When preparing your home for the real estate market, there are a number of things to consider. Beyond decluttering and de-personalizing, making sure your home is well-maintained is a top priority. A fresh coat of paint is an easy and inexpensive way to update your home. Light greys, off-whites and greiges (grey + beige) appeal most to potential buyers. You may have heard that there are colours for living and colours for selling, and this couldn’t ring more true. Bold colours can elicit an emotional reaction in people, and therefore, light, neutral colours are the best option when appealing to a broader audience.

Last year I had a client who had dark yellowish/brown walls throughout the home. I recommended to paint prior to listing but due to timing and budget restraints was not an option. We proceeded with the staging and unfortunately the home sat on the market for weeks with very little showings. After another discussion with the realtor and client, they agreed to move forward with painting. Once back on the market the home sold within days of re-listing. I’m not suggesting that all homes need to be be painted in order to sell, as many times the colour they have chosen is neutral and light. But in those cases where the home is dark or in need of some freshening up, these fool proof neutrals will showcase your home in the best possible light.

Classic Grey (Benjamin Moore OC-23)

This is my favourite Benjamin Moore paint colour, and the one that I suggest most often. This clean, pale grey has warm undertones, and can work in almost any space. It’s the perfect light greige that compliments almost any flooring and interior finishes. I find that it tones down reds, highlights whites and adds a splash of sophistication to any home.

Silver Satin (Benjamin Moore OC-26)
This soft, airy grey-white is a beautiful colour and is my second favourite hue. This colour is part of the Off-white colour selection and can be described as “Inherently sophisticated and endlessly versatile.” I would like to note, that this colour is not suited for colour matching. I’ve had clients in the past try to colour match with unfavourable results. In my experience silver satin is a proprietary blend and should only be purchased at a Benjamin Moore store.

Grey Owl (Benjamin Moore OC-52)

The chameleon of the greys. Grey owl is a beautiful cool grey with subtle blue undertones. Its best paired with bright whites and greys to showcase its multi-demensional tones. I love to use this colour in bedrooms as its very serene and calming.

Cloud Cover (Benjamin Moore OC-25)

This colour is part of the Off-white colour collection and I debated putting this in my next post on my favourite white paint colours. It is the lightest of all the greys that I am suggesting, but has enough depth to classify as a light grey. I recently painted my home in this colour and I absolutely love it. Canada’s design darling, Jillian Harris also used this this colour in her home, and if it works for Jillian Harris - it works for me.

Agreeable Grey (Sherwin Williams SW 7029)

I tend to gravitate mostly toward Benjamin Moore colour palette, however, Sherwin Williams is a close second. Agreeable grey is the company’s number one selling colour and I understand why. It’s the perfect neutral grey, similar to classic grey but a bit darker with more depth, and like Classic Grey, is can work in almost any space. It’s a blend of a light brown, mixed with a bit of purple, combining the warm and cool, defining it’s name -Agreeable Grey.

Yours In Style,

Crystal

“ Colour is a means to exert a direct influence on the soul” - Wassily Kandinsky