The safe thing to do is repaint, but don't go with boring beige, ... I'd leave it for now, if it's an issue repaint then... You may want to depersonalize some other items though. Or offer a painting allowance to the new buyers. As a Realtor, it's great to see some personality in homes not all looking like builder models, but there are many more people with NO imaginations out there, so it could be a real turn off. Your area will make a difference too, I am in a very conservative area, so boring here is best :)... ask your Realtor for advise too.

If it's just a couple of walls that is so personal, I would test the market and ask your realtor. I like your home. Chances are buyers will have to personalize any house to their own tastes. If too much negativity, paint is the least expensive thing to do. Sorry Lynne, apparently I was typing my comment and there was yours. lol

I'm a real estate agent in CT. I say paint that very specific pattern over with the beige paint. Many buyers can't visualize something 'not there'.

Why does every Real Estate agent want to paint houses beige ? We live in a coloured world and beige is boring if you ask me . I wouldn't cover art unless I was told by the potential buyers , almost everybody paints over freshly painted walls . This house looks very Eclectic and fun to be in ,let your clients in and let them decide on their own.,

The average person will be way overwhelmed. We are here on Houzz because we love this stuff but you will be cutting out a portion of potential buyers that just don't have the vision of decorating.

I like you Genevieve :) thank you!

You could do a dry run let potential buyers come in and get feed back and then decide you say the market is hot so don't need to worry about losing potential buyers

Sorry , If i sound a bit opinionated:)

Usually a realtor know the clients taste and wants ,

Genevieve- opinions are what this site is all about. But in defense of the real estate people ( I am not one) they probably hear that all day long when they listen to what people say walking in each home for the first time.

Leave it and offer a repainting allowance?

I agree, I know that our house is different and it's not everybody's cup of tea. However I love that our house is different, and there's probably not a house out there like it. But I know that sometimes people can't see past paint colors. I guess we will see how it goes and if we have negative feedback then will paint it. Thank you for everybody's input! I appreciate it!

Depending on the price point of the property... high end properties, the new owner will redo many things, because they have the budgets to do it.... but many "average" buyers, are using most of their resources to get the house in the first place... so safe is beige... personally, I an tired of seeing all the beige too, perhaps something neutral but not beige, depending on the style etc.. like gray tones.? And it is true, MOST people we deal with have NO imagination, they have to see it... and if they SEE something they really don't like, all the talking about repainting in the world won't change their mind.

bheifner, just don't wait too long... not too many negatives... the best activity will be when the house is NEW on the Market, and you don't want to miss out on the best activity which generally means the best price for you too...

I am a Real Estate agent in Florida that loves to decorate. I say leave it as is - at least to start. The harlequin room took time, and the buyers are actually getting an upgrade for free! If you price your home right and have an agent with a strong marketing plan, you should get showings right away. If you get negative comments from the first few showings then paint over it. Good luck - I think you will get an offer quickly.

Try not to be one of those sellers who just can't let go and take everything so personal- after all you changed the house after you bought it...just sayin'

OMG leave as is!! If you live in a booming oilfield area, that will sell like a hotcake!!

Margo we actual built the house ourselfs and painted everything before we moved in.

I sold my first house with the RED kitchen that I always wanted...the stager wanted me to paint it. I chose not to as the rest of the house was based on that room (open floorplan, tiny house) and I had taken time and care with every item in the room for an updated but classic feeling. I did buy a new couch with pillows that matched the red...and the buyer wanted to buy my couch. It was under contract in 12 hours..

(Tis was in a slow market almost three years ago)

I am not saying this house will not sell as is- it is lovely!! Personally, I would not paint it either but I was speaking for the percentage that you may lose. I do not know what area of the country this house is located. Oil Rich? Are you in Texas?

