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From Purple to Pleasing - Painting is worth the Investment

By David Peterson

Home Stager with Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging

February 09, 2010 03:45 PM

Last week Synergy Staging had the opportunity to stage this beautiful home in Lake Oswego. When we visited the property to do our walk through it was clear that some of the colors had to be toned down. Fortunately the owner understood that the colors would not appeal to everyone and was prepared to paint the interior of the home.

How one prefers to live in a home is almost always different from how one should sell their home. We personally love bold and vibrant colors, but when selling your home, keeping a nice warm neutral is going to be appealing to the broadest range of potential buyers.

In the before picture you can see the living room had a mix of white and mint green. Although the ceilings were very high, the room was small and broken up with a lot of different angles. Painting one neutral color throughout the space made it feel larger and buyers were less distracted by the architecture.

Synergy Staging Portland Oregon

And check out this purple dining room that needed a facelift. By using the same neutral that was used in the living room, the entire space flowed together. After staging, the dining room became a key selling feature in the home with it's inviting feel and beautiful views.

Synergy Staging Portland Oregon

When selling your home, the investments you make in preparing your property will pay off. Home staging, painting, minor cosmetic fixes, cleaning, etc. will typically result in a quicker sale for more money. Listen to the professionals who are trying to help you! =)

We'll be posting more pictures of this gorgeous home shortly.

Join the Realtors, Investors, and Homeowners who call Synergy Staging to make their properties irresistible and sell quickly! Read what our clients have said about their experience with our company. For more tips or to see our latest home staging projects, read our Portland Home Staging Blog and visit us on Facebook. Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote so we can help your home sell faster in 2010.

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Comments(29)

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Liz Gallagher

LG Home Harmony - Home Stagers & Organizers - Montreal, QC

Montreal Quebec RESA member

David you did a great job of making the fireplace the focal point ... I didn't even notice it in the before shot.

Super job!

Feb 09, 2010 11:42 PM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Retired Home Stager/Redesign

David- it's so clear in your Before and After photos what paint and color can do. I love purple but not when trying to appeal to a broad range of buyers. Adding the neutral colors definitely made the angles melt away.

Feb 10, 2010 12:15 AM

Sally Weatherley

EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

I agree with Liz. Colour blocking is usually used to put emphasis on a certain wall. In this case, the owner emphasized an unimportant wall mint green, taking one's eye away from the real focal point, the fireplace and windows. By painting all over neutral, you have put the emphasis back on the fireplace/view.

Feb 10, 2010 01:33 AM

Nancy Maurer

Whitehall Interiors & Home Staging LLC - Sparta, NJ

Home Stager - Serving No. NJ

David, you did a wonderful job with these rooms -- can't wait to see the others!

Feb 10, 2010 08:31 AM

Julia Maher

Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT

Connecticut Home Stager

Hi David - What is with all the purple dining rooms that are popping up lately? Well done! Julie

Feb 10, 2010 09:22 AM

Paula Springer

Key Elements Inc. Home Staging & Interiors - Portland, OR

A.S.P.

Hi David...Isn't it great when you can move the seller to do the painting? Nice work. I also love the way you've solved the awkward living room space with your layout. Way to go.

Paula

Feb 10, 2010 11:02 AM

Paula Springer

Key Elements Inc. Home Staging & Interiors - Portland, OR

A.S.P.

p.s. too bad they switched the lighting fixture in the dining room to gold. The black one was working for me.

Feb 10, 2010 11:04 AM

Cindy Bryant

Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX

"Houston Home Staging Pros"

Purple for the dining room is a very strange color choice...transformation is amazing.

Feb 10, 2010 03:49 PM

Michelle Pimentel

Empire Home Staging Solutions - Upland, CA

ASP, IAHSP Empire Home Staging

David,

While the shade of purple is perhaps pleasing... it is definitely very bold and shows the homeowners own personal taste! By neutralizing this space you have opened the market to a much broader range of potential buyers! Great transformation!

Feb 10, 2010 06:42 PM

David Peterson

Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR

Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Lori ~ It's amazing how paint can drastically transform a room.

