Ensuring that communities are up to date on current design trends is a key component to attracting and retaining residents.
While it’s not practical to constantly update expensive items such as cabinets and appliances, paint can make a dramatic change to the look and feel of a property at a relatively low cost. The color mind-set of interior and exterior paint design remains a constant driver in helping residents feel at home in their apartments.
Keep it Neutral
Neutral color combinations continue to dominate apartment homes, because they allow residents to put their own personality stamp on the interior. Grays, such as Behr’s Antique Tin, continues to remain a top choice, and is often paired with other light neutrals (such as taupe) for a more elegant feel. Colors such as white, off-white, beige, soft blue or black are trendy for areas where residents seek refuge and comfort, such as bedrooms and family rooms.
In common areas, choosing the right color combination is becoming more important, especially for Millennials who seek amenity spaces to relax and socialize. Those areas provide opportunities for property managers to get creative with different color combinations.
Each year BEHR introduces Color Currents, which presents 20 limited edition trend colors that are interchangeable and mix-and-match for every space. This year, palettes range from “comfortable” colors such as muted pastels to “composed” colors featuring a mix of mysterious Earth colors and deep jewel tones, to the ‘confident’ palette which embodies citrus-inspired yellow and mid-century modern orange tones ideal for an accent wall. This is a great guide to consult before embarking on a property-wide project.
Prime the Palette
When overseeing any paint job, ensure your team is using the correct primer. Priming is a key component when painting interior and exterior walls to increase adhesion, enhance the paint sheen, retain a uniform appearance and block stains. Water stains and knots in bare wood are examples of stains that may require specific formulations. Also, more vibrant paint colors might require a gray primer or one tinted with a small amount of the topcoat color to improve coverage.
The newest developments in this area are primers that kill odors and mold. If previous residents had pets or smoked inside, the scent will probably seep into the walls. In addition to a thorough cleaning, odor-killing primer and a new paint job may be necessary before new residents move in. Brands such as Zinsser offer mold-killing primers that contain a microbial registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that destroys mold, mildew and other fungal organisms, as well as preventing future growth. These primers may be necessary for older properties or areas that have trouble with mold.
Tech Out
Technology can help visualize and bring to life paint jobs both large and small. Use The Home Depot’s Project Color App to visualize, match or find the perfect colors for the property. The app allows phones to take pictures of actual spaces and display them with all of the new colors to find the perfect fit. Once a color is chosen, bring a sample to the store to make sure you get the best paint match. The Home Depot now offers digital color-matching technology that can duplicate any color, no matter the brand. Keep this in mind if additional touch up paint is needed.
Healthy Materials
Many residents, especially those with children, might have concerns about the chemicals used at the community.
One often cited is Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids, notably paint. According to the EPA, VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have adverse health effects. All of Home Depot’s latex-based paints are low- and zero-VOC, which allows painters to ensure healthy indoor air quality for residents.
A fresh coat of paint can transform any space.
Make sure to stay up on the trends and work with the maintenance team to ensure the correct materials are used. From new color palettes to premium primers, these updates are essential for resident retention and property aesthetics.