'It feels really seamless' – this Studio McGee home office is a masterclass on embracing dark, moody paint colors in small rooms

If there's ever been a year to embrace deep and dark colors in small spaces, 2024 has been just that. Shifting away from ever-popular light neutrals, dark, moody paint colors have proven how they can totally transform small rooms, and our homes are all the richer for it.

Case in point, Studio McGee's latest interior design project, Tahoe Pines, includes a home office that channels a deep and dark paint color, complete with modern rustic decor, and the end result is so dreamy. Tapping into the color-drenching trend, there's much to love about this room's design, and it's especially fitting for fall.

Read on to learn exactly what paint color is used in the space, and why Shea turned to the home's stunning natural surroundings as a source of inspiration to inform the whole color scheme, including the furniture.

Benjamin Moore's Dark Olive, a dark shade of olive green with a slightly muted appearance, was used across the walls, ceiling, and built-in cabinets. Wrapping around the entire room, this moody paint color creates a cocooning and cozy feel, setting the focal point for the rest of the room's decor.

'I love the tone and that we carried it from the cabinetry to the ceiling and then even layered that color with a green velvet chair in the corner,' Shea explains in a Studio McGee Instagram video. While color drenching often stops at the wall color, this room channels an even more dramatic approach with the matching dark green armchair – a great way to achieve a fully cohesive look.

But beyond the obvious appeal of this warming and sophisticated dark green paint color, the wall color was actually chosen to nod to the home's scenic Lake Tahoe surroundings. 'I think that one of the most successful things about the room is that it’s a direct reflection of the palette from the scenery of the home,' Shea continues in the video.

The same goes for the rest of the tones throughout the room: the light wooden desk, the sand-colored swivel chair, and the light neutral sheer curtains. 'You've got green and you've got some leather tones that speak to these great organic sandy tones around the area,' adds Shea. 'And we've incorporated that in a literal way and it feels really seamless with all of the surroundings through the windows.'

Additionally, the lighter tones throughout the room also cleverly create balance among the dominant dark color scheme. By incorporating softer, neutral tones in the way of furniture and smaller decor, the space doesn't feel too heavy and will no doubt ensure an uplifting workspace environment.

'We wanted to go lighter on the desk because it needed a little bit of a contrast and also, in the center of the room it kind of created this great anchoring point with all of the dark tones surrounding,' Shea concludes the video with.

Looking to refresh your own home office? Beyond changing the color of the walls with trending dark paints, consider taking inspiration from Studio McGee with a blend of modern and rustic items that add charm to these hardworking spaces, ensuring a homey and cozy feel throughout.

Shop below a selection of our current favorites from McGee & Co., as inspired by the Tahoe Pines project.