Color profoundly influences how we do things. Those include our mood, professional conduct, performance and productivity in an office setting.

If you’re designing a home office at the moment, you’re definitely planning to put paint colors very soon. But you may be wondering what should be the right color for the office walls. You can call for a professional painting service for color consultation, or you can do your own research by looking at interior design magazines or explore many office interior color ideas on the Internet.

The general rule of thumb is that light colors are ideal for smaller spaces as they make them appear larger, while darker colors are ideal for bigger spaces as they make them appear smaller. But if you have more trouble choosing for the right colors and shades to paint your office walls, you may consider the following suggestions.

1) Blue

Blue is considered an “intellectual” color as it represents truth, wisdom, logic and communication. It also gives off a calming effect and provides an emotionally comfortable and stable impact on an average office worker who has had enough of the office drama. Blue should be used as a primary color in your home office, as it enhances your sense of focus as well as good communication with your colleagues via Skype.

2) Green

Green, like blue, has a soothing and calming effect. Green is all about harmony, balance, growth and reassurance. This color is more suitable for occupations where creativity is enforced. Say, if your job is an architect, graphic artist, fashion designer, website content writer, interior designer, floral decorator, musician or a cartoonist working at home, green should be the primary color of your home office. Since green is easy on the eyes, this is ideal for jobs that require long hours.

3) White

White is a no-brainer choice especially if your home office is particularly tiny, as this color provides an illusion of a bigger space, making your small home office less claustrophobic. It also represents cleanliness, perfection and practicality.” Another great thing about white is that it is a versatile color – you can pair your all-white office space with something that brings a pop color such as a red beanbag chair, a vase with colorful blooms, or a big framed reproduction of a Van Gogh painting. Or paint it with other shades of white for harmony (look for “Other neutrals”) or bolder colors for interesting contrast and visual interest.

4) Brown

Brown is a natural color – the color of earth, wood and chocolate! This is often an underrated but highly effective color, as long as the perfect shades are chosen. The darker tones of brown give the whole space an earthy and comfortable feel, while the lighter shades give off warmth and make excellent neutrals. Brown also represents stability, reliability and security. You can see many offices which are accented with browns, such as desks and cabinets. Contrasted with the crisp white, brown hues will be more highlighted and enhanced.

5) Other neutrals

For those who own a cramped home office, you want to make it look bigger but you don’t want to settle with solid white. You may be surprised to find many shades of white – cream, off-white, beige, eggshell, and even something called “cosmic latte.” You can play up with any of these shades of white as well as other great neutrals such as soft gray, peach, soft pink, taupe and tan. This will create a flowing and open look to your office space without looking cold and sterile. Another neutral color, black, can add visual interest. But if your space is really small, reserve black as an accent color.

Here are the following suggested colors that are best as accent colors, or should be used only in moderation:

1) Red

Red is a color of passion and energy. But too much red can make one aggressive, irritable or angry. Red can also make you stressful and may make you distracted especially if your job requires attention to detail. So if you want some pop of excitement to your office space, you may reserve red as an accent color for the walls.

2) Yellow

Yellow is known as a happy color – the color of sunshine. This color induces stimulation and creativity. But too much of yellow can incite feelings of anger, irritability, aggression, as well as fear – almost all those negative emotions! It may be okay as an accent color but not as a primary color, as yellow can make it hard for you to concentrate because of the energetic vibe that this color gives off.

3) Orange

Orange the color of energy, enthusiasm and stimulation. Although it is not as aggressive as red, too much of orange can be overwhelming, so it is best to use in moderation.

4) Turquoise

While blue is suitable as a primary color, it still depends on the choice of the shade. Of all shades of blue, turquoise is the one that should be avoided. While it catches your attention initially, it becomes too intense, leaving you probably too overwhelmed and distracted. Plus, it’s a rather “old” color, making your office looking outdated.

5) Purple

Purple is often associated with passion, luxury and romance. It promotes deep contemplation, which can be beneficial if your work requires focus. It strikes a perfect balance between the energy of red and the calmness of blue. However, you should use this color carefully, as the wrong shades of purple can have a negative effect on your mood and productivity.

Some shades of purple can make good color choices for the office setting. For instance: lavender (a shade of purple), whites and soft grays can make a good color scheme.

When you need to change the look of your home office simply look for simple tips on this helpful article, “The Top 3 Ways to Refurbish Your Property.”