A Guide To Using Colour In Commercial Projects

Colour plays an important role in the interior design of commercial spaces thanks to its ability to impact the mood of users, as well as its use in emphasising brand identities.

Here at CTD Architectural Tiles we recognise this importance, which is why we’re proud to offer our customers a vast range of tiles available in a huge array of colours, suitable for a variety of commercial projects. With so many potential tiles to choose from, we’ve put together this useful guide of factors to consider for each project’s colour palette.

On trend

One of the first things likely to come to mind when choosing the colour scheme of a project is current trends. Although it’s important to consider the longevity of certain colour trends before committing to using them in large-scale projects, keeping up to date with the latest trends can be a great source of inspiration.

Pinterest is a great tool for following the latest interior design trends, where burnt orange is currently trending as we move into autumn.

If you’d like to incorporate fashionable colours without taking the risk of the trend disappearing, we recommend using an evergreen design trend: colours and effects that have been popular for some time, and will stay that way. This includes monochrome, as well as tiles inspired by natural timber such as Forest Jungle, marble effects found in ranges like Unique Marble, and classic Metro brick tiles including the Alba collection, which is available in several neutral and bold colours.

The psychology of colour

While colour offers a fantastic opportunity to be creative and make a style statement, there are also a number of practical considerations for how to use colour effectively.

One of these is the psychology of colour, which refers to the impact this can have on users’ emotions and behaviours. This is increasingly a research focus area for psychologists, and is making its way into interior design – particularly across the commercial sector where it’s not only important to create a positive perception, but also influence how people should feel while experiencing a particular space.

Different colours have been proven to have different effects on people, and these should be considered for each commercial project. For example:

• Green and blue have a calming effect, and are ideal for spa and swimming pool projects
• Red and yellow encourage creativity, so are useful for brainstorming spaces in office projects
• Grey, beige, black and white offer neutral palettes that can evoke a sense of luxury, making them a great choice for high end hotel projects

Zoning in

As well as impacting mood and behaviour when using a space, colour is a useful tool in ensuring a space is used effectively.

Contrasting colours are a great way to create zones within a commercial space. Zoning is a key trend across both the commercial and residential sectors, and it refers to separating areas of a space according to their use.

This is a particularly valuable concept for open plan spaces. An example of this would be a hotel reception featuring white floor tiles, leading into its bar and restaurant space which is clearly defined through the use of black floor tiles. Ranges such as Luna and Tele di Marmo Onyx, which are available in several contrasting yet complementary shades are ideally suited to this type of use.

Similarly, contrasting colours and patterns are useful for signposting and guiding. Using a different colour tile as a border is a great way to guide users through a space, for example, a car showroom.

Light up

Colour is also valuable in maximising the light available in a commercial space, which often varies from room to room. There are a number of factors to consider when it comes to colours and lighting, although as a general rule, lighter colours – particularly white – tend to be best for making a space appear bigger – especially when combined with a glossy surface finish.

However, it’s important to note that making the most of lighting doesn’t have to mean only using neutral colours, with a number of tiles designed to play on light and shadows. Our recently-launched Jive range is a great example of this, as its three-dimensional curved tiles interact with shadows to create a striking finish in a selection of bold colours including red, green and chrome.

For our latest colour inspiration, follow us on Pinterest and Instagram.

To find out more about our vast range of architectural tiles, get in touch with our expert team at info@ctdarchitecturaltiles.co.uk or call 0800 021 4835.