As an agent, I say ASK your agent. Real estate is local and it may not matter in your area. Real estate agents have been out with enough clients to know that there are people who would walk in your house and say no thank you because of the paint. But anyone who likes personalized paint schemes will want their own personalized paint schemes, not yours. And, especially in a hot market, you don't want to wait then paint, and have people wondering what is wrong with your house that it is STILL on the market. Find an agent you trust, then listen to them. Much as one finds a designer/builder/contractor they trust and then they allow them to advise. There is just a huge part of the population that can't look past paint (I've had clients who couldn't look past furniture!)

Oops, wanted to add: Your home is beautiful, and as zennifer said, I would be cautious, because if there is anything in it that you absolutely love and would never consider parting with, that will be the THING the entire deal hinges on! There will be some buyer that will ask for IT, lol.

I would say simplify. Don't repaint the rooms shown. The wonderful harlequin walls are fine to leave as is. The green rooms need to have one third of the stuff removed, including all the dried and fake plants. Take all the wall letters down, remove the drapey curtain things, clear off the mantle, remove religious items. Simplify.

Unless your wall colors are faded or worn in places, then I would save some money and let it be. Your decorating style is a package deal and if you start changing it up, well, it will diminish the look. I think that most people will like the space and layout of the rooms or not. If they like the layout, then they will be able to visualize how they will change it when they buy it. You know they will change it. We all do!

We just bought a place that has dark paneling as wainscoting with wallpaper borders above it. This is throughout the home and looks just horrid to me... But it didn't diminish the 175 year old house's potential, or stop us from buying it. I just looked at it and knew that it was coming down! Yup, we all do it. '-)

As a Realtor, I know that I am going against the trend here, but I would say leave it. People love to see new ideas - just look at how many people go in Open Houses just to check out the way people have decorated. However, I would suggest that you also talk with your Realtor about having a "painting allowance" just in case. That way, it saves you some trouble now, the house looks nice the way it is and it will certainly be memorable, plus it gives those buyers who might want it, but may not have the money to paint right now a way to "have it all." I love the harlequin paint, personally, and know that it's tough to get it right. All the best!

Hey llswink, try painting that paneling! It can be gorgeous and would cost a fortune if you were going to 'put it up'. But, if it's the old 60's-70's panel, then yes, take it down.

And as far as this question, I'm going to have to disagree with Judi and agree with all the posters who say change it. You can see all the 'ideas' you need on the internet and in magazines.

The paint effect you used is darling but would not appeal to the masses. It would take you awhile to find a buyer who would want something so 'specific. I suggest you go to open houses of new homes in your area and see what builders are using to see what the neutrals do. But, don't do builder beige!! Oh no! And remember if you don't present a clean slate for buyers to see what 'they might do or envision their belongings there' then they are spending all their time looking at what you have done and they forget why they are there. Or worse, they are critiquing the things they 'have to change' and that will get them calculating the dollars which translates to lower sales price for you.
You DON'T what them doing that!!!

Give them a clean slate with a color like Sherwin Williams Frostwork SW0059 or some other grayish green or blue with a silvery feel. It's a neutral but not a really cold color is you stay with the tinge of green. Seems to go with just about ANYthing.

I think we can talk til we are blue in the face but anybody who spent this much time and love creating the harlequin wall and all that went into this home is NOT going to paint over it. Leave it and carry on...

I love your neat and crisp harlequin walls in your hallway I wouldn't paint over it. BUT it seems you added a fun accent at each connecting point (I would remove this part, to allow the buyer to visualize painting over it if they wish).

The green room needs to be decluttered- all artificial flowers and plants should be put away and pictures of the family and small accessories should also be put away. The important part of staging a home is remembering that you are SELLING, this means it must look like you aren't attached or it wouldn't take you a long time to pack (this turns buyers away and they can't see themselves in this space).

Can you post more pictures of the living room furniture placement? I will look forward to seeing them for more avice.

Margo, the owner is the one that asked the question in the first place. I do agree, it looks great, but it's not my taste and it's not the taste of the masses, unfortuanately to present a home it it's best light to the most people is to neutralize it, not totally NO personality, but more open to the masses so they can envision themselves living there with THEIR belongings and THEIR tastes. Faster sales for more money is what the owner/seller wants and for that it needs to appeal to buyers and not give them ANY excuses for NOT making that great offer.
Good luck on the sale of your wonderful property and in the future home that I am sure you will love for a long time, bheifner.... and DO personalize that home for yourself.... you have a real talent!

