The Color of "Sold"

For many home sellers, among the greatest concerns on their mind are things like “Where will we store our extra furniture?,” “We need this house to sell in ___ days,” or “I hope we can keep the house picked up for showings.” All of these make valid food for thought, although most sellers (and even many Realtors®) overlook a very important and inexpensive weapon in their arsenal: Color.

The color of a home can turn buyers on or off before they even hit the driveway. Personally, I have been in love with an all-white 1890s Victorian in Yukon for years, simply because it looks inviting from the outside. On the inside it could be completely disheveled and crawling with rats but I continue to admire it because of that gorgeous eye-catching exterior. We have all seen those houses that tried to be the “cheerful” one on the block and instead ended up looking like a failed Crayola Crayon experiment. If you personally love color outdoors (as I do), you certainly have the right to paint your shutters Sunshine Yellow, unless you’re selling your anything-but-a-garden-cottage home. But there are other ways of keeping the front and rear of your home from being mediocre, such as potted flowers and large ceramic vases.

Already have a nice, neutral color on the exterior of your abode? Look at it with fresh eyes, even invite a friend over to help you stand at the curb and survey any weathered paint that needs touching up. Sometimes we live with certain things for so long that we no longer notice them and it takes an objective third party to help us pick apart our beloved haven, as any picky buyer will do once the home is on the market. If you notice chipped or peeling paint it is well worth the investment to have a professional do damage control before the home is listed. Same goes for trendy, outdated or bright exterior colors.

RECOMMENDED EXTERIOR COLORS: For our Oklahoma terrain, I love softer versions of white that compliment our sunsets like Sherwin Williams’ “White Truffle” or “Cloud Nine.” Pair either of these colors with a darker shade on shutters, trim, garage doors, etc. I prefer Sherwin Williams’ “Foothills” or “Enigma,” which is a brown with just the right amount of plum.

So you’ve got your exterior covered; congratulations! Let’s move on to the interior where potential buyers will either feel welcomed, set aback or neutral. If your ceilings are all different shades of white from your various paint projects over the years, now is the time to unify. Paint all ceilings in the same shade and — are you ready for this? — it doesn’t have to be white! Below are my top picks for ceilings with style.

1) Sherwin Williams’ “Steamed Milk” (may be used on any ceiling)

2) Valspar’s “Bay Waves” (may be used on open rooms/high ceilings)

3) Valspar’s “Decadent” (may be used on any ceiling)

4) Valspar’s “Lilac Muse” (may be used on shorter ceilings)

If you have the standard trim sizes, stick with bright whites in a semi gloss or high gloss. If you have wider trim (as is typical in homes prior to 1930’s) don’t be afraid to go with a darker stain or paint color– there is nothing more dramatic than 4″ trim or crown in stunning black!

The walls in your home should make each room feel united, as large as possible and inviting. This is not to say that every room must be the same color! For smaller homes that may be ideal (under 1200 square feet), but even in these situations don’t be afraid to use a glaze on top of your base color to create one accent wall or to add more masculinity to a study or master bedroom. Sherwin Williams’ Van Dyke Glaze, which is a tobacco-colored glaze that looks fantastic over nearly any neutral shade, works well for situations like this. Novice painters should allow a professional to apply glaze. As for base colors here are a few proven paints to woo potential buyers, including colors they live well with:

1) Farrow and Ball’s “Light Blue 22” LOOKS GREAT WITH creamy whites and grays

2) Pratt and Lambert’s “Pearl White 29-29” LOOKS GREAT WITH pinks, lavenders, chocolates

3) Sherwin Williams’ “Latte” LOOKS GREAT WITH nearly all colors except greens

4) Behr’s “Cornsilk” LOOKS GREAT WITH whites, reds and blues

5) Sherwin Williams’ “Whole Wheat” LOOKS GREAT WITH nearly every color except yellows and greens

Keep in mind that buyers will likely be touring your home in daylight hours but there is always the possibility of a late showing. Before committing to the entire room, paint a small sample on each wall of the room and review it throughout the day when the light changes. Just because a color looks amazing at the breakfast hour doesn’t mean it will do your room justice come sunset.