Paint Colors That Sell - 7 Tips to Choosing Colors Buyers Will Love

There you are, touring a new listing in the perfecttone on the walls to balance. Likewise, if you have a
location, with the right number of bedrooms and themaple dining room set and white fabric upholstered
best school district. It's the only one in your price range,chairs, you'll need a warmer color on the wall and
and while it's clean and new and generally de-cluttered,complimentary place settings/centerpiece to ensure
you just can't get past the master bathroom seemingthe room doesn't appear washed out. Consider your
uninviting and the finished basement feeling a bit dark.furniture, cabinetry, artwork, flooring and countertops
As much as you'd like for it to be, it just isn't "the one."when choosing the shade of paint.
No offers today.4. If in doubt, go with the lighter option
Unfortunately what that seller failed to realize is that aIf you've narrowed your options to two or three colors
simple change in paint colors would have been theand all would make great choices, a rule of thumb is to
missing link to clenching an offer, all for the cost of apick the lighter option when going to sell. While deeper
can of paint. Choosing the right paint colors is a criticaltones can make fabulously enticing rooms, they can
step in preparing a home for sale and is one of thebe tricky. If you aren't working with a home stager or
biggest players in the emotional connection (or lackcolor consultant it's better to air on the side of safe,
thereof) that a buyer makes with a property. Whatrather than chance overwhelming the seller.
are those perfect paint colors for helping sell houses?5. Green, red and yellow are appetizing colors
Well, that's the million dollar question that can be verySage green, apple red and golden yellow are great
difficult to answer if you don't know color. Read on forcolors for dining rooms and kitchens because they
some basic tips that will get you on the path toevoke appetite. Red is definitely the trickiest of the
choosing the right colors for staging a home:three to use effectively without overwhelming a room,
1. Neutral is great, but all beige is boringbut if combined with the right furniture and accents it
A common real estate misconception is that paintingmakes for a very appealing color. Yellow is a cheery
the walls white or beige throughout the entire home willcolor that encourages conversation. Green is a
give the buyers a "blank slate." Problem is, it usuallycombination of appetizing and soothing, making it
turns out to be a very boring, unmemorable blank slatepopular with many different types of people and in
that rarely results in increased profits or a faster sale.several different rooms of the home.
While beige is much safer than super bright or very6. Cool colors like blue and green have soothing,
bold colors, having a variety of color within the rightspa-like appeal
palette is ideal. However, using a warm beige or tanUse a gray-blue in a bathroom with an orchid by the
such as Shaker Beige by Benjamin Moore in thesink and a stack of fluffy towels by the tub, or sage
common areas (hallways, stairwells, foyers, etc.) isgreen in a bedroom with white bedding and dark wood
recommended.furniture for a soothing, harmonious appeal. Some
2. Stick with earth-toned varieties of tan, green, yellow,studies have shown that blue and green actually have
blue and greyhealing properties such as lowering heart rate and
For example, when looking at greens stay in the sage,blood pressure! Try "Iced Marble" or "Mosaic Tile" by
celery or rosemary ranges. Or when thinking of yellowBenjamin Moore.
go with the more buttery or golden tones as opposed7. Order a sample can
to the brighter varieties. Look to the types of tonesWhen you have decided on your colors and picked
and shades you see in nature most often and mimicthe shade you feel is best, always pick up a $5
those in your color choices.sample can of paint and test it on a decent-sized area
3. Either the walls or the décor should take theof several walls with different lighting in the room to
stage - but not bothensure it works on the grander scale. This small
If your living room has dark brown leather andinvestment will save you a lot of time and energy in
walnut-toned furniture, you'll need to go with a lighterthe end, as tiny paint swatches can often be deceiving.