If your home office is feeling a little too neutral, it might be time to turn up the warmth. Enter sunbaked terracotta—the rich, earthy hue inspired by clay, desert landscapes, and sun-soaked afternoons. It’s the perfect way to infuse your modern farmhouse space with warmth, depth, and a gorgeous hint of rustic colour.
Whether you’re after a full colour overhaul or just want to introduce some subtle accents, sunbaked terracotta works beautifully in a home office. It’s bold yet grounding, warm without being overpowering, and surprisingly versatile. Plus, it complements the natural wood, linen, and creamy whites typical of farmhouse interiors like a dream.
In this post, we’re diving into how to use sunbaked terracotta to style a modern farmhouse home office that feels focused, calm, and uniquely you.
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Why Sunbaked Terracotta Works for a Home Office
Let’s be honest—workspaces should feel inviting. When you’re surrounded by materials, colours, and textures that feel good, you’re more productive, more creative, and way more likely to enjoy your workday.
Sunbaked terracotta offers exactly that:
- It brings warmth and character to cool-toned or neutral spaces.
- It evokes nature, like clay, canyons, and burnt landscapes—perfect for a grounded, organic feel.
- It blends easily with modern farmhouse elements, including wood, rattan, linen, and aged metal.
- It can be subtle or bold, depending on how you style it.
This tone sits somewhere between burnt orange, clay red, and rustic blush—making it incredibly versatile across different materials, from wall paint to soft furnishings.
Build a Farmhouse Colour Palette Around Sunbaked Terracotta
Before you start styling, it helps to build a cohesive palette.
Here’s a go-to farmhouse colour scheme with sunbaked terracotta as the star:
- Sunbaked terracotta – rich clay with earthy red-orange undertones
- Creamy whites or warm ivory – to balance the warmth
- Sage green or olive – for an organic touch
- Natural wood – from oak to walnut
- Warm greys or greige – for a soft, neutral anchor
This palette keeps things grounded while giving you room to add your own flair—perfect for a modern farmhouse office that’s both pretty and practical.
1. Start with a Sunbaked Terracotta Feature Wall
Want to make a bold statement? A feature wall in sunbaked terracotta can totally transform your office.
Choose a wall behind your desk or bookshelf, and paint it in a rich, clay-based tone. It creates depth, warmth, and a natural focal point. Keep surrounding walls neutral—think white shiplap or a soft beige—to balance the richness.
Looking for the perfect paint? Here are some US-based favourites to try:
- Sherwin-Williams “Cavern Clay” – a warm, rich terracotta with Southwestern vibes
- Behr “Canyon Dusk” – a soft, sun-faded terracotta with pink undertones
- Benjamin Moore “Rustic Brick” – deeper and moodier, perfect for accent walls
- Farrow & Ball “Red Earth” – a refined, chalky terracotta with historic depth
Paint colour ideas (Australia-based):
- Dulux “Sunbaked Earth” or “Tuscany Path”
- Taubmans “Outback Sky”
- Haymes “Dusty Red” or “Terracotta Edge”
Feeling bold? Try a tone-on-tone look by painting trim and skirting boards in a slightly deeper or lighter variation of the same hue.
2. Layer in Sunbaked Terracotta Textiles
For a gentler introduction to the colour, add it through textiles. They’re easy to switch out, mix in, and layer up.
Try this:
- Cushions on your desk chair or reading nook
- A woven rug with sunbaked terracotta tones as a grounding base
- Linen or cotton curtains in a soft clay-red shade
- Throw blankets for extra texture and warmth
Textiles are also a great way to mix in other materials like jute, wool, and leather—all farmhouse favourites that look even better next to terracotta.
3. Accent with Art in Earthy Tones
Wall art is a fabulous way to dip into colour without commitment.
Choose prints or pieces that highlight terracotta tones—abstracts, landscapes, florals, or desert-inspired imagery work beautifully. You can also incorporate:
- Woven wall hangings in natural fibres
- Framed pressed flowers with terracotta or wood backings
- Vintage-style botanical illustrations
Frame in timber, aged brass, or matte black for that perfect blend of rustic charm and modern simplicity.
4. Terracotta-Hued Furniture Accents
While farmhouse furniture leans toward timber and white, adding furniture with terracotta flair gives your home office a stylish refresh.
Think:
- A terracotta-painted filing cabinet (great DIY project!)
