5 Ways to Use Colour-Customised Art in Branded Environments

In today’s workplace design, branding is no longer just about logos and fonts - it’s about tone, mood, and emotion. And one of the most effective ways to reinforce brand identity is through the artwork you place in your environment.

More businesses are now turning to colour-customised art - works that align visually with their brand’s palette without being literal. It’s subtle, elevated branding that feels sophisticated rather than promotional.

Whether you're designing for a global tech firm or a boutique consultancy, here are five ways to incorporate colour-customised abstract art into your branded interiors - with real-world insights from New Zealand abstract photographer Chris Melville.

1. Echo Brand Colours Without Being Literal
Using colour doesn’t mean plastering a logo on the wall. In fact, one of the most refined ways to reflect a brand is through tonal echoes - soft greens, inky blues, warm neutrals, or metallic greys that speak the language of the brand without repeating it.

In one recent commission, Chris was asked to create a large-format abstract photograph in the tones of a multinational company’s brand. Rather than designing around logos, he worked with mood and atmosphere, producing a still, flowing piece in the company's navy and sand palette.

“I used natural light and layered textiles to create something that felt like their values - grounded, elegant, international.” - Chris Melville

2. Support Interior Colour Schemes
Artwork that draws from the existing interior design palette — whether furniture, flooring, or accent walls - instantly creates cohesion.

This works beautifully in:

• Reception areas
• Client lounges
• Boardrooms
• Hotel corridors
• Co-working offices

Chris’s work is particularly suited to this use. His abstract photography features soft, natural palettes that can be tuned to suit interior tones, from cool Scandinavian greys to warm terracottas.

3. Reinforce Brand Values Emotionally
Brand colours aren’t just visual - they’re emotional.

• Blues might represent trust, focus, calm
• Earth tones may evoke stability, warmth, groundedness
• Brights can signal innovation, creativity, energy

When those colours are integrated into large-scale abstract art, they become atmospheric tools. The artwork doesn’t just decorate the space - it reinforces the brand’s emotional tone every day.

4. Create a Signature Visual Identity Across Locations
For companies with multiple offices or franchises, consistent branded artwork is a powerful tool for alignment - especially when each piece is unique but shares a visual language.

Chris offers series-based commissions, where each artwork is tuned to reflect the same brand mood and palette, but with variations in form and movement. It’s like a visual signature carried across branches.
This is ideal for:

• Nationwide real estate firms
• Medical groups
• Law offices or accounting networks
• International brand HQs

5. Offer a Sophisticated Alternative to Stock Imagery
Stock skyline photos, inspirational quotes, or overly literal brand walls can make even the most elegant office feel generic. Colour-customised abstract art, on the other hand, is timeless, tasteful, and unique to the business.

Because Chris’s work is created using fabric, natural light, and slow shutter techniques, every piece has a handmade, contemplative quality. It’s art that feels personal yet professional.

And for businesses wanting something truly special, he offers:

• Bespoke commissions
• Colour guidance consultations
• Mockups for approval in your space

Final Thoughts: Branding Through Beauty
Incorporating custom-coloured artwork into your commercial interior doesn’t just enhance the visual appeal - it deepens the sense of identity and care.

For architects, designers, and business owners who want to create spaces that reflect both brand and humanity, custom abstract photographic art is a high-impact, low-noise solution.

Commission Your Own Colour-Tuned Art
​Chris Melville creates calming, large-scale photographic artworks for commercial and corporate spaces - and can work with your brand palette to design something unique to your project.

Get in touch