What are good interior paint colors for a short term rental ?

Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
3y
Anything neutral, like tans and creams...basic white ceilings. They used to used Navajo white (Actually a cream) for a reason. Stay away from grays, they are out of style by about a decade.....
1 Reply
Mark Townsend
Real Estate Agent · Wilmington, NC · Member since 2020 · 19 posts · 13 votes
3y
Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Anything neutral, like tans and creams...basic white ceilings. They used to used Navajo white (Actually a cream) for a reason. Stay away from grays, they are out of style by about a decade.....
I agree. I stick with light cream colors. Blank canvas so decor and furniture will pop and not clash.

gray is on the way out for sure
1 Reply
Scott E.
Contractor · Scottsdale, AZ · Member since 2010 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3y
Sherwin Williams Extra White, Eggshell sheen, everywhere. Walls, ceiling, baseboards, casings. Everywhere.

It's an easy job for the painters when you do 1 color and 1 sheen, white looks super clean, and white doesn't wear as badly as you'd expect in a short term rental (I had this exact paint job in 3 short term rentals from 2017 - 2020).

(Many people will side with @Bruce Woodruff here because he's right... those tans and creams do create a more cozy environment. But to me white is a more timeless look. It goes with any style. And it looks great in listing photos.)
1 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
3y
Nothing wrong with white! Especially an off-white that is not so stark.......
1 Reply
Melanie ThomasBusiness Member
Real Estate Broker · San Antonio · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 489 votes
3y
Anything neutral and readily available although, I am a fan of color pops for accent walls. Good luck & happy investing!
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Josh Edelman
Real Estate Agent · Las Vegas · Member since 2018 · 197 posts · 143 votes
3y
Amazing Gray!
That's the name of it! Works great and easy to clean.
2 Reply
Dave SpoonerPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2020 · 869 posts · 823 votes
3y
Yup like most in here sticking with light cream colors is the way to go!
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Mackaylee BeachPro Member
Real Estate Agent · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 492 votes
3y
Light grays or neutrals.
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Yu Liu
Investor · Tallahassee · Member since 2019 · 249 posts · 93 votes
3y
I do a white because it's easy but depends on your market and design. Look into wallpapers too if you are trying to stand out
1 Reply
Michael Brattelli
Real Estate Broker · Medford, NJ · Member since 2018 · 236 posts · 177 votes
3y
@Brian Keyser I use “Creamy” by Sherwin Williams with white trim. Need a few coats to cover but it’s a great light neutral color.
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Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
3y
Unless the customer requested otherwise, we used to use Beige walls, Swiss coffee trim and flat 001 White ceilings. Except eggshell finish in bathrooms.
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Allen Bounds
Architect · Pensacola, FL · Member since 2014 · 15 posts · 9 votes
3y
Whatever you choose make sure the painters apply 2 coats. If you don't apply 2 coats any touch-ups you do in the later years will be noticeable.
...and I have heard all the painter excuses and "thick coat" arguments.
3 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Allen Bounds:

Whatever you choose make sure the painters apply 2 coats. If you don't apply 2 coats any touch-ups you do in the later years will be noticeable.
...and I have heard all the painter excuses and "thick coat" arguments.

Primer and 2 coats....
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Scott Mac
Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
3y
I agree grey is being surpassed by white.

But, there is grey, and there is grey.

Not all greys are the same.

I don't do AirBnB (own or stay) , but

One of the decorators I worked with explained to me on a whole house basis they are trying to create a feel. A feel that make the (lead) (Desire to make the buy decision enough to buy), and make the place have something memorable about it--if they don't (buy) now, so they can come back to the right place.

I would never do my personal house this way, but for a vacation place I think this looks (interesting and relaxing) and a little upscale (meaning it will cost a little more than plain vanilla).

But as I said I don't do AirBnB...I'm a Hotel/Motel guy.

Just some pics off the internet, to demonstrate what to me is (Feel) and memorableness using a tone of grey in a way that is not (IMO) a dated look.

What do you AirBnB people think of this--too much risk due to to much uniqueness? What if it were in Paris or Milan Italy? What if it were in a water view high-rise unit in Chicago?

What do you think it would rent for? Do you think it would be a dog in he market and just sit - or rent slower than others at the same price point?

Or is it too grey and in the rear view mirror for an AirBnB?

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Scott Mac
Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
3y
I thought this would provoke some short term rental discussion about colors (???)
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Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Scott Mac:

I thought this would provoke some short term rental discussion about colors (???)
I think everyone has already commented on their favorite colors. Seems like beiges tans and whites are the winners, and grays are now passé. :-)
1 Reply
Colleen F.Pro Member
Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
3y
@Brian Keyser Whatever you do it should co-ordinate with your flooring and trim especially if the trim is wood. Might use some online visualization tools.
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Jonathan R McLaughlin
Rental Property Investor · Boston, Massachusetts (MA) · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
3y
Scott Mac's photos look a little over the top law firm to me. A bold choice that will delight some and turn others off.
Whenever you design for broad appeal, don't do the max on any one design, do a restrained version of it. Boring way to live your life, but great advice for painting :)
Or as a fabulous friend of mine once said "Darling, always take one thing off!"
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