If you’ve just moved into a dated apartment or you’re looking to refresh the home you’ve lived in for years, one of the best ways to bring the space into the modern era is with a fresh coat of paint.
But with so many options, how do you know the best paint choices to make specifically for an older apartment?

This article should inspire you with four ways to paint an older apartment to make it feel more modern.
Choose Light, Neutral Colors
The easiest way to update an old apartment is to paint the walls in light, neutral tones.
If your home’s walls are painted with dark colors or use bold wallpaper, you’ll see a huge difference if you repaint them with shades of soft, light gray, cream, or beige. These fresh, bright colors reflect light better, so they should make your home look more spacious and modern. Working with professionals like Blue Mountains Painting can provide expert color advice, precise application, and the convenience of a professional team managing all aspects of the project.
Add Accent Walls with Bold Tones
Neutral walls might be good for modernization, but that doesn’t mean they’re for everyone. If you want to add a bit more personality to your space, consider creating an accent wall.
This is your opportunity to go bolder, with a rich, deep colour like navy or forest green. The idea of an accent wall is that it’s just one of the four walls in a room—usually whatever is the main focal point, such as the wall with the fireplace in the living room, or the wall behind your bed’s headboard in the bedroom. This will create a contrast to the rest of the room without being too OTT, helping to give it an updated modern look.
Refresh Trim and Doors
Don’t just think about your walls themselves. A lot of older apartments have wood trim or doors that look outdated, and you can easily give them a modern update by painting them a fresh, crisp white or even a bold, deep shade.
Plus, if your doors are looking tired, you might want to paint them a contrasting colour like black or dark grey for a contemporary look. Don’t trust yourself to achieve a professional finish? A home painting company like pemcopainting.com can deliver expert results without any of the hassle of doing it yourself.
Use Modern Finishes
Paints with a high gloss finish are starting to make a comeback, but you’ll still find it easier to modernize your home with matte or satin finishes on your paint instead.
Matte finishes don’t reflect as much light, so they give your walls a soft, elegant look that you might prefer. But if you want to reflect more light, go for a satin finish paint, which will also make your apartment look updated without the high shine of older gloss finishes.
Takeaway
When you want to modernize an old apartment, the most effective approach is to go right back to the basics: your walls, ceilings, and carpets.
These simple painting tips should help you update your old apartment into the modern era. Once your walls are done, you can focus on your furniture, decor, and flooring, gradually modernizing your home one step at a time.





