These Paint Colors Could Sell Your Home for Thousands More, According to Zillow

If you want to sell your home, a fresh coat of paint is a fast, affordable way to make your place look more appealing to buyers. But new paint isn't enough—it's the color that matters. According to research from Zillow, choosing the right interior paint colors can increase an offer price by as much as $2,590.

To find out which paint colors are the most desirable in various rooms of the house, Zillow surveyed more than 4,200 recent and prospective home buyers from around the country. Bold hues found in nature, such as deep greens and blues, came out on top, challenging the adage that sellers should always go light and bright.

"We've seen a clear shift toward nature-inspired tones that add cozy, organic warmth," Christie Cannon, a real estate agent with The Cannon Team at Keller Williams in Frisco, Texas, told Zillow. "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."

To help sellers choose the right color, Zillow teamed up with Sherwin-Williams to find out which shades in each room of the home—kitchen, bedroom, living room, and bathroom—will persuade buyers the most.

Kitchen: Olive Green

According to Zillow's research, homes with an olive green kitchen attract more buyer interest than any other color. Cabinets in this shade—like Sherwin-Williams Ripe Olive, Secret Garden, or Succulent—could increase a home's sale price by about $1,600, according to the site's analysis. "Olive green is a timeless, grounding color that evokes a sense of calm and sophistication," says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams.

Zillow also found that homes with a dark gray kitchen can sell for an estimated $2,400 more. However, the study showed that fewer buyers are interested in a kitchen this color, so while you may get higher offers, you may also get less. On the flip side, a bright yellow kitchen has the potential to shrink a home's sale price by as much as $3,915, Zillow found.

Bedroom: Navy Blue

Buyers like navy blue for bedrooms. According to Zillow, bedrooms in this color can boost a sale price by an estimated $1,815. "Navy blue is a classic that adds depth and elegance," says Wadden. "It works well in both traditional and modern spaces and can act as a neutral when styled correctly." If you're planning to repaint, consider Sherwin-Williams Naval, In the Navy, or After the Storm.

Similar to the kitchen, bright, playful colors in the bedroom are a no-go for buyers. For example, a bright red bedroom could reduce an offer by $1,987. Cannon told Zillow that a potential buyer needs to be able to imagine their furniture and décor in the home. If each room is painted in a highly personal hue, it could be tougher for them to do that. "While some sellers feel that repainting is easy and assume buyers will simply change the color if they don't like it, most buyers don't see it that way," she says.

Bathroom: Mid-Tone Brown

A bathroom painted in a mid-tone brown—like Sherwin-Williams Java, Tavern Taupe, and Homestead Brown—could help a home sell for $680 more than similar homes. Cannon says browns work great, especially for accent walls, because of their warmer tone. "These colors can create a richness and sophistication that are very appealing to buyers," she says.

Living Room: Dark Gray

According to Zillow's research, a dark gray living room, specifically in a dark neutral like Sherwin-Williams Cyberspace, Iron Ore, or Peppercorn, continues to be popular and has the potential to boost a buyer's offer price by nearly $2,600. Buyers also appreciate mid-tone browns for the living room, which could bring an estimated increase of $1,389.

Paint Finish Matters, Too

Once you've chosen the right paint colors for your home, Wadden suggests looking at the finish. "Sheen matters," she says. "Matte, satin, and semi-gloss finishes reflect light differently, which can alter the perception of color."

A paint with a matte finish is good for hiding imperfections in walls, making them look smooth and new. For ceilings, use a flat white paint to hide imperfections and reflect light, making the room look bigger and brighter. A semi-gloss paint is great for trim, molding, and door jambs. The paint can make a room look more modern, clean, and even larger, while eggshell or satin finish paints tend to highlight every flaw and make homes look older and more worn.