Color is such an important part of personalizing a home. But it’s also key in making your home a space that others can see themselves moving into. Today, we’re talking all about the power of paint and how it can make a huge impact in the home selling process for a very small investment.
I will never forget the first time I stepped into the master bedroom at our house on Lake Norman…while the rest of the house was pretty neutral, everything changed in that room. The ceiling was some kind of mustard plaster and the walls were a deep tomato red. Though we had a stunning view of the water, I felt like I’d stepped into a McDonald’s hamburger!
We want our homes to feel like us, so often times we tailor them to suit our own tastes. Things like cozy furniture, bright and textured rugs, wall art and the right light fixtures can really reflect a style and personality. And sometimes we even go a little risky and do accent walls, paint our children’s bedrooms pink and purple or add a little DIY wallpaper.
And while these are all AMAZING ways to customize spaces, when it comes to preparing your home for resale, these colorful wall colors can really date your property and start to box you in if done incorrectly. If you’ve never tried selling a home with bright ketchup or mustard walls, then you probably don’t even know the power a simple color change can make when trying to sell your home as quickly as possible.
The good news is that a coat of paint can really freshen up a space, giving it a more neutral look that will appeal to a broader market. Here are my top 4 tips for painting a home before putting it on the market:
- Start at the curb: Consider updating your front door. It’s a smaller project and might offer you a little more creativity if you’re feeling daunted by a full room at this point. It can also allow you to express your inner “wild child” with bolder color choices that pop from the curb. You have probably seen black, gray and white doors, but surprisingly a rich navy blue or vibrant red are also good colors that can really add some pizzazz to your home’s overall appeal. Just be sure to double check any HOA or architectural committee restrictions before making any changes. And don’t forget the windows! You can coordinate shutters, if that’s your style, just remember to keep those a little more modest, as they require more effort to change later. Pro tip: Doors can be funky and colorful or traditional and serene, but your shutters should remain neutral for maximum appeal. When in doubt, paint shutters black or white.
- Let it flow: When it comes to interior walls, the trend is to keep color flowing and to maximize space with a neutral color. There’s a reason we joke about “builder beige”. It allows us to create a blank canvas to help people envision themselves living in the home. While pops of color may be fine, overall you need consistent neutral color to balance the light throughout your home. You may want to think of it like flooring… it should be uniform throughout the home, to maximize the visual space. Transitions, such as color or texture changes,make a home feel smaller and choppier. That’s why the color you use in your common living areas such as hallways, kitchen, dining and the living room, should remain consistent—or at least in the same color family. Not sure what’s in the same color family? Find your color on the sample strip, then paint adjoining spaces one or two shades lighter or darker. Conversely, if you just HAVE to express a little flair, personalize your personal spaces, aka bedrooms, if in use. If secondary bedrooms aren’t often used, keep to neutrals for now. Smaller, tighter spaces like half bathrooms without natural light or offices may benefit from whiter, brighter paint that helps bounce light around and make the room appear wider and taller. Pro tip: When it doubt in a small space, paint everything the same color for continuity. Ceiling, walls, trim, cabinetry. Give it a once over in a light color and the space will feel larger.
- Color is key: The biggest trends right now are any and all whites, soft grays, and taupe or “griege” (a combination of gray and beige). These might not seem like exciting choices, but they are all incredibly popular because they are versatile and suit a variety of home styles from modern to traditional. My go-to color choices are: SW Accessible Beige for homes with warm tones or SW Agreeable Gray for cool or neutral toned homes. Not sure how what tone your home is? It’s similar to the tones in jewelry—silver has a very “cool” tone to it (think of the moon or snow), while gold is “warm” like the golden yellow sun or dandelions. Fun fact, platinum works for either so it’s a true neutral! Pro tip: If you aren’t sure what tone your home has, take a look at your hardware—brass or copper is definitely warm. Brushed nickel or chrome is cool. And oil rubbed or black can go either way, as it’s a true neutral.
- Sheen matters: Usually when you go to your favorite local home improvement store, you’re able to select a finish or “sheen” of paint which determines how shiny or matte the finish will be and durability. They range from flat (matte), eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss (slick like nail polish!) Not sure what you need? Don’t panic! Keep in mind the location and functionality of the room that you’re painting. The higher the gloss—the more durable the finish. Most interior walls will either be flat or eggshell. Most trims use the spectrum of satin-gloss. Since kitchens, bathrooms and hallways are such a busy part of a home, and often need cleaning, you may want to go with eggshell. Trim or cabinetry should always be a higher reflective quality. In the past, most painters would recommend a semi-gloss, but that can look outdated. These days, I recommend a satin finish for interior woodwork, semi-gloss or gloss for a front door or exterior trim. Pro tip: a flat finish paint will hide the most “sins” of damaged walls, but it’s not very durable or scrubbable. Save it for rooms that don’t get a lot of use or low wear and tear, and definitely use it for any ceilings!
I’ve seen it happen before. A beautiful home goes on the market, but the bright paint colors turn off prospective buyers. Having an experienced Realtor is key because we will make recommendations on how to update your home’s colors for a more natural look, without making a huge investment in money or time.
Color selection can be tricky. My background makes me uniquely qualified to help you understand color theory—because not all grays are created equal! If you’re considering a little home refresh, contact me. We can meet in person or virtually to determine what’s the best choice to maximize your effort without minimizing style or home appeal.
