I will still have my "shooting space" but my husband is sick and tired of looking at my crap every day, so I am constructing a real office in a room in my home.  Building a whole wall of closets for my treasured crap.  Once I move in there will be a small bit of space where I can shoot table top or headshots (not that I'm much inclined to shoot objects....) and keep lights setup for extended lengths of time.  

Instead of just "making due", for once I actually get to think things out...

One might think - a photographer should paint the walls pure white.  I loath white walls, and I fear that they would impact my monitor.  I remember someone asking this way back on photocamel (but about a whole studio) and it was suggested that they go grey or 18% grey if they can.   Does anyone know if this is true?  Sounds like there might be a bit of the bs factor in there.  Obviously, red walls would be a problem, but how about a dull blue?  I will be doing more computer work than shooting in there, but I'd still like to eliminate as much stray colour on both my monitor and any subjects.

Also, I need to think about my overhead lighting.  My friend the contractor wants to put in potlights.  Should I keep them out of my desk area - monitors are best viewed with lights coming from behind aren't they?  

I am likely making this a much bigger deal than it really is.  But you know how things go... once it's done it will be decades down the road before I can reno again.    

Thanks for your input!  I would even like to know things that you did that you should have done differently.

Firstly without trying to sound rude I always thought you were a bloke 

As for colour on your walls, it won't matter what colour you paint them as long as you make sure it's uniform and not lit, because the monitor will give out more light than it will receive in reflections if you get my meaning, yes you're right about the light being behind.

Paint it a colour you can live with, and light it how you like as long as they don't shine on the monitor it will be fine, because once you're set up wack a spyder on your monitor and it will calibrate it to suit the lighting levels.

Again for your shooting area, if you're using strobes they will negate any colour spill from your walls or surrounding, I've just built a new studio and the area with the infinity wall is pure white all around, I have six spotlights shining on it but if I set my camera to the flash sync and take a shot it will come out black, it's the strobes that provide the light as and when it's needed, and for the area you've described it sounds like you could easily use boards/flags to mask off your shooting area when required.

So I say go with a colour that makes you feel happy.

I tried the neutral gray wall thing at the last place I lived. Its kind of like working in a dungeon. Wouldn't do it again.
...

I was under the impression your office was a beach ... with white-bikini-wearing 'personal assistant'! (big grin)

Thanks for the replies guys.  Sorry to confuse you RT, but no, I'm not the fat little boy in my Avatar. 

That nails it, I'll go with a better colour than grey.  Christian, you said the exact word I was thinking "dungeon".  I'm so glad you confirmed that before I faux-textured a whole room grey.  RT's right, go with a colour I can live with.

I hadn't considered track lighting, now that I think of it, it may be the best way to go.

Cheers.

you could paint the computer corner grey, or even black.. just a 1m stripe where the computer is going.  It could look nice or somewhat stylish even.

I have a big black cardboard around my monitor and really like the isolation of the screen.