and a pretty star-shaped chandelier.

3. Gray Home Office Paint Colours

A favourite for home offices—and many other painted spaces—gray paint colours strike a timeless balance between modern and classic. From lighter tones to rich charcoals, gray gives your home office a smart, sophisticated vibe. To get the look, try these:

A white painted built-in desk with a wood top, a computer, and pictures beneath a white sloped wall, and a brown metal chair. A white painted built-in desk with a wood top, a computer, and pictures beneath a white sloped wall, and a brown metal chair.

4. Cool Home Office Paint Colours

Seek out balance and relaxation with cool home office paint colours. Sleek yet soothing, cool hues keep your home office feeling light and airy, making it easier to focus and take on your daily schedule. Find your Zen with one of these calming hues:

A pretty, blue painted hallway looking into a blue painted office space with a small white desk, a brown chair, white trim, and open gray painted sliding barn doors. A pretty, blue painted hallway looking into a blue painted office space with a small white desk, a brown chair, white trim, and open gray painted sliding barn doors.

5. Gray-Tinted Blue Home Office Paint Colours

Few colour families have the use-it-anywhere allure of blue. Create an effortlessly cool, contemporary home office with gray-tinted blue paint colours. Some of our favourites include:

A bright, airy, white painted home office with shiplap walls and white built-in cabinets behind a glass-top desk and brown swivel chair. A bright, airy, white painted home office with shiplap walls and white built-in cabinets behind a glass-top desk and brown swivel chair.

6. Off-White Home Office Paint Colours

Choosing an off-white paint colour for your home office can help you start every day with a clear mind. Providing a blank canvas that goes with any furniture or design style, off-white paint colours make for a great home office backdrop, especially if you love to swap out seasonal décor. Get the look with one of these versatile hues:

A beautiful teal-painted home office with built-in shelves, cabinets and desk, tall windows, beach décor, and open white pocket doors with brass hardware. A beautiful teal-painted home office with built-in shelves, cabinets and desk, tall windows, beach décor, and open white pocket doors with brass hardware.

7. Slate Teal 2058-20

A marriage of blue and green, Slate Teal 2058-20 exudes drama and decadence. Use this saturated hue when you want to make your home workspace feel as luxurious as a city corner office.

A black chair with a stack of multicoloured magazines is set off by an orange wall. A black chair with a stack of multicoloured magazines is set off by an orange wall.

8. Peruvian Chili CSP-1100

A spicy hue from our Colour Stories® Collection, Peruvian Chili CSP-1100 will infuse your home office with an invigorating, energizing feel. Use it on an accent wall for a major pop of colour.

A white painted hallway wall and door open into a coastal vibe home office with a pale-yellow painted shiplap wall and ceiling, a framed whale painting hanging over windows, a white desk and yellow chair, and a blue painted floor. A white painted hallway wall and door open into a coastal vibe home office with a pale-yellow painted shiplap wall and ceiling, a framed whale painting hanging over windows, a white desk and yellow chair, and a blue painted floor.

9. Dark Linen 2147-60

A feather-light yellow-green, Dark Linen 2147-60 can act as a stand-in for a neutral, especially in spaces with lots of natural light. Pair it with blue accents for a casual coastal vibe, even if your home office is landlocked.

A home library with a statement floor-to-ceiling white-painted bookcase, blue walls, white shiplap vaulted ceiling and trim, and white stone center fireplace. A home library with a statement floor-to-ceiling white-painted bookcase, blue walls, white shiplap vaulted ceiling and trim, and white stone center fireplace.

10. Manor Blue 1627

Strike a balance between light and dark in your home office with Manor Blue 1627. The addition of gray soothes this stony hue, making it the perfect choice when you’re looking for a bit of calm during the workday.

A rich, dark brown painted home library with built-in floor-to-ceiling filled bookshelves and sunlight streaming on a blue velvet chair. A rich, dark brown painted home library with built-in floor-to-ceiling filled bookshelves and sunlight streaming on a blue velvet chair.

