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ToggleHow the inside of a business looks is critical to the public perception of the brand and its identity. The decor, colors, and general ambiance all come together to let customers and employees associate the business with particular values and ideas. This is what makes interior commercial painting so essential; it’s about more than just a vibrant hue on the walls.
Beyond brand identity, upkeeping the interior of a business also demonstrates a level of care and consideration that customers and employees can subconsciously expect from the company. Every company wants to have a good impression on the people that interact with it, especially if it wants to engender goodwill for good business.
Interior commercial painting is one of the tools that should be taken advantage of when a business devises ways to ultimately increase sales and have a positive impact overall. Before beginning an interior commercial painting project, one should have an in-depth understanding of the effects, practical considerations, latest trends, and ideal contractors to help realize the vision.
How Painting Commercial Buildings Can Positively Impact Business
Painting any space, in general, is one way to immediately capture attention, especially if the paint is a clean update to an old and faded look. Painting commercial buildings presents an opportunity to use that attention to improve business operations and increase sales. Because business spaces have their specific operations, painting commercial buildings requires a special understanding and approach for successful results.
Commercial buildings are spaces that see way more people at faster rates than, say, a residential building. Additionally, the commercial space is likely meant to serve many different needs and functions. For example, there might be a reception, a conference room, a printing room, a common room, storage, a cafeteria, and other spaces with distinct purposes.
When painting commercial buildings, not only do the needs of every room have to be considered, but the needs of the individuals who will be occupying these spaces should also be kept in mind. This heavy traffic means that interior commercial painting will have an effect on everyone who comes into the space, so the painting project has power over more than looks.
- Protection and Longevity: Paint can actually provide protection for walls, which is highly necessary in a commercial space that sees a lot of regular use. A coat of paint helps to safeguard walls from the elements, protecting them against mold, moisture, and dust. If a business keeps up with paint jobs as a part of regular maintenance, this can also benefit the building by helping to preserve it over time. The higher the quality of the paint used, the better; high-quality paints save money by requiring less frequent touch-ups, and they can even offer protection against scuffing, fading, and chipping.
- Improved Building Safety: When painting commercial buildings, air quality should be a top consideration for how the paint may impact the building’s occupants. People come to work and stay there for an extended time, typically for at least eight hours, and they shouldn’t be breathing in toxic chemicals the entire time. Paints can contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can impact the environment and people’s health depending on their levels. Using low or no VOC paints is a great way to ensure that the commercial building is safe for everyone.
- Better Property Value: Though this benefit is connected to how paint can impact looks, it branches out to how these looks can benefit a building owner beyond just being a pleasant aesthetic choice. A fresh paint job also makes a space look more well taken care of, which can be beneficial for how the value of the property is evaluated. Painting commercial buildings is an investment, but it’s one that can make the property itself a stronger investment, so the work pays for itself.
- Energy Efficient: There are also many new paints being developed that can reduce the need for cooling and warming technologies, making a building use less energy. These paints are very effective at adapting to the weather conditions by reflecting light to keep buildings cool in the summer and using that same reflection to keep spaces warm in the winter.
- Enhanced Brand Image: Again, looks are about more than just surface-level aesthetics. Painting commercial buildings is often done to communicate something about a business and its identity. A paint job can portray what matters to a business, whether that be trendiness, sophistication, environmental consciousness, or even innovation.
A business’s interior is a tool for branding that should not be undervalued. In addition to helping to communicate what matters most to a business, it can also have a direct influence on the attitudes of the people within a space. It can control the very atmosphere to impact how the space and, consequently, the business are able to function effectively. This means that the interior of a business can affect its overall success.
Interior design is all about strategically using elements of psychology, like color psychology, to give a company influence over everyone in its space. There are different things that can impact human behavior when it comes to how a space is designed; paint is just one of those things.
Strategic decisions should also be made about the layout of the space, lighting, signage, visual merchandising (depending on the business), and so much more. All of these elements can be manipulated to yield greater company success that goes beyond increased sales. Below are just a few examples of the specific impacts of interior design elements:
1. Influencing Client Moods
If a client walks into a messy and disorganized commercial space, they will assume that the business itself is a dysfunctional operation. And who could blame them? Painting commercial buildings is one great way to influence what customers think of a business and even their mood.
Different colors can create different moods and atmospheres, and companies should understand this to make the right decisions about how they want to be portrayed. For example, cool colors like blue and green can create a calm and relaxed atmosphere, which might make them ideal for a spa or salon. Brighter colors like yellow can provide a boost of energy, making it a smart choice for a gym or a space where people need to be alert.
2. Creating the Right Atmosphere
Lighting is another interior design element that can be manipulated to leave a particular impression on customers. Just like with colors, bright lighting can energize a space to make it more inviting. On the other hand, dim lighting can create a cozy sense of intimacy.
