Instead of primary red, look for a deeper plum or a muted terracotta for a soothing scheme.' suggests Emma Bestley. It’s a color we associate with warning and alertness and when the color is used in large quantities it can spark an agitated feeling. 'Red should be carefully considered when used in any area of the home, but especially the home office.

The main thing is to consider these elements before committing to color and avoid anything that will cause distraction, un-inspire, and not make you want to use the space.' 'However, more data-driven people will respond better to space, perhaps enveloped with blues and greens to help focus the mind. For example, creative people can be inspired by bolder colors such as burnt orange or zingy yellows - making an ideal canvas for the walls.' explains Patrick O’Donnell from Farrow & Ball. 'The best way to look at this is to consider your job - and color psychology - which can help with your choice. Now paint shades are pretty much infinite nowadays, and choosing a color can be a long process, so we (and our favorite designers and paint experts) are going to help you out by cutting out the colors to avoid. These rooms need to be functional but also be a space we want to spend time. Not too distracting but interesting enough to keep us motivated. It needs to be inspiring and stimulating, but also soothing and stress-reducing.

Houzz home office paint colors