Texas Living

Painting Choices That Improve Home Values

By Christine Perez 2.19.13

A fresh coat of paint could be the quickest and easiest way to add value to your home. But the right color selection is a critical decision. Here are a few tips to help you make your home more appealing to potential buyers.

  • Make sure the color works in your light. Cooler lighting brings out blues and greens, while incandescent light brings out reds and warm tones. Your paint will look different on your wall than in the store.
  • Choose colors that add warmth. If you’re painting to position your home for sale, beiges and yellows will add warmth and offer broad appeal. White, which is not a neutral color but a bright color, tends to make a room feel stark and cold.
  • Consider how the colors will work together. Think room to room, and keep things in the same palette. Painting several connecting rooms in the same shade can add unity and help your home look less “choppy.”
  • Use light colors in smaller rooms, such as bathrooms, to add depth and make them feel larger.
  • Avoid bold colors in bedrooms. To encourage sleep, consider tranquil blues, greens, and violets.
  • Go bright in the kitchen. “Food colors” like oranges, reds, and yellows work especially well.
  • Warmer hues work well in the home office. Deep blues, browns, greens, and cinnamons can add a sense of richness and set a serious tone for business.
  • Don’t forget the ceiling, moldings, and other trim. A fresh coat of white or other offsetting color will enhance the look of your new paint job even more.

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