A Guide to Commercial Paint Colors

You know what they say about first impressions, right? There’s a reason why so many cliches exist about making them, and those old sayings are true especially when it comes to businesses, healthcare centers, educational facilities, religious buildings, and commercial properties with space to lease. 

One way you can instantly make a great first impression? Choosing the right commercial paint colors, for both the exterior and interior of your building. Great paint on the outside brings people in with its curb appeal, and great paint on the inside keeps people wanting to come back. 

Don’t just settle for a shade of white — there is a rainbow of colors and an endless number of combinations that you can choose from and this guide will help you find the right palette, but it’s best to work with a pro when it’s time to paint.

There’s science behind how different colors affect our moods and emotions, and you’ll need to keep that in mind when considering your commercial paint colors. Want to help encourage leadership development in your office? Try red. Do you have a high-traffic, fast-paced business? Use blue tones to help bring a sense of calmness.

Brand colors improve brand recognition by 80%. If you already have a logo and other branding materials with a specific color combination, you’ll want to carry those colors throughout your commercial building. Think about the big box stores with blaring orange tones or bold red targets in their marketing; there’s a reason you recognize these logos and locations at first glance.

You don’t need to be an artist to understand how the color wheel works to pair up complementary colors. On a traditional color wheel, those colors that are across from each other are considered complementary, and the first color should be used as the main color while its complement should be used as accents. Complementary pairs include orange and blue, green and red, and yellow and purple. 

Another consideration is the location of your building. If you’re in a commercial zone, you may need to follow regulations or covenants to ensure your building’s paint is up to code. Historical buildings also generally have restrictions on the colors you can use. If your building doesn’t have any “rules” to follow, choose a color that helps your building stand out from its neighbors and look more proportional.

If you’ve walked through the steps above and still don’t feel inspired to make a color choice for the paint on and in your commercial building, think about these combinations.

Warehouses: Research has shown that neutrals like white, beige, or grey can make your employees more depressed, which is not ideal for warehouse employee productivity and engagement. Instead, try integrating your brand colors to boost morale.

Offices: Think about colors that reflect the business that’s being done in the building. (An accountant’s office will have a much different palette than a tech startup, for example.) If the office building has several different tenants, it’s a wise idea to go the neutral route.

Retail stores: The key here is to find vibrant paint colors that energize customers and encourage them to make larger and more purchases. Vibrant reds and oranges grab shoppers’ attention, while colors like pink and purple are ideal for beauty and cosmetic stores. However, think carefully before you opt for bold commercial paint colors.

Places of worship: Beige is a great neutral go-to to create a sense of calm and security, but other colors — like burgundy or eggshell blue — are just as serene and appropriate for places of worship. You can even opt for a less traditional wall covering that speaks to the community that your worshippers are creating and nurturing.

Ultimately, the best way to choose the right colors is by working with a commercial painting contractor who has experience choosing commercial paint colors and painting commercial buildings just like yours. Exterior paint is often the first impression someone gets of your business, but we will get it right, fast, and efficiently. 

At SmithPro Commercial Painting, we only use high-quality materials so you can be sure the finished product lasts as long as possible, instead of peeling and chipping in just a few years. If you are interested in finding out more about commercial building painting or would like to get an estimate for a paint job, reach out to us and we will get back to you promptly!