Investing in a fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest and most affordable commercial renovations you can make—but how do you know what paint color is right for your space?
Don’t rely on what you see on paint samples alone. The natural and artificial light in your space can have dramatic effects on how the color looks on your actual walls.
Here’s a basic guide to paint and lighting effects to guide you as you make your renovations.
How does light affect paint colors?
If you’ve painted the walls of your commercial space and the results aren’t looking like you planned, it could be the result of an effect called metamerism. In simplest terms, light sources affect a person’s perception of color.
Colors take on different hues under different lighting, which means that the paint sample you saw at the store may not look as great as you thought on the walls of your commercial space. Understanding paint and lighting effects can help you choose your color palette wisely.
Natural light
Natural sunlight displays the truest representation of colors, and you should always consider the natural light in your space as you make paint selections. Natural lighting effects depend on the direction the light is coming into the room, as well as the position of the sun. North-facing rooms typically have softer, warmer lighting effects, making darker hues darker and lighter hues slightly more subdued.
South-facing rooms receive the most intense light. In general, darker colors appear brighter in rooms with southern exposure, while light colors can be washed out by the abundance of light.
Rooms with east-facing windows receive lots of morning light but are usually darker later in the day. In morning light, dark colors will look intense, but they’ll appear drabber as the day progresses. West-facing rooms receive the most intense light in the evening, featuring rich yellow or golden tones which can make red or yellow paint colors overwhelming on sunny evenings.
The best way to determine whether a paint color will look good in the natural light conditions of your space is by testing them. Paint a few swatches on the wall and check them throughout the day to see how the colors change as the ambient lighting in the room changes.
Artificial light
In addition to considering how natural light affects paint colors in your commercial space, you also need to consider the effects of artificial light. Consider the types of fixtures you have in your space, including incandescent, fluorescent and halogen options. It’s wise to check paint samples with the light on in the room to determine exactly how they’ll look under that particular light.
No matter what commercial renovations you’re making, working with an experienced contractor can get you the results you want from your updates. Contact John G. Moser & Son, Inc. to learn more about commercial remodels. With decades of experience in the industry, we know what it takes to turn dated, tired commercial spaces into ones that are memorable for all the right reasons.