Selecting a color scheme can be difficult when designing your kitchen, but landlords are tasked with choosing colors that will appeal to various potential tenants.
Bold statement walls or snazzy backsplashes can be a lot of fun unless they have been chosen for your living space by someone else. Renters typically prefer a space that creates a blank canvas to incorporate their style more than they want to adopt yours. The key to setting your rental apart is to find neutral combinations that will remain stylish, even as trends change.
Walls and Trim
Taupe is the standard default color for many property owners. The neutral tones do allow tenants to implement their style easily but can also result in a muddy, dull look that they will likely see in every other rental they see.
Following the latest decorating trends may seem like a great idea, but bold options might not suit all tastes. The best way to appeal to the masses is to keep it neutral.
The goal is to create a bright and clean atmosphere that your potential renters can easily imagine personalizing to transform into their own space.
Here are five of our favorite wall colors:
PPG – Shining Scale – PPG0996-1
“Shining Scale is a light, cool, veiled gray with a heather undertone. It is a perfect paint color for the main interior wall. Pair it with off-white and white trim.”
PPG – Mountain Gray – PPG1021-1
“Mountain gray is a pale, gray, peachy white with a brown undertone. It is a perfect paint color for all main walls. Pair it with almost any color.”
Benjamin Moore – Moonshine – 68.28
“This soft shade of gray packs a surprisingly powerful punch of subtle, intoxicating color.”
Glidden – Shark – PPG1006-2
“This pleasant color is light and fresh with a hint of beige in the ground of grey. Excellent for an overall wall paint color when paired with Delicate white painted trim.”
Glidden – Whiskers – PPG1025-3
“Greige at its best, this choice is cool and supportive to deeper tones and lighter greiges alike.”
Cabinets
There are plenty of easy kitchen upgrades that can help boost your rental’s value, but cabinets are usually the focal point and should prioritize.
Honey oak cabinets seem to be standard in many rentals. Landlords may select them based on their neutral color, but even if you use high-quality cabinetry, the honey oak finish is often perceived as generic and cheap.
If you are completely remodeling your unit’s kitchen, white cabinets are the way to go. White is cheery, bright, and timeless. While many people assume the white kitchen is a trend, it is a classic choice that leaves little room for remorse.
What if your existing cabinets are in great shape, but the color leaves something to be desired? Well, you are in luck! Painted cabinets have been increasing in popularity in recent years, and designers love them.
Pick the Right White
Not all white paint colors are created equally. The floors, walls, trim, hardware, and lighting will all impact the color once it is on your cabinets. The key is to find a white with warm or cool undertones that will complement the rest of the space.
Here are five of our favorite cabinet colors:
Benjamin Moore – Chantilly Lace – 92.2
“As delicate and refined as the lace it was named after, this crisp, clean white evokes images of pure silk, soft linen, and simpler times.”
Benjamin Moore – Simply White – OC-117
“Fresh as the first snowfall, this clean, crisp, multi-purpose white is a perennial favorite for trim, ceilings, and walls.”
PPG – Aria – PPG1001-2
“Aria is a light, true, icy white with a gray-blue undertone. It is a perfect color for kitchens. Pair it with grays and tans.”
Glidden – Delicate White – PPG1001-1
“A beautiful, complex white paint color, our most popular white paint color, rich and soft at the same time.”
Glidden – Gypsum – PPG1006-1
“Creamy white adds a comfortable feel to any space. Use as your main wall or as a trim color to bring warmth to the space.”
Whichever color you choose, a quality paint job is imperative.
Keys to DIY Cabinet Painting Success
- Remove doors & hardware
- Clean and sand cabinets
- Use a good primer
- Use a quality paint
- Allow time to cure
Painting your cabinets is an easy, cost-effective way to create a dramatic change in your kitchen.
Backsplash Tile
Bold, colorful backsplashes might be a dream come true for you. Unfortunately, when styling your rental, making it about your preferences can be a costly mistake. Again, the goal should be to keep it light and neutral. You may think using a white backsplash tile along with white cabinets could create a sterile, cold environment, but white tile is a great choice.
There are plenty of ways to add personality to your all-white kitchen, including using dark grout to add depth and character without hijacking your tenant’s style with a particular color scheme.
The key to backsplash tile is to focus on having a high-quality, clean look. Keep it simple.
With the wide variety of stick-on tile backsplashes, it is easier than ever for your tenants to temporarily customize the style of the kitchen if they prefer a pop of color.
Trust the Professionals
When push comes to shove, your taste in color will not matter if your painting is not on point.
Painting your rental property yourself will save you money, but it is a significant investment of your time, especially if it is not something you do regularly. On the other hand, hiring a professional painting company may be a financial investment, but they can complete big jobs, with a professional touch, in much less time.
As a landlord, you are indeed looking for ways to save yourself time and money on the upkeep of your property. Finding a painting contractor is just one of the ways a local property management company can offer support to manage and grow your rental business.
