Companies use color trends to boost brand awareness and product sales, but the research behind colors and how they impact consumers is anything but arbitrary. Color trends aim to appeal to emotions caused by world events, history and cultures, the economy, and the human need for change.

Ever since Pantone Color Institute's first introduction of the Color of the YEAR (COTY) in 2000, a subtle blue calledCerulean, many paint manufacturers are announcing their own COTYs as well as curated “collections” of the year.

Behr's choice for COTY 2020 is a fresh split-pea green called Back to Nature. The Behr 2020 Color Trends palette “was inspired by “natural elements such as sky, earth, water and plant life.” Sherwin-Williams’ 2020 COTY is Naval, a classic ocean blue. The company’s 2020 palette is called Simply Blissful Color Collection. A pale peachy pink called First Light is BenjaminMoore.com’s selection for 2020. Their Color Trends 2020 palette combines “optimism and understatement.”

These color trends all have characteristics in common: they help promote familiarity, serenity, coziness and comfort.

Paint is among the easiest ways to update a home, so trying one of these soothing colors may help you create the serene room(s) you’ve always wanted. 

Sometimes, buyers and sellers behave like adversaries, but no one wins if the home doesn’t sell. So how can you win? Keep things civil!

Sellers: Price your home reasonably to get stronger offers. Make your home easy to show to working buyers. Be flexible about showing times, especially on short notice. Put your pets in the kennel. Keep your home clean and neat so buyers can see what they’re buying.

Respond quickly to requests for repairs and get the work done as soon as possible. Return texts from your real estate professional quickly.

Don’t take offense at low offers. Simply counter the offer through your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network professional.

Buyers: Apply for your mortgage loan immediately. Tell your real estate professional when you’re pre-approved. If you do this in advance of shopping for a home, you’ll have the advantage over other buyers because you’ve been vetted by a lender.

Be on time and respectful of property for showings. Don’t ridicule the seller or their home on Instagram or when asked for feedback. Leave children with a sitter for showings.

After the contract is signed, schedule appraisals and inspections immediately. 

The key to winning at real estate is civility.