Choosing paint is a challenge for many multifamily property owners, managers, and investors, but learning a few simple tricks of the trade may help you attract quality tenants who are comfortable, at ease, and willing to pay a premium for their living spaces. Choosing the best paint for a particular area involves more than just color selection – you also have to consider a paint’s sheen, or glossiness, and how it affects your building’s functionality and aesthetics.
Different paint finishes deliver different benefits. What works great in, say, an outdoor setting or common area may not do the same inside your apartments. Before you decide on what paint to use for your multifamily property, consider the following.
1. Sheen/Glossiness
When it comes to painting, “The higher the sheen, the higher the shine.” High-gloss paint is particularly shiny, then, and with shininess comes durability. A high-gloss, high-sheen paint is ideal for high-traffic areas such as the kitchen, where the walls may require regular cleaning. Another appropriate application for a higher gloss paint is in bathrooms where water and condensation are present. A non-gloss paint, on the other hand, such as one with an eggshell, satin or matte finish, might be better suited for bedrooms or living rooms.
2. Color
Color is always an important factor when it comes to painting selection. When you’re working with a multifamily property, you want to make sure your color choices have broad appeal – so working with a relatively neutral color palette may serve you well. If you want to use bold colors, consider using them for small accents or even the apartment doors. When you want to work with multiple colors, consider complementary colors, or colors that appear next to one another on the color wheel, to maximize impact and ensure the combination pleases the eye.
3. Room Use
The colors and paint sheens that work best inside apartments may differ from those that perform well in community areas. If you want to make a community space appear larger, for example, consider using lighter, cooler color hues. If you want high-durability paint in your common areas that will stand the test of time and require minimal maintenance, consider a high-gloss variety in a neutral shade, such as gray, white, or tan.
Paint selection does more than impact the aesthetic appeal of a space – it also impacts the overall impression it makes. Whether you’re renovating an existing building or constructing one from the ground up, Wheelhouse Construction can help you create a space that appeals to your target demographic and entices tenants to stay.
