When it comes to business, it’s all about first impressions! And nothing gives out a positive impression like well-maintained building interiors and exteriors.

It’s something that people usually disregard unless it’s done wrong. But few realize the actual potential of a well planned out commercial space – from paint to walls and little details.

There are so many things to consider when choosing the right color scheme for a commercial facility. Depending on the nature of your business, you should be mindful of different rules when picking color combinations.

The Color of Your Building Matters

The color you choose for the exterior of your building should complement your brand. Large corporations understand the power of color and use it to establish brand recognition. The right exterior paint colors can help any business owner – large or small – create a positive impression and make their business memorable to both new and existing customers.

Here are seven important factors to consider when selecting an exterior paint color for your commercial building:

1. Your Ideal Customer

When you’re painting the exterior of your business, it’s important to choose a color scheme that appeals to your primary customer type and target demographic. In general, younger people are attracted to bolder colors while more mature customers often find muted and neutral colors more appealing.

There’s also evidence to suggest that men and women perceive colors differently. Make sure you consider how color affects your ideal customer before choosing colors for your business.

2. Type of Business

It’s well established that people associate colors with different emotions and feelings. An office building needs different color associations than a restaurant or bakery. For a commercial building that will house several different types of businesses, choosing a neutral color palette will attract more tenants than bold or unusual color combinations.

3. The Environment

Your environment is an important factor when choosing exterior paint colors for both aesthetic and practical reasons. Vivid blues, bright corals, or pale pinks look great in a sunny coastal setting but may look out of place in a snowy, mountainous area. In areas with bright year-round sunshine, many property owners avoid dark or saturated colors which fade quickly and absorb heat, increasing cooling costs.

4. Size of Building

The size of your building can also factor into your color choice for your commercial business. Neutral color schemes typically are the best choice for larger buildings. This helps draw the eye to your building and its surroundings without being overwhelming. If you are interested in bringing some color to your larger building’s exterior, you will want to focus on finding other ways of tying color in (i.e. Landscape, trim, etc.).

5. Architecture

Another factor to keep in mind is the architectural style of your building and what materials were used on its exterior. What your building is made of will determine what type of paint your painting contractor can use, as well as what colors will naturally look better. For example, a wood or fiber-cement siding will typically need a latex paint specially formulated for those surfaces. Whereas brick or stucco will also need a specially formulated acrylic-latex paint.

6. Surrounding Area

Roofing, landscaping, sidewalks, and other exterior elements are often difficult and expensive to change. It’s important to select an exterior paint color that complements the colors of these elements.

You should also consider neighboring buildings. You want your property to stand out, but if everything around you is painted in neutral colors, you may want to avoid anything too bright. Straying too far from the established color schemes in the surrounding area will risk making your building look like an eyesore.

7. Color Psychology

Colors in our surroundings can powerfully affect us, trigger various feelings, and set a tone for a place of business. This is why it is important to consider color psychology when choosing the right color palette for your business.

Different colors affect different people in various ways, yet studies have shown that there are some general rules that are widely applicable.