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Paint home office Design Dilemma

Home office makeover - paint color suggestions for knotty pine walls

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

I am in the process of updating my home office and am stuck on what color to paint the tongue and groove pine paneling that is on three of the four walls. I have primed it and now need to choose a color that will work with the cork flooring I just bought as well as my existing bamboo standing desk. I don’t want the cottage-y look and so have eliminated white, though I love white walls otherwise. I want to lighten the space but don’t want any pastel colors. Was thinking of a gray with green undertones (SW Comfort Gray?). I was also thinking of going dark on the far wall and light on the rest. But I think that look works best with only one wood paneled wall. Any suggestions for color to work with paneled walls and lighter wood tones? I am going for a natural organic feel for this space.

Home office · More Info

Home office · More Info

Home office · More Info

Featured Answer

PRO

Patricia Colwell Consulting

4 years ago

IMO get some good lighting first that boob light won’t cut it. If you have primed you needed to use a shellac primer so make sure about that then choose a paint color I would suggest maybe a soft grayed/ green which BTW is one of my favorite go to wall colors so much more neutral than gray or beige I would say no accent wall in the mix especially in a office where there are so many things going on

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Comments (8)

PRO
The KEEPING ROOM
4 years ago
Knotty pine will bleed through the paint where the knots are located, You indicated you primed the wood, but with what? Myself I would put two to three coats of shellac over each knot before I painted.
MaryEarll thanked The KEEPING ROOM
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Hi Laurie, Well your cabin sounds absolutely adorable and I hope a lot of people chime in to help you come up with some fun and easy solutions. I love soft cream as a wall color too, and think it's a lovely match for the walls and knotty pine. I'm not a big fan of wallpaper or sponging, so my 2 cents would be to nix them. You are spot on about putting the wood print next to the real deal. And I just think you can do better. Instead of wall paper or a paint treatment, I would keep it simple and find a pretty pale sage color to paint that corner. Something that will offer a nice complimentary contrast to the knotty pine and cream. I love the idea of hanging the painting painted by your grandfather on one wall though I think if it were me, I would to find a frame that is more similar in color to the knotty pine. On the other wall you could maybe hang a series of 3 or 4 smaller prints in similar type frames that have pine cones in them. For the trim, it's really hard to say. In most cases I prefer a lighter trim, but I'm thinking with the pine, a darker trim might go better. I hope when you finish your room you remember to post a picture or two, I love seeing the finished rooms! Good Luck!
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I have yellowed knotty pine on the walls of my late 40s/early 50s beach cottage with oak flooring. Works for me (primarily because I got a great deal on the oak when I was looking to replace the skanky and probably original early 50s carpet), but I was really intrigued by the possibility of using cork or real linoleum flooring in the room. I think it would have looked great - it was just a bit pricey in my situation. Both are supposed to hold up to pet traffic very well and happen to be more or less era appropriate with a room full of knotty pine.
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PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Plain white will work best IMO, but geez, repaint the ceiling with a flat paint. That sheen on the ceiling looks inappropriate for an office.
MaryEarll thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
auntthelma
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Take a look at Clark and Kensington brand at Ace hardware. Color name: Biscaya. It’s a foggy green that we love. We have it in the living room, a couple bedrooms and three or four bathrooms.
MaryEarll thanked auntthelma
auntthelma
4 years ago
The one on the left is what we use. The one on the right is very different. How odd that they are so different !
MaryEarll thanked auntthelma
daisiesandbutterflies
4 years ago
I would go with white paint. It need not look "cottage-y" if you decorate it with a clean, minimalist esthetic.
MaryEarll thanked daisiesandbutterflies
MaryEarll
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks everyone for the suggestions! Yup I used 2 coats of shellac primer on the knots, then about 3 coats on the paneling. Glossy ceiling has been painted with a flat ceiling paint and the boob light is definitely going ! Being replaced with a contemporary white fan. I will rethink white for the walls, I like the photos above and can see that with the right furnishings and decor it doesn’t have to look like a shabby chic beach cottage.
Janie Gibbs-BRING SOPHIE BACK
4 years ago
Would love if you can post a current pic!

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