Is Grey Always the Best Choice for Interiors (???)

Multi-Family and Apartment Investing
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Is Grey Always the Best Choice for Interiors (???)

Scott Mac
Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes

So many people are on the Grey bandwagon when it comes to painting interior walls (I am too).

But Sherwin-Williams has come out this year what they think might be new trends for apartments.

Browns and Greens it looks like.

Do you have any thoughts on these possible trends and their use in getting a potential renter to sign on the dotted line (???)

What are your thoughts on this for class (B) and Class (C) apartments and renters (???)

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Matthew Irish-JonesBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Buffalo, NY · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
5y

@Scott Mac we go white walls and white trim. Everything is brighter and always looks light and roomy with marketing photos

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  • Michael Le
    Developer · Houston, TX · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y

    It's very cyclical obviously, and Sherwin Williams would have a better pulse than most, so I would not be surprised if it shifts as grey as been de rigueur for a few years now. 

    2Reply
  • Adrienne HarrisonPro Member
    Specialist · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2019 · 18 posts · 3 votes
    5y

    Are you referring to ‘greige’? As in, 

    Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter,  for walls?

    2Reply
  • Adrienne HarrisonPro Member
    Specialist · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2019 · 18 posts · 3 votes
    5y

    Are you referring to ‘greige’? As in, 

    Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter,  for walls?

    1Reply
  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    5y

    Grey has been the big thing for a while now, time for a change.... I prefer 001 white for ceilings, swiss coffee for trim and some kind of brownish walls......

    4Reply
  • Joe SplitrockPro Member
    Moderator
    Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
    5y

    @Scott Mac in my opinion both the brown and green colors are too bold for apartments. Grey has a good run for ten years and I can see it losing popularity as the go to neutral color. In the last year, whites have gained popularity. For an apartment, that is very safe. People can pick any color they want to accent.

    3Reply
  • Scott Mac
    OP
    Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Adrienne Harrison:

    Are you referring to ‘greige’? As in, 

    Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter,  for walls?

     Greige = yes.

    0Reply
  • Daniel SmythPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Rockford, IL · Member since 2019 · 471 posts · 342 votes
    5y

    @Scott Mac

    Not bad for an office.

    Let the tenant watch the HGTV paint your house shows.

    Light eggshell colors on all walls but kitchen and bath. Kitchen and bathroom use brighter semigloss.

    Ceilings flat white!

    Stop painting wood trim!

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  • Joe S.Pro Member
    Investor · San Antonio · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    5y

      we have been using desert fortress for the interior walls on our properties for years now. If we have to do touch up we don’t have to guess what color we were using, because we switched every time somebody thought we should. Desert fortress has some white and tan to it. It appears to be more cheerful than gray. It covers better than white. Colors that are too dark Can make a room feel smaller in my opinion.

    4Reply
  • Matthew Irish-JonesBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Buffalo, NY · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    @Scott Mac we go white walls and white trim. Everything is brighter and always looks light and roomy with marketing photos

    Irish Jones Realty4.947 Reviews
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    7Reply
  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    5y

    I think you should do what you think looks good while keeping in mind it is a rental and needs to appeal to many people.  There are some of those colours I could see working and others that wouldn't.  Grey or beige are good neutrals.

    2Reply
  • Joe S.Pro Member
    Investor · San Antonio · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Matthew Irish-Jones:

    @Scott Mac we go white walls and white trim. Everything is brighter and always looks light and roomy with marketing photos

    Any particular shade of white? 

    3Reply
  • Matthew Irish-JonesBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Buffalo, NY · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    @Joe S. Delicate white for walls

    Ultra pure for trim

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  • Robbie Young
    Member since 2020 · 70 posts · 49 votes
    5y

    I think it depends on what you are doing. I like the light grays and white for a flip because the light colors feel clean and bigger. However, if renting and likely to be kids I prefer shades of brown/tan. I end up with way too many kid handprints on the really light colors. Some of my smaller B-/C houses I have even painted the doors and trim a very deep dark brown and the walls a beige. A high dollar luxury house I would problem lean more toward the light colors.

