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Home Staging Tip: Remember what a little wall Paint can do!

By
Home Stager with Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR

We've all seen homes that have bold paint colors on the walls, especially those painted in the 1990's.  When you're living in your home, you should paint your home whatever color makes you happy ... but when it comes time to sell, think "neutral" paint colors so that buyers don't think "too much work is required" and move on to the NEXT home on their list.

This townhouse is in a wonderful suburb of Portland Oregon, but has been on the market for over 6 months with very few showings.  It's well-priced and in very good condition ... BUT the wall colors were so bold in the online photos that likely, potential buyers just couldn't see beyond them.

The listing agent recommended that the sellers consider staging with rental furnishings (they had moved out but left furniture behind) so the old furniture was removed.  The sellers' Realtor also agreed with us that painting the living room and master bedroom walls would make a big difference in how buyers would perceive this home. Here are some Before & After photos of the transformation . . .  west linn home staging and redesignhome staging and redesign portland oregon

We thought the bedroom should present a calm retreat ... and toned down the bold wall color to "move in ready" neutral

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To keep expenses down we recommended repainting just the bold terra-cotta accent walls in the great room and master bedroom, using a neutral wheat color.  In the kitchen / dining area, we left the terra-cotta accent color, and brought color-appropriate art and accents to work with it, rather than fight with it . . .

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Sellers ~ Remember when selling your home that neutral walls are more appealing to buyers

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Room Solutions Staging offers expert home staging services in Portland, Oregon to homeowners, real estate agents, and builders. Our proven home staging techniques will help reduce your property's market time and maximize your equity. We'll prepare your property or listing to look appealing to your target buyer for the online photos as well as for in-person viewings. Our owner and principal stager Maureen Bray is a nationally-recognized home staging expert who enjoys sharing her passion for staging with others.  To schedule a Verbal Staging Consultation filled with our staging tips and advice, contact us @ 503-246-1800.

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Comments(40)

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Michelle ~ these photos don't really show the wall colors very well, but the repainted walls are a wheat/light tan color now.  You're spot on when you wrote that color should come in with the accents and accessories!

Hi Janet ~ Glad that you approve of leaving some of the wall color there ... thanks for your kind words.

Hi Marianne ~ You are too nice!  But thank you -- I'll accept that as high praise coming from you  :-)

Apr 03, 2011 12:45 PM
Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Hi Maureen,

Oh my gosh, your photos speak volumes, what a difference. You certainly know your stuff when it comes to home staging to sell!

Apr 03, 2011 04:01 PM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

Shazaam!  That looks fantastic, what a difference!  Great use of decorative items on the large walls!  Also love how you tied everything into the accent wall while still being neutral.

Apr 03, 2011 04:11 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Lynda ~ Thank you for your very nice feedback!  You've made my day night  :-)

Hi Cindy ~ Isn't that colorful metal art on the living room wall fun?  I found it at one of my favorite stores and snapped it up!

Apr 03, 2011 04:45 PM
Barbara "Barb" Bodnar, Licensed Associate RE Broker
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Yorktown, NY
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Maureen

Great balance of colors...I loved seeing what you did, great post and examples of your work

Apr 03, 2011 08:17 PM
TERI LINDSAY
Reno, NV
STAGELIGHT HOME STAGING CO.

Maureen..... great work with "a little paint" and YOUR FANTASTIC talent for staging.... I am 1/3 done painting my own bedroom. Just using a buttercream color. What a difference! I didn't realize how "dingy" the old color was (a grayish tan). I inherited this house from an uncle who passed and "drug addicts" live here for 2 years! I am almost finished painting the entire interior...... your are so right "what a difference a little paint makes"!!! Great post... Thanks!

Apr 04, 2011 05:24 PM
TERI LINDSAY
Reno, NV
STAGELIGHT HOME STAGING CO.
PS... just looking at your pictures again.... the first one.... so funny.... that picture "floating in outer=space" above the TV! And the other 3 pictures placement on the same end of the room! People, sometimes, have such a strange sense of "placement" of art when decorating! It just cracked me up.... thought I would share! T.
Apr 04, 2011 05:28 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Barb ~ Thanks for stopping by and for your very nice feedback!

Hi Teri ~  As stagers we find art hung in all the wrong places .... too high, off center, too big or too small for the space, etc.  This is one way we can really help sellers ... often we can make any art look good once it's in the right position.

Good luck with your own painting project.  It's true that fresh paint gives a home a whole new look and feel!

Apr 05, 2011 05:23 AM
Kathy Nielsen
http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

I SO enjoy looking at your stagings, Maureen, as you always do such a beautiful job.

Congratulations. Your home staging is being featured in the group Staging Before and After Pictures.

Kathy

Apr 05, 2011 06:48 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Kathy ~ Well you just made my day -- coming from you that is high praise indeed - thank you!!

Apr 05, 2011 07:56 AM
Anna Dovger
Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX
Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Maureen, how could you paint over you favorite color ?LOL. Great transformation. I guess before it was "that red house" and now it's a modern inviting space with carefully selected accessories. I love how you pulled out dining room color and brought it through the accents into the living room.

Apr 06, 2011 08:27 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Anna ~ We know that buyers do give "names" to homes they've viewed, and we prefer that those names be complimentary!  Thanks for your support and for being so nice  :-)

Apr 06, 2011 12:18 PM
Mary Stewart
HomeTrust Real Estate, LLC, Homes for Everyone - Wilsonville, OR
Wilsonville and Surrounding Portland Metro Areas

Maureen, your photos are stunning.   I love the colors and they alone made all the difference.  The kitchen...it is really nice.  The configuration is very much like my own and I have been thinking of painting my cabinets as well from time to time.  When I am ready I will give you a call for a consultation and you can help me.  I would love your take.  I don't know exactly when that will be but I will call you.  Thanks so much for the blog, visual is good.

Apr 06, 2011 01:32 PM
Beverly Carlson
Carlson Properties 325-721-2429 - Abilene, TX
Abilene's Staging Realtor

Hi Maureen, Great job at staging.  I would have liked the color be changed in the dining to a neutral as well, but that's me!   

Apr 06, 2011 04:01 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Mary ~ Thanks for your feedback.  I'd be happy to help you whenever you're ready, of course!  :-)

Hi Beverly ~ Their budget was tight, and we felt we could work with the terra-cotta color and make it "interesting" in the dining area :-)

Apr 06, 2011 05:48 PM
Birgit Anich
Birgit Anich Staging & Interiors, 203.807.4040 - Norwalk, CT
CT Home Stager Fairfield & New Haven County

Great transformation! Love that you left the color in the dining room/kitchen area. It looks like an accent and enhances the feeling and gives the room a sophisticated look. Very well done!

Apr 07, 2011 03:02 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Birgit ~ Thank you!  You're right, the strong color as an accent was acceptable ... on the very big walls, not so much  :-)

Apr 07, 2011 05:23 AM
Elizabeth DeMarco
First Impressions by Elizabeth - Lansdale, PA

Great job Maureen. Your after pics look fantastic! I'll be curious to hear how fast this one flies off the market!

Apr 08, 2011 12:04 PM
Michelle Drewry
Signature Real Estate Group - Henderson, NV
Realtor - Signature Real Estate Group

Maureen, I love the neutral walls and your pops of color.  Great idea to leave the dining room as an accent.  Well done!

Apr 09, 2011 03:58 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Thanks, Elizabeth.  Hopefully it will be soon! 

Hi Michelle ~ I'm glad you liked it ... thanks for your feedback.

Apr 14, 2011 05:41 AM