It can be difficult to decide what to update and remodel in your home if you’re thinking of selling it. While kitchens and bathrooms have typically been prioritized for their return on investment, the style in which you revamp your home can have a huge effect on its salability. One factor you may not have considered can have more of an impact than you think—and that’s paint color.
Which paint colors will get you the most bang for your buck? A recent analysis from Zillow examined over 135,000 photos from homes sold across the U.S. to see how sale prices compared for homes with colored walls versus homes with white walls. The results varied depending on room type.
According to Zillow, painting your front door is one of the least expensive home improvement projects that can have a major impact on sale price. In fact, the company found homes that feature charcoal gray or black front doors typically sell for $6,271 more than expected!
Which color is low on Zillow’s list for home exteriors? Yellow. Houses painted this color reportedly sell for $3,408 less than expected.
Meanwhile, houses with kitchens that have a different color for the upper and lower cabinets, known as tuxedo cabinets, sell at a $1,547 premium. The most popular color combination? Dark, navy blue or black kitchen islands with white cabinets. In dining rooms, however, homes that feature oat brown to medium sandy brown walls, and with yellow undertones, typically sell for $1,684 less than expected.
As for bathrooms, light blue or periwinkle blue paint—specifically with a gray-blue tint—increases the average selling price of a home by $2,786.
However, don’t discount neutral colors, especially if you’re accentuating them with dark pops of color. Zillow found that homes with light taupe living rooms, particularly with tan, peach or pink undertones, sell for $2,793 more than expected, while homes with more boisterous colors, like raspberry red in a kitchen, typically sell for $2,310 less than expected.
Adding a fresh coat of paint is a cheap and easy way to give your home a makeover. By choosing the right colors, you may be able to increase your home’s sale price.
