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What Paint Colors Should I Use When Selling?

By
Home Stager with Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon CCB #180695

Dear Creative Concepts:

I’d appreciate some home staging advice.  After watching some additional home improvement shows yesterday, I’m wondering if  I am too bland in my approach to colors for the broader market?  I long ago accepted the concept of going with neutral colors, but many of the television designers seem to consider some pretty bold colors as “neutral colors”.

I would welcome your suggestions before I get too far along.

Sincerely,

Too Bland Bill

Dear Bill:

This is a great question!  First there are style and color differences based on geographic areas. Since your home is in Corvallis Oregon and the television shows are produced in larger metropolitan areas like Los Angeles or New York, some styles and ideas are too contemporary for the average Corvallis home.

Secondly, consider the style of the home. If your home was a modern condo or had a contemporary style, some bolder colors would be appropriate for the style of home, and home buyers would welcome bolder colors.  Homes with vaulted ceilings and large rooms can show off bolder colors well.  Even so, I would stay away from colors that are so unique and stylized that they won’t be enjoyed by the general buyer.  I know a home that had a black ceiling that was on the market for a really long time . . .

Third, consider your target buyer. For example, if it is a home in a retirement community, use lighter tones.  With a starter home, modern neutral colors will be a fresh difference  from what we fondly call “builder beige”.

Finally, choose a color and tone that harmonizes with your existing wood, carpet or tile surfaces. People may think that all neutral paints are similar, but each has an undertone — from pink to gray — and choosing the wrong one can get you off on the wrong note!  Take the time to get large paper samples  or buy a sample of paint and paint a large area to make sure the tone is perfect.

Some great neutrals we recommend frequently are from Sherwin Williams. We can have large paint samples mailed to your home.  Here’s some of my personal favs:

SW6106 – Kilm Beige – a nice warm wall color – safe if you are afraid of going to bold, but gives a nice contrast with white trim

SW6108 – Latte - a bolder beige – one of Sherwin Williams top sellers

SW6127 – Ivoire – a nice rich yellowy beige – sunny and warm  (Blonde is just a bit darker in this and I love it as well!)

SW6169 – Sedate Gray – a sagey greenish gray

The right paint color helps coordinate your flooring, trim and architecture and create a beautiful background for your furnishing and decor.  These neutrals provide a wonderful palette  — and would never be considered boring.

We’ve got these paint samples and more coming your way (nice 8×11 samples – not the tiny chips).  Choosing the right color the first time is a time and money saver.  (I still have painful memories of when we had our first house painted . . . pinky beige — hated it even after we sold the house!)

We provide paint color consultations throughout the Salem, Albany and Corvallis areas.  Make sure when you’re choosing paint, it creates a warm, inviting and beautiful environment.  Paint has incredible power – and never needs to be boring!

Other blogs you may find interesting:

Does Front Door Color Matter?

Spice up First Impressions!

What Involved in Staging A Vacant Home?

Moving or improving? Creative Concepts and Contracting has the expertise to showcase your home’s full potential, stretch your budget, and maximize your time.

Yes – this is a real email we’ve received!  If you have a question, please send us an email at stagingoregon@gmail.com or give us a call at 503-881-0886.

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Comments (17)

Tripp Montgomery
Montgomery and Moore - Camden, SC
Above and Beyond

Good ideas here! "builder beige" just doesn't cut it.  One should strive to finding a balance between being creative and keeping it simple. LOL

Jul 26, 2010 01:23 AM
Ritu Desai 703-625-4949
Samson Properties - Chantilly, VA
Northern Virginia,Washington DC & Maryland Realtor

Great suggestions!! I am going to reblog.

Jul 26, 2010 01:46 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

The bolder colors are gaining enthusism, and buyers like the color now.    Red is a very popular color in kitchens and formal dining rooms.   Great post.

Jul 26, 2010 01:50 AM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

Nice thing about these is they are all neutral light, not strong or highly personalized.

Jul 26, 2010 01:50 AM
Margaret Oscilia
Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR
Home Stager, Salem Oregon

You're right Tripp - most people think that the pale builder beige is low end so home sellers need to really be careful when choosing paint colors!

Ritu - Thanks for reading and reblogging!

Joan - For home selling I rarely recommend painting red - even though I love it from an interior design standpoint!

Gary - You're exactly right -- not personalized is the key when choosing a paint color that will work for the majority of home buyers!

Jul 26, 2010 02:40 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Margaret - you're so right!  Paint colour often depends on where your geographical location is.  Darker colours are often used more in the east, whereas more neutral, earth tones are used in the west.

Jul 26, 2010 04:45 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Margaret- excellent post.  I love how you gave your homeowner good cues on how to pick a color.  Many people forget to take into account the location and future buyers of a home when choosing a color. 

Jul 26, 2010 08:56 AM
Michael Collins
*ROCK REALTY|Broker|Realtor|Real Estate|WI Short Sale Agent* - Janesville, WI
CDPE, SFR , Wisconsin Short Sale Specialist Realto

Can't help but re-blog this.  Thanks for the great information Margaret!!

Jul 26, 2010 10:21 AM
Julie Davis, Amy Blank - Rediscovered Interiors, LLC
Rediscovered Interiors, LLC - Andover, MN

Don't you just love those 8x10 paint swatches!  We order those every-time we have to re-order the smaller ones, since we know we have used that color and like it.  That larger sample really helps decide if it is right or not.  You can never make a decision with just the fan deck, that's for sure.  BM also provides those larger samples, just not the Hirschfield line.

We do sometimes allow, or like to add, stronger color to be in kitchens/dining/baths/mudrooms, for interest, as long as it's not a too taste specific color.....because in those rooms, most people are not moving in with fabrics (i.e. bedding, couches)  that might clash...those rooms tend to be just hard surfaced furniture.  But that rule doesn't apply to all homes, each home is different.  Some homes are just too small to break up the color like that.  Some homes you can add interest just by working with different values of a hue.

Great point to share! Thanks!

Julie

Jul 26, 2010 03:32 PM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Love this post and your wise wisdom!! Congrats on your feature! 

Jul 26, 2010 05:10 PM
Wanda Richards
Shows Great Home Staging and Web Solutions - Roanoke, VA
Shows Great Home Staging

Great post!  I love Sherwin Williams Latte.  Great color to use.  It works well with a soft white to give a space a an elegant look. See below.

 

Jul 27, 2010 12:19 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

I've used Latte and Kilm Beige quite a few times Margaret, great neutral colors............so important when selling.

Jul 27, 2010 12:52 AM
Margaret Oscilia
Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR
Home Stager, Salem Oregon

Here's a photo of a recent project where the Kilm Beige has been painted on the upper portion of the walls and Latte on the lower.  They are great neutrals - not yellow or pinky!

Jul 27, 2010 01:54 AM
Mary Kay Irving
Thompson Daviau Realty - Boulder, CO

Nice tips for Sellers Margaret and for sprucing up my own home!

Jul 28, 2010 10:50 AM
Paul Peck
Peck Drywall and Painting serving Brevard County, Florida - Melbourne, FL
Licensed Drywall and Painting Contractor

Margaret,

Great read. Thanks for putting this together.

I also felt the need to Re-Blog.

-Paul

Jul 28, 2010 12:25 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

They certainly work together..............great job Margaret!

Jul 29, 2010 04:35 PM
Anonymous
Peggy Elias

I love the rooms. Thank you for sharing I was looking for new paint ideas for my great room area!! I love the Kilm Beige and Latte look.

Jul 20, 2011 12:00 PM
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