Special offer

New Hampshire Home Stager Tip #7 Transform With Paint

By
Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

paint cans

The biggest bang for your buck, by far, is using paint to improve your home's appearance.  Paint will make a room cleaner, fresher, brighter, and more stylish. 

It gives buyers the impression that the house has been well maintained and cared for.  It makes your home more competitive with new construction. 

Paint can be used to help minimize negative features and to help showcase positive features.  It can be used to create a flow throughout the house and to create a lasting positive impression.

Many people have trouble choosing paint colors or are afraid of making the wrong choice.  Many times sellers choose colors that they personally like, without taking into consideration the need to be appealing to all potential buyers.

It is very important that the colors you choose are neutral, but not bland. 

Most professional home stagers offer Color Consultations as one of their services, and it is a smart idea to seek the advice of a professional before purchasing your paint.

 

If you currently have your house on the market or are planning on selling your house in the near future, then this seven-part series was written for you.

 Previous Tips:

Tip #1  Update Lighting Fixtures 

Tip #2  Identify Red Flags

Tip #3  Pre-Pack Your Stuff 

Tip #4  Define Space & Function

Tip #5  Maintenance Means Money

Tip #6  Don't Underestimate The Bathroom

 

Tip #7  Transform With Paint

In addition to the traditional use for paint, improving the general appearance of a room, I would like to share some other ways paint can be used to help make your home more appealing to buyers.

 

Prior to staging, this library lacked impact.  The built-in bookcases and fireplace were great features, but they were not being showcased.  Painting the walls with a rich, warm color made these features POP.

library

 

The opposite of the previous example...this den was dark and needed to be lightened.  A brighter room was achieved by painting the dark woodwork a lighter color.  Painting the shelves and the wall behind them the same color created a more custom "built-in" look.       

denden

 

This laundry room is one of my favorite transformations and is featured on my website.  This was valuable real estate space that was not being properly marketed.  By painting the cabinets white like the appliances, a cleaner and more pleasant room to do household chores was created.

laundry roomlaundry room

stairs

 

 

 

Walls and cabinets aren't the only places to use paint...

these worn steps were given new life by painting them a rich black.

 

 

  

 

 

dresserOther cost effective ways to use paint to prepare your house for sale: 

Paint old furniture to give it new life.

Update brass light fixtures and brass fireplace screens with black or bronze spray paint.

Improve the appearance of mirrors.

Update artwork by painting the frame.

Use spray paint to revive patio furniture and flower pots.

 

This concludes my seven-part series on The Secrets of Selling.  I hope you have found it useful and informative.  

 

Consulting with a professional home stager before you list your home

 is the most important "secret to selling" there is! 

Comments (24)

Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Judy:  Thank you! I hope the series is useful in helping to get sellers to understand the importance of really putting some effort into their preparation.

Gary:  I agree with the recommendation of new carpet and paint.  Good advice!  Thanks for commenting.

Lee & Carol:  I appreciate the comment, thanks! 

Janna:  So, tell me how you really feel about the black stairs...thanks for the great, great, great comment!

Aug 25, 2009 12:50 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Sharon- great pictures to illustrate the use of paint to highlight a home's features.  I especailly like the paint used in the laundry room.  The blue contrasting with the white appliances gives the room a crisp clean look! Great series.

Aug 25, 2009 01:08 PM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

My favorite blogger-I am loving this series. Great photos...those stairs look so fantastic!

Aug 25, 2009 04:21 PM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

I know, I have a customer that has a beautiful home, but it is chocked full of oak.  It's so outdated, but she is head strong to paint it, she doesn't understand whay everyone won't love it!

Aug 25, 2009 04:48 PM
Leslie Helm
Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN
Real Estate For Trail Riders

 Hi, Sharon.

I had a listing with a kitchen painted sort of a dark mint green (gah).There are NO home stagers here but a friend of the out-of-state seller offered to paint it for her and she chose a color called "Maple Sugar" which was both warm and neutral. It was amazing what a difference it made and the home is sold now.

