Complimentary Wall Colors Add Value to Home Sales

Experience proves that staging a home adds value to the selling price and garners quick sales, however without the structure of a well maintained home a quick sale may take a little longer than necessary. A home owner may chose to save money and avoid changing their wall color, thinking it is just paint, no big deal. But it is a big deal! When a home has been painted with bold, in-your-face colors, the walls show wear and tear, are dirty, or painted in stark white, home buyers will be turned off and it can be more difficult for you to sell the home. Consequently the home will sit on the market longer and unfortunately lose the potential for a higher selling price.

Zillow.com conducted a study in 2016, of color schemes of 50,000 homes sold during a 10-year period beginning in 2006. The results showed the highest sale of premium homes with kitchens painted in hues of creamy or wheat yellow. These homes did better than those painted white or eggshell, or had no color at all. Other top-performing listings had earthy tones like sage green or dove gray walls.

Now in Santa Fe, NM, opting for sage green walls may not be the choice of color to use especially with our heritage of rich warm tones and new creamy palettes. Instead, consider a warm palette in neutrals that are stylish and clean, and compliments the homes architectural features. Lighting, flooring and additional elements of the rooms will play an important role in selecting the proper color and should be taken into consideration whether the home is for sale or one to live in for many years to come.

Images: the harsh eggplant walls (before image-top) was a hard sale. Lightening up the room with neutral creamy wall colors and staging accessories in complimentary hues (after-bottom image) created a relaxing and cozy master bedroom and an offer received shortly after listing.

At DeMarais | home staging + design we offer color consultations and home staging solutions to help sell homes fast and for top dollar! Contact Debbie at 505.699.4989 today to schedule an on-line consultation. Check out our portfolio or reach us www.homestagingsantafe.com.

Differences between "Chaos and Calm" when selling a home

Selling a home and retaining an "as-is" presence, because you like how you live, will only hinder your ability to get a home buyer to fall in love with your home and sell it quickly, let alone a real estate agent interested in showing it at all.

In this home the home owners followed our advice to replace the pet damaged furniture, de-clutter and move their many projects and excess furniture out of the living room. We recommended painting a neutral palette on the walls and kiva fireplace, replacement of the tattered rug and furnishings, and other outdated items. In staging and styling the room conversation is encouraged, purpose and connection is provided and incredible views just outside the windows are highlighted. Upon completion the room felt larger and more spacious, home buyers lingered and were able to envision themselves living in this home.

Staging a home and transforming it can speak volumes as it highlights the architectural features and by updating the furnishings and decor it matches the home value. Home buyers expect a home to reflect the appropriate living conditions and decor reflected of the listing price. The decision to not stage a home and leaving it in the original condition will not only turn buyers away but the loss of a potential sale at a high asking price greatly diminishes.

For more before and after examples, visit www.homestagingsantafe.com

Before and After Home Staging

Home Staging Inspiration from Architectural Details

Selling a home “as-is,” in most cases, is not the most effective way to reach a buyer’s attention and invoke their appreciation for the characteristic and fine detail of a home. Finding a buyer (only 20%) who can look past the seller’s décor style and furnishing arrangement, plus areas of neglect to appreciate the gem of an “as-is” home is risky.

This unique home built in 1900, was formerly the residence of Santa Fe Governor John E. Miles (1939-1941). In addition to its historic past, this South Capital home is appreciated for its unique architectural design. It is one of two homes found in Santa Fe built with the classic Gambrel roof characteristic of the Dutch Colonial style. The exterior walls and fireplace built with stone, rumored to originate from Upper Canyon Road.

The age and history of this home was the inspiration to determine the style of furnishings and décor used to stage this property. Rather than staging it with traditional Santa Fe style furnishings, a timeless contemporary design with clean lines produced an elegance that is inviting, comfortable. The style also helps to highlight the floor plan and showcase features such as the stone fireplace and crystal chandelier. The completed design blends cohesively and harmoniously with its surroundings, while emphasizing the architectural characteristics, which become important elements in staging a home.

Had the seller retain the existing style of furnishings and decor, buyers may have been unable to appreciate the details this rare home has to offer. When selling a home, it is best to highlight key selling points and features, rather than overburden it with a design that competes with the space. 

Considering selling your home, and wondering if the design style or furnishing arrangements showcase the home at its best? We can help with a virtual consultation and walk-through  of each room. You will receive tips and suggestions to get the most out bang when selling your home. www.homestagingsantafe.com

Case and Point about De-Cluttering

The importance of de-cluttering is to enhance the rooms and showcase the features of the home. It also frees up space and increases the livable areas of the floor plan. If a home is going to be listed for sale, the best thing is to strip it down and start from the beginning to highlight those great features. This also means trading out dated or period specific furnishings and linens, removing personal photographs, and paring down the furnishings.

Recently, I was asked to prepare (do some home staging) to an occupied home that was going to be photographed and listed for sale. The owners were gracious to follow my instructions and we went from room-to-room of a very full house and started emptying the rooms, storing all extraneous furnishings, books, collectables, etc., into storage. We even gave some rooms a new coat of paint. With that complete the next step was to rearrange and style the rooms for good flow and ambiance. Sometimes there's nothing one can do with existing furnishings, especially when it's occupied, so you make it work and that's what we did. For a fresh facelift, we brought in updated linens, removed old towels and throw rugs, plus added new artwork. There was plenty more work behind the scenes that took place to showcase this home, and now it feels as if it's square footage has increased! Future buyers can envision creating a new life, dreaming of how great it will be to gather with friends and family during the holiday's in the great room, and calling it home.


Does your home tell a good story or does it warn people to look the other way? If you're uncertain, then getting an impartial professional to do a walk-through can help. It may be all you need to seeing your home in a different light.


There's so much more to see in this beautiful home, take a look at the unique features and the fun exercise/music room.