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Paint colours to avoid when preparing for strata building paintwork

When it comes to painting large properties, colour choice is a crucial part of the process. Help your body corporate committee avoid making costly and time-consuming mistakes, by guiding their colour decision for their property from the start.

The problem is that there are so many colours to choose from, and with so many other factors to consider, it can be overwhelming trying to decide exactly what colour will look best. Here’s our guide for strata managers to help your body corporate committee select the perfect paint colours for their building. 

Interior painting

As a strata manager, there is no doubt you’ve had a committee eager to paint an internal common area of a building at some point and suprisingly, the process is very different to exterior painting maintenance. Here are some things to keep in mind when providing advice on selecting a colour palette for an interior space:

  • Start with the floor: The floor is the first place you need to consider when working on the interior space of a building. Ensure that your chosen paint colour doesn’t clash with the texture, colour or materials that are used for flooring.
  • Next is the ceiling: A dark ceiling could make a room feel small and enclosed, and a light ceiling will make it seem more spacious. Ensure that the flooring and the ceiling don’t clash, and consider the effect that your chosen colour will have on the finished room.
  • The walls: The walls are the most noticeable aspect of an interior room, and you need to either paint them all the same colour or make sure they match tonally. Try and avoid clashing colours and don’t forget about matching up any skirting boards.

Exterior Painting

When painting the exterior of a building, you need to keep in mind that you are working on a large area, and this can have an effect on the paint colour selection process. Also, remember that the paint is going to be subject to the elements, so the chosen paint should be appropriate for your environment.

Here are some other key considerations: 

  • Three colour rule: As a general rule, you shouldn’t use more than 3 colours on the exterior of a building – one for the walls, one for the trimming and one for accents. Any more than that will often result in a distracting or disjointed look.
  • Choose neutral colours: They are more likely to blend in well with the surrounding environment, and look classy and understated.
  • Respect the building’s architecture: The final colour choice for exteriors is highly dependent on the architecture of the building. The colours should suit the era of the building and match its characteristics.

Top 3 tips for selecting the perfect paint colour for your building

It can be hard to keep track of all the different tips out there for choosing paint colours, so here are our top 3, easy to remember tips for selecting paint colours:

  • Paint colours are going to look lighter on a larger area, such as an exterior wall, so look at going a shade darker than the colour sample swatch that you select.
  • Light, cool, and pale colours are the best way to make a room look bigger and brighter. These kinds of colour palettes are a good way to make small spaces seem larger.
  • Dark, deep, and warmer hues will make a space seem smaller or more cosy, which isn’t always a bad thing!

Don’t forget to consult with your team of professional painters before making the final colour selection. They will be able to provide ideas and inspiration to ensure that your committee find the right paint colour for their building, the first time around. If you require any commercial painting or building repairs works, contact Higgins Coatings.

Contributed by:
Higgins Painting