Make Your Multi-Family Building the Talk of the Neighborhood!
Repainting a multi-family property is more than a maintenance decision. It is a once a century marketing opportunity. While giving it a fresh coat of paint can clean up the appearance, color can bring new life and purpose to an apartment building.
Are you trying to stay competitive in a crowded multi-family market? Maybe you want to seamlessly blend into a historic neighborhood, or stand out in a busy urban area where attention is hard to come by?
Or maybe you want to increase your property’s income potential and overall value.
With the right colors, you could accomplish all of these goals. The Sherwin-Williams color pallets discussed in this blog will do just that for you. Let’s look into some of the most exciting multi-family painting interior and exterior options of 2019!
Continue reading to find out how you can make your multi-family building truly stand out from the rest!
Sherwin-Williams Multi-Family Collection
Easy Eclectic
Inspired by the “less is more” lifestyle, your property will ooze with exceptional taste. This pallet blends bold clean colors that allow the room to highlight what matters most.
This pallet was designed for all age ranges but may cater to a millenial age group that desires simplicity in modern design. SW 70004 Snowbound is a perfect off-white to allow each color in this pallet to pop.
The exterior pallet will make your building pop too with the contrast of Software SW 7074 and Misty SW 6232. A clean and elegant design that is sure to stand the test of time.
Global Adventure
Inspired by culture and craft, this collection is made of saturated hues and earthy neutrals. This pallet speaks to the nomadic lifestyle and the notion that home is where you make it.
This pallet was designed for all age ranges. It works well with oak cabinets and beige carpets, which are very common in many units today. Heartthrob SW 6866 makes a perfect accent wall choice.
The exterior pallet will make your building pop with the contrast of earthy neutrals like Tamarind SW 7538 and saturated hues like In the Navy SW 9178.
Soft Minimalism
The Soft Minimalism collection is comprised of tinted neutrals and is influenced by stillness. This pallet will add relaxation to any room with its calming colors designed to help residents unwind. It is perfect for high-end apartments with an open floor plan. Sashay Sand SW 6051 pairs nicely with warm gray and beige tones.
The exterior pallet is simple yet classy and will give your building an added element of prestige. Soft Minimalism is a more sophisticated pallet, perfect for an older demographic and would pair nicely with dark cabinetry.
Don’t have dark cabinets but love this pallet? No problem! Did you know Truline does cabinet refinishing? Click here for more info
Good Vibes
There truly are “good vibes” all around with this color palette. The light and airy-hues of the good vibes color palette are sure to produce feelings of zen, peace, and inner-calmness.
Give your residents a place where they can truly unwind and let go of the stress of the day.
Origami White SW7636 is a perfect white to accentuate the expressive pops of zen color provided by Cloudburst SW6487 and Roycroft Rose SW0034.
Virtual Pop
This collection is sure to make a statement in any multi-family unit. A perfect backdrop for positivity and new thoughts, this pallet blends high-energy pops of colors like green and yellow with whites and blacks. This would work well for a trendy or urban apartment community close to nightlife and retail and is perfect for student housing or millennials.
Looking to balance out neutrals with a pop? Try using Organic Green SW 6732 and Grape Harvest SW 6285 with a clean neutral color. The exterior can modernize a building with bold pops of color like Drizzle SW 6479.
Go the Extra Mile
Color has the ability to dress up a tired space and bring life into a room. A common misconception is that everything has to be white in a multi-family unit. One trend that many apartment owners are observing is that residents are willing to pay more for a unit that feels customized. By simply painting the interior of your units a color like soft gray, you can create a homey atmosphere that will draw-in tenants. This will convey the message that you’re willing to go the extra mile.
Beyond the Units
Painting doesn’t stop just at the exterior or interior the units. Investing in the common areas is a great way to add a sense of community and purpose to your building. By using warm and inviting colors, you can create focal points where residents will want to spend time. This can be a great selling feature to prospective tenants. Another trend becoming more common in urban areas is many residents are spending less time inside their units and are valuing common areas in their decision on where to live. Creating a social gathering hub can all be started with the right paint colors. Sherwin-Williams has plenty of great color options that can maximize your common area’s potential.
The warm gray wall color brings together this cozy common area
Quick FAQ’s
How can I make a small multi-family unit feel bigger?
Light colors can liven up a room and make it feel larger. Try using an off-white, green, or blue. Adding a lighter-colored trim can also create an elusion of space. As the trend of living in smaller spaces continues and the demand for apartments keeps growing in places like San Diego, smaller units (micro-units) will become much more common. Adding color can help maximize space.
How can I make my space feel warm and inviting?
Using a light “griege” (gray and beige combined) can add warmth and coziness to any room. Warm colors tend to close in large spaces which can create cozy spaces in any room. According to Zillow, griege was one of the most popular paint shades in a living room for 2017 and the trend seems to be continuing.
What is the go-to “classic” color for an interior?
White doesn’t have to be boring. Trying using off-whites and warm, light grays. These can play well to just about any prospective tenants taste. Thankfully, Sherwin-Williams provides an array of warm, neutral colors that will be perfect for any project. An apartment with a warm or neutral color tends to be much more inviting than something that is white. Orgamic White Sw 7636 and Snowbound SW7004 (mentioned above) are great examples of off-whites that are anything but boring.
What about the exterior of a multi-family building?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to painting the exterior of a multfamily building. It is important to consider factors like your neighborhood, demographics, and surrounding properties. After considering those factors, look for a color that will help your property stand out from the rest. Utilizing the right trim colors is a perfect way to dress up a tired building.
Our team of expert color-design consultants can help take the guessing out of the equation. Learn more about it by clicking here to visit our “services” tab!
The Verdict
The San Diego multi-family market is continuing to grow at a rapid pace, and as a result, tenants will start to desire more out of their living spaces. Investing in a major capital improvement like a new paint job can increase your bottom line by allowing you to charge higher rents, attract more tenants, and stay competitive in a growing market. It also has the added benefit of reducing long-term maintenance costs.
They say first impressions are everything, so why not hit a home-run by giving your multi-family building a new interior and exterior paint job!
Schedule your free estimate today and let us transform your multi-family property!
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I recommend that you take out a piece of paper and write down your 
– Factor in things like landscaping when choosing the right color pallet. You want to make sure that the colors complement your landscape rather than clash. Your goal should be to create a harmonious appearance.
– Are you in a historic area that is predominantly brick? Or maybe in a trendier urban area with concrete? You want to make sure you pick colors that will compliment your surrounding buildings.
After you’ve weighed several factors and looked at different pallets, it’s time to see it in action. If you’ve ever been to a paint store before, you know it can be overwhelming looking at dozens of paint cards and trying to visualize what it would look like on your property.
