Discussing Home Designs: Color Me ... Neutral?

We invite you to eavesdrop on and participate in our conversation on design and home-updating ideas. Please leave us your comments and any questions you may have.  We’d love to hear from you!

Laurie Dick: As a real estate professional, I have had questions from clients and friends on decorating and updating their homes in a way that keeps them marketable and fresh. Kelli, I know you’ve had a lot of the same questions. So, we thought it’d be fun to answer these questions here on Stillwater Patch, and you know we’re all about fun!

Kelli Kaufer: [Laughs] Exactly. So, one question that we both keep getting is what colors to paint walls and what colors are hot right now.

Laurie:  My clients are especially interested in wall colors. If you think about selling in the near future, the last thing you want to do is paint now and then re-paint in a year or so. And with the open floor plans of many homes, coordinating from room to room can be a challenge.

Kelli: It seems that way, but it’s actually more simple than most people think.

Laurie:  So says the expert. Everyone has their favorite colors, but is it best to paint your walls those colors? Well Kelli, what is hot this year and how do we incorporate our faves without scaring off potential buyers or even the neighbors?

Kelli:  Easy. Keep your walls neutral and add colors with accessories, like pillows, throws, rugs, plants. Those pieces can be where you bring in bold colors or favorites. This is where you let your personality shine.

Laurie: Nice. You really limit your home’s appeal if colors on all the walls are too bold. It’s overwhelming. For the novice or the color-challenged, define neutral.  Most people think white.

Kelli: Soft grays, tans, creams and whites. I’ve included some color swatches as examples. To decide what color fits your home, pick a color already in your home.  A color in your couch or carpet for instance.

Laurie: OK.  So, now we have the backdrop. Nice neutral color that has mass appeal. But, it’s February in Minnesota. We want color. We need to be cheered up. What do you suggest?

Kelli: Bright colors are fun right now. Aqua, bright green, yellows. You can always use accents of black. That’s totally in now. Black is more of a classic. It will always be a classic. When the walls are neutral you can easily change the whole look of a room by changing the color and style of your accessories.

Laurie: I love it. I’m often asked about updating homes and painting walls. This makes it so easy.

Kelli: It is easy. When you go neutral on walls and add color, it goes with any style – classic, vintage, traditional, modern, industrial.

Laurie: This plan fits anyone’s home. Perfect! Thanks Kelli. We’ll be weighing in on other design and home updating tips bi-monthly here on Stillwater Patch.  We’d love your comments, and please send us your questions! … til next time.

[Kelli and Laurie met at the hockey rink when their sons, who are college-age now, were squirts playing for the Stillwater Youth Area Hockey Association. Besides becoming good friends, they have collaborated on a variety of design and business ventures.

Kelli Kaufer is an experienced designer whose designs have been featured on HGTV and DIY networks for over 5 years. You can contact Kelli at Kelli.Kaufer@gmail.com and at www.kellikaufer.com.

Laurie Dick is a Realtor here in Stillwater at Edina Realty. You can contact Laurie at LaurieDick@edinarealty.com and at www.lauriedick.edinarealty.com.]