Prepping a house for sale often includes a new coat of paint. Beyond a simple refresh, choosing the right color paint can help sell a home faster and for more money. There’s an art and science to color palettes. Let’s demystify color choice whether you’re selling or settling into your home.
SETTING THE STAGE
Before you grab that paintbrush or hire a painter, the first thing you need to do is declutter. Even a beautifully painted room can’t compensate for too much stuff crammed into a space. Designers call this “editing.” Organizers call it “clutter control.” Regardless, pare down your space so it’s pleasing and functional. Now you’ve set the backdrop for choosing the right color.
SINGING THE BLUES
Zillow analyzed more than 32,000 photos from sold homes across the U.S. to find the paint colors that maximized homeowners’ return. In general, blue was the big winner. Homes with rooms painted in shades of light blue or pale blue-grey sold for nearly $5,500 more.
KITCHENS
Kitchens are a major focal point in a home. It’s the hub where families gather and where we entertain guests. A kitchen’s color palette can have a significant impact on a home’s value.
Blue kitchens — where the palette ranged from pale blue to soft-grey hues — sold for $1,800 more. If you’re a fan of yellow — like straw gold to marigold — prepare yourself for a loss, $800 less on average. But don’t despair, yellow was more popular last year; it will most likely find favor again.
BATHS
It seems that our love of powder blue carries into the powder room. Buyers paid nearly $5,500 more for houses with light blue bathrooms. Popular choices range from pale blue to periwinkle.
BEDROOMS
Bold blues– like cerulean to cadet — in bedrooms are en vogue. Saturated colors pop, especially with coordinated decor and bed linens.
DINING ROOMS
Slates and light grey-blue command $1,900 more on average than homes with white dining room wall colors. Homes with dining rooms decked out in dark walls of deep red and terracotta sold for $2,000 less.
MAKING AN ENTRANCE
Greige — the mix of grey and beige — for a home’s exterior is an excellent all-around choice. Houses painted in this grey/beige palette sold for $1,500 more. It seems that taupes and medium browns didn’t wow buyers; sellers earned nearly $2,000 less on average.
Spiffing up your front door is a must. It’s the first thing potential buyers and guests see when entering your home. Regardless of which color you choose, make sure the paint is durable and washable.
There are many philosophies about color on entrance doors. From a trend perspective, navy blue and charcoal greys are currently “in,” garnering $1,500 more on average. If you follow feng shui, color choice is based upon the door’s direction and corresponding element. For example, south-facing doors contain the fire element that’s represented best by red.
AZURE LIKE IT
With so many choices on the color wheel, many homeowners are overwhelmed. Do you choose what you love or what potential buyers may want? That’s why I highly recommend working with a design consultant. Madeleine Randal is my go-to designer as she expertly navigates current trends, classic looks, and everything in between.
“Paint colors are so personal — if my clients are planning on staying in their house for a while and aren’t worried about what buyers will think, I urge them to surround themselves with colors that bring them pleasure, even if they don’t appeal to everyone. If the clients aren’t planning on staying long or don’t have strong color preferences, I recommend staying in the range of popular neutrals, which create a flexible backdrop for clients’ furniture and accessories and will appeal to buyers in the future.”
Interested in a color or design consultation? You can reach Madeleine at madeleine.randal@gmail.com. If you’re getting ready to sell, consider home staging and these preparation tips.
Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, I can help. I’ve helped hundreds of Bay Area individuals find the right place to call home
Photo credit: Primary Colours, Blue Door