How to Choose the Right Exterior Design for Your Commercial Building
By: Hannah Warne
Your commercial building is the first thing potential clients see as they are driving by or walking to the doorway. Think about your building. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? It’s your brand’s identity to the world. You want to make a great first impression. It’s said that within the first eight seconds a buyer decides if they are interested in a home. That said, don’t you think people feel the same way when walking into a business? A well designed exterior can attract new customers, reinforce your brand’s identity, and contribute to your success. Sometimes design can be overwhelming, especially with a business, because there is a lot at stake; however, it doesn’t have to be. Of course you care about your store front. We have uncovered so many ways draw people inside and create an environment that makes them want to return.
brick&batten doesn’t only handle residential exteriors. Our expert designers can also help you choose the perfect commercial exterior design to help your business thrive. From selecting a color palette to choosing finishes, we’ll help enhance your business’s curb appeal. Learn more about our virtual exterior design services.
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Incorporate your brand colors
Stay with me for a minute. When I say Nike, what do you think of? You can likely picture the logo in your mind. You know what they sell. That is called brand recognition, and that’s your goal with your colors and logo. You have tons of colors and combinations to choose from for your store’s exterior. It’s time to narrow down your color palette for your store front. Step 1, identify the colors of your brand. Are they warm or cool? Are they bright or muted? What are the undertones? All of these answers help when choosing materials and colors to pair with your logo and brand colors. Step 2, incorporate these shades into the exterior design. Being deliberate will increase brand recognition. A good logo and consistent design will aim for similar recall as Nike to people in your community.
Whether you incorporate brand colors as just an accent or as the primary color in the exterior, doing so gives you the ideal starting point around which to build the rest of the palette. In the example above, the bright orange shade of the logo is incorporated in the entry awning and outdoor umbrella. Wood siding with an orange undertone wraps around the building and complements the logo design, while white painted brick is the perfect neutral to tie it all together.
Consider both form and function
While the design for a commercial building should look beautiful, it has to be practical, too. I remember taking my kids into a crowded ice cream shop. With no seats available inside, we wandered outside hoping for outdoor seating. Unfortunately that wasn’t even an option. The form was there but zero functionality, as now we’re eating dripping cones in the car. When creating your storefront, choosing a striking color palette, finding the perfect siding, and adding accents like planters, lighting, and signage, are super important but equally important is how the space functions for all visitors. Is the exterior space above functional? Yes. Is this space beautiful? Absolutely.
Adding exterior details like awnings to cover an outdoor patio, a glass balcony railing, and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow in light and let passersby see the interior are all strategic ways to make your commercial exterior design seem even more appealing. In the example above, they even added their menu and daily specials to attract walk-ins for the perfect blend of form and function.
Let your logo do the talking
If your business has a bright, vivid logo, let that be the focal point of your commercial exterior design. Why not? You probably spent a lot of time thinking about your logo, sharing it friends, discussing the colors, and agonizing over the font. It likely kept you up at night. Your logo is probably now on business cards and plugging on social media. That said, let your logo be the main player in your design and not be overshadowed by a bright color palette that fights with your branding. Put it front and center and build everything else around it. In the example above, the fire-engine red sign takes center stage. By finishing the rest of the design — like the awning to the window trim — in a neutral black shade, the red pops and immediately draws the eye.
But just because the exterior palette is neutral, doesn’t mean the design has to be boring. Our designers added black industrial sconces, bistro lights, and tall planters and other landscaping help uplift the design and make it feel not only complete, but also unique.
Draw inspiration from your interior for your commercial exterior design
When designing for a commercial space, it’s important for the entire experience to feel cohesive for the customer. That means that the exterior of the building should look and feel similar to the interior to create that harmonious vibe. Recently I visited Nashville and walked into an unnamed shop, located on a popular strip with other beautiful looking shops. It almost looked like a Madewell from the outside, with big white window boxes full of flowers, pastel blue logo above the French doors, and farmhouse lighting scattered around the each side. I was anticipating boutique-y type clothes and fresh smelling candles. What I got was leather jackets and biker gear. What? Why I love the diversity, I was baffled by the presentation. If you have an ultra-modern, minimal interior design, carry that same aesthetic to the exterior by using a light and airy color palette and clean feel. If you have heavy and dark biker gear inside, carry that that same aesthetic to the exterior by using an industrial, rugged feel outside. I know you get the picture.
