When I was younger, I loved the idea of a different paint color in every room. Each room holding it’s own unique theme intrigued me. I think because it allowed me to incorporate lots of themes in one household, so I could try them all! (Probably because I never imagined having the opportunity to advise others on designing their homes..)
In reality, having a theme in each room is confusing for people. Often times, when showing houses, my buyers get flustered when we are walking through a home where each room is a different color. It’s even worse when the flooring changes multiple times, but that’s a blog post for another day!
You’ll often hear real estate agents recommend painting as a ‘to-do’ item for sellers, and that is for a few really good reasons. The first is to mask any lingering smells. Smells aren’t always bad, but the smell of new paint, new carpet, or construction material in general tells people “new.” Buyers like new. The second is to cover up personality. It sounds terrible, but it’s really just that buyers have a hard time imagining themselves in a home you have styled to your taste! You like yellow kitchens, but your buyer might not!
While agents ask sellers to paint, they usually just say “paint everything gray.” That’s certainly neutral, but it can also make your home feel boring. It’s interesting that gray has replaced beige in the home design world. Gray is often associated with depression and loss. It is emotionless, which would explain why agents would encourage their sellers to use it! Better to evoke no emotion than the wrong emotion? Other agents say, “Choose white. White is clean.” And they’re right, it is clean. White is associated with doctors, dentists, hospitals, and schools. Clean…sterile. That doesn’t sound homey to me, though!
So gray is emotionless, white is sterile. What’s a homeowner to do?
Well, I’m here today to tell you that you’re allowed to have color in your home. Celebrate. Rejoice. It’s okay to have something a little different and your style! You still have to live there. Enjoy it while it’s yours, even if you know you’ll be selling in the future.
But those agents are on to something… start with an earthy tone. White, off-white, beige, gray, brown.
Picking an earthy tone allows you to accent with colors you love without forcing the next homeowner to have to stomach your favorite color. I had a buyer whose favorite color was red, but, from experience, painting OVER red walls can be a real pain. It’s really difficult to cover, and you often have to paint two coats of primer or other colors over it first (it’s real. Google it!). I encouraged him to consider a beige and accent his home with red throws & curtains and black metals in the lighting & rugs. He loved the combination and it allowed him to express his personality without causing a headache for a future sale. Choose this earthy tone for neutral spaces, like the hallway, the kitchen, and maybe even a laundry and/or bathrooms.
The next color you choose can compliment your earthy tone. Choose something in the same family in terms of brightness. If you’ve selected a light earthy tone, it is possible to add a dark green or blue, but usually, I encourage clients new at this to stick light with light! Lighter paints are always the surest bet. Light paint makes your spaces feel larger and brighter. Dark paint is a bold design choice, and, when done well, can really create a lot of buzz! Just remember, paint usually dries a shade darker than the paint swatch. When in doubt, jump up a shade on the swatch. Colors that pair well are easily found in booklets by the paint section, or Pinterest if you’re tech/design savvy!
All colors have undertones. It’s important to pay attention to these undertones. Blues can lean toward green undertones, gray undertones, or even purple undertones. If you’re unhappy with the shade in your home and how it matches, it’s probably the undertone!
Choose this second color for a common area, like the living room, 2-3 bedrooms, and possibly the master bath or the family bath.
The third color should be your final color. Threes give you balance while still keeping your overall design of the home asymmetrical and interesting. The third color should compliment your second and still match well with your earthy tone. Blue+Green, Navy+Pink, Blue+Yellow, etc. There’s so many options out there that can really speak to your personality.
This color should go in 2 rooms, a common, like the dining, and a bedroom, such as the master. You can play around with the three colors and put them wherever you like! Whatever suits your hope for your home and the design as you go. I like to transition more often than most, meaning I don’t like two rooms side by side to be the same color, with the exception of hallways and bathrooms.
Using this rule of three will allow you to have colors change up room to room without confusing someone looking at your home to purchase. By choosing consistent colors that compliment each other, your home has a cohesive flow and design without forcing you to live in a gray box wondering why the fresh paint didn’t sell the house!
I always want my sellers to enjoy their time in their home as long as they’re in it! So yes, new paint can sell houses, but there is certainly more to it than making every room uniform!
As you select the color for the room, feel free to accent with the complimentary colors. If the living room is gray, you’re free to use the green in the dining room with the gray to decorate! You can always incorporate a 4th color in accents, as well.
I’m often asked, “Can I use a 4th paint color?” The short answer is yes, you can do whatever you like! The long answer is, homes 2400 sq ft or less benefit from fewer paint colors. If you really want a 4th color, choose a darker or lighter shade of your earthy tone. Use it in one room (a second den, a sunroom, or the basement).
At the end of the day, your home is just that: YOURS! You are always free to paint and express yourself however you wish. If you came here looking for answers to help your home find that cohesive design, then I hope this helps! And if you’re here because buyers hate your paint colors, just know, you’re not alone and maybe this will help.