Not Bright White, Not Gray: The Paint Color That's Dating Your Home

When you're ready to refresh your wall color, you might rethink any neutral shade that risks looking outdated. Specifically, that yellowish, off-white hue from the '90s Tuscan style has worn out its popularity. In fact, it's a paint color choice that can instantly cheapen your home. This tone can make your space look older and poorly maintained.

What once served as the trendy backdrop to a warm, rustic style might now appear more faded, like a white wall that's suffered from too much exposure to the elements. All in all, the finish can be mistaken for white paint that's given way to staining from airborne contaminants, which might reflect poorly on the condition of your house. You might not notice this effect if this shade has graced your walls for the last 15 or more years, but it's there. This paint color can affect your home's resale value too. The reason being the yellow-undertone white doesn't offer an updated, clean look and instead screams a dire need for maintenance. Even if you're not moving, you might consider refreshing your neutral tone.

Aside from age, both sunlight and artificial lighting have very distinct affects on how paint appears. For instance, the yellowish tinge might not have such a warm glow, depending on the angle in which the light hits it. Moreover, the walls might appear to be discolored as opposed to having a golden tinge to them. Hence, this effect can impact a room's vibe overall for the worse.

Luckily, you have choices that'll eliminate the pale yellow off-white hue when the time comes to repaint your walls. Softer whites with subtle earth tones offer a neutral alternative if you lean toward warm shades. Likewise, bright or true white shades give you a broad range that totally deviates from the yellowish tint. As another example, the perfect shade of green paint or pale, delicate tones of blue or lilac can add some flare if you wish to forgo the monochrome white finish. Basically, opting for neutral paint colors that have a timeless appeal and complement your unique decorative style is the main goal for a timeless, modern look.