Smart sellers can maximize their home’s sale value with something as simple as a coat of paint in a strategic color, according to a new report from Zillow. Buyers may be willing to pay up to $2,277 more for homes painted in trendy interior colors like sage green and pale blue.
“Buyers today respond to homes with soul, and paint is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to add personality and character to a space,” said Zillow’s home trends expert Amanda Pendleton. “The right colors can stop an online home shopper mid-scroll and instantly create an emotional connection, which ultimately drives higher offers.”
Modern neutrals
In Zillow’s study, buyers responded well to calming, earthy hues like green. The “modern neutral” offered visual interest without overwhelming a space.
Sage green, specifically, scored well across all interior spaces — the only shade to do so. A sage green bedroom added $1,000 in value, and sage green living rooms boosted offers by around $500.
“Greens continue to be seen as a modern neutral; sage is calming and nature-inspired, bringing that dose of versatility to the bedroom without feeling plain,” said Emily Kantz, color marketing manager and TrendSight team member at Sherwin-Williams.
Light blue performed well in the living room. Buyers were willing to offer $1,723 more for homes with living rooms painted pale blue as opposed to white.
The preference mirrored a general shift away from the bright white and beige of the past decade, experts explained.
“Calming shades like sage and pale blue show that even lighter colors are evolving, feeling more intentional and nuanced rather than basic,” said Kantz. “The data reflects this same direction; that homebuyers are increasingly valuing depth, warmth and that sense of lived-in character.”
Deep dramatics
Darker shades like chocolate and charcoal resonated with buyers as well.
These bold color choices, often dismissed by risk-averse sellers, paid off. For example, in the kitchen, charcoal gray raised value by $1,373.
“Giving your home some personality by using a color that has depth is driving measurable return on investment,” Kantz said. “I’ve been seeing that a lot lately when it comes to design — playing it safe is riskier than experimenting with color and design.”
Buyers also responded well to bedrooms painted in warm, retro shades of brown. They were willing to offer around $2,277 more for homes with a coffee brown bedroom than for those with a white one.
“Turkish Coffee adds depth and warmth, creating a cozy, cocooning effect that makes the bedroom feel more luxurious and inviting,” Kantz said.
On the outs: Colors to avoid
Paint color had the power to enhance value — and tank it. Across rooms, buyers responded poorly to ochre yellow.
Meanwhile, bright red bathrooms lowered offers substantially, by up to $7,971. Blush pink bathrooms also performed poorly, curtailing offers by around $6,013.
When it comes to paint, personal taste and buyer appeal may differ, Pendleton pointed out.
“If an ochre yellow kitchen brings you joy, embrace it,” she said. “There will be some buyers who will love your yellow kitchen as much as you do. But getting top dollar for your home is all about appealing to the most potential buyers. So enjoy your ochre kitchen and when it’s time to sell, paint it charcoal gray or plum.”
