When you’re selling your house, the color you paint your walls could not only affect a buyer’s initial interest in your home, but how much they are willing to pay for it. And buyers may offer as much as $2,590 more for homes with the right interior paint colors, according to new research.
Zillow surveyed thousands of home buyers to determine colors that are the most desirable in the kitchen, bedroom, living room and bathroom, and the results may seem surprising: traditional all‑white walls have given way to bold hues found in nature, like deep greens and blues.
“We’ve seen a clear shift toward nature‑inspired tones that add cozy, organic warmth,” says Christie Cannon, a real estate agent with The Cannon Team at Keller Williams in Frisco, Texas.
“This trend is ideal for selling, because when a home feels warm and inviting, it’s easier for buyers to imagine it as their own.”
Top colors to boost your sale price
The color of your walls is one of the first things buyers notice. It sets the tone and how a shopper feels. “Certain colors work better because they evoke emotion without being distracting,” says Cannon. “Buyers today are more cautious and intentional…”
Kitchen: Olive green
Homes with an olive green kitchen attract more buyer interest than any other color. A kitchen with cabinets in this shade could increase a home’s sale price by about $1,600.
Recommended Sherwin‑Williams shades: Ripe Olive (SW 6209), Secret Garden (SW 6181), Succulent (SW 9650).
Bedroom: Navy blue
Buyer-favorite for bedrooms. Navy blue bedrooms could boost sale price by an estimated $1,815.
Suggested Sherwin‑Williams shades: Naval (SW 6244), In the Navy (SW 9178), After the Storm (SW 9685).
Bathroom: Mid‑tone brown
Mid‑tone browns—like Sherwin‑Williams Java (SW 6090), Tavern Taupe (SW 7508), Homestead Brown (SW 7515)—can help a home sell for $680 more.
Living room: Dark gray
Dark gray living rooms—shades like Cyberspace (SW 7076), Iron Ore (SW 7069), or Peppercorn (SW 7674)—remain popular. They can boost buyer offers by nearly $2,600.
What colors should sellers avoid?
Bright, trendy hues may narrow your pool of buyers. A bright yellow kitchen could reduce offers by up to $3,915, while a bright red bedroom could shave off $1,987.
“Buyers need to imagine their furniture in the home,” says Cannon. “If each room is painted in a highly personal hue, it could be tougher for them to do that.”
Finish matters as well as color
Sheen matters:
- Matte hides imperfections—great for walls.
- Flat white on ceilings helps reflect light and enlarge the space.
- Semi‑gloss works on trim and moldings to look clean and modern.
- Eggshell/satin can highlight flaws—great for walls if polished surfaces aren’t an issue.
Should I paint before selling?
Yes. A fresh coat is fast, affordable, and makes your place look newer and well-maintained. Nearly one‑third of homeowners paint before listing.
“Buyers fall in love with how a home makes them feel,” says Cannon.
Does painting increase home value?
Yes. The right colors can raise value. Wadden from Sherwin‑Williams advises testing shades with samples and color chips (e.g. from swsamples.com) to see how they perform in your lighting.
North‑facing rooms lean toward warm tones; south‑facing can handle cooler shades.
The bottom line: Choose paint colors strategically when preparing to sell. Prioritize buyer appeal over personal taste.
Written by May Ortega, 06.16.25
Share