I need help picking a colour for my office?

Joan
by Joan
I have been given the opportunity to pick a colour for my office which has not been painted for over ten years. Probably not again for another ten years. The floors are dark and I have lots of windows. I have pine panelling on two walls which I am thinking about painting. We only have true value/ace hardware as a paint store in our community but if I get ideas I can match to their paint. I really appreciate your expertise.
  10 answers
  • Z Z on Aug 20, 2015
    Joan, a photo of the room and it's furnishings will help you get many more answers than just a description will. Also, are there any restrictions to the colors used. Can you go bold? What about chalk board paint? Is that allowed? Not knowing what you do, I'm not sure if you'd have use for a chalk board, but they sure can be fun to change your "art" by buying a box of colored chalk and making your own or having your coworkers join in the fun.
  • Joan Joan on Aug 20, 2015
    I can use any colour I want but it wont get painted again for ten years. I will attempt to attach a picture later today.
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Aug 20, 2015
    My opinion if the floors are dark then you would use lighter colors on the wall.If you decide to paint the paneling Make that your focal walls meaning choose that as an accent.The other two walls should be lighter then the color you choose for the paneling. You can find inspirations from behr paint .com which is a home depot brand. But if you like any on the website most stores do color match.
  • Roberta Stewart-Fite Roberta Stewart-Fite on Aug 20, 2015
    Joan, you can't go wrong in using a color that energizes you. Greens are calming, but if green energizes you to motivate, use it. Go to the paint store, get some samples and paint them in the walls across from your desk. Live with them for a week or so. When your eye comes to the colors, which color does your eye go to first? Colors are fun! Have fun with it!
  • Joan Joan on Aug 20, 2015
    Here is the picture of the office which is 12 x 10. I am open to different ideas for rearranging the office.
  • Lisa Whitaker Lisa Whitaker on Aug 23, 2015
    I agree with Becky, keep the wood panel walls. Maybe change the green to a very pale green.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Aug 24, 2015
    Wouldn't have waited 10 yrs to make my space loveable for the cost of a couple of gallons of paint! LOL With paneling on 2 walls it makes the space look choppy. I also am not a fan of paneling so I'd paint it. You can always do one wall a dif colour and make it a feature wall. With lots of light, you can bring in some plants. Lots of light gives you a lot of options with wall colour so I'd go with a colour you really like. I'd also add some art.
  • Kayo Frazier Kayo Frazier on Aug 24, 2015
    Here's my 2 cents...Benjamin Moore’s Palladian Blue. paint door, trim & 1 paneled wall white. Then stain the other wall a darker color you can use Minwax Polyshades which is a stain & poly in one.
  • Maggie Hugie Maggie Hugie on Aug 25, 2015
    What about lightening up that paneling with whitewash? Bob Vila has a tutorial http://www.bobvila.com/articles/whitewashing/#.Vdv8hJfKZ_k Its about as easy as painting a wall and would allow the natural wood to shine through.
  • Sonia Sonia on Oct 10, 2015
    I just remodeled my Parents home. The wood paneling dated the house and also made the room darker. It is a lot of work but it looked beautiful when done. I would chose a color that I found soothing. I used Benjamin Moore Goldtone on the walls and used it on the ceiling. The paint on the ceiling was 50% of the original formula so it was considerably lighter. Then all the trim was painted in decorators white.
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    • Sonia Sonia on Oct 11, 2015
      I've tired to send the photo but I've never posted on this site. If you have email I'll send you the pic or you can tell me how to post the pic. I'm doing this on my iPhone. Thanks!