Or, if your business has more of a retro feel like in the example above, incorporate those details into the exterior, too. This soda fountain uses mid-century elements like dark wood, vintage-inspired outdoor furniture, and a statement pendant light above the entryway to create unmatched curb appeal. When looking at this do you think, “Yes, I would love to sit and drink a soda at the Owl’s Nest.” If so, you will bring people back.
Incorporate mixed finishes
Commercial exterior design is different from residential design because it needs to appeal to different types of clients and buyers — but that doesn’t mean it has to be bland. Of course you know who is in the market for your service but don’t limit yourself and get stuck on the same old thing. Sometimes a simple exterior change can draw the eye of new clients. People that didn’t notice you before may give a second look. Step out of bland and into beautiful! Even if you want to keep your color palette neutral, consider mixing and matching different finishes and design accents to help your business come to life. Additions like stone siding, wood accents, industrial metal details, and hardscaping can be intermingled to create an exterior that’s one of a kind.
For the exterior of the gym above, we recommended stone siding, wooden accents, and black details on both buildings for a dynamic but similar design. While the two buildings have the same mix of finishes, they have different door styles, light fixtures, and windows for a finished product that feels cohesive but not too matchy-matchy. Big takeaway, you don’t want Rooms to Go. You want unique, while being mindful of your brand.
Don’t be afraid to go dark
Businesses may think they need to go bright and bold to amp up their curb appeal. But sticking with a classic, neutral, and dark color palette can be equally as attention-grabbing when done right. Yes, I said, when done right and yes, it can be done wrong. Know your audience and your environment. Is your business a wedding shop, in a small town, in south sunny Florida? If so, dark may be harder to run with. You don’t want to be out of place, you want to BE the place. Be intentional about your choices. A shade like Benjamin Moore’s Graphite is the perfect dark neutral that creates a chic, modern exterior. Especially when paired with wood siding, and a black metal roof. These gooseneck light fixtures have more of a “come home” type of feel, which doesn’t give off a commercial business, enter here. It looks welcoming and effortlessly cool. Though dark make feel trendy, it’s also mixed with the lighter stone. Charley’s doesn’t feel heavy and dark. It feels like a place I’d like to visit.
We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.
Blend indoor and outdoor living
Prioritizing outdoor space in a commercial building, especially an apartment building, is essential. If you have the outdoor area, why not use it to your advantage? If your building could talk, it should say, “Your home!” Your residents want welcoming and they want comfortable. You want lounge-y but well kept; a sense of community but privacy; sidewalks and a feeling of structure but fun and filled with opportunities. First glance, would you want to live in this apartment building? It doesn’t look like an overworked and tired apartment. It looks easy and inviting after a long day. The outdoor seating areas, bistro lights, beautiful landscape (that your residents don’t have to take of), and a fire pit or outdoor kitchen helps create indoor and outdoor features most people are looking for.
Especially in multifamily properties, adding these elements allows residents to spend time outdoors — despite the fact they don’t have a traditional yard like in a single-family home. This exterior design that not only features a beautiful color palette and finishes but also prioritizes functional outdoor space that brings people and families together. It’s a great way to meet neighbors. If your residence love their neighbors, they will stay. Private patios are great but so are communal lounge areas, fire pits, and a water features to create a welcoming outdoor environment for everyone.
When all else fails, keep it classic
Design is tough and if you’re like me you don’t want to spend money on something and have it go out of style in a few years, especially something like your home or business. That said, you can’t go wrong keeping it classy. Stick to traditional but updated design choices. A classic neutral color palette is always in style and feels comfortable. Wood can be used in a variety of ways. It gives off the vibe of being sustainable, warm, and strong. That’s like the same feeling you’re trying to offer your clients.
Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore is a beautiful shade that sometimes feel cool and other times feels warm. The mid-tone hue is a welcoming greige shade that pairs well with almost any other color. In the exterior above, the color works with the trim in Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams. This is an example of a safe design; however, the wood update is needed to keep classic, while also feeling updated. And look at that State Farm logo really pop.
Transform your business with a new commercial exterior design
Bring your business to life with an expert exterior design.This is your brand, your baby, where you work, where you spend tons of time, your livelihood! Be intentional with your choices. Good design that draws people to your business doesn’t happen on accident. From finalizing your perfect color palette to finding amazing finishes, landscape, lighting, etc. every detail showcase your business in the best way. It’s time to make your business stand out in the best way.
brick&batten virtual exterior design services are the perfect way to bring your dream commercial exterior design to life! From incorporating your brand colors to mixing and matching your favorite finishes, we’ll take all of your preferences into consideration to create an exterior that best highlights your business. Start your project today!
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