Color plays a vital role in any interior design, but did you know that its importance is heightened when used in a retail store?

According to research, 85 percent of shoppers admit that color serves as a primary factor in their purchasing decisions. Moreover, 93 percent say they put appearance and hue above other considerations when deciding to buy something.

The Psychology of Color explains that these numbers reflect how our brains are hard-wired to react specifically to certain colors. When exposed to a new environment, the human brain registers color first, followed by words and shapes.

As a business owner, you can use this to your advantage with industrial paint. Want to choose a color scheme that will instantly elevate your retail store? The following tips could help you do just that:

1. Keep it branded.

The first colors you need to consider when repainting your store are those used in your visual branding. Look at your logo and pick out its primary colors.

Many big companies use this tactic to ensure that people remember their products and business whenever they visit retail stores.

Keep your store’s paint color scheme aligned with your brand. This will help consumers associate your physical stores with your business and their experience with your brand.

2. Apply the Psychology of Color.

If you hadn’t read about the Psychology of Color when deciding on a color palette for your brand, now is the time to do so.

Learning what every hue means, the emotions it triggers in the people who see it, and how to apply it could potentially help make your store more appealing and, ultimately, increase sales.

Below are some of the best color choices to consider for a retail store:

Yellow

Considered the color of optimism and positivity, yellow offers a warm and cheery vibe to any room. It is also believed to help people focus (which explains why legal pads are yellow).

More than that, yellow is the first color people notice, even if they’re not directly looking at it.

But while you’ll want to incorporate the color to attract attention, it would be best to use it for accents only. Also, stick to shades of yellow that are eye-catching enough but not overly strong to the point that they could overwhelm your products, cause eye fatigue, or incite agitation.

Blue

Blue is a calming and cool color to use when you want customers to feel trusting and secure. This explains why this hue often appears in department stores and banks.

Certain blue tones are also great at attracting attention without overshadowing the products you want to highlight, making them a great choice for painting store walls.

Orange

Orange is a happy color. It exudes enthusiasm and energy, which often has a positive effect on people who see it.

Like yellow, the warmth of orange also makes customers feel welcome and reassured that they’re in the right place to shop.

More importantly, orange triggers a sense of urgency, making people feel the need to act on a limited offer.

Pink

Most people perceive pink as a highly feminine color, which explains why female customers are drawn to it. This makes pink an excellent choice for products like women’s perfume, makeup, and lingerie.

But if you want to cater to male customers as well, you need to dial down the use of this color as some men may hesitate to set foot inside a very pink store because of the notions about the hue.

Red

Ever wondered why mall sales and limited promotions always have red in them?

Red is an exciting color that increases heart rate and testosterone levels, making it effective in triggering intense feelings of urgency – even more than orange.

In an outlet store, red can also create a sense of scarcity, making people want to buy more.

Just remember not to overuse this color, as too much of it can also create anxiety and lead to overstimulation.

3. Make sure the paint doesn’t overpower your products.

When deciding on a paint color scheme, always remember the most important part of your store: the products

This means you should make sure that the color of your walls doesn’t overpower the items you want people to buy. As much as possible, use subtle shades as your primary paint color to let the products on the aisles do the talking.

Use the Psychology of Color as a guide, but don’t forget to look at the bigger picture when applying decorative paint. Aside from triggering the right emotions, always consider the amount of a certain color used in the interior design and its effects on your bottom line.

Take orange, for example. Even if it works well for your brand, target audience, and interior design goal, it should only comprise 20 percent of your wall color to not distract store visitors from the products on display.

4. Understand your target audience and niche.

Refer to demographic data to determine who comprises your clientele. Knowing your target audience allows you to pinpoint the most appropriate color scheme for your store, especially if you’re aiming to become an international brand.

For example, if you’re targeting young adults and teens, choose colors that will give your store an energetic and fun atmosphere. This can be achieved with warm tints like orange and yellow, but remember to add something that creates a good contrast with them.

On the other hand, older adults who are busy and focused on their work respond better to an efficient and relaxing environment. This means you should stick to less dramatic contrasts and cooler colors if you want them to buy from your store.

Don’t forget to factor in your niche.

If you’re selling lingerie, for instance, make sure the color scheme gives off the appropriate sensual vibe. This can be a combination of gold, cream, black, red, and deep pink; steer clear of airy colors like yellow, blue, and green.

Send the Right Message

Colors affect more than just room aesthetics. A carefully selected color scheme in a retail store also helps bring in more sales and enhances consumer loyalty if it sends the right message to those who see it.

Choose the right color and quality of commercial paint here at Equipaint.

We have a vast collection of decorative paint perfect for both indoor and outdoor applications.