Here's a better picture of living room. You can see where I have my furniture.

I'm not sure why it keeps cutting out the sides of the picture, hopefully this is better.

I love your style. What color paint is your living room?

OKay great picture. So because the walls are so bold in color I would try making the furniture placement a bit more traditional and move the chair to be on the other side on the love seat 9Parallel to the sofa), remove all of the throws (on chair and on coffee table) and the area rug YOUR FLOORS ARE BEAUTIFUL, this can be a selling point and would take away from the wall color. Again remove all artificial plants.

Even in a hot market you want to get the very best price you can. It's crazy but most people just can't picture what could be they only see what is there now. Or maybe they don't want to spend the money or do the work. They just see crazy painted shapes on the wall and a really dark room. I would repaint for sure, the diamond shapes. I would think about repainting in a lighter color the green room because 1) it's not neutral and 2) it looks REALLY dark.

I know, you have a hot market and sure, someone will probably go for your house, but you want LOTS of people to go for it, you want a bidding war, you want the MAX price. That means you want everybody who sees it, to be able to see themselves living in it, to go "ooh this is nice, and light and airy!"

And a bucket of paint is cheap.

update: okay, now I saw your extra photos of the green room, and I'm sorry you HAVE to repaint that room too. It's pretty bad. I'm sorry. That color plus the brown mottled effect. It's bad. You don't want to show that.

Also take all the greenery out, the armchair out, paint the arch. Take all the knick-knacks out and the moose head. It's WAY too cluttered and you don't have flow (for example the arch is blocked with furniture). You need to remove a LOT of stuff before you show. And make things MUCH more neutral, but you'll get a lot more money if you do, so that's good.

I would change the following:
Harlequin walls
1.) paint over the portion of the harlequin wall surrounding the doorway on the right side of the image. Use the same color paint as the light color of the harlequin design.

2.) remove all the little blue buttons from the points on the remaining harlequin wall.

3.) remove the harlequin decoration over the door.

Green Room
1.) repaint this room a very light off-white in a satin finish, including painting over the designs on the arched entrance(s).

2.) remove all the artificial plants from the green room.

3.) remove the patterened draperies from the green room and kitchen.

4.) remove all art and embellishments from the walls.

4.) remove the mirror over the sofa.

5.) remove the pretty rug from under the coffee table.

This is what I would do so a potential buyer could see the "bones" of your home. Think of it as an aspect of archaeology. It is weird in a way to "strip the clothing and flesh" of a room/house and leave only the "bones." The potential buyer is interested in the "bones."

Now that I see more of the living room, I think it is definitely painted in the "personal showcase house" style, and not in a "I see myself here" style. So, yes, paint it, I changed my mind. Part of the reason is that it is going to take a couple coats of primer to cover the contrast between black and white. No homeowner looks forward to two coats of primer before getting to the fun part. The green is a mottled moss which is way too much high fashion for buyers.

What I would suggest the fun-loving homeowner do is look at some of the home staging websites, pick a neutral off white or a warm pinky beige paint color to harmonize with the red-and-chocolate wood floors, and then construct a small vignette in each room where she puts the zing in with a (few) decorating accents such as the rug, the mirror, and a new fluffy throw (maybe fake fur or trendy Mongolian lamb pillow).

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/georgetownpinkbeige may be similar to the color in this rug with chocolate brown sofa and floors:

And an off white with chocolate brown floors at

And here is a vignette with zing:

Lynne- I do know it was the owner who posted originally- I also posted that appealing to the masses is the way to go- I am simply saying I would bet a hefty wager that bheifner will NOT repaint no matter how many times people suggest to do so. Am I right bheifner?

What does your real estate agent say? They're supposed to know the market. A friend of mine had very unique taste in decorating and finally her agent told her that other people needed to be able to imagine themselves living in her house and they couldn't with "her signature" on it. She finally went neutral.

