The Best Paint Colors for a Rental Property

Attract More Tenants and Reduce Turnover Costs

If you are a landlord with a rental property, then you know that attracting and keeping tenants can be difficult. One way to make your property more attractive to potential tenants is to paint the walls a color that they will love. In this blog post, we will discuss the best paint colors for a rental property and how they can help you attract more tenants, get higher rent, and reduce turnover costs.

Choose Trendy but Neutral Paint Colors

Some of the best colors to paint a rental property are trendy but neutral. These colors will appeal to a wide range of potential tenants and will make your property more marketable. Some good examples of trendy but neutral colors include gray, beige, taupe, and white.

These colors are popular for a reason; they are versatile and can be used in any type of decorating style. They also have the added benefit of making a space feel larger and brighter. If you want to attract more tenants and get higher rent, then consider painting your rental property with one of these trendy but neutral colors.

If you pick a gray color stick with grays that have warm undertones. These colors will give your rental a warmer and more inviting feeling. If you choose to go with white, then make sure that it is a bright white, as this color can also be used in any type of decorating style.

Here are our four picks:

Revere Pewter HC-172 by Benjamin Moore

Revere Pewter is a light gray color with warm undertones. It works especially well with traditional wood cabinets and trims. It has an earthy, natural look, that’s why it works so well with wood.

  • LRV: 55.51 – LRV is Light Reflectance Value (0-100). It’s a value that shows how light or dark the color will appear on your walls or more to the point how much light it will reflect back into the room. The higher the number the lighter the color will appear.
  • RGB: 204 196 184
  • HEX: #CCC4B8

Agreeable Gray SW 7029 by Sherwin Williams

Agreeable Gray has been the darling of home remodelers and landlords for the last couple of years for a reason. It’s the perfect blend between gray and beige, making it perfect for any style of decorating. Top 50 Colors

  • R:209G:203B:193
  • Hex Value:#d1cbc1
  • LRV: 60

Color Collections: Reasoned, Pottery Barn, Living Well – Renew, Top 50 Colors

Edgecomb Gray HC-173 by Benjamin Moore

Edgecomb Gray is another warm gray, it’s a soft, organic greige color that works well in any type of space.

  • LRV of 63.88
  • Red 81%, Yellow 85%; Blue 77%
  • Hex Value: #dada1c4

Repose Gray paint color SW 7015 by Sherwin-Williams

Repose Gray is one of the top 50 colors of the Sherwin-Williams paint. It’s a cooler gray with some warm undertones.

  • R:204 G:201 B:192
  • Hex Value:#ccc9c0
  • LRV:58

Visit Builder Model Homes to Borrow Ideas

If you are unsure of what color to paint your rental property, then you can always visit a builder model home. Builder model homes are filled with trendy and neutral paint colors that will appeal to potential tenants. By borrowing ideas from these homes, you can be sure that you are choosing a color that will be popular with renters.

Be Sure to Use Paint That is Durable

When painting a rental property, it is important to use good quality paint. Tenants may not be as careful with their belongings as you are, so it is important to choose paint that can withstand everyday wear and tear. This doesn’t mean gloss or semi-gloss. Semi-gloss paint only looks good on trim and door, despite what you may have heard from other landlords. It’s a myth that has been passed down for generations. That’s why many rentals look like school cafeterias. If you want durable paint that will withstand everyday wear and tear, then choose a satin or flat finish. These finishes are just as durable as semi-gloss and look much better.

Stick to One Color

Sticking to one color makes it super easy to do touch-ups. You won’t have to worry about finding the right shade of paint or trying to match different colors. When you use one color throughout the rental property, touch-ups will be a breeze.

If you have more than one property use the same colors for all.

Paint Colors to Avoid

There are some paint colors that you should avoid when painting a rental property. These include bright and bold colors, dark colors, and busy patterns. Bright and bold colors can be overwhelming for tenants and may make them feel uncomfortable in their new home. Dark colors can make a space feel small and cramped, which is not ideal for tenants.

Best Paint Colors for Interior Walls

The best paint colors for interior walls are light and neutral colors. These colors will make the space feel bright, airy, and welcoming. Some good examples of light and neutral colors include white, beige, gray, and taupe.

Best Color for Trim and Doors

White is the best color for baseboards, doors, and trim. We use semi-gloss white paint that gives rooms a crisp and clean look. It contrasts with the satin paint on the walls.

The Best Exterior Paint

If your property is located in a deed-restricted community with Home Owner’s Association, you may not have much of a choice but to pick from the available color samples.

For other rental properties, look at what colors builders are using. They do a lot of research on trends and tastes in each area they sell. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, just use their knowledge to your advantage.

Gray is the best color for exterior paint because it has a modern look, but will not clash with any style of home. It also provides good contrast against other colors like green and brown.

How to Do Touch-ups of the Entire Rental Property in a Couple of Hours

Paint touch-ups are inevitable, no matter how well your tenants take care of your rental property. But there is a way to do them quickly and easily so that they don’t take up too much of your time.

When you know exactly the color of the paint and the sheen you have used touch up is a breeze. When the walls are overall very dirty, we just roll the entire wall with an 18″ roller without cutting. It literally takes only a couple of hours to repaint the entire property and it looks like it’s freshly painted.

Read this article if you want to match a paint color exactly.

If you are looking for more ideas on how to maintain and manage your rental property, be sure to check out our blog. Thanks for reading!

About the author

Chris Christo owns a property maintenance company and writes for Rentce on all rental maintenance topics.
He is also a rehabber and a landlord.
When he doesn’t work on properties or writes about properties, he can be found fishing.