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Whether it’s for functionality or aesthetics, active commercial property owners are constantly keeping up with commercial design trends so that they can make their workspace better suited for their organization's needs.

We’re more than halfway through 2019, and the commercial design trends for this year have started to take shape. To point out some of these commonly followed commercial design trends, Cochran & Mann has compiled the following mid-year report:

Durability

Designing a commercial space can be a time-consuming task, so commercial property owners will want to make sure they’re doing so in a way that will create longevity for their building and prevent them from having to go through the design process again any time soon. With this goal in mind, commercial property managers are emphasizing durability in their building designs this year. Ways to improve the durability of your commercial design include:

• Fireproofing: Cochran & Mann offers intumescent fireproofing as one of its many services. Intumescent paint is used in commercial buildings as a passive fire resistance measure. This is one of the more aesthetically pleasing fireproofing products on the market. 

• Floor Coating: Floor coatings like the ones offered by Cochran & Mann are tough, protective layers that are applied to surfaces that receive heavy traffic and therefore wear and corrosion. Warehouses, chemical plants, and manufacturing floors commonly use this commercial design trend. 

• Waterproofing: Water-repellant epoxy and urethane coatings like those offered by Cochran & Mann, as well as our elastomeric and acrylic waterproofing systems provide the type of commercial waterproofing that has become a popular design trend. 

• Duroplex: Duroplex finishes like those offered by Cochran & Mann are designed to improve abrasion and impact resistance of interior walls within commercial buildings. This has become a key element of commercial design for property owners that are keeping durability in mind.

Psychology

Most commercial property owners design their buildings with particular demographics in mind. However, a growing trend in modern commercial design is taking into consideration psychographics as opposed to demographics in order to better align with the values, attitudes, interests, and lifestyles of the building’s users. Using color psychology and certain types of imagery can give your building much better vibes and a more inviting atmosphere. Ways to incorporate psychology into your commercial design include:

• Paint Colors: Last year, minimalism and muted colors were popular paint choices for commercial design. But 2019 is starting to see a shift back toward vibrant, colorful walls. A perfect example of this is Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year: “Living Coral.”  

“Color is an equalizing lens through which we experience our natural and digital realities and this is particularly true for Living Coral,” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute told Forbes.

In the same vein as “Living Coral,” vibrant colors such as pink and lime-green have proven to be popular paint color choices for commercial design so far in 2019 according to Shutterstock’s most recent color trends report.

• Murals/Foils: Part of Cochran & Mann’s wallcovering services includes creating murals and foils for commercial building walls. Implementing meaningful and purposeful murals into your commercial design can be a great way to add to the aesthetic value of your space and further tap into the psyche of those who occupy the building.

Community

Creating a sense of community within their commercial property is a common goal many commercial building owners have in 2019. Fostering an atmosphere where people can feel comfortable and encouraging them to collaborate with others within the building through commercial design is a growing trend that shows no signs of slowing down. Some ways that Cochran & Mann can help you create a sense of community with your commercial design include:

• Tac-Wall: A Tac-Wall is a type of cork wall that Cochran & Mann specializes in installing. This type of wallcovering is functional and decorative. It’s exceptionally resilient and facilitates community interaction by allowing different communications and announcements to be hung on the wall for all to see. 

• Walltalker Systems: A Walltalker system is another form of wallcovering that Cochran & Mann can install that allows for collaboration within commercial settings. These writable, projectable, magnetic surfaces are great for team meetings, brainstorming, project workflows, inspiring messages, and more.

Brand Identity

A concept that is becoming more prevalent in commercial design is adding design elements that further represent your brand identity. Businesses that occupy commercial buildings can benefit greatly by taking advantage of the easy opportunities they have to share their brand experience within their building’s design. The way your commercial property is decorated and laid out can say a lot about your business and brand. That’s why more and more commercial property owners are factoring in brand identity when it comes to commercial design projects. Consider the following Cochran & Mann services when incorporating more brand identity into your commercial design.

• Graphics & Signage: Implementing your business’ signage and graphics into your commercial design is a good way to create more brand recognition. Look for unique ways to incorporate a logo or slogan, and hang branded signs where necessary.
• Custom Color Matching: Having colors that are off-brand throughout your building can be off-putting. Cochran & Mann offers custom color matching so that the coloring of your brand can be uniform across the board.

As we move through the rest of the year, other commercial design trends are sure to arise and the aforementioned trends will likely continue. To keep up with the latest commercial design trends and commercial painting tips, subscribe to our blog at the link below.