Color Trends in Commercial Spaces: Making Your Business Stand Out

How Color Psychology Works

For example, the color blue evokes feelings of trust, security, and professionalism. That's why many financial institutions like banks and insurance companies use blue in their branding and office spaces. 

Blue inspires confidence in customers. It makes people feel more at ease about where they’re putting their money. On the flip side, red is all about energy and excitement. It’s perfect for stores and eateries looking to grab people’s attention and maybe even nudge them into buying something on impulse or feeling hungrier.

One case study looked at how changing paint colors impacted customers at a small corner cafe. When the walls were repainted from beige to a vibrant lime green, customers spent 15% more time in the cafe. They also left more positive reviews mentioning the welcoming environment. The stimulating green color made customers feel more relaxed and comfortable. Similarly, a home goods store found that changing display shelves from white to light blue helped sell 15% more kitchenware items. The cool blue helped create a relaxing mood that got customers imagining the tools in their own kitchens.

These examples demonstrate how impactful color psychology can be in commercial spaces. Just by making strategic color choices, businesses can influence customer emotions and actions in their favor. When applied correctly, color is a powerful tool for brands to improve sales, satisfaction, and retention.

Tips For Businesses: Innovative Use of Colors to Stand Out

Businesses are constantly looking for new ways to differentiate themselves and grab customer attention. One effective approach is to use color creatively to make your commercial space truly unique. Here are some tips on utilizing innovative color strategies:

• Don't be afraid to experiment with bold, unexpected color combinations to make your business stand out. Contrasting colors that don't traditionally go together can create an energetic vibe. Try pairing a vibrant orange with a deep purple or a bright yellow with a navy blue.
  
  
• Use accent colors strategically in key areas to highlight what you want customers to notice. For example, paint an accent wall behind the cash register in an invigorating shade of green to energize the checkout area. Or use reddish accent colors in a cafe's seating area to stimulate appetite.
  
  
• Break color "rules" and get creative, but ensure there is an intentional strategy behind your color choices. Avoid randomly selecting colors and instead opt for complementary or triadic color schemes.
  
  
• Look to more creative industries like fashion and graphic design for innovative color combo ideas you can adapt to commercial spaces.
  
  
• Don't forget to factor in your brand identity and make sure unexpected color choices align with your brand's personality and messaging.

A great example of effective innovative use of color is the UK grocery store chain Morrisons, who partnered with color expert Jules Standish to design a new vibrant and experimental store interior. By ditching typical grocery store greens and going bold with contrasting reds, oranges, purples and greens, they created a fun, energetic environment that got people excited to shop. Sales ended up increasing significantly after the redesign. This just goes to show how strategic and creative use of color can truly impact customer experience and your bottom line.

The Importance of Color and Branding Consistency

Aligning color choices with overall brand identity is crucial for businesses aiming to make an impact. When colors are cohesive across different spaces and materials, it creates a unified aesthetic that customers instantly recognize. This level of consistency strengthens brand awareness as people come to associate certain hues with a company.

Some strategies for maintaining color consistency include:

• Creating an official brand style guide that specifies exact colors and their uses. This ensures colors are replicated precisely in any medium.
• Appointing a design lead to oversee color choices across departments and external agencies. They can enforce adherence to the brand guide.
• Using the same limited palette of colors in all visual assets, from print ads to digital graphics to in-store displays.
• Relying on Pantone colors or custom mixes, rather than default RGB/CMYK values, for perfect uniformity.
• Updating all previous assets, including signage, to match when brand colors are changed.

Notable brands that excel at color consistency include Tiffany & Co, Cadbury, and UPS. Tiffany’s robin egg blue is iconic in the jewelry world. Cadbury purple differentiates its chocolate bars in any store. UPS brown is instantly recognizable on its delivery trucks and uniforms. This shows the power of smart color choices applied methodically over decades. Consistency strengthens the link between color and brand in the public’s mind.

Making Sustainable and Health-Oriented Color Choices

More businesses are also considering environmental impact and human health when selecting colors for their commercial spaces. Choosing paints and materials with sustainability in mind can reduce a business's carbon footprint. Many eco-friendly paint options are now available that are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ensuring healthier indoor air quality.

Specific colors can also promote wellbeing in a space. Cool tones like blues and greens are known to have a calming effect and reduce eye strain. Warm earth tones and neutrals create a relaxing atmosphere. Businesses like spas, yoga studios, and healthcare facilities often utilize these colors for their soothing ambience.

There are inspiring examples of companies implementing sustainable color solutions. The McDonald's in Sedona, Arizona was redesigned using recycled and locally-sourced materials in natural tones that blend with the environment. Companies like Benjamin Moore offer Zero VOC paints in a variety of hues perfect for commercial spaces. Even using lighting to create colorful ambience rather than painting can be a sustainable choice. With some creativity, businesses can make color decisions that are both visually impactful and environmentally friendly.

Conclusion

Color is a powerful tool that can make a strong impact in commercial spaces. As discussed, the psychology of color and the emotions it evokes can influence customer perceptions and behaviors. When used strategically, color choices in retail stores, restaurants, offices, and other commercial settings can help create the desired atmosphere and align with branding goals.

Current color trends provide inspiration on popular palettes, but it's important to choose colors that specifically align with your business identity and needs. While bright, saturated hues in greens and blues are prevalent right now in commercial spaces, trendy colors will come and go. Focus on choosing timeless colors that emphasize your brand story.