Choosing the Perfect Exterior Paint Colors for a Commercial Building

Did you know that you only have 7 seconds to make a first impression?

So if the exterior of your building is old, crumbling, or even the wrong color, you’ll turn away potential customers before they even set foot in the door. But when you choose the right paint color, you create a professional image for your building that entices customers to come inside.

Ready to learn more about the best exterior paint colors for commercial buildings? Keep reading for everything you need to know!

Think About the Service You Offer

The first step in choosing an exterior paint color is to think about the type of business or service you offer.

This will help potential customers get a clear idea of what to expect when they come inside. For example, a daycare center might want to use bright, cheerful colors to attract families with young children.

On the other hand, a law firm might want to use more subdued, professional colors to show its authority and professionalism.

If you have an office building, you’ll want to choose neutral colors like light gray, creamy or off-white, and beige. As for hospitality-related buildings such as hotels, shades of white are a perfect choice because they symbolize cleanliness.

The paint color you choose can also be an extension of your logo and brand colors. For example, if you own a restaurant and one of your main brand colors is teal, you can paint parts of your building teal as well.

If your commercial building has many different types of businesses, then your best option is to pick a neutral color like beige or gray.

This makes it easier for new tenants to move into the building, regardless of what industry they’re in.

Hide Imperfections

No matter how well you maintain your building, there are always going to be a few imperfections here and there.

The most common exterior imperfections include:

• Chips in the paint
• Cracks in the foundation
• Blistering
• Mildew
• Fading paint

The best paint colors for exteriors are ones that can help hide some of these imperfections. For example, dark colors can help disguise small cracks and mildew as the paint ages.

On the other hand, light colors are a good choice if you live in a sunny area and are worried about your exterior paint color fading.

If you’re concerned about imperfections showing up on your building exterior, then it’s a good idea to hire commercial painting specialists to help you.

Consider Color Psychology

When learning how to choose a paint color, one of the most important considerations is color psychology.

Color psychology refers to the study of how different colors influence human behavior and emotion.

So, you’ll want to choose a color that matches the feeling you want your customers to experience and the action you want them to take.

In general, warm colors like red, yellow, and orange are energetic and lively. Cool colors like blue and green remind us of plants or the sky, so these colors tend to make us feel calm and relaxed.

Meanwhile, neutrals give off an air of elegance and sophistication and are a great complement to pops of bright color.

Here are some of the most common associations we have with colors:

• Red: Energy, action, excitement
• Yellow: Warmth, happiness, positivity
• Orange: Inviting, enthusiastic
• Blue: Peace, relaxation
• Green: Renewal, growth
• White: Purity, cleanliness
• Black: Power, seriousness

Remember that the shade of a paint color also influences color psychology. For example, violet is a mix of red and blue, so it will have a different effect depending on the shade you choose.

Shades of violet with more blue in them (like lavender) can help us feel calm and peaceful. Meanwhile, a darker shade of violet like plum acts more like red, energizing and exciting us.

Keep in mind that color psychology also relates to context. For example, brown can invoke ruggedness and reliability when used on the outside of a warehouse. At the same time, it can also stir customers’ appetites if it’s used on the outside of a restaurant.

Location and Environment

Something people often forget when choosing a paint color is the environment around the building.

For instance, if your commercial building is located in a snowy area, then coral pinks or vivid yellows might look out of place. But put these colors in a coastal environment and they’ll look great.

If your building is located in a place where there is sunshine for most of the year, you’ll want to avoid dark colors that can fade easily. Dark colors also absorb more heat, so this might increase your cooling costs.

Next, think about whether you want your commercial building to stand out or blend in with its environment. If the rest of the buildings around yours are all painted white, then going for a very bright color will make your building stand out in a negative way.

Instead, you can make your building stand out by using a gentler shade or a neutral shade that still contrasts with the buildings around it. Plus, you can create a more harmonious look if you match your paint color to the architectural style of your building.

If your building is surrounded by nature or is near a park, you might want to emphasize harmony with nature when choosing your paint colors.

Commercial buildings located in historical areas or districts may be subject to rules about what color paint you can use, so be sure to check with your local authorities.

Ready to Choose the Right Exterior Paint Colors?

Now that you know more about how to choose exterior paint colors, it’s time to get started on your project.

Remember to consider the color psychology of your chosen shades, the environment around your commercial building, and any restrictions in your area.

And most of all, stay true to your brand and the impression you want to make on customers when they see your building.

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