As a professional craftsman, I have had a front row seat to literally thousands of home improvement projects. We have been involved with new construction, simple repaints, complete remodels, and everything in between. It has been fascinating to watch homeowners and realtors argue back and forth about what projects add value and/or help sell a house that is going on the market. And then watch the listings to see how quickly a house sells and for what kind of value. I wish I would have kept better notes on this because it would make a great book. But since I did not, here is a quick blog on 5 Interior Paint Projects That Increase Home Value.
2-Story Open Foyer
The 2-story open foyer is the first thing everyone sees on the inside of a house (assuming you have and open foyer; if you don’t, insert entry way here). These areas set the tone for the rest of the house and are important to keep up to date. If you are preparing your home for resale, painting this area increases your home value because it is the area homeowners are least likely to paint for themselves. Even the most savvy DIYer will avoid an open foyer like the plague because, you know, tall ladders. Save custom colors for bedrooms and stick with something neutral here. Sherwin Williams Repose Gray or Kilim Beige are a great place to start for just enough color.
Cinder Block In Basement
I honestly don’t know how cinder block even made this made list at all. Cinder Block is miserable to paint, and I would not be disappointed if we never got another call to do this. BUT it is great for adding value because it is visually pleasing and also functional for moisture protection. The reason painting block is challenging is its extreme porosity. Larger brushes, thicker rollers, and denser paint must be be used, and this can get HEAVY. Drylok or Drylok Extreme work best for moisture protection due to its thickness, Sherwin Williams Loxon also works well. (We technically prefer Loxon for outdoor brick with tighter pores, but it will do just fine as a substitute). For a more detailed tutorial go here https://www.justaddpaint.net/how-to-paint-cinder-block-walls-in-the-basement
Bathrooms
Bathrooms made the list because let’s face it, they can get pretty gross. And even when kept clean, this is an area most people moving into a new home would want a fresh start in. Common problems we encounter are sooty ceilings from candles, hairspray/soap/toothpaste residue on the wall, and I don’t even want to guess what the buildup is on the baseboard. The bathroom is one of the rare places a stain blocking primer may be necessary. Use TSP or a TSP substitute to clean the walls first, and if any residue remains, use an oil or shellac-based primer. Some latex primers offer good protections as well, but oil and shellac block a wider variety of problems. Blue/green grays are trending in bathrooms at the moment, so check out Sherwin Williams Sea Salt and Contented. Oh – and use an eggshell finish for moisture protection.
Stairways
Stairways are challenging to reach for the average homeowner, and who wants to stand on a Little Giant Ladder anyway (oops I gave away the secret)? They made the list because they get a ton of use, and win the “most touched by children’s hands” award year after year. This is another area that a nice neutral paint will do the trick. If this is a stairway leading to the basement or attic, a white or off white will keep things bright. Both an eggshell and flat work well. Eggshell is nice for it’s cleanability, flat is better for hiding imperfections.
Kitchen Cabinets
Last but not least, no “painting projects that increase home value” list is complete without kitchen cabinets. This is one of the more costly value-adding projects on the list, but also one of the most rewarding in the long term. If done correctly! Nothing dates a kitchen like old wooden cabinets, and replacing them costs a fortune. Painting kitchen cabinets modernizes a kitchen in about a week’s time, and breathes new life into the space whether you are planning to sell or stay in your forever. Buyer beware on this renovation, about 1/4 of the kitchen cabinets jobs we get called in for were botched by someone not qualified. Make sure you do your research. Here is a link to another blog we wrote that will help eliminate the riff raff. https://www.justaddpaint.net/hire-contractor-paint-kitchen-cabinets .
We hope you have enjoyed this blog about Just Add Paint’s 5 Interior Paint Projects That Increase Home Value. Please feel free to reach out to us for estimates – and also if you are a DIYer and just have some questions we can answer in an email. We are happy to talk shop about all things painting even if you are planning to do a job yourself!
