We Tell it Like It Is

This is quite an interesting concept, but can be really helpful I think. I got this out of my Realtor Magazine that is published by the National Realtors Association. I have added my own commentary to it that is based on reactions that my buyers have when I show them homes. Enjoy!

Red: Increases energy, increases your heart rate, creates excitement, and stimulates your appetite. Best color for: Dining rooms. My Commentary: BE CAREFUL with red! I can't tell you how many homes I've walked into and saw some really bad paint jobs done in red. Its a color that needs a lot of coats of paint and has a strong tendency of showing streaks and uneven color. Its such a turn off because it looks so tacky. Avoid using reds that are too bright or too dark. Too bright can be offensive and too dark can really make a room look depressing. Stick with rich, apple red. Looks great with any type of trim or accent.

Orange: Can be comforting and can add warmth and cheerfulness. But, certain tones can also cause a feeling of cautiousness. Best color for: Living rooms & family rooms. My Commentary: Orange can cause the same issues as red when it comes to streaks and unevenness. Too bright of an orange can be offensive. Orange that has earthy, brown undertones can be very beautiful and rich--less red and more brown tones. Pumpkin orange in deeper tones is warm & inviting. Looks best with wood trim.

Yellow: Welcoming, joyful feelings and positive thinking. Best color for: Poorly lit hallways and foyers, living rooms, & bathrooms. My Commentary: Stay with buttery shades of yellow. Bright yellow (lemon) is really offensive to buyers and just looks really tacky. Even a banana yellow isn't bad. Yellow especially appears striking against white trim & accessories and is best suited for rooms that have the "farmhouse" or Pottery Barn look to them.

Green: A very restful color. Reduces nervous system activity, muscular tension, and is very calming/relaxing. Best color for: Living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms. My Commentary: Avoid the following greens because they can inadvertently make a room look really outdated: forest green, Kelly Green (otherwise known as shamrock or Green Bay Packer green), or mint green. Sage is a great color or a tone that is very soft, but not pastel. Green looks best in traditional homes w/wood trim & accents. Most home buyers, however, do not respond well to green and I do not recommend it when you are trying to sell your home.

Blue: Promotes tranquility, security, and cleaniliness. Serves as an appetite supressant and lowers blood pressure. Best color for: Bedrooms and any type of room that's designed to be restful/relaxing. My Commentary: Do not use dark to medium blues. These colors are tacky and outdated. The hottest colors right now are light blues and different shades of turquoise. I see them in every room, including the kitchen. Buyers are very attracted to these colors. They can look good against any trim/accent.

Purple: Purple boosts creativity & imagination. However, it can be offensive to adults, especially those w/out children. Best color for: children's rooms. My Commentary: Any shade of purple is just not an appealing color to home buyers right now. I hear a lot of "ew!" when we see purple. Keep it for your own enjoyment, but change it when you sell.

Brown/Beige/Gray: These colors were not mentioned in the magazine article, but they are the most important colors in real estate, in my opinion. I recommend light browns and beiges to my sellers all the time. These colors neutralize a home and the buyers' attention is not drawn to the color of the paint, but to the features of the home. Looks good with any type of trim/accent. In fact, Pete & I painted our living room and entryway Benjamin Moore Danville Tan. The color looks like coffee that has a little cream in it. People have started commenting on our high ceilings and cove areas that weren't really noticable before. The color also makes our home look very rich and warm. Plus, its such a neutral color that any color of furniture would look great next to it. Another great neutral color is gray. Although it can look cold in certain rooms, the right tone (more of an elephant gray--as I like to call it) looks so stunning with white trim. Its looks very modern and clean and I know a lot of buyers that are really attracted to that look.