So you’ve just bought a rental property, or maybe your tenants have just moved out, and you’re wondering how to get the most out of your investment. A simple paint job is one of the easiest ways to freshen up the space and attract high-quality tenants. But what are the best paint colours for rental properties?
George.Painting has decades of experience helping landlords find the right paint to suit their properties. We’ll help you choose a simple, neutral palette to give your investment a timeless quality, all while making sure the paint is durable enough to stand up to some wear and tear for high-traffic areas.
Key Principles for Rental Property Colour Selection
Ever walked into a rental and been instantly put off by a bold red feature wall or a bright yellow that makes your eyes hurt? The colour of a space immediately sets the tone, and you want to make sure you make a good first impression.
When you’re looking for the right colour for a rental property, the rules are a little different than when selecting paint for a home you own. You’ll have to think about a colour palette that appeals to a broad audience rather than tailoring it to your personal tastes. Here are some key principles to keep in mind when you’re flicking through different colour charts.
Neutral Base
Tenants have varied tastes, and where some might prefer big, bold feature walls, others might want to keep things plain and simple. Neutral colours provide a blank canvas on which tenants can project their own style. Neutral doesn’t mean boring either. It allows them to imagine their belongings in the space since almost any style will match the tone of the room.
Neutral shades are maintenance-friendly too, which comes in handy when tenants are moving furniture in and out. Scuffs are much less obvious than with a pure white shade, so you won’t have to worry about constant touch-ups.
Durability
The right paint for rentals needs to look good and last. When you’re showing new tenants around your property, you don’t want to have to tell them to ignore the kids’ fingerprint marks in the bedroom or place furniture around to hide scuff marks.
Every property faces the challenge of dirty hands, spills, and scratches, but rentals face the extra difficulty of furniture constantly coming and going. You need a paint that’s both washable and hard-wearing. Semi-gloss or low-sheen finishes work well, since they hide bumps and scuffs and protect against stains. Having washable paint means it can handle repeated cleanings.
Light Enhancement
Many rentals have smaller rooms or limited natural light, so using lighter tones helps spaces feel open (we call them space openers). Lighter shades have many benefits for small spaces, including:
- Reflect light: In tight spaces where light is limited, lighter shades help bounce light around the room to create an expansive feeling.
- Continuous space: A consistent colour scheme means there are no visual breaks, expanding the perceived size of the room.
- Complement available light: The right undertones can enhance the space and provide a feeling of warmth, which is great for cosy bedrooms.
Consistency
Using a consistent palette across rooms creates a flow throughout the property. It visually connects all the different spaces and makes them feel larger, especially in open-plan homes.
It’s also easier for ongoing maintenance and touch-ups, since you won’t have to worry about blending different hues or colour matching. It also helps you hide wear and tear, since you can paint high-traffic areas to create an even finish.
Contrast
Creating subtle contrast between the walls, ceiling, and trim enhances depth and visual interest in a room. Using slightly varied shades of the same colour family helps define architectural details, making each element stand out without appearing harsh. This approach creates a fresh, modern aesthetic while maintaining balance throughout the space.
Recommended Colour Schemes
Living and Dining Rooms
These are the communal spaces where your tenants will spend most of their downtime. You want to create a calm, inviting space that they can imagine themselves lounging in.
- Ceiling: In most cases, we find that flat white is the norm, which helps hide imperfections minimizes glare from light, and makes rooms appear larger and brighter
- Walls: A warm, soft grey like Dulux Dieskau is perfect for any interior space, but it works particularly well in living spaces to create a calming mood.
- Timberwork: Using a semi-gloss white here helps you create a subtle contrast with the walls, giving your space a modern appeal that works beautifully with timber floors and neutral furniture.
This combination will help bounce light around the space and make it more inviting.
Bedrooms
Bedrooms should feel peaceful, so it’s best to avoid anything gaudy or distracting.
- Walls: A warm neutral like Dulux Natural White gives tenants a clean, calming canvas while also helping reflect light to make the space feel more airy.
- Timberwork: A semi-gloss white adds to the restful mood, hides scuff marks, and gives tenants the flexibility to add their personality to the space with furnishings.
Avoid bright reds, oranges, or yellows in bedrooms, since these colours can feel too energetic and hinder a relaxed and restful mood.
Kitchens and Bathrooms
Rooms with high moisture levels need special attention to finish choices. These spaces work best with paints made for humid conditions that you can wash or scrub. Semi-gloss or satin finishes resist moisture and minimise moisture build-up on the ceilings. They also handle splatters and steam well over time.
It’s recommended to invest in a mould-resistant paint or a mould poison paint additive to lower the chance of mould growing on the ceilings in the wet areas and avoid the costly process of treating and repainting mouldy ceilings.