11. Tarpley Brown CW-170

Rich, earthy, and as comforting as your morning cup of coffee, dark brown paint colours like Tarpley Brown CW-170 lend a studious vibe to any home office. Try a higher sheen on shelving, bookcases, and trim for an extra-luxurious look.

A doorway framed by dark brown painted built-in bookshelves open into a blue painted bedroom. A doorway framed by dark brown painted built-in bookshelves open into a blue painted bedroom.

12. Van Buren Brown HC-70

A deep, dignified brown that leans toward black, Van Buren Brown HC-70 gives off the character of a stately collegiate space. Pair it with yellow accents for a classic, history-inspired colour combination.

A home office area with a black desk and yellow chair against a soft yellow painted wall with white trim, and a window with black open blinds. A home office area with a black desk and yellow chair against a soft yellow painted wall with white trim, and a window with black open blinds.

13. Beacon Hill Damask HC-2

A perennial favourite from our Historical Collection, Beacon Hill Damask HC-2 is a cheery yet soft yellow with a hint of green. Use it to emulate sunshine in a home office without a lot of natural light.

A pretty corner home office space with chocolate brown painted walls and a large, white-trimmed window in front of a white desk with scrapbooks and pencils, and a wood chair. A pretty corner home office space with chocolate brown painted walls and a large, white-trimmed window in front of a white desk with scrapbooks and pencils, and a wood chair.

14. Silhouette AF-655

Looking to add a bit of luxury to your home office? Try Silhouette AF-655, an alluring cross between charcoal and chocolate that breathes glamour into any space.

How to Choose Paint Colours for Home Offices

Looking for the best paint colour for a home office? Choosing the right hue for your project starts with the mood you hope to capture in your space. Do you want to spark creativity? Maximize productivity? Create a mindful retreat when working from home?

Whether you want your walls to be cool or warm, calming or invigorating, here are a few things to consider when choosing your home office paint colour.

A rich, dark brown painted wall with a long shelf holding knickknacks, behind a rustic wood desk and chair. A rich, dark brown painted wall with a long shelf holding knickknacks, behind a rustic wood desk and chair.
A pretty home office corner space with two-tone green painted walls, wainscotting on the upper walls, a black desk and chair, and bird illustrations. A pretty home office corner space with two-tone green painted walls, wainscotting on the upper walls, a black desk and chair, and bird illustrations.

The Cool, Calm & Collected Home Office

Given at-home diversions, finding focus in your home office is critical. Our favourite colours for concentration include neutrals, blues, and greens. A few to consider:

Some of our favourite light blues for home offices:

A cheerful home office with white painted upper walls, a vaulted ceiling with beams, and blue painted lower walls and desktop. A cheerful home office with white painted upper walls, a vaulted ceiling with beams, and blue painted lower walls and desktop.

Pairing White Paint with Relaxing Office Colours

You can never go wrong with white for a home studio or office, but when you pair it with a paint colour that gives off a relaxing vibe, you create something special. Coupling a white hue with a gentle, more saturated colour can result in a harmonious space infused with tranquillity. We love these pairings:

A children’s wooden desk, two chairs, and a multicolour rug in front of a light green painted wall with white trim and rocket pictures flanked by two windows. A children’s wooden desk, two chairs, and a multicolour rug in front of a light green painted wall with white trim and rocket pictures flanked by two windows.

Lighting in Your Home Office

Whether your colour choice is warm or cool, as seen in this video, light plays a major role in how colour transforms any room. Use a balance of task lighting and ambient lighting with appealing light temperatures so that the office is both functional and visually comfortable.

Also consider how the natural light coming through the windows affects the appearance of your paint. Both the amount of natural light as well as the direction it is coming from will determine the cast of your paint colour.

A cheerful corner office space with a large orange rectangle overlapping a golden yellow rectangle painted on white walls, with an orange desk and shelves, and a light green swivel chair. A cheerful corner office space with a large orange rectangle overlapping a golden yellow rectangle painted on white walls, with an orange desk and shelves, and a light green swivel chair.

