Trending paint colours: 4 hues that sell homes

It’s no surprise that light tones are often the best choice for marketing and selling properties. They let a home speak for itself, and provide homebuyers with a blank canvas on which to imagine an ideal space, especially for those who have trouble committing to a house that isn’t painted to their tastes. But if you’re selling a home in which you’ve used unconventional colours, knowing how to adopt a colour change becomes integral to a sale.

Here are the top tones that are helping to close deals — as well as tips on how and when more
energetic colours can enter the picture:

 

1. Cool white

Some trends are recurrent, and white remains one of these for homes on the market. Lean toward white or very light-coloured walls because neutral colours won’t divert a buyer’s eyes from a home’s features.

When design professionals create pristine, immaculate interior spaces, they often use white paints that contain subtle undertones of cool gray, giving them more depth and ambience.

Benjamin Moore “Distant Gray” is used by gallerists and works well with an art collection. The name is deceptive, because the colour appears, for all intents and purposes, like a true white — but again, it’s those gray tones that give it a distinct character. Another favourite white is “American White”, which also has a hint of gray. It resonates well with buyers.

Along with being great for art collectors, these pure, cold whites are well suited to an industrial aesthetic, and “China White” and “Calm” are two that work well when selling condominiums — though they can work in any space.

Before picking a colour scheme, take into consideration the floor colour, the colour of the tiles in the bathroom, the colour of the kitchen cabinets, and the amount of light coming into the space, and
then sample several potential white choices before committing. Natural light and light bulbs play a huge part in how a paint colour looks on your wall.

 

2. Off-white

Warm whites are often used in the luxury market, for good reason. Most luxury homes are showcasing neutral tones that embrace each room, with a compatible white trim for baseboards and window casings. Whiter trim on crown moldings and windows enhance beautiful views. But this trend can be used in all types of homes with the same effect.

Multiple variants of white can achieve different effects throughout the home: warm off-whites set the mood, while cool, classic whites highlight visual elements. The challenge is finding the perfect elegant neutral that will showcase the features that make each property unique. A good one to try is “Dove Wing”, which is a warm off-white that pairs well with the true whites that are often used for trim.

Finding the right tone can be a recurring challenge — Benjamin Moore’s Off-White Colour Collection alone features 152 different options — but when whites are paired properly, it can facilitate a much smoother sale.

If you want to highlight a home’s high cove ceilings and crown molding, for example, paint all the molding “White Dove”, then for a cohesive look paint the living room, dining room, and foyer walls “Pale Oak”. The ceilings can be painted in Benjamin Moore “White”. A soothing white colour that works well with the green hues that you might find in
bathroom or kitchen tiling is “Cotton Balls.”

 

3. Organic neutrals

Bringing colour into a home you want to sell requires a light hand — select soft hues that emphasize the comforts of the home. There is currently an overall shift away from the primarily cool colour palette that has dominated the last decade, and we’re experiencing a move toward warmer, organic tones that reflect the colours we see in nature.

These colours use undertones of warm gray to create a slightly sunnier tint. Neutral warm gray tones are trending. “Passive Gray” from Sherwin-Williams is a great choice to give a room the full body of a neutral yet approachable colour. This colour moves well with the different times of day; the light changes the hue slightly room by room which gives the house a touch of personality.

White infused with warmer tones can complement raw or natural surfaces really well. For example,
Benjamin Moore’s “Atrium White” has a bit of pink in it and works well with exposed brick walls.

 

4. Tinted blues and greens

Blues, whites, and grays are always popular — with the occasional pop of navy — particularly with a water view. A few popular shades include “Simply White”, “Balboa Mist” and “Hale Navy” from Benjamin Moore, as well as “Sea Salt” by Sherwin-Williams and “Wimborne White” by Farrow and Ball.”

Airy, neutral blues and greens can also create a more vibrant visual touchpoint for buyers, since a monochromatic palette can make homes less memorable. Particularly in homes with many bedrooms, you want to distinguish one bedroom from another. If all the rooms are white, it makes it more difficult to remember what is special about that particular room.

To do this, use soothing colours like Benjamin Moore “White Satin”, which infuses a soft blue tone. You can also use “Quiet Moments” and “Gray Owl”, both of which contain hints of green.

The use of colour, especially on cabinetry, is coming back. The industrial look is being replaced with finishes that make a home feel more like a sanctuary.

 

Be considerate with colour

It may be tempting to bring in colour to differentiate a listing, but don’t overdo it. A buyer will look at your house for the first time online, most likely on a phone screen, where strong colours appear even more commanding. Any colour that is very dark or overly bright can definitely be a turn-off. It distracts buyers, as it’s the only thing they see and can prevent buyers from envisioning their own furniture and items in a home.

A colour palette that feels very personal — one with too many colours and patterns —  can make it challenging for a buyer to picture making your home their own.

Neutrals are your best friend — whether they’re true whites, off-whites, organic tones, or tinted hues. Painting walls is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to attract buyers to a listing, and it makes a clear impact on first impressions.

— Inman News