I have no doubt that, somewhere out there, some wiley real estate agent has written a textbook as thick as the old-fashioned phone book that delves into the psychology of home staging and why certain actions produce certain results when it comes to prepping your home for sale. Of course, there are generational preferences to consider and this will change up every 15-20 years, but some rules remain eternal: a clean, clutter-free home that doesn’t willfully remind prospective buyers that somebody is still living there will always be a good bet. One aspect of home decor for staging that often gets overlooked is color theory - certain colors impact the emotions of buyers in predictable ways, and you should capitalize on that.
Beware of Halloween Tones
Orange, black, and violet shades can all be overwhelming to buyers in large doses. For example, very few people want to sleep in a bedroom painted the color of a tangerine! This doesn’t mean that you need to banish these colors from your decor altogether, however. Sleek black cabinets; a pop of orange in the form of candles, throw pillows, or bath towels; and some fresh sprigs of purple delphinium in a mason jar on the kitchen table are all welcome spots of brightness that add visual interest to your home without getting in-your-face garish with buyers.
Painter’s Remorse is a Thing
Homeowners and buyers alike often share a type of FOMO about the paint in their home (or the one they are thinking of buying). They worry equally that they’ll grow to hate the shade that they chose, or that the finished walls won’t look like the sample. This is why it’s best to limit the amount of saturated colors you choose for the interior of your home. If you must paint the walls red, do it in the kitchen, living room, or bathroom. Bedrooms should unfailingly be oases of neutrality and calm.
Outside Rules are Different
Don’t take this the wrong way, but neon colors are not appropriate for any part of your house. Take it from someone who frequently told pizza delivery drivers and new friends to look for “the house next to the hot pink one.” A badly-chosen exterior paint color is actually worse than one on the interior, because it’s harder and more expensive to change and there’s a chance that prospective buyers may not even make it past the curb before they go running. But that doesn’t mean that bright paint doesn’t have a place on your exterior. Painting your front door and/or shutters a friendly, bold “pop” color (red, blue, yellow, etc.) will make your home appear welcoming and give it some personality.
