For-sale listings with cool, neutral wall colors sell for more money.
A fresh coat of paint in the right color may help sell a home for more money.
Homes with rooms painted in shades of light blue or pale blue/gray can sell for as much as $5,440 more than expected, according to a new Zillow report.
Zillow’s 2017 Paint Color Analysis looked at more than 32,000 photos from sold homes around the country to see how certain paint colors impacted their sale price on average when compared to similar homes with white walls.
Blue kitchens
Homes with blue kitchens, often found in soft gray-blue, sold for a $1,809 premium.
Light blue bathrooms
Homes with light pale blue to soft periwinkle blue bathrooms sold for $5,440 more than expected.
Brown living rooms
Turns out homes with light beige, pale taupe or oatmeal-colored living room walls sell for $1,926 more than expected.
Cadet blue bedrooms
Homes with light cerulean to cadet blue bedroom wall colors can come with a $1,856 premium.
Slate blue dining rooms
Homes with slate blue to pale gray-blue dining rooms also sold for more money — $1,926 more on average than homes with white dining room wall colors.
“Greige” home exteriors
A home’s exterior color may also have an impact on its sale price. Homes painted in “greige,” a mix of light gray and beige, sold for $3,496 more than similar homes painted in a medium brown or with tan stucco.
Navy blue front doors
For a pop of color, homes with front doors painted in shades of dark navy blue to slate gray sold for $1,514 more.
Selecting the right paint color is one of many factors that may affect why a home sells faster or for more money. Walls painted in cool neutrals like blue or gray have broad appeal, and may be signals that the home is well cared for or has other desirable features.
Some colors may actually deter buyers. Homes with darker, more style-specific walls like terracotta dining rooms sold for $2,031 less than expected. However, a lack of color may have the biggest negative impact as homes with white bathrooms sold for an average of $4,035 below similar homes. Zillow’s full report can be found here.
Selecting the right paint color is one of many factors that may affect why a home sells faster or for more money. Walls painted in cool neutrals like blue or gray have broad appeal and may be signals that the home is well cared for or has other desirable features.
|
Room Type |
Color |
Color Description (what this |
Effect (on |
Most Common |
|
Kitchen |
Blue |
Light blue to soft gray-blue |
$1,809 |
Charlotte, NC |
|
Kitchen |
Yellow |
Straw yellow to marigold |
– $820 |
Detroit, MI |
|
Bathroom |
Blue/Purple |
Light powder blue to periwinkle |
$5,440 |
Philadelphia, PA |
|
Bathroom |
White/No Color |
Off-white or eggshell white |
– $4,035ii |
N/A |
|
Bedroom |
Blue |
Light cerulean to cadet blue |
$1,856 |
Philadelphia, PA |
|
Bedroom |
Pink |
Light pink to antique rose; often found in kids’ rooms |
– $208 |
Houston, TX |
|
Dining Room |
Blue |
Slate blue to pale gray blue; navy blue also found in dining rooms with white shiplap |
$1,926 |
Boston, MA |
|
Dining Room |
Red |
Brick red, terracotta or copper red |
– $2,031 |
N/A |
|
Living Room |
Brown |
Light beige, pale taupe, oatmeal |
$1,809 |
Chicago, IL |
|
Living Room |
Blue |
Pastel gray, pale silver to light blue, periwinkle |
– $820 |
Baltimore, MD |
|
Home Exterior |
Gray/Brown |
Greige – mix of gray and beige |
$1,526 |
N/A |
|
Home Exterior |
Brown |
Medium brown, taupe or stucco |
– $1,970 |
N/A |
|
Front Door |
Gray/Blue |
Navy blue to dark gray or charcoal |
$1,514 |
N/A |
About the author
Alexa Fiander writes about home improvement and trends for Zillow Porchlight.