We all know that first impressions count, so you must make your house look inviting for your prospective buyers. You don’t know who’s coming through the door so you need to play it safe and appeal to the masses rather than the minority when it comes to your colour scheme.
This means, in practice, that you need to work with one or two of the five most popular hues and we’re going to look at these now.
Blue
Blue is a calming colour and the lighter end of the palette makes a space feel airy. It also makes people think of water, which is always relaxing, making blue ideal for bathrooms as well as living spaces.
While staying safe with the lighter or more pastel blues is recommended, you can, in southern-facing rooms, use deeper shades as long as they’re balanced out by more vibrant ones nearby. Alternatively you could bring in dark blue furnishings to add some contrast.
Grey
Grey has become massive in recent years, but it’s easy to get it wrong, so make sure you’re using a warm grey and also pairing it with either very dark or very bright furnishings and wall art to complement it.
A soft warm grey is very Scandinavian and adds a clean, calm feel to a space, as well as a nice subtle backdrop for more colourful features around the room.
Cream
Cream is still very fresh (see what we did there?). However, you can do away with the magnolia shades of yesteryear as there are some beautiful and complex shades you can use to add interest and depth to a space while remaining decidedly neutral.
Do look at the entire range of creams before committing, though, as even though they’re subtle, they will make a difference once they’re up on your walls. Be careful to choose a shade that’ll work with the light and the “temperature” of the room you’re painting.
Green
Green is blue’s close cousin as it has a similar effect on the mind and body. You still need to keep things subtle, however, to make sure you attract the majority – save your bright emerald shades for your new home! Pale greens and turquoises work best on your walls – if you do want deeper shades, use plants instead!
Green makes humans feel relaxed because it says water is nearby, which in turn means survival (yes, we are still that primal…).
White
You can’t go wrong with white – it’s easy to use and goes with everything. Plus, buyers will see your home as being an easy place to imprint their own personality and design tastes on once they move in.
Once the white paint is up, you can use lots of wall art, accessories, throws and furniture to add colours and textures to the space. Do bear in mind, however, that white paint doesn’t cover up imperfections as well as other shades, so it might be worth replastering before you start.
