Getting ready to sell your home? One of the easiest home improvements to get buyers’ attention is a fresh coat of paint—plus, it's a cost-effective fix that will make your home look updated, which can translate to increased value.
Sara McLean, color expert and blogger for Dunn-Edwards Paints, offers the following tips on choosing interior colors that appeal to buyers:
• First, McLean cautions painting everything white or beige, because your home might end up looking more utilitarian than stylish. Stick to earth tones and nature-based colors—warm browns and milky tans (think latte). Light greens and blues are classy, and even some reds and oranges. Warm grays are popular now, rather than cool grays.
• Take the flooring into consideration, McLean recommends. Lay color chips on the floor to see how they pair—warm tones tend to look better with most hardwood, whereas tile, terrazzo or carpet may warrant other colors.
• While neutrals are safe, don’t make the entire home so neutral that it’s boring, McLean adds. An occasional accent wall in a darker or complementary shade will add a designer look.
• Give a room life without getting too personal, says McLean. Many people have a visceral reaction to bold colors—and buyers’ first thoughts may be that they will need to repaint.
• The best rooms to paint, according to McLean, are the kitchen and baths. In the kitchen, soft buttery yellows with slight brown undertones are popular, and olive and sage greens can make it feel garden-y and fresh. If you don't have a tile backsplash, create one with an eggshell or semi-gloss paint, either in a solid color or with a decorative stencil. Bathrooms (and the laundry room) can tolerate brighter colors because they’re smaller, so play around a bit, McLean suggests—oranges and reds are trending now and through next year, as well as teal and turquoise.
• “Once you have chosen a color, pick up a few samples and paint a section of the wall, near permanent structures like fireplaces, flooring and cabinetry,” McLean says. “Live with the samples at least a full day to see them in all light sources. What looks light and bright in the morning may look dungeon-y at night.”
• Remember to consider the gloss level, McLean adds. Flat, velvet or eggshell finishes are good for interior walls, while a higher sheen looks pretty on trim and in kitchens and bathrooms. (The higher gloss levels are easier to clean, so they are ideal for high-traffic areas.) Look for trim paint that is water-based, but with the upscale look of oil-based, suggests McLean.
Source: Dunn-Edwards Paints
Nancy M. Alexander Stone Harbor and Avalon NJ Real Estate, Long & Foster Avalon
