1 – Residential Color Consultations
This is the most obvious and typical service that a professional color consultant offers their clients. Most clients who contact you will be in search of this specific service, and will be looking to work with a professional who understands:
- Color theory;
- How to create a cohesive, balanced color palette that flows throughout their home;
- How to accentuate their unique style and decor.
While you technically don’t need any design training in order to provide this service, there are still certain abilities you must possess. For instance, great communication skills, the ability to visualize an overall color palette, and being able to realistic set expectations for your clients are all key to offering this color consultant service successfully.
2 – Interior Color Finishes
When consulting with a client on an interior paint color scheme for their home, there are many other color decisions that might also need to be made. As part of the color consulting process, clients will likely seek your professional assistance on these additional decisions, too.
Some of these additional decisions may include helping your client select new flooring, for example. By having clients narrow down their product options, you can then make your professional recommendations on what products/colors will work best with their overall color scheme.
Another important color decision is choosing cabinetry stain or paint colors. When clients are updating their kitchens, they’ll often need your help choosing colors for their new countertops and backsplash tiling. Offering professional color consulting on lighting and stain are also excellent services to include as well.
If you’re not interested in dealing with floor plans or other interior design-related matters, my advice is to stick to offering color consultation services on these finishes ONLY!
3 – Exterior Color Finishes
Exterior color consulting projects typically start with paint color selection. However, many other finishes may also need to be considered during an exterior paint project. For instance, clients may seek your expertise on choosing the right gutter color, front door color, or roof colors.
Deck stain is also a big decision that some clients have a difficult time making. Since it helps to bring together the overall look, it’s a pretty important factor for many people. So, don’t be surprised if your clients seek out your services for that, too.
All of these factor in to create the perfect color scheme. Clients may decide to update their exterior color scheme, only to find out later that other finishes (such as their roof or gutters) must also be updated. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to include additional color consultant services – so always remember to mention it!
4 – Commercial Color Consultations
Some color consultants offer commercial color consulting services, in addition to their residential color services. Other color consultants offer this exclusively. It’s up to you what you want to do for your own business!
Commercial clients may include:
- Realtors
- Property owners
- Property managers
- Business owners
- Builders
- Property investors
What they all have in common is that they need professional color consulting services for their income and investment properties. They’re typically seeking to work with a color consultant who understands how the right colors can increase business profits, property values, and curb appeal.
They also want to work with an expert who understands current color trends and can translate them into their project. Working with this type of client in the commercial world can be a nice niche if you enjoy these types of projects – and even if you don’t have any other design training.
5 – HOA Color Projects
Another excellent color service to offer exterior color schemes approved by the homeowner’s association (also known as ‘HOA’). As a color consultant, you’ll typically partner with a local homeowner’s association that’s looking to update their community. Often, they’ll aim to achieve this goal by creating the perfect color palette for their unique community. This color palette will offer a variety of cohesive schemes for their homeowners to choose from.
This service allows HOA’s to offer beautiful, on-trend color schemes that can easily be approved. This resource save lots of time and energy. It also decreases the likelihood of homeowners going rogue and painting their own, not-so-great schemes without approval.
HOA’s know that if they keep their homeowners happy, their jobs will be much easier. By choosing to invest into working with a professional color consultant, they can rest easier knowing they’re not left to make these big decisions by themselves.
Now, it’s worth pointing out that these projects do come with their own set of unique challenges. One common example would be that you’ll need to work with a large group of stakeholders and board members (who are not always easy to deal with), rather than a single individual.
This is why communication is key at all times. Likewise, you should always have an airtight contract. Make sure all commitments are in writing before beginning any HOA project. It’s also a smart idea to make perfectly clear which services you do and do NOT offer.
For instance, you can state:
- How many specific color schemes you will specify;
- The exact timeline of when schemes will be submitted;
- Any site visits during the project;
- Any adjustments to schemes once the HOA has reviewed schemes;
- And more!
These details will make or break any HOA project. They’ll also keep everyone on track, maintain clear expectations, and ensure a successful project!
Other examples of HOA projects to consider offering are updating HOA color scheme books, and mapping HOA communities to show where specific color schemes will go. Updating color books is an excellent additional service to offer when providing new schemes, as you can remove any outdated schemes prior to introducing new, updated ones.
6 – Virtual Color Consultation
Many color consultants prefer to have in-person face time with their clients. This is because some feel this is the most effective way to get a clear sense of:
- What they like;
- What they don’t like;
- Who they are as people;
- What their unique style is;
- And how they live in their space.
However, color consultant services can be offered just as effectively online, too! If you enjoy having more flexibility, and have prior onsite color consultation experience, you should definitely consider adding virtual color consulting to your list of business services!
Consulting with clients virtually offers them more flexibility in scheduling. E-design services can also save lots of time if they’re on a deadline, live elsewhere, or simply prefer this mode of working together during the pandemic.
Yes, it’s true that not every client will want to work virtually. Many still prefer to work together in-person, because they’ll feel more comfortable having you in their home or business. But even if a client doesn’t want to take advantage of your virtual color consultant services, you should still at least offer them! By letting your clients know you offer virtual services, you’re showing how adaptable you are and that you truly desire to work with them!
As you can see, there are many services you can offer as a color consultant that focus ONLY on color. For these areas, additional design training (or even core interior design training) is not necessary. If this is your niche and you want to focus more on color, rather than interior design, then go with it!
If adding any of these additional design services to your business is exciting to you, then my advice is to get the proper training. Professional training is necessary to offer these services with confidence. This way, you ensure that every project is a successful one – and your clients won’t hesitate to call you again in the future!
