Special offer

Bright bold colored kids room - should not be neutralized?

By
Home Stager with Birgit Anich Staging & Interiors, 203.807.4040

I just had a consultation for a 5 bedroom house in an expensive, more traditional area. The real estate agent had brought me in after she received a referral from a colleague. I met her the very first time right at her client's house. When we did the walk through we came to the daughter's room - a really cool room for a 8 year old girl, but daring colors for a house about to go on the market. The real estate agent did not agree to have the room neutralized as a lot of buyers would love this room as is. I personally love the room, but feel that for selling it should be neutralized. What's your opinion? If yes, do you have any suggestions how to address this with the Real Estate Agent and Home Seller without offending her - as they are also friends?

Kids Room

Posted by

About the Author: Birgit Anich is the President and Creative Director of Birgit Anich Staging & Interiors one of the most innovative real estate staging and design firms in Fairfield County, CT. Our distinctive approach is creating a lifestyle experience that sells homes fast and at the maximum price. Birgit’s focus is working with home sellers and their real estate agents to prepare their property to appeal to the most likely buyers. As Certified Advanced Stagers, trained by HGTV star Matthew Finlason, Birgit Anich Staging and Interiors transforms a property into a buyer’s dream using Targeted Lifestyle Marketing Techniques.

Birgit also won the most prestegious awards in the Staging Industry - Regional and National Awards of Rookie Stager of the Year by RESA.

Copyright © 2011 Birgit Anich Staging & Interiors, LLC – All Rights Reserved

RESA Rookie Stager  RESA-PRO SAR Advanced Design Specialist

Fairfield County, Connecticut   I    www.BirgitAnich.com   

 

Comments (24)

Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging

I'm a little torn - I think if you painted the blue ceiling, took down the pink curtains and made sure all the stickers were off the bed (or bed was replaced... then change the linens to neutral (preferably white or taupe) ... this would neutralize the room without necessarily painting...

Of course that said, it's still a lot of work and a little risky .... ultimately I WOULD tell my client to paint the walls (and ceiling - and remove curtains & stickers from bed) 

I do think orange is a pretty trendy color and many younger buyers still like the color. 

Reasons to paint - I think Cynthia covered them pretty well...  

Mar 08, 2010 11:25 AM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

I'm not torn at all, Birgit.   The seller definitely will need to neutralize the room, as the buyers will only think of how their furniture won't go with the colors.   Some buyers, my husband is in this group, cannot picture anything besides what is in front of them.   It would be sad to lose that percentage of buyers just because you didn't want to paint..... 

After all, the sellers ARE moving out, right?   Tell them to put on their "gone from the house" hats on, so they will be able to sell!   They are not selling to stay there, they are trying to attract the highest number of buyers possible.  What about those who see the colors on the internet and never come to the house?

Mar 08, 2010 11:34 AM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

I think you should make this a "public" post, so sellers can see this!  It might help a few!

Mar 08, 2010 11:36 AM
Connie King
Sevierville, TN

I also love the room,  and with 5 bedrooms I lean toward the chance that buyers will have children... BUT,  it's really taste specific.  I think the paint investment will be well worth it.

Mar 08, 2010 11:45 AM
Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

I also think that with 5 bedrooms they will have kids.  I like the orange....would paint the ceiling and take down all the other loud color....and then add some pale blue & white.

Be sure to post the after!!

Mar 08, 2010 11:50 AM
Birgit Anich
Birgit Anich Staging & Interiors, 203.807.4040 - Norwalk, CT
CT Home Stager Fairfield & New Haven County

Cynthia - thanks! I agree with the neutralizing and especially with such a bold color, buyers know that painting over such color it will take more time and layers of paint to get this room to a netrualized look.

Melissa - thanks for your comment - this room is definitly some work - one way or another. I will again re-iterate to the client to netrualize the color.

Dagny - thanks - these are great additional reasons to Cynthia's. I also made this a public post now.

Connie & Kathy - thanks for your comments - it is hard sometimes as a stager if you like a room, but know exactly that it is very taste specific, to then advise my clients to make changes.  I will definitly suggest it again to my client to change the color.

Thanks again everyone for your opinions.

 

 

Mar 08, 2010 12:20 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Birgit -- this room is decorated .... and that is not the same as staging for selling.  It is painted with the specific likes of the seller, and while it is very cute for a girl's room .... what if the buyers only have boys?  It represents "Work" that needs to be done ... and buyers may want to go down the street to that "move in ready" house and make an offer there instead.  I vote for painting!  The colorful bedding and accessories can stay ... just neutralize those walls.   Good luck!

