Moving Out: Best Color to Paint Each Room
When you’re trying to sell a home, it’s important to evoke emotion in potential buyers. Specifically, you want buyers to feel comfortable in your home and able to visualize themselves living there. Because a home is a refuge, you have to make yours inviting. Believe it or not, using the right paint can be a means of causing viewers to linger – or to run. Remember the following tips when considering what color to paint each room in order to maximize your home’s selling potential:
• Consider neutral colors. Neutrals are better than strong colors, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for white or beige if you feel that’s too “boring.” There are plenty of neutral blues or even yellows you can select. Whatever you choose, it should have a calming influence over potential buyers.
• Avoid unusual colors. Remember, buyers want to be able to see how their belongings will fit in your home. If your walls are a bold or odd color that doesn’t fit buyers’ color scheme, that signifies extra work should they purchase your home.
• Use accent walls sparingly. Accent walls are a fun trend when decorating your home, but you may unintentionally make your rooms feel smaller, a no-no when trying to sell. If you do want to accent a particular wall for some purpose – there’s a great fireplace, for example – choose a color that is two or three shades darker than the other walls.
• Maintain a sense of continuity. A home in which every room is painted a different color can feel choppy and disconnected. Avoid this by using the same color throughout the home, with varying shades of that color in hallways or on accent walls.
• Consider how different colors evoke different emotions. Whether we realize it or not, colors can change our mood. Use this knowledge to your advantage when selling your home. If you’re going to change up the color schemes throughout your home, choose earthy tones – like shades of brown, green, blue, and orange – for your living and dining rooms. These colors are a good match for rooms that exhibit a lot of wood or stone. Save your oranges and reds for the kitchen, as these colors make people think about food; however, be sure you select soft, warm hues. Finally, evoke a feeling of relaxation in the bedrooms with calming shades of blue.
Selling your home has its challenges. Let the colors on your walls be an asset to your ability to sell, not a detriment. If you don’t feel able to select the right color palate on your own, consult your realtor, local interior designer, or home staging experts. Good luck – and happy painting!
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David Shapiro is a marketing specialist for moving companies such as Allied Van Lines. He lives in AZ and, when he isn’t working, enjoys various outdoor activities such as biking, swimming, and mountain climbing.