Choosing the right paint for your commercial property is much more important than you think. Paint gives your customer their first impression of you and your business and sets the tone for the rest of their experience while inside your property.
Whether you’re updating a retail store, office building or warehouse, choosing the right paint helps ensure that your space looks good for as long as possible. The right choice can help reduce maintenance costs and help create a welcoming and productive environment for employees and customers.
This guide will help you understand the key factors to consider when choosing paint which is more suitable for commercial properties, and the best colours to enhance your space, with a focus on Brisbane’s unique climate and business environment.
Factors to Consider When Choosing The Right Paint
The paint you choose can dictate the functionality, aesthetic, and atmosphere of your space, and it can even help reinforce your branding and vision for the property. Here is what you need to consider to choose the right one for your business,
Brisbane’s Climate
Brisbane’s heat and high humidity mean that spaces like bathrooms, kitchens and basements in commercial buildings provide perfect environments for mould and mildew growth. This can cause unpleasant odours to form and can cause damage to your walls and ceilings.
Brisbane’s intense sunlight and UV radiation cause the exterior paint in your building to fade and peel over time. This can give your space a worn-out look, which is not what customers want to see when walking into your building. Heavy rainfall can also be expected during some parts of the year, which causes blistering and staining on exterior walls. Sometimes you can get both in one day, which can cause your paint to contract and expand with the temperature change, making it crack and peel even more.
Foot Traffic
Some areas of the space may have many customers or employees walking through it. The constant contact with shoes, furniture and equipment is going to lead to scuff marks and dents on the walls.
That area is also prone to being cleaned regularly, which often uses harsh chemicals that can strip away the paint and cause it to lose that sheen it had when it was brand new. Cleaning it the wrong way can accelerate this wear and tear and cause it to look outdated prematurely.
Brand Identity
The colour you choose can tell your customer all it needs to know about your business. Choosing the wrong colour or having a poorly maintained paint job can harm the image of the business.
To avoid this, you should know what psychological response each colour brings out in people,
- Blue: promotes a sense of calm and trust, making it ideal for medical facilities or office spaces.
- Orange and Yellow: can help individuals feel energetic, which is great if you want an attention-grabbing retail environment.
- Neutral Tones: These should not be overlooked and can help create a clean environment, and work well in corporate environments or reception areas.
- Red: Is a very bold choice and can work well when used sparingly in entertainment venues.
These colours should align with your business and its brand colours. If these do not match each other, it can weaken customer recognition and drop the likelihood of recurring purchases.
Health Regulations
When choosing an interior paint for your business, ensure that it has little to no Volatile organic compounds (VOC). If paints with high-VOC content are chosen, they can release harmful chemicals and fumes into the air, which causes headaches and worsens existing respiratory issues.
For industrial workspaces, ensure that non-slip coating paints are used to enhance safety and reduce the likelihood of accidents occurring. Choosing paints that meet environmental standards and health regulations not only protects your employees and consumers but also ensures compliance with local building codes.
Low Maintenance
Commercial paints should be stain and scuff-resistant. But how do you know which to choose? The simple answer lies in the finishes of paints.
- Matte Finish: These are great for hiding tiny imperfections on walls and surfaces, making it ideal for low-traffic areas like ceilings.
- Gloss Finishes: These paints have very high durability and shine, which makes them perfect for any accent surfaces or very high-traffic areas.
- Satin Finish: They are usually more durable and have a slightly gloss look, meaning they would work well in retail spaces and reception areas.
If these factors are not considered and the wrong paint is chosen, it could lead to frequent touch-ups being required, which can inconvenience the day-to-day operations of the business, potentially affecting the customer’s experience and employee productivity.
What Paint Type is Best For You?
Now that you have a better understanding of what your space and business needs, it is time to choose the right paint type that meets those needs the best.
Acrylic Paints
A water-based paint that is known for its quick drying time and easy application, it helps give a smooth clean finish that is resistant to cracking and fading over time. Acrylic paints also have low VOC, so it is the best for maintaining clean air quality. It can withstand constant cleaning and washing, and as it is water-based, does not require the use of hard solvents to be cleaned. It is also relatively flexible to temperature changes and resistant to moisture, making it perfect for Brisbane’s heat and humidity.
Oil-based paints
Oil-based paints take longer to dry compared to their acrylic counterparts, but this type of paint is highly resistant to stains and scuffs, making them a suitable choice for high-contact surfaces in commercial settings such as stair railings, skirting and metal fixtures.
However, these paints have a very high level of VOCs, so a strong ventilation system is a must if these paints are used.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right paint for your commercial property goes beyond just colour — it’s about creating a space that looks professional, lasts longer, and enhances the experience for everyone who walks through the door. The right paint will protect your property from Brisbane’s harsh weather, reduce maintenance costs, and reflect your brand identity in a way that leaves a lasting impression.
Whether you’re refreshing an office, updating a retail space, or tackling a large industrial project, making the right choice now will save you time, money, and effort in the future. If you’re unsure which paint is right for your space, ER Seven Painting can help. Get in touch with us today for expert advice and get the professional finish your space deserves.
