This Colorful Paint Trend Is Everywhere — But Some Real Estate Pros Say Don’t Try It This Winter
The color-drenching trend was everywhere in 2024, and experts think that it will be just as big in 2025. Saturated hues made their way from the walls to the trim of walls up to the ceiling, and beyond. The look is dramatic, stylish, sophisticated, and a clear rebuke of the all-white walls that have dominated real estate trends for the past decade.
It makes sense that it’s everywhere — it looks fabulous and has a delightfully enveloping feel. That is, until you’re trying to sell a house in the winter.
Sellers will often give their home a dose of the latest trends before putting it on the market, hoping to attract buyers looking for a move-in ready home that feels of the moment. Paint color is usually high on the list of those premarket design priorities, and that means 2024 pushed stagers and sellers alike toward color-drenched spaces.
But real estate pros aren’t so sure that all color drenching reads well in every season. I asked two agents what they think of color-drenched homes on the market this winter — and for their tips in helping lighten them up on darker days.
The Problem with When Color Drenching Goes Dark
On sunny, warm days, a buyer can walk into a color-drenched room and be hit by how current the space feels, like something pulled off of an Instagram feed (in a good way).
But, as the weather turns colder and grayer, buyers can respond to moody, saturated rooms differently — especially when the color-drenching choices are dark, deep, and moody themselves. Light green color drenching may work in every season, but some buyers may be turned off by bolder, deeper colors in the winter months.
The homes may also look better or appeal more in photographs to buyers than when they see the homes in real life.
Lindsey Harn, a real estate agent with Christie’s International Real Estate, says that in some cases, there may be a disconnect between what the buyer saw while scrolling Zillow, and what they feel when they actually walk in the home.
“Photographers are really good at brightening up even the darkest homes,” Harn says. “So, when a buyer walks into an open house, they could almost feel caught off guard, closed off especially if it is an overcast day.”
Staging Color-Drenched Spaces in the Winter
If you’ve already gone all in on color drenching and you’re considering listing your house this winter, all is not lost. Harn notes that staging can complement the saturated look to make it feel warm and cozy rather than oppressive on a gray winter day.
“Design trends like color drenching might feel more energizing in the warmer months when natural light is more abundant, but they can still work in the winter as long as they’re done thoughtfully,” says Dawson Boyer, broker and owner of Providence Hill Real Estate.
Lean into the darker, color-drenched vibe by incorporating cozy elements, like blankets by the fireplace that make you want to curl up on a chilly afternoon, staging elements in the kitchen that make buyers think of slow mornings with a steaming hot cup of coffee, and details that add organic texture and warmth.
“Incorporate warm and cozy, fuzzy blankets by the fireplace, and make the buyer feel what it’s like to live in the home during the winter months,” Harn says.
Isoldi adds that cleaner, vibrant decor will also make the clients feel happier, even if the rooms are dark and drenched. “Fresh flowers go a long way anytime, but especially in the winter,” Isoldi explains. “Swapping out [dark] throw pillows with brighter colors can also make a dark room feel more inviting.”
And, at the end of the day, your house is your house. If you have zero plans to sell it — and want to drench your space in as much color as possible — go all in on the drenching. Or, sell it in the summer!
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