Please help me choose a wall color for my home office!

15 years ago

Hi Everyone,

I would love to get some help in choosing colors for my home office. My husband has his own office in the home, so my office is my own space. I'd like to make it feminine and really inviting.

My office is off of our breakfast room. I am really wanting to do blue color in my office. Was thinking blue silk puddling drapes, some bamboo type roman blinds in a dark brown color, and found a venetian plaster in a blue-(with tinge of gray) color.

I'm eyeing an entertainment unit by Habersham. It is black distressed and has lots of drawers, cabinets, etc. as well as room for a large tv. It has some hand painting design on the doors, in a sortof blue color (only a little of the blue) as well as a bit of bronze. It would hold all of my office supplies, scrapbooking supplies, the tv, etc.

Our home has a sortof european look to the interior, hand chiseled travertine, black wrough iron rails, heavy chandeliers with iron, etc.

Can you see a room like that off of a (breakfast) room that has a very bright bold green in it? Our breakfast room is Tupelo Tree by SW. It is a bit lighter in my room than the swatch looks, maybe because I have a wall of windows in the breakfast room?! But it is a very bold, bright green.

Is it okay to do a blue room right next to that green room? The blues would not be nearly the intensity that the green room next to it is. I do have 6 windows in my office, and they are almost floor to ceiling, so lots of light.

I can see the room in my mind, I"m just not sure it "fits" next to the green breakfast room. Anyone care to help me learn the rules about that? If I somehow pulled that green into the room by a plant or something, would that be enough to go with my blue room that I want? Or is there something else I could do to make blue work in there?? I'm open to other colors as well, I'd just really love to have a blue office. :o)

Here's a photo of my breakfast room, which I've posted on a thread here before....

My office is to the right of the photo, with a large "french door" size opening into my office.

I appreciate so much any advice that you can share. I really want to get that room done, just need to figure out which direction to go in. :o)

Comments (15)

parma42
15 years ago
Hi again, totally!

Just my opinion, but if I were to do a blue in your office and it had so many nice windows in it, I'd be tempted to do a rich, deeper blue (very dark). I think it would look great with all the light you get in the room and wouldn't wimp out against the lively green you have in your kitchen.
User
15 years ago
IMO, it would probably work out just fine. Could you post a photo that shows a view into your office from the breakfast room? I'm sure if you did you'd get lots more suggestions.
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Here is what I am working with. Thank you!
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totallyblessed
Original Author
15 years ago
thanks for your thoughts, Parma. I haven't come across a dark blue I really love. This is definitely not a dark blue Venetian plaster. But it's not the paler blue they carry, either. More mid-tone I guess.
Jenny, I'll try to take a photo tomorrow. I don't know why I don't have a photo of that angle in any of my photos. :o) Thanks.
patricianat
15 years ago
I would probably use a blue so pale against the green of the room I just passed through that it would appear as soft pearls just blued a bit by the sky in broad light. I just could not bear to darken the walls of a sunlight bright wonderful space adjacent to the wonderful green of spring.
kristinamaria
15 years ago
One suggestion I would make is if you still have the color card from the green room use that to pick your blue. The paint color cards have various shades of colors from light to dark. If your green was the third lightest on the card try to pick out a blue that is in that same place. Also, your green seems very warm with yellow tones in it (from the picture) so stay away from the grayer blues. Last suggestion I would have is to go fabric shopping. Go to a huge fabric store and look for one with your green in it and a blue in it. Then have the paint color matched to the fabric. All the colors in fabrics have been well thought out so you know they will coordinate. Good luck!
msrose
15 years ago
totallyblessed - I must have missed your pictures when you posted before. Your kitchen is gorgeous! Can you post some closer-up shots of it?

Laurie
teacats
15 years ago
Here's a link to a fabric (JUST an example!!!) to show that the key is to find a fabric with blues and greens for a small sofa or chair -- or even your desk chair -- in the office -- to tie the two rooms together.

IF (remember this is JUST an example!!) -- you chose this fabric -- then you could add touches of the Hermes orange (maybe a pillow or even a box) in the office -- and even a bowl of oranges in a dark wood bowl on the table or island would again -- move the color around both spaces.

Or look for an area rug to do the same thing ....

Here is a link that might be useful: Fabricguru.com -- JUST an example of fabric
lindybarts
15 years ago
I love Patricia's description of blue pearls....ohh la la! I'd also love to see a photo of that angle to help visualize. I always LOVE your house photos TB! Just breathtaking! ;c)

Lindy
totallyblessed
Original Author
15 years ago
kristinamaria and teacats, you are on the same wavelength. I think I will do that... find the fabric first. And teacats, I absolutely LOVE THAT FABRIC. Seriously, I LOVE it!! I am going to go back to that site in a minute and see about a sample. Thanks for linking that. I luv my GW friends. :o)
You all are so helpful. Each person has something to share that I had not thought of/had not realized. Thanks for sharing all of your advice. I'm going to find the fabric and see if I can get my green in the fabric, and then I think I'll go with whatever blue the "experts" have put in the fabric. I'm just not the best with paint colors. Thanks! ;o)
mrsrose, I am headed out the door in a few minutes, but will post a few kitchen shots on here later today for you to see. Thanks for the compliments from you and lindybarts too. ;o)
msrose
15 years ago
I love that fabric! That's a great idea for blending the two colors.

Laurie
allison0704
15 years ago
Hi TB!

I LOVE the fabric Teacats posted. It would pull everything together.
totallyblessed
Original Author
15 years ago
It appears that all of that particular fabric are cute lengths, so no samples available.
Anyone have an idea of how I could see a sample of that fabric? I love it, but want to see it in person first. I've bought fabric online a few times, thinking it would be perfect, and been less than pleased when it arrived. I have 6 windows in my office, so want to be sure to see a sample first.
Any ideas??
les917
15 years ago
Here is a smaller cut of the fabric, not a huge price to pay to see it for real, and also to allow you to match paint. If nothing else, you can use the cut to make a pillow.

Venetian plaster can be done in any color. Don't limit yourself to something you have found pre-mixed. It is a technique, not a product per se.

summerlin 1.5 yards
house_vixen
15 years ago
That green is such a neutral you can pair it with a blue as light or as dark as you want.

Did you know there are about a zillion varieties of blue iris? I've seen fields of many of these growing...stunning against their green leaves and stalks.

Just a few:

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Good luck with your office!
totallyblessed
Original Author
15 years ago
Les,
You are too smart. What is wrong with me that I didn't think to look for smaller cuts?? Thank you, Thank you. I've been googling that fabric and can't find it. Thanks!!!
HV~ Love those iris. You're right, so many different colors (even blue!) look good with green. I think if I find the fabric first, I'll be really happy with the end results. Thanks for the encouragement.

Please help me choose a wall color for my home office!

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parma42

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Please help me choose a wall color for my home office!

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