Painting and Design Trends to Watch for in 2023

January 10, 2023

A new year brings a unique chance to refresh and revitalize your space. A fresh paint job is one of the best ways to accomplish this. You are making a significant investment when planning a new interior or exterior paint job for your commercial property. With this investment, you’ll want to ensure your paint job improves the aesthetics and function of your building. To get you started, let’s take a look at some design trends and considerations for your project. 

Colors

When you choose paint colors for a residential home, you can continually update your paint finish as frequently as you are able – in commercial spaces, paint jobs need to last longer as updates may not be able to happen each year. In general, a commercial space should consider the aesthetics of their business, how customers/employees should feel when they enter the space, and color trends for the current year and beyond when choosing colors. For 2023, the American Institute of Architects and Sherwin-Williams predict that warmer colors will be popular with commercial spaces. They also highlight dark green as replacing navy blue for a deep neutral.

Patterns

Color sets the tone for new paint finishes, while patterns and materials add voice. Minimalism has been prominent in the commercial interior design world in the last few years, but now designers are looking to add unique visual touches to their spaces. Geometric patterns and accent walls are back in. In terms of materials, many designers are also adding wood, stone, metal, and plants to their spaces.

Floor Paintings

Outdated or unsanitary flooring could leave a negative impression on a customer even if the rest of their visit to your business was positive. If your commercial property has high foot traffic areas, your floors can take a beating. Some professional painting companies will paint floors to help improve aesthetics and brightness. A painted floor can even require less maintenance in the long run.

Wallcoverings

In addition to or as a substitute for paint, wallcoverings are popular with commercial business owners. Wallcoverings can add accents, textures, and more intricate designs to a space. They are typically made from vinyl, fabric, decals, paper, DI-NOC™ , or digital graphics. If you are interested in a wallcovering for your property rather than paint, you’ll want to ensure the painting company you choose has experience with the process. 

Accents

As design trends move away from minimalism, accents are coming back significantly. An accent wall is a different color or shade than the rest of the walls, and it can draw attention to a space without overwhelming it. Accents could also be a shape or stripe painted on several parts of the property. As mentioned, different materials can even be accents, such as painted metal for an industrial look or stone for a more natural feel.

Faux Finishes

Another commercial painting trend to watch in 2023 is faux finishes. A faux finish is when a painting finish looks like another material, such as granite or wood. Faux finishing techniques have been around for quite some time and serve as a way to enhance aesthetics while saving money. 

Weather Resistance

Whichever design trends you choose to follow (or start if you’re a trendsetter), you should work with a painting company that uses high-quality, durable materials. This is especially critical for exterior paint jobs. Although no paint is entirely weather resistant, higher quality paints will last longer and protect your investment. 

Keep Your Business Open While Painting

If choosing a commercial painting company that wants to do the best for your business isn’t a trend, it should be. Closing your business during the painting project can be inconvenient and costly. Here at SmithPro Commercial Painting, we work with business owners to determine how to complete the project with as few disruptions as possible. Get in touch with us today to discuss your next project!

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