Not sure if someone's already suggested it with so many posts to scan, but if you have any good "before" pictures, make copies available through your realtor for those prospective buyers unable to see past your fun.

I'd leave the black and cream harlequin wall. It could fit with a lot of decorating styles. The rest I would paint that creamy color.

I really love your style. Love your gutsiness ... but you are selling, so ...
Now that I can see the rooms, I would only try with changing a few things inexpensively.

1. In first pic, Leave the harlequin wall ... but ... take down the rectangle art above doorway.
2. Leave the green and brown wall, and mirror and wall urns ... but ... add some ivory wide ribbon on the mirror interior frame to cover the animal print. Temporary attach with double-stick tape.
3. Remove the greenery in wall urns ... add ... natural color or ivory/cream twisted branches.
4. Remove the tree plant and other plant on table.
5. On arch depth, repaint same as moulding color, or ivory/cream or white.
6. Leave the console vase ... but ... fill with peacock feathers.
7. Remove personal photos and small knick knacks from console and other tables.
8. Remove moose head.
9. No throws.
10. Square up sofas and put chair on one side to create a more conventional grouping.
Bring in other sofa in L-shape and use round end table at their corners.
11. Love the carpet! Square it up to L-shape grouping in front of sofas with coffee table
12. Remove the animal print carpet and any others that are too printed.
13. Remove drapery scarf and other drapes.
14. Remove greenery from mantle.
15. Remove wall sconces on right side of fireplace mantle.
16. Remove cross at right side of fireplace. Less is more.
17. Remove art on each side of kitchen arch, don't need anything there.
18. Remove plants and small knick knacks from kitchen soffit. Just a few large items with lots of space between the groups.
19. Keep kitchen countertops clear and real simple.
I think the kitchen black and whiite window scarf may be fine.
...... Small expense and a few inexpensive tweeks.
Almost all of my suggestions are removing things to open the spaces for potential buyers.

We would like to see some changes that you may have done. Post some pics of new rooms. Thanks.

P.S. Love to see your personality in these rooms! Just think, you can repeat it or be more creative in your next home.

I am not suggesting that the OP's style is bad in any way. It's cute and fun and charming. But when you're selling a house, the people walking through the door may be so distracted by one's decorating, they might not notice that the house has exactly what they're looking for. It's hard to distance oneself from a house that you've invested yourself into.

To the OP, remember you are moving upward and onward - this is the next family's house now for all intents and purposes. If a coat of paint got you an extra $30,000 and a quick close, wouldn't it be worth it?

I'm loving that harlequin wall so much, I'm thinking about running out tomorrow to buy a quart of black paint and starting on my powder room remodel ...

I love your personality and the rooms. I know that when we moved into our home, it took two coats of base paint to cover the navy blue paint that was on the walls. My DH does not want to ever do that again!! LOL We purchased eight years ago, in a very hot market. Houses were only staying on the market for 3-5 days. Loved the layout on this house. If the market had not been so hot, we probably would have passed, because of all of the painting we needed to do.
I suggest that you ask 2 or 3 different realtors in your area their opinion as to whether you need to paint.

As another realtor.... I think it's a huge mistake to possibly go neutral a few weeks in to the listing. the best activity you will get on a new listing is in the first week, as there are many buyers waiting, who have already seen everything else. Once that first week is over, the excitement of a new listing is over and you won't get any of those excited buyers back in, unless you substantially lower your price. Better to declutter a lot, and paint neutral before listing and grab those excited buyers at the higher price! You definitely want to appeal to the masses, not to just one potential buyer.

I agree with Remax - Lisa. if you want to be assured to sell sooner than later. If you paint and remove those things that I mentioned above, It will cost you paint and your time for a quicker sale.

Remax Lisa is right on the money! Neutral colors sell houses. Try a neutral beige or a neutral taupe (more grey). Remove all personal items, like photos and knick knacks. They are very distracting to potential buyers.

So did you sell your home? And what did you do about the paint?