Lighting is also great for providing emphasis to particular areas or items within a space, making it a great tool for drawing customers’ attention to things that will make the business memorable and perhaps even entice them to return.
Combining the right lighting with a smart layout leaves customers with the best impression of a company’s identity, since both are all about atmosphere. The layout impacts how customers are able to move throughout the space and potentially interact with products and services, which is key to emphasizing what the company is about.
3. Boosting Employee Productivity and Morale
This is another impact of interior design, color, and layout in particular. Just as customers do not want to enter an unappealing business, employees don’t want to work in an unpleasant environment. Coming in every day to a space that is uninviting can make employees feel drained and demotivated.
Businesses should take advantage of interior design to help boost the productivity of their workers and make them feel a sense of pride in who they work for. Cool, calming colors can help employees feel more focused to be able to do their jobs as efficiently as possible, and bright, energizing colors can provide that daily boost needed to keep the workplace active and functioning. An open layout plan can make a space feel more free for employees and foster workplace camaraderie and communication.
Creating an inspiring workspace with interior design, especially one that aligns with company identity, makes employees feel valued and as though they are part of a team, not just nameless worker bees. For example, if a company has environmentally conscious values, it might utilize the color green and other elements of nature in its interior design.
Not only would this emphasize that particular brand value for customers, but it would also emphasize it for employees. This is more important in today’s workforce than ever before since recent studies have shown that workers want to feel as though their employers have strong values that match their own. Highlighting values through interior design thus ultimately boosts employee morale.
4. Clarifying the Specific Function of Spaces
When painting commercial buildings, one should always bear in mind that there are many different people who interact with the space every day, which means they are all interacting with the space from their different understandings. Because of this, misunderstandings about what specific spaces are meant for are more likely than in, for example, a home.
Different areas in commercial buildings serve different purposes. Color can be paired with a particular room to influence the mood necessary for the function of the space. For example, conference rooms may benefit from colors that support focus and concentration, while break rooms or cafeterias can be painted in relaxing tones.
Wall art, decor, and signage are also perfect for artistically displaying the function of a room, like a painting of food in the cafeteria or the company logo on the wall at reception, introducing the brand to all who enter.
Interior design can be difficult if one isn’t the most artistically inclined person or simply doesn’t keep on top of the latest trends. That’s where a good painting contractor can help; they’re knowledgeable about what might work best for a company’s brand identity and suit the needs of their space. Using the latest design trends keeps a company modern and innovative.
To make sure that the contractor’s recommendations align with one’s interests, it’s always wise to begin the process informed. Below are some of the latest trends in interior commercial painting to get companies painting commercial buildings familiar with their options:
- Biophilic Design: Showing a connection to nature is growing in popularity among interior designers. When it comes to painting, biophilic design is all about those colors that remind one of nature, like green, brown, and other earthy hues. These colors are known to promote a calming atmosphere in the workplace, making them ideal for spaces that need to decrease anxiety, like a wellness room or healthcare center.
- Accent Walls: Accent walls emphasize specific areas in a room because they stand apart from the other walls in the room. Businesses should use them strategically to draw attention to something they would like people to focus on, like a wall with the company logo or colors. The best thing about accent walls is that they’re only meant to be done on one or a few walls, so the overall design won’t be overwhelmed by a bold pattern or whatever particular design was chosen for the accent wall.
- Murals and Wall Art: Murals and wall art are a great way for businesses to connect with their community by working with local artists to come up with something unique and striking. Murals present the opportunity for a business to tell a story about the brand more clearly than just plain color. The mural can say something about the journey of the brand or even depict company values.
- Textured and Metallic Finishes: Textures add dimension to otherwise flat walls, while metallic finishes bring a touch of sophistication and luxury to a space. Both can engage the attention of clients and employees to elevate a business in their eyes and show how the company might have or desire a certain high-value reputation. These wall design choices work great for more upscale companies, like a five-star restaurant or hotel.
- Eco-Friendly Choices: With growing societal concerns over things like environmental impact and sustainability, eco-friendly, low-VOC paints are often an important choice made by businesses conducting a commercial painting project. These paints can align with company values (if they prioritize eco-friendliness) and benefit both the environment and employee health, making them a great long-term investment.
Painting commercial buildings is just one of many interior design elements that can impact a business and its atmosphere for the better. All these elements come together to tell the story of the company to both customers and employees, helping to drive creativity and keep the space appealing and enjoyable for everyone. However, picking the best paint colors is just the fun part of the interior design process. When it comes to a painting project, there are still practical considerations to handle.
Contact us here if you would like to find the best painting contractor for your residential or commercial painting needs.
The Best Practices and Considerations for Smooth Commercial Painting Services
Commissioning commercial painting services can be quite the undertaking for a business, so it is integral that the appropriate planning goes into the process for the smoothest results. Before even meeting with the contractor, a business owner should know exactly what the scope of the project is and the timeline that they want it done.
