One of the continual determinants for residents in choosing a new apartment is comfort and a sense of home. An attractive and audience-appropriate color palette that complements the architectural elements of an apartment is a surefire way to better attract and retain residents. The millennial demographic is the primary age group that pushes color change because of their innovative and change-driven ideas. Additionally, the baby boomer generation has been passed by millennials who are now the largest demographic in America. According to an interior designer at Sherwin-Williams, “They are a large demographic and they have new and differently inspired vantage points. Because of that, they are influencing everything.” This revelation is especially important for us at Trimark Properties since an enormous portion of our residents in Gainesville are students in the millennial generation. Since consumer demand is now driven by this generation, we as property managers need to adjust our own strategies to understand what millennials want in their housing.

Today’s popular multifamily paint colors are transitioning from neutral, muted tones, to vibrant colors – a reflection of the ever-changing times and futuristic ideas.

There is a mid-century revival occurring in the real estate market today that steers away from the previous idea of muted, khaki colors. Today’s color trends are bringing back color palettes from the early and mid-20^th century to add a new spin on interior design. Eras such as the roaring twenties valued vibrant, bold colors that we should be utilizing in our apartments. Now, millennials are looking for a more sophisticated style in their housing and value a splash of color in the properties they tour. Bringing an apartment to life using vivid hues indicates to residents that you are current with the times and a popular housing option in the area. Millennials love amenities in apartments that create community spaces, forming the perfect opportunity for us to get inventive with our ideas and create bold designs to match the more upbeat and social environment that young people bring with them. 

One of our apartments near sorority row UF, Deco ’39 Luxury Apartments, is a splash of color in the area. Since we cater to college students, the art deco architectural style of the Gainesville apartment gets a lot of attention. The reason for its popularity is that Deco ‘39’s architectural style is reminiscent of Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive, complete with the colorful and whimsical art deco style that many of our South Florida students are comfortable seeing back home. When residents see familiar styles in your properties that are popular in other urban areas, they are more drawn to sign a lease. Visual appeal is highly important when attracting millennials, and that special pop of color can be achieved in other ways as well. Apartment buildings can be massive in size, and painting the entire exterior is a serious undertaking. Additionally, repainting is a big investment since the area to paint is so large. If you lack the funds to update your apartment’s paint color, try highlighting a specific architectural feature with that color instead, drawing visitors’ eyes to that area. Differentiating elements of the building using contrasting colors helps guide the eye to architectural details of your choice.

We’ve tried this trend at Trimark Properties ourselves, having incorporated a retro-inspired interior with the Deco ’39 apartment. In designing this apartment, we used vibrant colors to create an energized space that people want to live in. Our Gainesville apartment is a beautiful blue that fits in with its surroundings but also establishes a strong identity so passerby recognize it. Remember, you only have one chance to make a good impression. Hues like turquoise, pastel yellows, and greens that were once considered unconventional are starting to become trendy again. Demographics are a huge factor of color since a home should reflect the person who lives inside. When determining which colors are best for your property, think about the lifestyle of your residents. Residents in our apartments are mostly college-aged and live a vibrant, high-energy lifestyle. Therefore, we place more emphasis on bright colors than a company with an older generation seeking more muted tones. Knowing your market is essential before making a huge decision on paint color since the coat will be visible for at least ten years before being able to paint again.

Do you have any ideas for bringing bold colors to your apartment?

Written By: Claire Washburn