Deciding on the right paint color for your multi-family or apartment building has a positive impact on the property.  Choosing the right color can:

• Increase curb appeal and interest from prospects;
• Keep current residents at lease renewal time;
• Drive prospective tenants to your leasing office, filling vacancies quicker;
• Increase property value and ultimately the return on investment (ROI);
• Make your property stand out amongst competitors.

With a myriad of color choices available, trying to find the right choice can be a challenge. A recent poll on Houzz showed that more than 30% of property owners decided not to paint their building because they felt overwhelmed by the color choices.  Surely there is a more straightforward approach!

Multi-family exterior painting doesn’t need to be difficult.  Let’s take a more in-depth look.

Define Your “Colour Goals”

I recommend that you take out a piece of paper and write down your top 3 goals in painting your multi-family building. You’ll learn a lot from this brief exercise.  Your primary goals might include:

• Increase my property value
• Stay updated with current color trends
• Better match my property’s external features (roof, parking lot, landscape, etc…)
• Attract new demographics
• Stand out amongst my competitors

Each of these goals is an excellent jumping-off point in your color exploration.

Building Type

You’ll want to make sure you stay consistent with your property type. If you have a traditional low-rise apartment building, you can go for a more urban palette. If you own a modern high-rise, it may require a more sophisticated palette. You make take cues from other buildings in your area.

Your building’s architecture is also a significant element to consider. Start with your existing roof color and building trim and try to build a palette around it. Often this is a great way to save time and money.

Consider the Surface that Will be Painted

Is the building’s surfaces wood? Brick? Masonite? Vinyl? Aluminum? This should be one of the first things you consider. You will need to choose the proper color to enhance that surface and avoid deterioration of the paint over time.

Remember, the same paint color will not look the same on different surfaces.

Consider External Elements

–  Factor in things like landscaping when choosing the right color palette. You want to make sure that the colors compliment your landscape rather than clash. Your goal should be to create a harmonious appearance.

–  If you have bright-colored flowers, you may want to go for a more neutral exterior paint scheme. This will give your landscape added pop and draw attention to your building.

–  If your landscape is more neutral, you could have the opportunity to get bolder with your exterior paint palette.

–  The roof, parking areas, and all other areas not painted should be considered. Your goal is to create harmony amongst the areas.

–  If you have a building exterior that is partial stone, try to find a color that will enhance this feature.

–  For brick exteriors, I recommend either painting the brick (depending on its condition) or choosing a scheme that will complement the existing brick color.

Consider Your Neighbourhood and Demographic

–  Are you in a historic area that is predominantly brick? Or maybe in a trendier urban area with concrete? You want to make sure you pick colors that will complement your surrounding buildings.

–  If your goal is to stand out in the neighborhood, be sure to consider your intentions. A tasteful color pop can prove attractive, but remember if it’s too out of context, your building might be noticed for the wrong reasons. Consider the residents of the building. It’s essential to choose a color that an average resident would find aesthetically pleasing.

–  Identify who your target resident would be. This can be a great starter for where you should take your color search. A more neutral and sophisticated color palette would be ideal for an upscale building oriented towards an older or more affluent resident, while a bright palette may be suitable for millennials.

Now that you’ve considered several factors, it’s time to look at the color.

Contact Us For Colour Expertise

Did you know King Painting offers color consulting services? As San Diego’s premier painting company with over 25 years of industry experience, our team of professionals will guide you through every step of the way. We have extensive experience in both commercial and residential painting projects and will help you find the perfect color for your property.

Included in every paint job is a free one-hour color consultation. 

Give us a call today and let us show you why we’re a “cut above the rest”.

If you have any other tips or thoughts on choosing the right color, or multi-family exterior painting in general, please leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you.

Our painting contractor blog is designed to give you the latest and best painting tips. Don’t hesitate to suggest any future topics!

© Copyright 2021 King Painting Specialists Pty Ltd.