How to Choose a Paint Color That Will Draw the Eye

July 15, 2019

White walls can be dull, boring, and uninspiring. If you want to incorporate color in commercial spaces, SmithPro Commercial Painting can help you get it right — but you should also be aware that there’s an art and science to using paint colors to draw the eye. Done right, your commercial paint can help you in ways you may not have realized; done wrong, it can actually work against you. Here are some things to consider ahead of your call to us.

Don’t Choose Paint First

This may seem counterintuitive — especially coming from a St. Louis commercial painting contractor — but your paint color isn’t necessarily the first or most important choice you’ll make. Especially in commercial spaces, there are a number of design elements competing for attention; these can include everything from furnishings and fixtures to your logo and POP areas. It’s often best to plan those elements first so that you’re using paint colors to reinforce an area’s existing flow rather than competing with it since too many colors can compete for attention and keep the eye from being led to the right place.

Pay Attention to Intensity as Well as Color

Color psychology credits the right colors for everything from improving sales conversions to boosting productivity. However, as color psychologist Angela Wright points out in conversation with A Life of Productivity, color saturation matters at least as much as the choice of color. Intense, vibrant colors can be stimulating, but any stimulus can lose its effect or even become an irritant if it’s overdone. Varying intensities can tell a different story and can help you reap the benefits of certain color choices without fatiguing the eyes or the mind.

Use Contrasts

As we mentioned above, your interior and exterior paint colors are used in context. If you’re a gallery owner, for instance, muted colors are best because they let the artworks you’re displaying shine in their own right. If you’re in a historic building with ornate metalwork or unique architectural detailing, color contrasts can draw attention to what makes your space special. The color scheme in an office can highlight your professionalism or creativity, but you’ll want complementary or contrasting colors that emphasize you’re not a one-trick pony. If you’re painting a conference room or classroom, care needs to be taken not to have your color choices detracting from things that should be the focus of attention; sometimes you won’t necessarily want or need to draw the eye elsewhere!

Choosing Your Colors

As we pointed out in an earlier article discussing the benefits of repainting your business, color isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s also about the frame of mind it helps to create, and the ways in which it alters the perception of your space.

So there are a few considerations in play here. One is the use of your space; if it’s a corner office, your choices are likely to be different than they’d be for a lobby or other customer-facing area. Another consideration is the behavior you need that space to drive. Bright reds are good for areas that require physical productivity, for instance, but wouldn’t be good for an area that calls for calm. Yellow is a definite attention-getter, but it also places a degree of stress on the eyes if it’s too saturated. While greens are great for businesses that place a premium on interconnectedness and sustainability, its placid nature can be counterproductive in environments that require a fast pace, or where you need your employees to be on their toes.

The color wheel has more choices and gradations than we have room to discuss here, but we’ll take the time to walk you through your options so your color scheme is suited to your goals.

With so much to consider, we can understand if you’re feeling a bit lost right about now. You’re not alone — like your business, your commercial painting project is a team effort! SmithPro Commercial Painting will leverage our experience in custom color to make sure you’re getting attention for all the right reasons, and deliver work that’s done on time, on budget, and durable for the long haul. Contact us for a consultation today.

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Large circular bank vault door in a beige wall, one side open, in an empty room

What Your Commercial Building’s Interior Paint Says About Your Business

October 9, 2026

Businesses put a lot of thought into the experience they create for customers, clients, tenants, and visitors. Signage, lighting, furniture, cleanliness, and décor all contribute to the way a commercial environment looks and feels. Interior paint plays a role in that experience, too. Walls make up a large portion of what people see when they enter a commercial building. When paint is clean, cohesive, and well-maintained, it may simply feel like a natural part of the space. When walls are noticeably scuffed, faded, damaged, or inconsistent, however, they can draw attention for the wrong reasons. Taking a fresh look at your interior paint can help ensure the condition of your space reflects the image your organization wants to present. First Impressions Begin With the Space Around You The physical condition of a commercial space begins communicating with visitors as soon as they walk through the door. Reception areas, lobbies, waiting rooms, hallways, and other customer-facing spaces help establish an initial impression of the property. Walls that appear clean and cared for can contribute to an environment that feels polished and professional. Visible wear can have the opposite effect. Scuffs, stains, chipped areas, and fading may make an otherwise attractive space look neglected or overdue for attention. One challenge is familiarity. When you see the same environment every day, gradual changes can be difficult to notice. Occasionally, viewing a space from a visitor's perspective can make worn areas much easier to spot. Wear Can Send an Unintended Message Commercial interiors are meant to be used, so some wear is unavoidable. Busy hallways experience frequent contact. Entrances see constant activity. Meeting rooms, reception areas, and shared spaces may develop marks and other signs of daily use over time. The question is whether that wear has reached a point where it begins changing the overall impression of the facility. A well-used building does not need to look brand new at every moment, but routine attention to visible wear can help prevent small imperfections from becoming a defining feature of the space. This is particularly important in prominent areas where customers, tenants, vendors, or other visitors spend time.

Worker in safety harness on a metal scaffolding tower, overlooking a cityscape under cloudy skies.

When Should You Schedule a Commercial Painting Project?

September 10, 2026

Learn when to schedule a commercial painting project by considering weather, business operations, budgeting, and availability to achieve the best results year-round.

Worker in neon shirt on a scissor lift beside stacked boxes in a warehouse aisle

When a Touch-Up Becomes a Repaint

August 10, 2026

Learn when paint touch-ups are enough and when a full repaint is needed. Discover signs of fading, wear, and color mismatch to maintain a professional finish.