Clearly laying out practicalities with the painting contractor ensures that everyone is able to do their job effectively with minimal disruptions to the business’s daily operations. A good way to handle the planning process is to go through the checklist below with the painting contractor:
- Scheduling: Commercial painting services require the right amount of space and time for the painters to do their jobs. An active paint job may not be the best environment for a workplace to function, as there may be dangers and distractions for employees and general dysfunction that might turn off customers. It might be best to schedule the paint job during the business’s closing hours, or if that can’t be done, the project can be scheduled during the off-season, when clients aren’t coming in as frequently. No matter what option is chosen, a business should go over scheduling options beforehand with the painting contractor.
- Setting a Budget: Because of the laborious nature of the work, commercial painting services can be costly. Companies should assess just how much they’re willing to spend on the project and go through pricing and the general scope of the project with the contractor. What rooms will be painted and at what times? Painting during off hours might be more expensive. What kind of paint will be used? The quality of paint directly affects the longevity of the project, so higher quality means higher price tags. Knowing how much a company is willing to invest in the painting project is key to knowing how best to approach it.
- Preparing the Walls: A clean wall leads to a cleaner finish with interior commercial painting. Because a business is a high-traffic area, the walls tend to see more wear and tear, like scuff marks, dents, and tears. Filling in dents and sanding areas that require it makes the job easier for painters. Repairing some of these small issues prior to the paint job ensures that the painters will have a smooth surface to begin their work on for the best results.
- Safety and Health: Compliance with safety standards is especially important for interior commercial painting projects. The chemicals in paint can be very harmful if overly inhaled, and a business has employees, customers, and the painters’ health to consider. Working with paint indoors requires proper ventilation to ensure that the air remains safe and breathable for everyone in the space. Reputable contractors know what to do to ensure proper ventilation, minimal VOC exposure, and compliance with local regulations. They also know how to keep their workspace as organized as possible to avoid dangerous accidents.
- Clear Communication: Everyone who regularly interacts with a business should be appropriately informed before commercial painting services enter the workplace, especially if the paint job will be happening during opening hours. Employees should be informed so that they come in to work prepared to encounter painters and learn how to continue their jobs in the midst of the work. Clients should also be informed beforehand via email or other social media so that they can be safe when they enter the building. Using signs and taping off areas with active work being done is another effective way of communicating with clients and employees to ensure that everyone is prepared for disruptions.
Even taking these practical considerations into account, a business is still likely to experience disruptions during interior commercial painting. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t further measures that can be taken to help minimize these disruptions as much as possible.
Beyond clear communication and scheduling, there are more things to plan to ensure a smooth project, such as maintaining a clean work zone, creating temporary zones that separate employees and customers from painters as much as possible, and using a phased approach for larger paint jobs that completes all the work in one area before moving on to another.
Strong planning and communication make painting commercial buildings easier for everyone involved. The right contractor will be experienced and appreciate the help that can come from knowing what the company wants out of the project before it happens.
Make Interior Commercial Painting Simple with the Right Contractor
After a plan for the interior commercial painting project has been laid out, a business should research and choose the right contractor. No matter how perfect a vision the business owner may have for their space, the success of the project relies the most on having a good contractor to execute it. A strong candidate for the project will have the following characteristics:
- Experience in Commercial Painting: Naturally, the right contractor will specialize in commercial painting and have an impressive portfolio of their work on previous projects. Experience in commercial settings means they understand the specific needs and challenges of business environments. Finding reviews and referrals can be useful for ensuring that they know how to complete a project well.
- Licensed, Insured, and Certified: No one wants them to happen, but sometimes, accidents occur. When dealing with interior commercial painting, it is critical to protect everyone in the workspace and the business itself by hiring a fully licensed and insured contractor.
- Clear Communication and Transparency: When preparing a final contract for the project, it is best to have a contractor that communicates clearly and openly about what they understand the project will necessitate, down to its scope, timeline, cost, and other important details. The more trustworthy and transparent the contractor is, the smoother and less stressful the project will be for the business.
- Commitment to Quality: Quality materials are necessary for a paint job that is worth the investment and can put up with the high-traffic wear and tear of daily business operations. The contractor and their team should work with the best paint and tools for long-lasting results.
- Understanding of Safety and Compliance: A responsible contractor will prioritize safety and adhere to industry regulations and guidelines. This is particularly important for interior commercial painting since the space involves a lot of people.
Interior commercial painting is a great way to make a business’s space leave an impression on customers and employees that says something about what the company values. Taking advantage of commercial painting services not only offers a whole new look but also a way of potentially increasing sales.
Discover the Koehn Painting difference – contact us today for a free estimate and step into a vibrant, freshly painted home!