Paint Colors that Boost Your Home's Sale Price

A stylish way to maximize your home's selling price is just a paint can away. Not just any paint though – the color selection is crucial. Zillow's recent research with over 4,200 prospective home buyers revealed that the right interior paint colors could boost your home's offer price by up to $2,590.

The study identified an emerging trend; buyers are favoring bold shades drawn from nature, such as rich greens and blues, over traditional light and bright hues. Texas-based real estate agent, Christie Cannon, notes a noticeable inclination towards “nature-inspired tones that add cozy, organic warmth." This trend makes a property more inviting to prospective buyers, helping them visualize the house as their future home.

In collaboration with Sherwin-Williams, Zillow dug deeper to identify exactly which colors in each room – kitchen, bedroom, living room, bathroom – are most likely to convince buyers to dig deeper into their wallets.

Zillow found olive green kitchens, particularly cabinets in tones like Ripe Olive, Secret Garden, or Succulent from Sherwin-Williams, to be highly sought after. This timeless, soothing color, according to Sue Wadden, Sherwin-Williams' director of color marketing, could potentially rake in an additional $1,600 when selling a home. However, a contrasting dark gray kitchen might attract fewer interested buyers, despite being estimated to boost the selling price by around $2,400. In a surprising twist, a vibrant yellow kitchen could actually cause a $3,915 dip in your home's selling price.

Swap to the bedroom, and navy blue reigns supreme, with the potential to add a whopping $1,815 to your home sale price. Sherwin-Williams’ own Naval, In the Navy, and After the Storm shades have proven popular. However, Wadden warns that high-energy colors like bright red could lead to a decrease in offer price by about $1,987. Interestingly, mid-tone browns like Sherwin-Williams’ Java, Tavern Taupe, and Homestead Brown are top choices for bathrooms and could potentially lift a property's value by $680.

The study also revealed that dark gray living rooms continue to be trendy and can lead to a potential sale price increase of almost $2,600 while mid-tone browns could add an extra $1,389.

Choosing the perfect colors for your home is only the first step. Wadden emphasized the importance of sheen selection: "Matte, satin, and semi-gloss finishes reflect light differently, which can alter the perception of color." Matte finishes can disguise wall blemishes, while a semi-gloss paint adds a modern, clean touch and can even visually expand a room. So, if you're considering selling and want to really rake in those dollars, it might be time to grab your paintbrush!