Every decision your business makes is an important one. When it comes to your commercial interior space, everything from the signage outside to the layout of your office says a lot about your brand.
The color you choose to paint your commercial space has a huge influence on your brand image and the way your employees and customers feel.
With that being said, in this blog post, we are going to take a look at why it is important to consider the color of your offices with care and what your choice will say about your business.
Why choosing the right color for your commercial space matters
Before we take a look at what different colors say about your business, it is important to understand why this matters.
Colors are associated with different emotions and feelings. They also make us feel a certain way. Your choice of paint color, therefore, will influence everyone who steps foot into your business space. It shapes how they feel about your business.
Color choices can also encourage people to take action. For example, yellow is a very creative color, and so it can be inspiring when used in offices for design work. Choosing colors with care is more important than you may realize.
Therefore, it is important to carefully strategize about the sort of commercial space that you want to create. If you want to generate an office that is sophisticated and luxurious, you need colors that signify this. If you want to evoke peace and calm when painting a commercial interior space, you need colors that will play to this tune. The colors you choose have a massive impact on the overall ambiance in the room and the sort of brand image you want to give off.
It is not just about the colors you choose, but it is also about the quantity of each color used, as well as your color pairings. The right color pairings can achieve balance within your business space. However, if you use too much of a certain color, it can tip the scale in the wrong direction, giving off the wrong impression and even causing frustration amongst workers. It is very much a balancing act, which is why working with professional painters makes a lot of sense.
What do different colors say about your business?
Now that you know why color psychology is so important, let’s take a look at what different colors say about your business.
Light blue
There is only one place to begin, and this is with light blue! Why? Well, light blue is one of the most popular interior paint colors for commercial buildings. It has proven to be highly valuable in industries whereby employees need to be incredibly focused and productive, for example, accountants benefit from being in a light blue office whereby they have the perfect setting for carrying out repetitive tasks.
An intellectual color, light blue lowers mental strain, encourages clear thoughts, and soothes the mind. It also promotes loyalty, confidence, and orderliness.
Of course, it’s not just about choosing the most dominant colors for an office space but you also need to consider what other colors you will pair with light blue. If you want to keep the space balanced and add a bit of positivity, orange accents work well. Alternatively, you may want to partner blue with white or another neutral shade to prevent the interior from feeling unfriendly and cold.
The color of the sky, blue is soothing, calming, and refreshing. This is why you will often see it used in doctors’ offices because it can help nervous patients feel at ease.
Purple
Purple is considered the color of royalty, so if you want to create a luxurious and regal office space, purple is the choice for you.
It is also a color that is linked with the finest quality too, so using it to decorate your interior commercial space can communicate to your clients that you are the best in the business. This is something that has stemmed from the olden days when purple was an extremely costly pigment, meaning that only the richest, i.e. royalty, could afford to buy it.
Depending on the colors that purple is paired with, it can also have a mysterious and magical feel to it, which conjures thoughts of fantasy and romance. However, be careful of how much purple you use, as it can create a gloomy environment when you use it excessively.
White
Any workspace that is spatially challenged is going to look brighter and bigger when it is painted white. White also generates a sense of neutrality and balance, giving it the ability to diffuse vibrant colors. In color psychology, white means cleanliness and purity.
However, one thing that you will notice is a bit of a recurring theme in this guide is avoiding using too much of one color. The same goes for white. White can look clinical, boring, and uninviting when it is used excessively.
Pure white can also appear a bit too harsh, which is why it makes sense to go for the warmer, softer off-white instead.
Pink
Pink is a nurturing and calming color that radiates romance, hope, and femininity. It also stands for success and healthy, which is why people say terms like “everything is rosy” and “in the pink.”
As pink is very close to red, it has the same energy and warmth without being too intense. In fact, it can even be a calming color.
Deeper shades of pink can help to alleviate feelings like abandonment, resentment, aggression, and anger – all feelings that no one wants to have in their commercial environment.
However, we only recommend using pink as an accent color to neutral hues or to paint one wall, as too much pink can be claustrophobic, emasculating, and draining.
Brown
A brown backdrop teamed with rich wood furniture creates an office that screams power, strength, and masculinity. It has a lot of the same qualities as black, yet it is an earthy color, which means it brings more warmth and support. At the same time, it signifies being steadfast and industrious.
