Recently, my eye caught an article regarding the worst color to paint your home (pure bright yellow). I asked Laura Kistemaker of Staged Right! for her opinion on which colors would be the BEST to paint your home. Below is her response:
For resale, neutral wall colors are the best. They allow potential buyers to put their own stamp on the property (not to mention they allow your stager more flexibility in choosing decor to go with the interior).
To add more interest, bolder accent colors can be brought in in pillows, artwork area rugs, etc. Simply painting your walls Swiss Coffee or White is a missed opportunity to add some warmth and interest to a room. Adding color to the walls when there are white moldings, door-casings, etc. allows those features to pop and become noticeable to buyers. In a room with vaulted ceilings, having a color on the wall and white on the ceilings highlights the architecture.
Some of my favorite colors that I think appeal to the buyers in our coastal communities include:
Benjamin Moore’s Manchester Tan – a light not-too-yellow tan that’s a step up from Realtor’s white.
Benjamin Moore’s Putnam Ivory – A versatile, rich tan with a yellow undertone that can either go a beachy direction with blue/green accents or a Mediterranean direction with green, terra cotta accents.
Sherwin Williams Conservative Gray – A light gray/green color that matched with white moldings, cabinetry, etc. provides a beautiful back drop to white slip-covered furniture and a nice beachy feel.
Sherwin Williams Sea Salt – a beautiful not too blue not too green/grayish color that also conjures up that beachy sea-side feeling.
Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Gray and Revere Pewter – warm gray/beige colors if someone really does not want a yellow undertone. Both are good for more modern interiors where the yellow undertones just won’t work.
A final note: Whenever possible use a flat-finish paint. Flat provides a more saturated feel and hides the flaws on the walls. Glossy paints look dated and high-light every imperfection in the walls.
Photo courtesy of StagedRight!
