Gray and white gray and white gray and white. It is today’s most popular palette, thanks to HGTV, Restoration Hardware® and a design shift away from the Tuscan earth tones. But there is a silver lining to all this gray, a new generation of greiges which really helps homeowners bridge the color gap in any and all architectural styles. A recent article from Houzz® inspired me to write about this, since we are always searching for the perfect wall color.
For those of you who have worked with us at Cashman Partners | Russ Lyon Sotheby’s, you probably know we are big on the paint discussion when it comes to marketing homes. We are firm believers that A) paint is one of the most inexpensive ways to freshen up a home, and B) people in general do not have the vision to overcome rooms that have distracting colors. Remembering that first impressions are lasting, and that we only have four seconds to capture interest online where prospective buyers are starting their search, we need to neutralize.
So you have a home that is the classic ’90s build, maybe with a little faux finish, gold walls, tumbled travertine floors, and some rich hardwoods. Or, you have a Santa Fe style with heavy carved warm woods, possibly some Saltillo tile and rich earth tones. Alternatively, you may have a stark contemporary that has unimaginative white walls and clean lines. Maybe those fabulous burgundy accent walls you added years ago are looking tired. How do you take these styles and bring them up to date? For starters, the wall color can make all the difference. You have to be careful in selecting a neutral greige, since you don’t want it fighting with the other design elements. Enter our favorite, Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige.
We have recommended this color over and over again to our clients, since it offers versatility to any design. It’s a perfect balance of gray and beige, creating an unimposing and soft backdrop to contrasting trim and pops of color. Interestingly enough, according to Houzz® this was the designer top pick as well. Here are a few examples of how this color changes based on lighting, room size, and time of day. To provide a deeper accent color for ceiling trays, niches etc, we like AB’s sister color, Tony Taupe.
Quick Tip: Your choice of lighting can strongly impact the way your paint delivers. We always like to suggest using a LED soft white light for cans, lamps, and fixtures with nothing higher than 3000K. Kelvin measures the light temperature, and you should avoid anything above the daylight 3000 since it will go blue. Going too low will bring a yellow cast. You are carefully choosing your paint, and a few extra bucks for the right lighting will do it justice.
If you are considering the sale or renovation of your home, we are happy to arrange a color consultation with you. We are your real estate partners – not professional designers – but we do understand the nuances of color when it comes to photography, video and online marketing. We understand what buyers want – and don’t want – to see.
To see the complete list of favorite greiges, Read the Houzz Article Here. It’s amazing what a difference a gray makes! Hope you enjoyed this Saturday morning inspiration.