    2Reply
  • Marian Smith
    Real Estate Investor · Williamson County, TX · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 961 votes
    5y

    @Scott Mac Probably, a warm gray or greige. Think of it as a variation of builders beige, a grayer beige. Almond or yellow beige is out. Taupe or a pink-toned beige is supposedly coming into style, but I think renters would still prefer greige, beige, tan or cream. For newer builds maybe white or off white. Just imo.

    2Reply
  • Jamie Derasmo
    Real Estate Agent · RI · Member since 2020 · 73 posts · 86 votes
    5y

    Some browns are okay but I don’t think it’s trendy enough that people think it’s coming back into favor. I have seen it but it has to be done right or it’ll look like it hasn’t been touched since the early 2000s.  Light blue and greens are definitely popular neutrals right now. I agree that white makes everything brighter but if you’re renting, it’ll look worn faster. Olive green is in but it’s very overpowering as the whole room color, maybe just do a focal wall if you’re really trying to be trendy and adventurous with your color. I’d stick with a griege, light blue, or white to appeal to the masses unless you are trying to attract a specific renter. Also, tone-on-tone is super trendy right now. Maybe pick a room (office, dining, or primary bedroom maybe) and paint the walls and ceiling the same color and use a darker version of that color on the trim.

    2Reply
  • Matthew Olszak
    Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    A lot of the color and pop in those photos comes from the staging, which most rentals won't have. If you have an empty room with those colors, unless its a BIG room with a decent amount of windows, it'll look dark and small. Whites/Beiges/Grays is still best.

    2Reply
  • Jim K.
    Handyman · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    5y

    Only bordellos don't have flat white ceilings.

    3Reply
  • Jared HottleBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Cedar falls IA Waterloo, IA · Member since 2020 · 902 posts · 549 votes
    5y

    I have been wondering when the grey trend will end. Do not get me wrong I love it but it has bee going on for a long time. My grandpa always bought oyster white in eggshell for his rentals which is a nice off white so I have been using the same on my rentals. keeps everything bright and goes with whatever trim color you have. I also think greens and browns especially dark ones will not be great for rental spaces especially smaller ones.

    [email protected]319-288-5382
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    4Reply
  • Eric Bilderback
    Real Estate Agent · Sisters, OR · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y

    I like bright colors.  For all my rentals it’s white everytime.

    The music is sadder and more syndical now days and grays are everywhere.  I don’t like them.

    4Reply
  • Wale LawalBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    I do believe those colors will be the trend but not necessarily in the unit. I started seeing those colors in the common area of a complex. Grey is still a safe color to use as it's not too bold and gives a clean and comfortable ambiance.

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  • Cheryl Schuck
    Real Estate Agent · Parsippany, NJ · Member since 2013 · 186 posts · 71 votes
    5y

    I think the "greys" are a definite time stamp and a "me too" color. I would pick something else that makes a statement. I personally am tired of seeing it and everyone home is starting to look the same.  Time to change it up a bit!!!

    0Reply
  • Zachary Beach
    Specialist · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2018 · 291 posts · 231 votes
    5y

    @Scott Mac no in fact grey sucks haha. I make a lot more money but not picking grey. At this point tens if not a hundred thousand dollars more.

    1Reply
  • Daniel Johnson
    Property Manager · Member since 2021 · 59 posts · 21 votes
    5y

    Grey all the way! 

    0Reply
  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    5y

    I wouldn't paint anything grey if ya paid me....or put a gun to my head.....

    1Reply
  • Matthew Irish-JonesBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Buffalo, NY · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    @Scott Mac

    Here is an example.  Its not a huge kitchen but the white makes it more photogenic and bright, it also has a much cleaner look. 

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