There are some renovation trends that you need to steer clear of if you want to increase the aesthetic appeal and capital value of your property.
Blogger: Jane Eyles-Bennett, Hotspace Consultants
I recently saw a property investor paint a bright-yellow feature wall in their lounge room, and it prompted me to remind you – don't do it! – even if you think your target market will like it.
Feature walls, also known as accent walls, were a huge interior design trend in the 1980s and 1990s. That fact alone should give you an idea why we encourage you to say “no” to them. These accent walls are often painted a darker colour than the rest of the room, creating a focal point in a room that may not have any other remarkable features.
While you may be tempted to use this method of interior design in your investment property, consider these reasons to choose better ways to create design elements in the home you are selling or attempting to rent out.
What should you do instead? Stick with neutral yet trendy colour schemes for your investment property and avoid feature walls altogether. Stick with other interior design elements to make your house appealing to prospective buyers and renters.
Using furniture and accessories to create focal points and set the atmosphere for a room is a more modern approach and is more easily changed and updated. Staging your property (if selling) with stylish furniture is a much more profitable option than creating an accent wall.
Do you really love feature walls, despite all of this? There are some times when they can work nicely. Rather than use a large, blank wall for an accent wall, use a small area. A wall that is mostly windows or is taken up by a fireplace is already a focal point, so using a different paint colour can enhance its look. Instead of choosing a dark colour, use an option from your home’s colour scheme that is not the same as the rest of the walls in the room. This way, you can create a feature wall while avoiding the dated look.