Other Recommended Wall Colours
Sticking to a neutral palette might sound like it’s limiting your choices, but there are still plenty of options to work through. It can be overwhelming staring at a bunch of different shades in the same family, so here are a few more recommendations to make the search easy.
- Dulux Tranquil Retreat: This mid-tone grey is slightly darker than Dieskau but still popular among rentals to attract tenants, especially in short-term furnished rentals and AirBNBs.
- Dulux Terrace White: A somewhat deceptive name, since this is actually a very light grey. It’s great for some spaces, but it may feel too pale in others.
- Dulux Silkwort: This is one of many options for a balanced soft grey that makes your space feel modern but not overpowering.
- Some other commonly used colours in rentals, especially in apartment buildings, include Lexicon Half, Manubern, Lexicon Quarter, and Snowy Mountain Quarter.
If you’re still struggling to pick the right colour, you’ve come to the right place. As Dulux Accredited colour consultants, George Painting can help you select the perfect shade for every space in your rental property. Reach out to us if you’re having trouble, and we can overlay the options on real pictures of your home to help you visualise each colour.
Why These Colours Work in Rentals
They appeal to a wide range of tenants
Neutral greys and whites create a clean and adaptable canvas that appeals to a wide range of tenants. These tones work effortlessly with most furniture styles, from contemporary and minimalist to traditional and rustic, allowing renters to personalise their space without clashing with the wall colours.
By keeping interiors versatile and light, you broaden your property’s appeal, making it easier to attract long-term, quality tenants who can imagine making it their own.
They reduce the need for frequent repainting
Classic shades like soft greys and whites will outlast short-lived design trends, ensuring your property looks stylish for years to come. Unlike bold or dark feature walls that may quickly feel dated or limit styling options, neutral tones provide a balanced, enduring backdrop.
These subtle shades keep your interiors fresh and relevant, minimising the need for frequent repainting or costly updates over time.
They simplify touch-ups between tenancies
While pure white can easily show scuffs, dust, and fingerprints, a soft grey or warm off-white conceals everyday marks while still reflecting light to make rooms feel spacious and inviting. This makes maintenance easier for both your tenants and property managers, reducing the need for constant touch-ups and making sure your property continues to look clean and well-presented throughout tenancies.
They can boost resale value
Neutral interiors also enhance the overall presentation of your property, both in person and in marketing materials. Light, consistent colours don’t just help rooms appear larger and brighter; they also allow potential buyers or tenants to imagine their own furniture and style in the space. This emotional connection can increase perceived value and lead to faster sales or lease agreements.
Practical Painting Tips for Landlords
Over the years, we’ve seen more than a few DIY paint jobs where people haven’t prepared the surface or used the right paint. If you want to avoid being accused of pulling a landlord special, here are some practical tips to help you get the best finish:
- Use semi-gloss or low-sheen finishes for walls to make cleaning easier.
- Stick to one main wall colour throughout the property for cost savings and simple touch-ups.
- Keep ceilings, doors, and trims white to maintain contrast and reduce complexity.
- Recoat high-traffic areas like hallways and kitchens more frequently than bedrooms.
- Don’t allow tenants to do any painting work; always seek a professional. We have seen this end badly almost every time tenants are allowed to do touch-ups
When should you repaint rental properties?
Rental properties typically need repainting every 3-5 years, with high-traffic areas needing more frequent attention. The best time to paint is right after tenants move out, but long-term tenants might appreciate a fresh paint job after 5-7 years as a lease renewal incentive.
When to call in the experts
DIY touch-ups can save money between tenants, but professionals often provide better value for full repaints. Professional painters deliver quality results for complete repaints or major repairs.
Professionals also come in handy for paintwork upkeep. Keeping up with your rental property’s maintenance can feel overwhelming, especially when you try to do everything yourself, but painting is something you can easily leave to the experts.
Our painting maintenance plans take care of the hard work for you, with options for one-off projects or structured plans that make it easy to stay on top of the paintwork. Our experts know what to look out for, spotting defects and touching up problem areas before tenants start complaining. We can colour match to your existing colours or provide the best advice to help you refresh the space with the best coating for high-traffic areas.
Find the Best Colours For Your Rental With George.Painting
Choosing the right paint colours for your rental property doesn’t have to be a pain. Stick to timeless, light shades like Dulux Dieskau or Natural White with clean white trims. These shades are a safe and stylish choice that helps attract quality tenants, all while keeping your maintenance costs down.
Here at George.Painting, we’ll help you get it right the first time. We’ll help you select the perfect colours to complement your property, making the most of available light and space. Our team understands the rental market in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, and we know how to paint for it.
Reach out for expert advice and a quote on your rental property.