To prevent creating an office that is stodgy, you can add some blues and greens. Another option that will create a sophisticated and classy business space is to pair it with ivory.
Black
If you are looking for a color that is associated with authority, power, and control, black is a perfect choice. When it is used with the appropriate accents, it can make your office look elegant as well. This is why you need to use black with care, as too much black can appear intimidating.
Black offers a great way of creating a classy appearance while showing dominance. Make sure you choose a good complementary color to go with it – gold never fails for that lavish vibe!
This dark shade also exudes dignity, sophistication, and formality, so it is perfect when showcasing your professionalism.
Green
If people in your office work long hours, green is one of the gentlest interior paint colors for commercial buildings and will be very much welcomed. It is the easiest color on the eyes, offering gentle stimulation throughout the day. This can help you to keep efficiency and productivity levels high.
Green is also a color associated with health, peace, and the planet. It is often used by charities and other businesses that are dedicated to doing good.
A reassuring, restful shade, which is full of vitality, green is most dominant in nature. It is, therefore, no surprise that it is associated with balance and well-being. This makes it a low-wavelength hue, which is also suitable for medical offices to help sick patients relax, as well as being appropriate for finance offices where people deal with money.
Yellow
Yellow is deemed to be the “memory color” because it can help people to retain information, which is never a bad thing in the workplace! So, you could tactically paint the wall behind the whiteboard yellow, which can help workers to retain information during their training sessions. Of course, yellow is also a cheery and joyful color, which can help to raise spirits.
We all want to create a business space that is positive and uplifting so that people enjoy coming to work every day, and this is what yellow can help to achieve. It is a color of vivaciousness, self-esteem, optimism, and warmth.
A color that induces happiness, it can help to boost the ego and brighten people’s spirits. You can strategically use yellow in office areas where teams work to instill friendliness and openness.
Yellow is a highly creative color. It is reminiscent of the sun. An optimistic and warm shade, yellow stimulates the spirits of everyone in your business space, getting the creative juices flowing and inspiring innovation.
One unfortunate thing, though, is that yellow makes people feel hungry! So, you should use it sparingly, or you’ll find most of your workers will spend half of their day at the vending machine.
Red
The use of red in the workplace is something that is very much debated. This is because red is the most stimulating color; it boosts the heart rate and increases blood flow. As a consequence, this can be a very productive color for work environments whereby there is a lot of physical activity or workers need to be mentally alert.
However, red must be used sparingly. You should never paint the entire commercial interior space red. If you do this, it can end up causing feelings of anger, irritation, and even stir up too much competition between team members. A highly energizing color, it is best used for decorations, accents, and furnishings, teamed with a neutral palette to balance out the red.
Orange
Orange brings together the two colors mentioned above; red and yellow. It perfectly mixes the emotions of yellow with the energy of red. This creates a shade that can stimulate both the body and the mind.
Orange is a very fun color, symbolizing determination and happiness.
If you use excessive amounts of orange, though, you can end up crossing the line from a serious business to a fun playground. You don’t want to over-socialize the atmosphere, as this is counter-productive. So, as is the case with most colors, it is all about balance.
Carefully consider what commercial office paint colors you are going to use alongside orange to create the perfect balance. For instance, painting one wall orange can give a splash of color to a room that would otherwise be boring. This helps to increase energy, ensuring people get through the typical afternoon lull in the workplace.
If you have a creative and innovative bunch of workers, orange can help to bring out the very best in them. Warm and vibrant, it helps to create a sense of confidence and comfort that enables people to do their very best work.
Orange will also spread cheerfulness and friendliness, representing warmth, determination, youth, and success. It can help keep your employees positive and enthusiastic, which is something we can all strive for.
We would recommend painting collaboration areas and casual office lounges with extroverted orange to encourage discussion and social communication.
Final words on choosing the right color for your commercial space
So there you have it: everything you need to know about choosing the right color for your interior space. Regardless of your commercial industry, color can be a very effective tool to leverage in the work environment.
The color you choose will have an influence on your brand, as well as the way your employees feel while they are working in the space. This is why it is important to take the time to consider the sort of environment that you want to create when it comes to your business space.