Behind the Scenes: Choosing Colours for Your Commercial Space

Many of our clients look forward to choosing colours—it’s one of the most exciting parts of a design project! Colour sets the tone, defines your brand, and gives personality to your space. But while it might seem like a simple decision, there’s a lot more happening behind the scenes than meets the eye.

The Starting Point: Your Brand and Atmosphere

The first thing we ask is, What kind of feeling do you want your space to evoke?

• Is it a sleek, upscale legal office where calm confidence matters?

• A grounded, earthy yoga studio where relaxation is key?

• A warm and inviting pub that encourages people to stay and unwind?

Your business identity and the experience you want to create set the foundation for every colour decision that follows.

Your Preferences: Likes, Dislikes, and Lifestyle

Next, we talk about your preferences. Are there colours you love—or absolutely can’t stand? Are you drawn to bold contrasts or soft, tonal palettes? Do you want patterns? Or would you prefer clean, solid tones?

This stage helps us narrow down our initial palette options. Most often, we present three well-curated choices based on your answers. Sometimes clients ask to see more, but keep in mind: behind those three suggestions are dozens (or hundreds!) of filtered options that didn’t make the cut—because they didn't meet the functional, aesthetic, or brand requirements of your project.

Real Example: Scandinavian Simplicity, Complex Coordination

I recently worked with a client seeking a clean, Scandinavian aesthetic for their commercial space—think soft woods, airy whites, and muted neutrals. This look may feel minimalist, but executing it well is anything but simple.

It took me over five hours to develop and coordinate just two major cohesive palettes that captured the Scandinavian feel without compromising function. The third option was a mix-and-match scheme—allowing flexibility with finishes while still staying true to the look.

The most challenging part? Finding a flooring material light enough to complement the Scandinavian palette, but not so pale that it would show every speck of dirt in a commercial setting. It had to be clean and bright, but also durable and practical.

For added flexibility, I provided a third option for certain materials like:

• A carpet tile with just the right texture and tone

• A seating fabric that balanced Scandinavian restraint with real-world durability

• Laminate finishes that mimicked softwood grain without clashing with the flooring

That’s the kind of coordination clients often don’t see—but it’s a big part of how we get to a final product that feels effortless.

It’s Not Just About Paint

When we talk about colour, we’re not just talking about paint chips. Every element in your space plays a part:

• Furniture: Are you reusing your existing pieces or purchasing new ones? Their upholstery, wood tones, or metal finishes need to harmonize with your new palette.

• Manufacturer Options: We also need to consider what’s available from the manufacturers we’re sourcing from. Not all “greys” are created equal—each brand has its own versions of “oak,” “walnut,” or “concrete.”

• Surface Materials: Laminate choices, fabric vendors, wood finishes, and solid surfaces all have different ranges of colours and patterns—and not every option plays well with others.

Flooring: Function First, Then Style

Once we’ve dialed in the overall mood and colour direction, we move on to flooring. This is a key part of the palette—and it must meet practical needs first.

Are you using carpet in quiet zones and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) in high-traffic or wet areas like kitchens or bathrooms? If so, we aim to choose materials from the same manufacturer to ensure colour and pattern coordination across surface types.

Here are some of the most reliable commercial flooring manufacturers that offer both carpet and LVT options:

• Shaw Industries
  Brands: Shaw Contract, Patcraft, Philadelphia Commercial
  Offers broadloom carpet, carpet tile, and LVT.

• Mohawk Industries
  Brands: Mohawk Group, Aladdin Commercial, Durkan
  Known for broadloom and tile carpet, as well as LVT.

• Interface
  Specialists in modular carpet tile and a full LVT offering.

• Tarkett
  Brands: Tandus Centiva, Tarkett Commercial
  Offers both soft and hard surface flooring.
  Tarkett has over 70 distinct carpet tile collections, plus a full range of commercial broadloom options—making it a versatile choice for almost any commercial environment.

• Mannington Commercial
  Offers carpet, LVT, sheet vinyl, and rubber.

• J+J Flooring (Engineered Floors)
  Broadloom, carpet tile, and LVT.

• Milliken
  Known for modular carpet, broadloom, and LVT.

• Karndean Designflooring
  Primarily LVT, but partners for carpet in some markets.

• Armstrong Flooring
  Specializes in LVT and resilient floors, with some legacy carpet offerings.

• Gerflor
  Offers LVT and some textile flooring, primarily for commercial spaces.

The Practical Realities

Of course, we’re not just picking what looks good—we’re also managing what works for your project. Behind every sample we present, we’ve already considered:

• Your Budget: Can we get the look you want within your price range?

• Lead Times: Some products take 6–12 weeks. We prioritize what's available when needed.

• Minimum Order Quantities: Some materials require large purchases, even if you only need a little.

• Fire Ratings & Code Compliance: Everything must meet safety and commercial standards.

• Installation Requirements: Will the flooring or furniture require special handling or preparation?

These aren’t small details—they directly affect your schedule, your costs, and your overall results.

Tying It All Together

After flooring, we coordinate lighting, wall coverings, millwork finishes, and more. Every decision is interconnected. A colour that looks perfect in one lighting condition might not work in another. And a pattern that looks great on a carpet tile might clash with a textured wallcovering.

This is why you hire a designer: to translate your brand and personality into a cohesive, functional space—without having to sort through 400 beige samples.

Final Thoughts

Colour selection is creative, yes—but it’s also strategic. Every choice impacts another, and every material has its limitations. Our job is to guide you through this process, streamline your options, and deliver a palette that feels uniquely “you”—and looks great doing it.

Have questions about your commercial design project or need help getting started with a colour scheme? Reach out today—we’d love to talk.