When it comes to color, think neutral

By Sheila O’Mara

Most people are intimidated by color, and I certainly can understand why. There seem to be thousands of different colors from which to choose. Which one is right? Choosing color for a home is my favorite part of home staging. I don't have a sure-fire formula for success, but I can tell you it really depends on the house. The most prevalent mistake homeowners make when getting their houses ready to go on the market is to neutralize all the personality in a home. Keep in mind that I am talking about the home's personality, not the homeowner's. Neutral is important when selling your home. Neutral colors give buyers the illusion that their things could work in each room. I think neutral is best defined as color that will coordinate with several basics to create a comfortable palette and complement the style and architecture of the home. White is very rarely neutral. When you walk into a house that has all white walls, what is your first reaction? I am in a hospital. Usually it gives a room or home a sterile feel. Is that where you would want to put up your feet and relax? Not likely. White is rarely a good color with which to neutralize, but it is a great color to highlight architectural features. When choosing color for a home, I usually take my cue from the architectural detail to which I am trying to draw attention. If the room has spectacular molding, then you want to provide a contrast between the wall color and the molding. If you don't, then all of that architectural beauty just blends in and you have lost a great selling feature of the home. The easiest way to pick out good colors for a room is to look at the permanent features: flooring, tile, countertops, etc. If you choose a color that will complement those features, you can't lose. You are choosing colors that will blend with the house instead of individual personalities.  Another way to choose color is to identify the style of your home. You also may want to research colors that defined the period in which your home was built. If you relate the home back to its original integrity, usually you will find a safe way to insert color that will enhance the appearance of your home. Color is certainly a personal choice. What I may like and what you may like are two different things. So is there a universal go-to color that will please everyone? No. However, when staging your home for sale, you are trying to enhance your home's features, not display your personality. The way you live in your home and the way you sell it are two different things. Fire Engine Red may be your favorite color, but painting your entire house that color may be a huge turn-off for buyers. It isn't about what you like anymore; it is about creating an environment the buyer doesn't want to leave.  Remember, staging is about making your home as move-in ready as possible. Buyers, unless they are looking for a fixer-upper, are going to be just as turned-off by too little color as too much. The balance lies in complementing features that will stay in your home with enough color that is inviting to buyers. Color can bring drama to a home or room so that the potential buyer will be lured back for an encore. Sheila O’Mara, owner of Staged SO Right, a full-service home staging company, is an accredited staging professional and a member of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals. If you have a question about staging your home you would like one of our home staging columnists to answer, email homestaging@thenewsenterprise.com