- Accent chairs or pouffes in sunbaked upholstery
- Vintage desks with warm red undertones
- Terracotta leather seat pads or slipcovers
Even a timber piece styled with a clay-toned cushion or runner can echo the colour scheme without fully committing.
5. Shelf Styling with Warm Hues
Open shelving is a farmhouse staple—why not style it with sunbaked accents?
Fill your shelves with:
- Terracotta plant pots (glazed or raw)
- Books with rusty or blush covers
- Vintage pottery in clay or sandstone
- Ceramic bowls, jugs, or vases
- Mini prints or framed quotes in coordinating tones
You don’t need to go overboard. Just a few pieces per shelf keep things visually warm and interesting.
6. Add Plants in Terracotta Planters
Terracotta and greenery? A match made in farmhouse heaven.
Style your office with low-maintenance indoor plants in beautiful terracotta pots. The contrast between green leaves and red clay is naturally stunning.
Try:
- Olive trees or fiddle leaf figs for height
- Succulents and pothos for shelf styling
- Eucalyptus stems for that Aussie native feel
Go for pots in a mix of shapes—round, square, ribbed, and smooth—and scatter them across your workspace for an organic, lived-in vibe.
7. Warm Lighting for Maximum Glow
Lighting has a huge impact on how terracotta tones feel. To enhance those sunbaked hues, choose warm lighting.
Best options:
- Rattan pendants or cane lampshades
- Brass or matte black sconces
- Ceramic lamp bases in earthy tones
- Warm LED bulbs (2700K–3000K) to amplify the cosy factor
Layering light (overhead, desk, ambient) keeps the space feeling both practical and inviting.
8. Sunbaked Office Supplies (Yes, Really!)
One of the easiest ways to weave colour into your workspace is through stationery and organisation tools.
Look for:
- Printable planners in warm, clay tones
- Rust-toned notebooks
- Terracotta-coloured folders or file holders
- Desk organisers in leather or faux-leather terracotta finishes
A sunbaked desk setup keeps your tools within reach and your aesthetic on point.
9. Mix with Cool Neutrals for Balance
If your home office is mostly white, grey, or black, sunbaked terracotta pops beautifully as an accent colour.
Use it to break up a monochrome or cool-toned space:
- A single terracotta pillow on a grey reading chair
- A sunbaked rug under a white desk
- Woven baskets or fabric bins in clay tones
It brings in visual warmth and keeps things from feeling too stark or sterile.
10. Scented & Styled: Finishing Touches
Sunbaked terracotta evokes warmth—so lean into the feeling with scents and small touches.
Add:
- A candle in an amber jar or ceramic holder (try scents like cedar, sandalwood, or cinnamon)
- A reed diffuser in a terracotta vessel
- A handmade mug in rust-glazed pottery for your morning brew
These details may seem small, but they help round out the atmosphere of your office and make it a space you actually want to spend time in.
Bringing It All Together
To create your dream sunbaked farmhouse home office, focus on layering and balance.
Start with one or two larger features—like a painted wall or rug—then build around them with textiles, art, storage, and lighting. Add texture with raw materials like wood, linen, ceramic, and leather. And finish off with small, personal touches that bring you joy.
Example office combo:
- Sunbaked terracotta feature wall
- Natural wood desk
- White shiplap trim
- Linen curtains + cushion in rust tones
- Floating shelves with greenery and pottery
- Printable wall planner in warm hues
- Candle + coffee mug in handmade clay
Cosy, functional, and farmhouse chic? Yes please.
Final Thoughts: Earthy, Elegant, and Soothing
Sunbaked terracotta isn’t just a colour—it’s a mood. It invites you to slow down, ground yourself, and work from a place of warmth and ease. In a modern farmhouse setting, it adds just the right amount of rustic charm and depth—without overpowering your space.
So if you’re looking to add personality and softness to your home office, this earthy hue might be just what you need. Whether it’s in a throw pillow, a painted wall, or your trusty daily planner—sunbaked terracotta is here to stay.
Ready to Style Your Space?
Looking for the perfect farmhouse-style planner or calendar to match your new sunbaked look?
Browse our collection on Etsy for printable planners in earthy tones that look just right in a terracotta-infused office.
Functional, stylish, and made to suit your aesthetic—straight from our Melbourne studio to your beautiful home.