Revamp Your La Mesa Property with On-Trend Neutral Tones to Help Tenants Feel at Home

We live in a go-go-go society. Whether we’re streaming Netflix on our phones or summoning Uber to our doors, speed is the name of the game. And while all our technology may theoretically make our lives easier, all this rushing can also leave us feeling burned out and over-stressed.

If you’re anything like me, you probably moved to La Mesa so you could relax and unwind. Known as “The Jewel of the Hills,” you almost wouldn’t guess that you’re only nine miles away from downtown San Diego, with all its hustle and bustle. Yet it’s just close enough to the city to offer hip eateries like Riviera Supper Club and Casa de Pico, plus a whole lot of charm. La Mesa manages to be laid-back, welcoming, and stylish, all at once.

That same description – laid-back, welcoming, and stylish – could be used for the latest interior design trend to hit our radars: warm, neutral tones. This trend is the perfect match for multifamily buildings in La Mesa. The thought of neutral tones might traditionally make you yawn, but the latest movement is all about making spaces feel comfortable: bigger, brighter, and more like home. As the owner of a multifamily building, moving towards neutrals will help your tenants unwind and feel like they can truly call their apartments “home.”

Neutral Shades Help Us “Unplug”

Every year, the major paint companies release color forecasts. One of the top trending color palettes for 2016 is the warm and blushed neutral color family Pura Vida from Sherwin-Williams, boasting shades like Ancient Marble, Alabaster, and Unfussy Beige. This isn’t your grandma’s fussy beige! These colors are all about unplugging from our technology-driven world and savoring the therapeutic nature of these more elemental shades. After all, who isn’t eager to unplug from the daily grind once you get home at the end of the day?

Since more and more people are remaining renters for longer periods of time before becoming homeowners, tenants strive to make their space feel like home. It should feel like their personal sanctuary, rather than a way-station on their way to a “real” home. As a landlord, you can help tenants feel that sense of place by incorporating this color trend throughout your units.

Say Goodbye to White Walls

Many property owners lean towards white walls because they’re easy to repaint when necessary and because they offer renters a “blank slate” on which to decorate. But white walls can feel stark and cold, while warm neutrals make a room feel both more inviting and more complete. Beige tones can lighten up a room that doesn’t get great natural light without making the room feel smaller like darker colors do. And they still provide a calming background for tenants to add their own touches to the room.

Blond Wood Is Back for Cabinetry and Floors

While painting the walls is an obvious first step, don’t stop there. Blond wood floors definitely fall under the neutral warm tones we’ve been talking about, and these fresh, bright hues are gaining momentum in 2016. But lest you think the 90s are making a full-blown comeback, there’s actually a big difference between the orange-hued oak we all remember from the 90s and the blond wood look that’s increasing in popularity today. Think more along the lines of a light pine. Use this shade to update wood floors, cabinetry in kitchens and bathrooms, and for other wooden accents around the house, like window frames.

Beige Is Back, but Accents Make the Room

When working beige into interior design, it’s important to use other colors wisely. No one wants their living room to look like Toby from The Office on Casual Fridays. Too much of it and you run the risk of being boring and underwhelming.

But that’s the beauty of a neutral base in an apartment – tenants can add their own colorful accents and can easily change things up when they get the itch. Accenting an otherwise neutral room with red tones offers a classical and romantic feel, while neon accent chairs and pillows make a room feel summery and fresh, and deep blue furniture provides a very “zen” vibe.

REIG Can Help

When it comes to multifamily real estate, it’s important to keep tabs on trends that will keep your tenants happy – and help you attract new ones. That’s why our team here at REIG stays ahead of the curve by researching which trends will offer our clients the best ROI. So let us bring beige and neutral tones to your La Mesa property so we can make those residences feel like home for your renters. Contact us today and we’ll turn that vision into a reality.