There’s no single best colour for a commercial building. The right choice depends on your brand, your neighbours, how the building is used and how it copes with Brisbane’s sun. What works almost everywhere is a considered palette of durable colours that suit the building and don’t date quickly.
Start with your brand
A building’s colours are part of your identity. If you have brand colours, use them where they count, such as on entries, signage areas or accents, and keep the main walls in supporting tones. Bright brand colours across an entire facade can look heavy and are more work to maintain.
Think about the street
Look at the buildings around you and any planning or heritage requirements that apply. Colours that sit comfortably in the streetscape usually look more professional than ones that clash with it. If you’re in a heritage-listed area, council rules may limit your options.
Sun, heat and fading
Brisbane’s UV is hard on colour. Some pigments fade faster than others, and very dark colours absorb more heat, which can stress coatings on sun-exposed walls. Lighter and mid-tone colours are often the more forgiving choice on large exterior surfaces. A good painter can tell you which colours in a system hold up best.
Use contrast to guide people
Contrast between walls, trims, doors and entries helps visitors find their way. A slightly darker or accent colour on the entry draws the eye to the door without needing a sign.
Test before you commit
Colours look different in real light. Paint a sample on the wall, look at it in the morning and afternoon and check it against roof, brickwork and paving. Our colour consultation service helps you narrow the options before painting starts.
Inside the building
Interior colour is a different question, because it’s about how people work and feel in the space. Our guide to choosing interior office colours covers that side. For tenanted buildings, neutral colours also help you re-let, and our article on re-leasing and make-good painting explains why.
Pick colours that last
A colour you’ll still like in ten years beats one that’s fashionable this year. See our exterior commercial painting service, read how to make exterior commercial painting last, or request a quote.
McAuliffe Painting. Eagle Farm, Brisbane QLD 4009. QBCC Lic 1180874.
