Updated for 2023
Okay, this is going to help you out right now… Picking paint colors to sell your home in 2023 isn’t going to be as challenging as you are thinking.
Really.
It’s important to know that a fresh coat of paint will return 100+% of your investment. Hiring a professional painter will get it done quickly, and is well worth the cost.
Although I have written about removing old wallpaper, I still see plenty of dated wallpaper in homes for sale in Vienna handed down from owner to owner. Yes, they totally intended to take it down but never got to that project.
It is easy for an experienced pro to remove… especially when it is so old that the corners are dog-eared.
So, let’s remove that old wallpaper please, and paint a color that appeals to today’s picky home buyers.
My recommended colors
Ceilings – Ceilings need to be white, bright ceiling white in a flat finish simply because it appears to give the ceiling height or depth. It almost tricks the eye that the ceiling is higher.
Trim – This includes crown molding, door frames and baseboards need to be white, bright semi-gloss white. I often see impressive crown molding painted the same as the walls essentially disappearing. It needs to stand out, especially in the photos.
Wall colors –
At one point we (Realtors) told home sellers to paint everything white. Then, we told them to paint everything beige, eggshell, or off-white.
Gray is the new beige.
Revere Pewter from Benjamin Moore in the Matte Finish HC-172
This is a very attractive color in a living room, dining room, or bedroom.
Overall you can’t go wrong painting the house with this color to appeal to today’s buyers who have seen many shades of gray on those HGTV before and after shows.
Horizon Gray from Benjamin Moore 2141-50 in Matte Finish
This is a nice color that will add real depth all around the house, and should be considered if you just want one color.
It really is a crisp clean shade of gray.
Sandy Hook Gray from Benjamin Moore HC-108 in Matte Finish
This is a nice color in your dining room especially if you are painting with a chair rail around the room. Pantries where there are a lot of white cabinets also look great when the walls are this color.
It can also work well in bedrooms.
Stonington Gray HC-170 in Matte Finish also from Benjamin Moore
This shade of gray works well in small rooms like laundry rooms, bathrooms, but can work well in your study or home office. It’s very versitile.
It is a little lighter and works nicely where natural light is minimized.
The Matte Finish gives a very clean look and really minimizes imperfections in your walls.
Overall look for a paint that holds the color and will look great with one coat. But, plan to put on two coats of paint if you are doing it yourself.
These colors can vary from room to room depending on the amount of natural light and impact you hope to make. This really isn’t too challenging a task for you to start working on today.
For those of you who are locked into your home’s current colors and feel the buyers will want to paint, know that, yes, they may decide to paint. Remember that a positive first impression is critical when you are selling your home and it is important to meet the buyer’s expectations, especially in the 2020s!
Most stores like Lowes, Sherwin-Williams, and Home Depot can produce similar colors. Ask them to see if the color is in their computer database which can combine colors for a close match.
Interested in reading about replacing brass toned light fixtures, hinges, and door handles? Or how to get your home ready to sell?
Let me know if you have any questions or want to talk about your plans.
When I started in Vienna long ago, the Sunday Washington Post was where everyone placed a tiny four-line ad hoping to catch a reader’s interest. (Just typing that makes me feel ancient!) As you can see here, I embraced the Internet long ago sharing my experiences and “how-to’s” in blog posts marketing client’s homes effectively.
To set up a meeting, go ahead and send me an email now telling me about your specific situation to doug@dougfrancis.com or give me call at 703-304-6827 during the day.
There is more about me here on my About Me Page.
I am available and look forward to helping you too!
