November 21 at 6:00 AM

Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams, offered advice for readers with dark rooms this week on our Home Front online chat. Here are her favorite neutral paint colors from the edited transcript.

The north-facing bedroom: Jersey Cream or Inviting Ivory

Q: My north-facing bedroom gets very little light. Im ashamed to admit that the walls have had only white primer on them for years as Ive been struggling to find the perfect color to bring the walls to life. I went to a model home and loved the paint color, which was Cottage Cream, a soft yellow with a hint of beige. However, that house had a ton of natural light. Will that color work in my dark room? My furniture is light cherry with tan carpet.

A: A north-facing bedroom gets cool light, which can dull a color. You may want to try a slightly brighter cream such as Jersey Cream or Inviting Ivory.

The dark but open kitchen: Accessible Beige

Q: I need help selecting a kitchen paint color. The kitchen doesnt get a lot of light, and its open to the family room, which is a warm taupe. I love the family room walls; what would complement them? The cabinets and trim are Benjamin Moore White Dove.

A: Since those rooms are connected, using a lighter tone of taupe would be a good direction. I love our color Accessible Beige.

The 80s kitchen: Kilim Beige or Irish Cream

Q: We just moved into a new house with terrible 1980s navy and mauve wallpaper, faux granite laminate countertops and honey oak cabinets in the kitchen. Can you suggest a paint color to go with the countertops (shades of blue and rust) and cabinets? My first hunch is beige (dont want anything too dark), but I worry about the walls and cabinets blending too much and looking blah.

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7 bright neutrals for light-challenged spaces

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but when it comes to a home appraisal some renovations are going to add value while others can be a waste of money, particularly if you are aiming to boost the value to refinance your mortgage or get a home equity line of credit.

Most homeowners think installing granite countertops, putting in a new pool and even fencing in the entire property will increase the value. But whether or not it will depends on the market they are in.

A fence may not create additional value in a lot of markets but in other markets a privacy fence may be essential, says Ken Wilson, president of the Appraisal Institute, the professional association. No matter what the improvement is it's incumbent on you to know what the market is all about.

Unless you are a real estate agent, knowing what improvements are going to boost the houses worth and what isnt wont be easy. One way to do it, says Wilson, is to visit open houses in your neighborhood to get a sense not only of prices but what houses at different values have inside. For instance, do the pricier homes have granite countertops and hardwood floors or do the homes that are selling have laminate countertops. Another way is to talk to a local real estate agent or to hire an appraiser to get an idea of what a specific project is going to cost you. Wilson says an appraiser is going to charge you anywhere from $300 to $500 but if you are considering a several thousand dollar upgrade it may be worth it.

While the market dictates the value of home improvements, Wilson says it can be misleading in some instances. Take swimming pools. According to Wilson pools typically dont get you much of a return as well as home additions that boost your square footage beyond the norm of your neighborhood. Even in markets where its prevalent and expected you dont get a dollar for dollar return (on a swimming pool), says Wilson. In some markets its a determent and can lower the value. Wilson says ultimately you want to avoid being the best or worst house on the block. Leah Ingram, HomeAdvisor's personal finance expert notes that any renovations that put your homes value above the median list price for your area will make it tough to get your return on investment.

According to experts, homeowners who are doing upgrades with the sole purpose of boosting their home value often make common mistakes. For one thing, Ingram says projects that are too hidden arent going to deliver as much value as home improvement projects that are obvious. Yes, a new furnace may be a necessity but that doesnt mean its going to give you a value boost. Same with projects that are too taste specific or are too complex and large. Entire room remodels are very costly and can be time consuming and wont necessarily have a higher ROI, says Ingram. Selecting a few small projects can make a big difference.

Experts say its better to stick with small projects. But which ones can make a big impact? According to Ingram, updating kitchen appliances to energy efficient ones or upgrading the cabinets or countertops are going to give you a better return on your investment than gutting the entire kitchen. Swapping out old appliances with stainless steel ones can make your kitchen look more modern which will ultimately increase your homes value. Even changing the hardware on cabinet doors can modernize the space. Another small project than can get you a big bang for your bucks is upgrading your bathroom with a new shower or bathtub, says Ingram. These projects make a big difference and add a fresh look without costing the homeowner a fortune, says Ingram. Real estate agents will tell you that, frequently, it is the kitchen and bathrooms that sell a home. So if your budget is limiting, focus your efforts and your dollars in these rooms only.

Compare mortgage rates in your area

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Know Your Market When Doing Home Upgrades To Increase Value

A six-story building on Chicago's North Side once housed some of the city's poorest residents. Now it has been remodeled with granite countertops, stainless appliances and is marketed to young professionals with its "vintage" appeal. (AP Photo/Beth A. Keiser)

BETH A. KEISER, AP

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A high-rise near Wrigley Field in Chicago had tiny rooms with peeling paint, but it offered a home to those who were too poor to pass a credit check, save up first and last month's rent, or make the other stiff qualifications that make it difficult to get into housing in an urban market.

Now the six-story building has a remodeled entry with elaborate carvings. Refurbished studios boast stainless steel countertops and granite countertops, and rents are over $1,000.

The Washington Post reports that the Hotel Carlos, which once offered a cheap place to stay for poor residents, is just one of many in Chicago's North Side that are being snapped up by developers and converted from small, humble spaces for low-income residents, to upscale, "vintage" spaces for single, young professionals.

Gentrification often pushes people out slowly as rents and property taxes rise, but Chicago's disappearing low-income housing is much more direct as whole buildings are emptied out. Since 2011, more than 2,000 units have been converted into upscale apartments, according to The Washington Post report.

But as of last week, city councilmen passed an ordinance that would preserve single resident occupant housing. The move is an acknowledgment that these properties are a key asset in affordable housing, a shift from a few years ago, when councilmen were just as happy to get rid of them.

Ed Shurna, director of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, told the Chicago Sun-Times that preserving SROs was vital for keeping people housed and maintaining diversity: More people would be thrown out in the street and become homeless and, in their place, wed have boutique hotels that are very expensive, he said.

Still, Chicago's affordable housing stock needs 3,500 more units to meet demand, he said.

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When low-income housing is converted into luxury apartments

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