First Impressions- Exterior Colors

The exterior of your home or business is the first thing that visitors see and should have a welcoming appearance. With a professional exterior paint job you can create an aesthetically pleasing house or office that creates a first impression that speaks volumes about you and/or your business.

The goal of color design in an architectural space is not for decoration alone. Humans react to color in very profound ways and make subconscious decisions based on experiences with color and the physiological responses in the body. For example studies have shown red stimulates our appetite and increases our blood pressure while blue suppresses the appetite and lowers our blood pressure.

We are also conditioned by nature and our environment. Take yellow and black, the colors of pedestrian crossing and other warning signs as well as police tape- which are meant to alert us to potential danger. This same color scheme is used for bulldozers and more than one brand of drills and tools- thus making it a powerful, more masculine color scheme. Yet, used individually, yellow and black take on very different meanings and reactions. Such as cheerfulness for yellow and sophistication for black.

For graphic designers, advertisers, architects, decorators and color consultants, choosing color is vital to achieving a desired outcome. Colors do create an atmosphere, a mood and influence buyers.

The right exterior colors in commercial projects can:

• Decrease vacancies in office buildings, restaurants and retail shops
• Increase the lease price
• Increase property values
• Increase top of mind awareness for a brand (think of The Home Depot or Tiffany & Co colors)
• Create curb appeal and draw the eye in (which is even more vital if a building is set back from the street)
• Keeps the business competitive
• Attract a higher end clientele

The right exterior colors in residential projects can:

• Increase property values
• Create a welcoming, aesthetically pleasing home
• Leads to significantly less time on the real estate market
• Promote feelings of safety, community and pride of ownership

And of course whether it is commercial or residential, getting the colors right the first time saves time and money.

Tips for using exterior color:

• Modulate or color the building to create movement, balance or rhythm. Rather than using different colors based on materials, look at architectural blocks.
• Exterior color is lighter and brighter- so go 1-2 shades darker than you think
• Because darker colors fade faster in intense sunlight, make sure you’re prepared to do upkeep
• Color points us in the right direction. Even without signage, color can be used to direct a person to the entrance.

If you need help with choosing colors or any painting projects, give us a call and we’ll get it done right the first time.