PAINT PAINT PAINT. It's always my number one recommendation during home staging consultations to make the biggest impact on a space. But, there's a lot of things to consider when choosing a paint color, like architectural details, light, direction, which is why it's great to get a consultation from Wunder Design Co.!

Benjamin Moore Classic Gray walls and Simply White trim in a Palatine, IL home that was significantly updated by Wunder Design Co. before hitting the market.

But, if you're into a DIY approach, I thought it would be helpful to open the vault and share some of my go-to paint colors. Gray is getting a little tired in the design world lately and in 2020 warmer colors and wood tones are definitely back. So, while gray is still pleasing to the masses, I typically recommend a soft "greige" color for walls that is a little more light and neutral for a whole home scheme. It's more affordable to paint a whole house one color when painting to sell your home instead of choosing a different color for every room, and it helps with the perceived flow of the home if it's not open concept.

Benjamin Moore Light Pewter on walls. Staging: Wunder Design Co.

If I do use a darker gray color on walls for home staging, I typically save it for a bathroom, bedroom or dining room (a room that's sectioned off from the rest of the house). I also like to choose a multi-dimensional gray color, something that has a blue/green or a warm cast in certain lights.

Benjamin Moore Moonshine on walls in the above image. Staging: Wunder Design Co.

For instance, Benjamin Moore Moonshine (in the above image) can have a blue/green/gray look in certain lights. Benjamin Moore Metropolitan is also a great rich, mid-tone gray color. Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray can have a blue tint in certain rooms and lights.

WHITE IS THE NEW GRAY If you're on Instagram or Pinterest you've probably heard, "white is the new gray!" And I agree! I love white walls. But, in most cases, I rarely recommend white walls for home staging clients. In my opinion, without the perfect mix of scale, textiles and art, white can come across as cold and uninviting. Or that the homeowner never got around to painting at all, and it's still the builder paint. If you do want to go this route, the same white can be used for both trim and walls, just make sure to choose a different paint sheen. For instance, if you use eggshell on the walls, use a semi-gloss on the trim to show contrast.

Benjamin Moore Classic Gray walls and Simply White trim. Design: Wunder Design Co. Photo: Margaret Rajic

For trim, Benjamin Moore Simply White is my go-to paint color that looks good in pretty much every space. It's a true white but doesn't read cold. If you have a historical home or trim that's banged up, Benjamin Moore White Dove has a bit of gray in it that helps to camouflage imperfections. If you're going for that modern farmhouse, bright white look or want a very crisp contrast to the wall color, try Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace.

TEST IT OUT!

Please, please, please buy a sample and test the paint on every wall that you plan to paint. Colors can look SO different from room to room and even wall to wall, and you don't want to get stuck with something you hate. If you don't want the mess and expense of buying tiny paint cans, I came across a company called Samplize where you can order actual painted samples in large squares that stick on the wall. They have a collection of popular Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, and Farrow & Ball Colors. These have been amazing for me and my clients!

As always, If you'd like a custom color consultation before listing your home (or anytime), reach out and we can help!