Kathy ~ Thanks! It's important that a dining room is elegant and inviting when selling a home - and the purple certainly was something!

Pangaea ~ The lid is a great point that can make a room feel closed in. We often paint the ceiling the same as the wall color in small rooms, like bathrooms, as it gives a nice feel.

Feb 11, 2010 04:15 AM

David Peterson

Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR

Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Janis ~ Thanks for your comments. As you know, it's our role as stagers to make the home appeal to the broadest range of buyers as possible.

Kathy ~ We appreciate the feature! The difference the wall color makes cannot be under estimated!

Mary Lou ~ Appreciate your feedback.

Feb 11, 2010 04:18 AM

David Peterson

Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR

Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Valerie ~ When we did our walk through there was a tenant in the house. They moved out, the house was painted, and then we staged it!

Virginia ~ We're hoping for a quick sale too. I'll keep everyone updated!

Liz ~ Thanks! The fireplace was not a feature when the home was being lived in, but as you know, it's a key selling point in a home and must be highlighted. Glad you noticed!

Feb 11, 2010 04:23 AM

David Peterson

Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR

Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Kathy ~ We love purple too - but it wasn't going to benefit the sale of the home! By neutralizing the color palette in the living room, the space felt larger and as pointed out, the angles metled away. Thanks!

Sally ~ Exactly. And the view out of the wall of windows is really nice and needed to be opened up as much as possible.

Nancy ~ Will be posting more pics when we get a chance. Thank you!

Feb 11, 2010 04:28 AM

David Peterson

Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR

Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Julia ~ Didn't know purple dining rooms were a theme. The color is making a comeback - but not sure why in a dining room! =)

Paula ~ We were very happy that the owner was receptive to painting the interior. The living room was a challenge as it was a small space even though it felt large with the high ceilings. And the dining room fixture is actually brushed nickel - the lighting made it look gold. Glad to see you - it's been a while!

Cindy ~ Thanks for your feedback!

Michelle ~ While staging you don't always realize the impact of the transformation until you go back and look at the before pictures. Appreciate your comments.

Feb 11, 2010 04:34 AM

Rita Minion

O'Brien Realty - Solomons, MD

Hello David,

Excellent job on re-painting and staging the living room and dining room. What a difference - both rooms look great.

Rita

Feb 11, 2010 05:46 AM

Patti Glover

Stage It In A Day! - Moorpark, CA

CISS,RESA, Home Staging, Ventura County CA, Conejo Valley, LA

David,

Wonderful transformation! The dining room definitely looks larger and the living room looks like a different home! I admit I have a "plum" dining room too. I love it, but I consistently use it as an example with new customers. I tell them that although it works for our family, I would never dream of putting the home on the market without painting it. Your after pics look so good, you might just inspire me to pick-up a paintbrush!

Feb 11, 2010 08:14 AM

David Peterson

Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR

Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Rita ~ Thank you!

Patti ~ As you tell your clients - the way we design our houses to live in them is different from how we stage our houses to sell them. There is nothing wrong with bold colors, but appealing to the broadest range of buyers possible with neutrals increases the sellability of your property. Thanks for your feedback.

Feb 14, 2010 03:13 AM

Birgit Anich

Birgit Anich Staging & Interiors, 203.807.4040 - Norwalk, CT

CT Home Stager Fairfield & New Haven County

Hi David, these are two excellent examples of the difference a simple paint job can do. The change in furniture also make a big difference. Both rooms look bigger, brighter and much more welcoming. Great transformation!!!

Feb 16, 2010 03:45 AM

David Peterson

Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR

Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Birgit ~ Thanks for your comments. The difference paint can make is astounding - and with the right furniture placement, buyers can the potential that each space has to offer.

Feb 17, 2010 07:06 AM

Janice Ankrett

Burlington, ON

Thank goodness the renters moved out. I hate those marshmallow sofas LOL. The paint and your furniture shows off the features of the home beautifully. Congratulations on the feature.

Feb 17, 2010 10:07 AM