What the heck are college kids studying these days? It seems you can get a degree in just about anything—puppetry, surf science, even citrus. But we’re not here to judge; we’re here to paint. And when finals come around, we want to ensure that students living in off-campus housing units are surrounded by calm and inspiring colors.
How can you apply the inclusivity of on-campus housing to your off-campus property? Easily, that’s how! Stick with the trends and let the pros handle all your painting needs.
Here’s how you can harness color science to spruce up your student housing spaces.
Color It Up! Harnessing Color Psychology and Texture for Inclusive Living Spaces
Have you ever walked into a room and thought, “Wow, it feels like a doctor’s office in here. Bleh!”
That’s likely because it was painted like a doctor’s office—drab, gray, and extremely boring. You don’t want students to say the same thing about your off-campus housing units, right?
You need to create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere to attract more college-age renters. Think about it: it’s their home away from home. So, the space should be inspiring, accessible—and perhaps give the illusion that it’s bigger than it actually is.
Are you majoring in magic? Because here’s lesson number one: You can use color psychology to enlarge a space without moving an inch of wall. It’s true!
If you want to make a space like a shared living room look bigger, leverage bright colors on the walls and ceiling. They’ll reflect natural light and enlarge the space. Consider using a high sheen to brighten things up (but not so high that it looks like a bathroom).
If you want the opposite effect—let’s say, for a private study room—lean on strong colors that’ll absorb most of the light. This may help students focus on their work instead of getting distracted in a room that feels too big. Matte finishes are perfect for those cozy-quarters vibes.
Texturing plays a major role, too. Texture creates both depth and interest in a space. Elements such as exposed brick, textured paint, and wood panels will elevate your off-campus housing units.
Paint Me Impressed With Enhanced Accessibility Through Strategic Color Theory
Color has an extraordinary power over us. It’s why most people say they focus on color before buying something. When it comes to off-campus housing, you want your color schemes to attract the highest bidders… or at least, the parents of the highest bidder.
This is why color accessibility is critical, especially in a world where 2.2 billion people are affected by some kind of visual impairment. If you don’t design with the visually impaired in mind, you risk alienating a large market sector.
First, let’s define “accessible colors.” Accessible colors are those with enough contrast that they’re easily distinguishable by someone with a visual impairment or color vision deficiency.
For example, red, blue, and yellow (aka, the primary colors) are accessible. A colorblind person is still able to distinguish the different hues. While this mainly applies to reading text and conveying information, it has a crucial place in interior design.
Consider how you’ll use color to highlight signage around an off-campus housing building. Visually impaired tenants must be able to understand the information you’re conveying. If a fire breaks out, there should be no mistaking where the exit is.
Embrace the Dark Side of the Hue and Optimize Room Perception With Dark Colors
Before, we discussed using dark colors to make a room feel smaller and cozier. To say “dark colors shrink a room” wouldn’t be totally true. But it wouldn’t be wrong, either. It’s all about perception.
Magic lesson number two: dark objects feel closer, and bright objects feel further away. In reality, they’re the same distance from you. So, if you paint the walls with a dark hue, they’ll feel closer, even though they’re not. Unless you’re living in some kind of circus house—and in that case, can we come over? It sounds awesome.
Furniture plays a significant role, too. Consider buying light-colored furniture for your off-campus housing units if you’re thinking about darker, moody tones. Too many dark hues could make the room feel cluttered and claustrophobic. You may also consider mirrors to bounce natural light around the space (just not fun house mirrors—let’s not get carried away).
Of course, maybe you’re not looking for something smaller. Maybe you want something shorter, longer, taller, or wider. It all depends on where you put the dark hues.
For example, if you want a room to feel taller, paint the walls darker than the ceiling. If you want the space to feel wider, paint the rear walls darker than the side walls and ceiling.
Think of it this way: which walls do you want to push away from you? Paint those walls with light colors, then use dark colors on the walls you want to bring toward you.
Kindness Without Borders: Worldwide Feel-Good Gems We Had to Share
Here’s something to brighten your day. You may have seen Kevin Ford go viral after retiring from Burger King. In 27 years, he never missed a day of work. And what did he get for his dedication? A bag of candy and some pens. The internet appreciated Ford’s gratitude, even though the “severance package” was more like a slap in the face.
His daughter began a GoFundMe in his honor. As of early 2024, it had raised more than $450,000! Kevin used the money to buy a modest home in western Nevada.
In an emotional Instagram post, Kevin said, “I’m trying to get through without crying, but I wanted to show you something…something you made possible.” Kevin then turns the camera to the home he just closed on. Humbly, he says, “I know it’s not a mansion, but it’s mine.”
We’re not crying, you’re crying! Just kidding, we’re definitely crying.
Stimulate Bright Minds With Accessible Designs in Your Off-Campus Housing Units
Okay brainiac, pop quiz: Why did the sun skip college? It already has a million degrees!
Color theory, color schemes, color accessibility, oh my! We know it’s a lot to think about, when managing off-campus housing units is already hard enough. That’s why the pros at Procoat Painting are here to help.
When you’re ready to wow your tenants, head to our website and scroll down until you see the big numbers at the bottom. Give us a call, and we’ll get those off-campus units ready for next semester’s brightest stars.
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