I really enjoyed your series! Your pictures say it all; they're terrific!

 

 

Aug 26, 2009 12:55 AM
Ana Hitzel
AccentPositives Home Staging - Corona, CA
Professional Home Stager Inland Empire

Such a big difference and so relatively easy to do!  The laundry isn't a scary place to hang out anymore.  I love all the pictures and great information.  Thanks!

Aug 26, 2009 01:52 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Kathy:  The blue walls were existing, I just suggested the cabinets be painted white.  That blue really came alive when the white was added.

Cathy:  That is so nice to hear!  Thank you so much!

Cindy:  Sometimes you just can't convince people that you are there to help them.  Too bad!

Leslie:  Now what is not to love about anything called "maple sugar."  Sounds yummy!  Thanks for the comments throughout the series, I'm so glad you liked it.

Ana:  Thanks, I am really trying to get that point across...it is relatively easy and doesn't have to be expensive to improve the appearance of your house for sale.  I appreciate your comment!

Aug 26, 2009 10:30 AM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

Oh how right you are Sharon, paint the biggest bang for the buck in the staging arena! Wow what a nice transformation concerning the room w/ the washer & dryer! It changed the entire look and made it more cohesive.

Aug 26, 2009 11:44 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Cynthia:  Thanks, I really enjoyed working in that room and I loved the final outcome.

 

Aug 26, 2009 12:55 PM
Jeannene Edwards
Home Staging by Interiors Defined, Inc. - Orlando, FL

Great post Cynthia!  Paint is by far the most economical and effective way to transform, accent and update the look of a home both inside and out!

Aug 29, 2009 06:27 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Jeannene:  So many sellers don't realize this. We have to keep educating them.  Thanks for the comment!

Aug 30, 2009 11:01 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Sharon-I just used this for a re-blog.  Very well written and as you said one of the easier, cheaper ways to prepare a home for sale.  Especially if they don't have alot of other options for one reason or another.  Great job!

  

Aug 30, 2009 01:07 PM
Debby Dutilh
Art and Soul Home Staging - Los Angeles International Ai, CA

These are all such great tips Sharon! I love your series.

Aug 30, 2009 07:17 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Debra:  I appreciate the reblog.  Thanks!

Debby:  Thank you!  I'm glad you find the series interesting.

Aug 31, 2009 12:16 AM
Erik Hitzelberger
RE/MAX Alliance - Louisville REALTOR-Luxury Homes - Louisville, KY
Louisville - Middletown Real Estate

Shanon - I just found this series and will be bookmarking it.  You photos really emphasize your point that a little paint can go a long way.  I recently purchased a home that really looked rough.  We only let a few close friends see the inside before we started remodeling.  We still have a long way to go, but the painting is done and each of our friends is stunned when they come in.  They think we did so much more. 

Sep 06, 2009 03:53 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Erik:  That is the wonder of paint!  I wish you the best with your remodel!

Sep 07, 2009 11:23 AM
Gary Coles (International Referrals)
Venture Realty International - Las Vegas, NV
Latin America Real Estate

Sharon, What a wonderful series.  You have given us some great information in a perfect format.  Each post concentrates on one idea and they all tie together.  I especially like your before and after photos. Great explanations, too.

Sep 17, 2009 01:56 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Gary:  Thank you very much, I appreciate it.  I hope the series is useful to you and your clients.

Sep 18, 2009 12:36 AM
Rita Minion
O'Brien Realty - Solomons, MD

Hello Sharon,

What a great post!  Love your before and after photos!  What a difference a little paint can make!  Thank you for sharing!  Terrific blog!  You did a fabulous job!

Rita

 

Nov 03, 2009 02:23 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Rita:  I love your enthusiasm!  Thanks so much for the support!

Nov 04, 2009 06:40 AM