Mar 08, 2010 03:15 PM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

You never know if a buyer is going to have all boys or all girls, or maybe inlaws, etc. All bedrooms should be neutral.

Mar 08, 2010 04:00 PM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

It needs to be neutral if the home is going on the market. Accesorize with color!

Mar 08, 2010 04:43 PM
Randy Larson
East Coast Staging & Re-design - Leland, NC

Just had a similar case, the walls were purple, ceiling was blue and white <the sky>.... it was a little girls room, so I painted the walls neutral and accented with the colors that the little girl liked, win win situation.

Mar 08, 2010 09:04 PM
Virginia Tatseos
Stage-Show-Sell - Bloomfield Township, MI

The seller really hs to tone down the colors for buyers to see what's there.  I'll bet the room will feel bigger and brighter too.

Good luck

I'll also bet that the daughter doesn't paint her new room in her new house so bold.

Mar 08, 2010 11:25 PM
Birgit Anich
Birgit Anich Staging & Interiors, 203.807.4040 - Norwalk, CT
CT Home Stager Fairfield & New Haven County

Maureen, thanks - good points

Cindy - absolutely - you never know what the buyers family situation is

Thanks Cathy!

Great point Randy - thanks!

Vrginia, thanks!

Mar 08, 2010 11:52 PM
Connie Tebyani
Platinum Home Staging, Inc. : RESA-Pro - Calabasas, CA
Platinum Home Staging, Los Angeles and Ventura County

I'm a little torn too. But let's face it: a 5 bedroom house is only going to be bought by someone with kids (or lots of grandkids). But if the Seller & Realtor are both going to really fight you on this one, you need to put on the true Stager Hat and figure out how to make it work.  Pesonally I like the orange and I'm with Melissa in the it could be toned down in other ways if they are going to dig their heals in.

Mar 09, 2010 01:03 AM
Mary Lou Teague
HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC - Knoxville, TN
Home Style and Staging Knoxville. TN

Hummmmm...I agree that if the buyer had girls then they might just love the new color..however, if they have boys, not so much. I would clean the room up and if they did not want to paint, then neuturalize the bedding etc...

Mar 09, 2010 01:57 AM
Birgit Anich
Birgit Anich Staging & Interiors, 203.807.4040 - Norwalk, CT
CT Home Stager Fairfield & New Haven County

Thanks everyone for your opinions. I just spoke with the home seller and she does not want to make any changes to the room. Sorry Kathy - no after pictures ...

Mar 09, 2010 05:27 AM
Nancy Robertson
Signature Style Staging - Dallas, TX
RESA

Birgit, the seller's decision may come back to bite them in the you know what!  At the very least, they should remove the stickers from the bed, neutralize the bedding and window treatments, and declutter the bed!  Good luck to them!

Mar 09, 2010 07:50 AM
Julia Maher
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager

Sometimes sellers will finally  dig their heels in when it comes to their kids' rooms.  It's probably one more argument they don't want to have during an already stressful time.  Hopefully you'll be able to reduce some of the decor in the meantime.  Julie

Mar 09, 2010 09:43 AM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

I will say Birgit, I've had a few of my friends purchase homes with 4 or more bedroom who have no or grown up children. In fact I was one of them! Just a different opinion from a few others above me :)

Mar 10, 2010 01:15 AM
Debra Valentine
Designing Details ~ Staging & Design, LLC - Bountiful, UT
Utah Home Staging for, Bountiful, Salt Lake & Surrounding Areas

I agree with Cynthia, Birgit. While it's probable buyers would have children, do not simply assume a five bedroom home is only attractive to people with children. I can site multiple examples to the contrary.

As for the room, kids or no kids, I think it really needs to be neutralized!. If painting is really out of the question, insist on removing the window treatments & rugs. Replace the taste-specific bedding and accessories with neutral and it will make a dent. At least the chaos factor would be reduced when entering the room

Mar 10, 2010 02:05 AM
Birgit Anich
Birgit Anich Staging & Interiors, 203.807.4040 - Norwalk, CT
CT Home Stager Fairfield & New Haven County

Julie, I guess you have described the situation very well.

Thanks Nancy, Cynthia, Debra and Barb for your comments.

Mar 10, 2010 03:52 PM