How Color Blocking Can Elevate Your Home Office

Step 1: Design and Scale Your Blocks

The concept of color blocking is pretty self-explanatory. It’s all about blocking off a segment of a room by painting it a different color (or, as in this case, colors.) Therefore, the first step is deciding what you want to highlight with color blocking, and to what end you’re using the technique. 

For instance, the Renovation Husbands are incorporating it to frame their desk and create a dedicated workspace in their guest room. Every decision that follows is made with that mission in mind, but they acknowledge that you might have a different goal in mind for your project.

“Size it to what you are trying to highlight or encompass. Make sure to consider what art, shelving, or accessories you may want to showcase. Remember these do not have to be blocks at all, and can be any shape or size!”

Step 2: Choose Your Colors

“When we initially chose the base color for this room we wanted it to be an ever-so-subtle pink.” The Renovation Husbands went with Benjamin Moore’s A La Mode, which provided the perfect background for adding bold pinks as accessories and accents. The choice paid off during the latest project. “Now, it also allows our color blocking to stand out and act as an anchor for our new work space.” 

So what did the Renovation Husbands choose for the color blocks? “We ultimately found two perfect colors to play against A La Mode: Gobi Desert, a darker more saturated pink to frame the desk, while an offset of Pampas Grass softens the edge and allows for an area to feature some of our favorite art.”

Step 3: Tape Your Design

“This step is crucial in helping you decide the scale of your color blocks. Moving tape around is so much easier than repainting! Take as much time as you need here to make sure that you get it right. If you feel unsure, step away for a bit and come back later!”

Think of this step as a pencil sketch. Once you’re satisfied with the dimensions of your blocks, you’ll be ready to break out the Benjamin Moore and paint your masterpiece.

Step 4: Paint!

Finally, the fun part. Fill in those color blocks with two coats of Benjamin Moore. While you can’t go wrong with any Benjamin Moore Regal Select paint, the Renovation Husbands favor a flat finish on their walls. “The flat finish reflects light in a way that increases the depth of color, we just love it.”

As for the technical aspect of painting, you’ll want to plan out in advance what block to paint first to make sure you get the layering right. The Renovation Husbands are also quick to point out that you may need to paint and re-tape to get the effect right. Whatever it takes to keep the edges of your color blocks clean and sharp. 

Step 5: Style Your Space

Be sure to remove the tape within 12 hours of putting it up. After the tape is off and the paint is dry, you’ll be ready to style the space anchored by the color blocks. For the Renovation Husbands, this meant bringing in the desk and all the other accessories for the work station. It all comes together to create an eye-catching and inspiring workspace within the room. 

“In some ways, it feels like we have just gained an entirely new room in our home. This room now acts as both a guest room and an office, and it feels more cohesive than ever!”