Is a colourful home harder to sell?

Here at The Pink House, we’re often asked questions along the lines of:

‘I love the idea of colourful walls, but would it be silly to decorate my home like that when I want to sell in a couple of years? Don’t potential buyers want to see a ‘blank canvas’’

And we always answer with a resounding: ‘Decorate in whatever way makes you happy RIGHT NOW!’ Because a house is meant to be lived in; to be your bubble of ‘you’ away from the rest of the world, so do what you damn well please with your decor.

That said, we acknowledge conventional wisdom says that a leopard print ceiling and polka dot loo might put off *some* potential buyers when the time does come to sell.

So we talked to Rosie Falcon, Director of Home Sales at The Modern House, an online estate agent that has quickly established itself as the pinnacle of effortless and stylish home buying, to get her top tips on how we can love our home right now, while ensuring we get a fair price for it in the future…

Tapestries to #sparkjoy at Micthell Street, currently for sale on The Modern House

PH: Are minimalist homes easier to sell than maximalist ones?

Rosie: On the whole, I would say more minimal as it is easier for people to imagine themselves and their stuff in the space. That said, a totally blank canvas can have the converse effect and make it difficult for a potential buyer to understand how the space works in practice.

Aerobonkersness (it’s a word) at The Old Aeroworks Penthouse, also for sale at The Modern House

PH: So in your opinion, is it good to show some personality in the space?

Rosie: Often, our audience is buying into the vision of the current owner and ultimately, their taste and personality. Furniture is often sold with the house, or in a recent instance, the new owners bought exactly the same furniture as the previous owners!

PH: OK, so to what extent should you re-decorate just before listing your property? Any key tips or areas that are overlooked that can help sales?

Rosie: It always helps if the property looks fresh and cared for, but it really depends on the period and style of the place. The most important thing is keeping it clean and tidy! People can sometimes be put off by extreme colours too. For example, we had a house with a neon green bathroom. The owner decided to paint it white for the sale to make it more neutral and that made a difference.

Plants solve everything – seen here at West Bank House

PH: And if you can’t face a full redecoration, what quick wins will help the property sell?

Rosie: De-clutter. Invest in some plants.

PH: What are some of your favourite maximalist or expressively-decorated homes that have been listed on The Modern House?

Rosie: Mitchell Street in Farringdon, Heneage Street by Brick Lane, The Old Aeroworks Penthouse by the world-renowned architect Sir Terry Farrell in Hatton Street, Berens Road by Kensal Green, West Bank in Stamford Hill, Eagle Mansions in central Dalston, and Histon just outside of Cambridge designed in 1972 by architect David Thurlow of the celebrated Cambridge Design Group.

Thanks Rosie! We’ll keep our colourful walls for now (but we might consider painting over the leopard print ceiling on viewing days). Follow The Modern House on Instagram and read their blog for interiors inspiration and beautifully designed houses for sale.