What color desk should you get? That’s a question only you can answer. When it comes to picking the best desk color, there are a few things you need to take into account.
The first is the purpose of the desk. If you’re looking for a desk that will be used for work or school, then you’ll want to choose a more subdued color that won’t be too distracting. However, if you’re looking for a desk that will be used as a statement piece in your home, then you can go with a more daring color.
The right desk color for you comes down to personal preference. However, the most popular designs are white, black, and natural wood. They are popular because they’re clean colors that can go well with any type of decor. These colors also have favorable color psychology.
There are many other factors to consider such as the overall aesthetic of your home. If you have a relatively modern home or office, then you might want to choose a brighter color for your desk. However, if your space has more traditional décor, then you’ll want to stick with a more classic wooden desk.
Finally, you need to think about your personal preference. What colors do you feel most comfortable working within your office spaces? Do you prefer neutral colors or do you like to experiment with bolder shades?
Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you should have a good idea of what desk color will work best for you.
Why Desk Color Matters (The Psychological Effects)
While the color of desk you choose certainly isn’t going to affect your life drastically, it might have a bigger impact on your productivity than you would think. You should think for a second before painting your desk.
Color psychology shows different colors are associated with different moods, so it’s important to choose a color that will help you stay focused and motivated.
For example, light blue is often seen as a calming color, making it a good choice for a stressful workspace. Then you have green which is associated with growth and new beginnings in color psychology, so it might be a better color if you’re starting a new project.
Here is a fairly comprehensive list of the psychological associations of popular colors:
| Color | 3 Common Associations |
|---|---|
| Red | Excitement, energy, passion |
| White | Purity, cleanliness, peace |
| Black | Power, sophistication, mystery |
| Purple | Luxury, royalty, wisdom |
| Blue | Calming, serenity, trustworthiness |
| Green | Growth, new beginnings, nature |
| Yellow | Happiness, optimism, sunshine |
| Orange | Happiness, creativity, enthusiasm |
| Pink | Femininity, romance, sweetness |
Now that you know a little bit more about color psychology, you can start to narrow down your desk color choices. Just remember to take into account the purpose of the desk, the overall aesthetic of your home, and your personal preferences.
With that being said, any of these colors could be the right one for you, it’s all about what you want from your desk. And that decision comes down to you. Hopefully, the sections below will help you make that decision.
What Desk Color Should I Get?
Now that you know a little bit more about the psychology of color, you can start to narrow down your choices for the best desk color. If you’re looking for a desk that will help you stay focused and motivated, then you might want to choose a white or green office desk.
If you want to boost your memory, red and blue have been shown to enhance cognitive skills. So they would be perfect for an office desk dedicated to studying. I’m well aware getting a bright red desk is a bold statement, but bold colors can add a nice contrast to many rooms.
In particular, strong blues are recognized as particularly stimulating colors. Hence why you are told to stay away from blue light at night. So if you are looking for a color for your work desk, a light blue desk could be the one. But if your office space is your bedroom, you are going to want to steer clear of blue office desk colors.
However, more often than not the desk color you choose will primarily be chosen to fit into the room. If you want the desk to blend in, then you should choose a color that is already present in the room. For example, if your walls are blue, then you might want to get a blue desk. If you have a lot of black furniture, then a black desk would be your default selection.
If you are unsure, a classic wooden desk is perfect for every room and will never go out of style. Wooden surfaces usually have quite a neutral color, this can have a calming effect. But traditional wooden desks also tend to be sturdy and strong, so they offer the best of both worlds.
How to Choose the Right Desk Color for You and Your Workspace
Now that you know a little bit more about desk colors, it’s time to start narrowing down your choices. Here are a few tips to help you pick the perfect color for your desk:
Consider the purpose of the desk. If you’re looking for an office desk used primarily for work or school, then you’ll want to choose a more subdued color. However, if you’re looking for a desk that will be used as a statement piece in your home, then you can go with a more daring color.
Think about the overall aesthetic of your home or office. If you have a relatively modern home, then you might want to choose a brighter color for your desk. But if your office color scheme is red then green office desks are wise to be avoided.
Consider your personal preference. What colors do you feel most comfortable working with? Do you prefer neutral colors or do you like to experiment with bolder shades? Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you should have a good idea of what desk color will work best for you.
Keep the psychological associations of colors in mind. Different colors are associated with different moods, so it’s important to choose a color that will help you stay focused and motivated. If you need a reminder on color psychology you can refer back to the table above or this useful website.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. If you’re unsure about what desk color to choose, then don’t be afraid to experiment with different shades. You don’t have to resort to a plain white desk out of fear. There are plenty of augmented reality (AR) tools that can help you to visualize what a certain color would look like in your workspace. Here is IKEA’s AR app, I also tried out Houzz and DecorMatters which are also very good. They work by digitally adding a size and color accurate image of the desk into an image of your room.
Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you should have a good idea of what the best desk color is for you. Whether you choose a classic wooden desk or a more daring red one, make sure it’s a color that will help you stay focused and motivated. And most importantly, don’t forget to have fun with it! Especially if you are painting your desk, we discuss how best to paint your desk here.
