So much for a clean slate. White walls are apparently on their way out. According to a Zillow analysis, the best paint colors for selling a house are darker, broodier hues. Homes painted in dark colors fetched higher prices in every room in a recent study.
Charcoal gray kitchens sold for an average of $2,512 than similar homes painted in white. A dark gray living room commanded offers $1,755 higher than a lighter counterpart.
"Buyers have been exposed to dark gray spaces through home improvement TV shows and their social media feeds, but they're likely drawn to charcoal on a psychological level," color psychology specialist and interior designer Mehnaz Khan said in a press release. "Gray is the color of retreat. As we come out of the pandemic and return to our hectic lives, buyers want home to be a refuge. They want to withdraw and escape from the uncertainty of the outside world, and rooms enveloped in dark gray can create that feeling of security."
In this article: Kilz Tribute Typewriter Interior Matte Paint & Primer, Glidden One-Coat Warm Wassail Semi-Gloss Exterior Paint + Primer and Glidden Total Vining Ivy Flat Interior Paint With Primer
Of course, there are (more than) 50 shades of gray, and they're not all created equal. When it comes to exterior paint colors, Zillow found that gray can actually hurt a home's value when it's used on the front door (where buyers prefer a black or warm brown exterior paint color).
Aside from gray, earth tones are also deeply popular for the home. Bathrooms painted terra cotta brown, among the top interior paint color trends, could help a home sell for $1,624 more on average.
Now for the good news: When it comes to improvements you can make to boost your home's value, paint is both low-effort and easy on your wallet.
"Paint is a relatively affordable and easy change, yet it has an outsized impact on a buyer's perception of the home," said Amanda Pendleton, Zillow's home trends expert.
Ready to update your home to be darker, moodier — and pricier? These are the top exterior and interior paint colors for 2024.
If charcoal is the must-have, value-adding color for kitchens and bathrooms, you can't go wrong with this cool-toned version. Dark and moody, this premium paint includes paint and primer in one, guaranteeing a one-coat job.
If your front door needs an on-trend makeover, you can't go wrong with the color that buyers love: a rich, warm brown. This semi-gloss paint is designed to withstand the elements and formulated to resist cracks and peeling. It's perfect for upping your home's curb appeal — plus, it dries quickly, guaranteeing your door won't stick just a few hours after painting.
Vining Ivy was Glidden's color of the year for 2023, and it's still going strong— this cool green-gray-blue hue evokes ocean waves, lazy rivers and the sky at dusk. This calming color is perfect for a bedroom, a bathroom, or anywhere in your home that could use a boost of relaxation.
As we already know, this trendy paint color is perfect for a bathroom makeover — or any other part of your home. The best thing about this rich terra cotta shade is that it goes with any decor style, so no matter how you decorate your home, this color will fit right in.
This sumptuous dark green is reminiscent of pine trees and peaceful walks through the forest. It's a versatile and durable interior/exterior paint that can beautify front doors, living rooms, dining rooms or be used for accent walls. This paint color is striking yet soothing to the senses.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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