Home Office Accent Walls

Accent walls and wainscotting can provide colourful, creative punctuation for your home office, library, or study. Bright, energizing colours we love for the office:

Sunlight reflecting on beautiful gray-blue painted built-in shelves and cabinets in a home office, with a guitar, amp, and case against the lower right wall. Sunlight reflecting on beautiful gray-blue painted built-in shelves and cabinets in a home office, with a guitar, amp, and case against the lower right wall.

The Importance of Sheen in Office Paint Colours

Don’t forget to consider the design impact of sheen in your home office. Matte finish paint looks luxurious while providing excellent hide and depth of colour. Because it reduces glare, a matte finish produces a soft look that works well in an office.

Eggshell finish paint reflects more light than a matte finish. Durable and easy to clean, it offers a nearly shine-free finish.

A pretty green desk and black chair contrast nicely in this yellow painted room with a white fireplace mantel, and black-and-white abstract rug. A pretty green desk and black chair contrast nicely in this yellow painted room with a white fireplace mantel, and black-and-white abstract rug.

Paint Sheen & Home Office Furniture

Chairs, desks, cabinets, bookcases, and any other office furniture present an opportunity for a high-impact sheen to stand out against classic matte or eggshell walls. The luminous look of a semi-gloss paint finish is perfectly suited to highlight the architectural details of your home and create dimension on millwork, trim, and doors.

If you’re painting your office furniture and want it to contrast with your walls, consider Advance® High Gloss, which cures to a durable, tough finish that stands up to repeated washing.

“When selecting a paint colour for your home office, think about the atmosphere you want to work in. Are you looking to bring an energizing colour to your space? Do you need something more relaxing? Consider which hues will help you feel most efficient, while still working with the overall themes of your home.”

Molly Lynch, Colour & Design Expert

A spacious home office with blue-gray painted walls, a dark gray mantel and trim, a large wood desk, leather swivel chair, red floor lamp, and wooden toy boats. A spacious home office with blue-gray painted walls, a dark gray mantel and trim, a large wood desk, leather swivel chair, red floor lamp, and wooden toy boats.

A Final Note on Painting Your Home Office

Whether you’re using the space to work or study, your home office colour scheme should be as unique as you are. Kick off your colour journey by browsing our online colour tools, shopping our colour samples, or visiting your locally owned store for project advice.

Once you’ve selected the perfect colour combination for your walls, trim, and ceiling, try painting your cabinets to put the finishing touch on your home office makeover.

Frequently Asked Questions


Q. What colour is best for a home office?

A. While you can choose any Benjamin Moore paint colour for your home office, some of the most popular we see are Nimbus Gray 2131-50, Ballet White OC-9, Sunlit Coral 2170-60, Cushing Green HC-125, Tarpley Brown CW-170, and White Heron OC-57.

Whether your colour choice is warm or cool, as seen in this video, light plays a major role in how colour transforms any room. Use a balance of task lighting and ambient lighting with appealing light temperatures so that the office is both functional and visually comfortable.



Q. What is the most relaxing home office colour?

A. If you are looking for relaxing paint colours for your home office, consider lighter hues. Light colours are not only calming but also create great backdrops for pin boards, pictures, and shelving without being too “loud” for a space where concentration is important.

Some good options include Simply White OC-117, Silver Satin OC-26, and Gardenia AF-10.



Q. What is the best home office wall colour for productivity?

A. Some believe the colour green helps to improve concentration, so if you are hoping to boost productivity in your home office, consider Guilford Green HC-116, Terrapin Green 2145-20, or High Park CC-620.

Alternatively, our favourite light blues for home offices include Del Mar Blue 704, Blue Danube 2062-30, and Woodlawn Blue HC-147.



Q. What are some warm home office colours?

A. Popular warm paint colours for home offices include Sunlit Coral 2170-60, Golden Gate 033, and Peruvian Chili CSP-1100.

Consider using warm colours on accent walls. Accent walls and wainscotting can add colourful creative punctuation for your home office, library, or study.



Q. What sheen is best for home office walls?

A. When painting your home office, matte/ulti-matte and eggshell are the most popular sheens to use. Use satin/pearl, semi-gloss, or gloss on cabinets, doors, and architectural details to punch up the contrast in your space.



Home office painted in white with wood accent wall.

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