Small Home Office Colour Schemes

When it comes to productivity, colour psychology is important. The right wall colour and furnishing choices can have a huge impact on productivity. As such, perfecting your colour palette is vital when putting together a first-rate home office. 

However, deciding on a small home office colour scheme is particularly challenging. As well as overcoming the shortcomings of a compact office space, you need to ensure you're selecting hues that will inspire you and ensure you stay on top of a busy workload. 

The good news is you don't need to limit yourself to plain white walls when decorating small spaces. In fact, there are a multitude of home office ideas that you can put to use to create a workspace that inspires creativity

Whether you're looking for light-coloured paint to create a stripped-back space or are seeking darker shades, you'll find plenty of options at Tikkurila. 

Which Colours are Best for a Small Home Office?

Interior designers will tell you that the best shades for home offices are calming colours that reduce stress and boost productivity. Neutral colours and off-white hues are ideal, providing you with a blank canvas that won't distract you during a busy day. 

Choosing the right colours is even more important if your home office is on the small side. To give the illusion of more space, brighter shades that bounce around natural light are ideal. Warm white and tonal shades are particularly useful here. 

Muted paint colours are also a good idea if you're using your home office for more than one purpose. If your work environment needs to double up as a playroom or guest accommodation, it's always best to embrace a neutral palette. 

However, none of this means you have to make compromises when it comes to designing an inspiring space in which to work. Even if you're leaning towards neutral hues as your primary colour, you can still experiment with more dramatic shades to create eye-catching decal designs or a feature wall.

Our Favourite Colours for a Smaller Work Space

Ready to turn an unloved spare room into a home office you can be proud of? We've picked out some of our very best paint colours for you to consider. 

Whites and off-whites are always a good bet when it comes to decorating a home office. They're perfect for smaller spaces with limited light, making even the pokiest room seem bigger than it is. 

If you want a stripped-back space that's free of distractions, go with a colour like Arctic Fox S503. This pure white shade has subtle yellow undertones, which will bring a level of warmth to any interior. 

Horseradish F390 is another good option. This off-white paint shade is more vibrant than some of our other options and will pair well with a multitude of materials and accent colours. 

Alternatively, go with an off-white like Camelia F300. With this shade, you can get all perks of a fuss-free neutral, with the added benefit of yellow undertones. Perfect for introducing a sense of sunshine to your workspace. 

White walls aren't for everyone. If you want to keep things simple, but still need some colour in your life, neutral shades are the way to go when decorating a small home office. 

A creamy neutral like Kaolin H497 will add style and sophistication to any home office. What's more, with its undertones of yellow and green, you have the perfect anchor for introducing accent colours. 

For a more contemporary aesthetic, consider painting your walls with a muted greige like Batiste G487. This stunning neutral works well with everything from pure white to metallics. It'll also pair nicely with all types of furniture. 

If you're looking for a warmer take on greige, think about using Halva G459 to decorate your home office. With undertones of purple, you can lean into luxury when adding secondary colours and materials into the mix. 

A blue colour palette is a key weapon in the arsenal of any interior designer. It's calming and tranquil, helping create a sense of well-being and relaxation. For these same reasons, it's a fine choice for any home office if you're someone who struggles to stay on track. 

In a smaller home office, a shade like Prince G490 will work particularly well. It's light enough that it won't feel imposing in a compact room, while grey undertones mean you can easily incorporate slate and charcoal accents.

If you'd prefer something brighter, go with Cumulus Y353. Although this is a slightly more vibrant shade, it's still incredibly calming. What's more, it's not overly vivid, making it an ideal fit for smaller home offices. 

In the market for a more muted blue for your home office design plans? Go with Glacier Y435. Combining light blue and grey, it'll help you create a serene space that inspires creativity and boosts productivity. 

As with blue, green is a go-to colour if you want to create a sense of serenity. For home offices, a muted colour scheme is always a good idea. 

Choose a pastel green like Muse G385 if your home office is smaller than most. Although light, there's still plenty of pigment to enjoy here. What's more, this pastel shade has hints of grey that provide you with plenty of options for accessorising and accenting your space. 

For a fresher take on pale green, go with Cucumber Y383. This barely-there green will work nicely with all types of pastels, while grey undertones make it a welcome addition to a contemporary interior. 

Finally, there's Angelica F452. Another subtle shade, this apple green hue is an ideal choice if you're seeking a stripped-back colour scheme for a modern home office. 

If your home office is lacking in natural light, your choice of wall colour is all important. To bring a touch of sunshine to your workspace, consider decorating with pastel yellows. 

Sorbet F306 will instantly invigorate any space. Although fairly light, this pastel shade has undertones of lemon and pink that bring much-needed depth to any interior. 

Alternatively, there's Papyrus Y392. This creamy yellow is fairly muted, but some grapefruit-infused undertones mean there's plenty going on beneath the surface.