The way we see it, there's two ways to handle working with white walls: Go all-the-way neutral with white and natural wood touches (pops of monochromatic color are always welcome), or pimp out that white wall completely with a bunch of inspiring colorful clutter.
Here are 10 home offices that get it right:
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TOP ROW: (from Flickr!)
- Flickr member JamesRoseUK licensed for use under Creative Commons
- Flickr member hellojenuine. licensed for use under Creative Commons
- Flickr member svenreed licensed for use under Creative Commons
- Flickr member TomBorowski licensed for use under Creative Commons
- Flickr member Brice Reul licensed for use under Creative Commons
- Shannon's Crafty Place for Everything
- Chris' Crafty Home Office Makeover
- Becke's Rural Vintage Cabin Space
- Dee Adams' Lofty Intentions
- A Bright Bright Great Tech Tour
BOTTOM ROW: (from Tech Tours!)











White Enamel Flatwa...
Um...so, there are no other choices? Neither one inspires me. Especially the clutter.
Ooh, I especially appreciate that last photo. Even if they're not my dream offices, they help me see the potential in my workplace: off-white walls, suspended ceiling tiles, and gray tight-knit carpet. It'll never be ideal, but maybe it can be slightly more beautiful. Thank you!
Lots of artwork seems to be key. And collections, like the lunchboxes in #7.
The thing that was missing from these shots for me is unique desks and chairs. All the desks looked very office or industrial. There are some beautiful desks out there that could also function as a table or console with beautiful curved legs, made of lacquer or other special features. I have a green lacquer desk that really pops against a white wall, especially with the colorful art I have on the wall above it with plum colored frames.
I think it's key that if you do use anything other than white to have some cohesiveness to the accessories, like in #9. Otherwise, it just looks cluttered and not in a good way. I'm also not big on having everything that is used out in the open and on display in my workspace. Cuts down on the clutter.
Even though I love colour, I had the whole house painted bright white - more due to cluelessness about colour, and laziness than any design decision. However, I love the results, and find it very restful.
What I wouldn't give for my workspace/bedroom walls to be white!!
My landlord obviously got pots of paint as cheap as possible from who-knows-where, so there's no cohesive colour scheme in the house. I'm pretty certain the living room is actually painted with exterior paint!
My bedroom/workspace is a hideous blue (incl the ceiling!) with an even worse dark blue trim. But some great workspaces shared here!
My apartment's walls aren't white, which I would actually love, but BEIGE. xP