What Color House Sells The Best?

Morgan Chaperon

4 - Minute Read

UPDATED: Jun 22, 2023

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There are a few circumstances in which you might want to paint your house, maybe it’s in need of a refresh or you simply want to change it up. But another common reason is because you’re trying to sell your home. A fresh coat of paint can add a lot of value to a property, even the color of your front door has a lasting impact, which means picking the right color is important.

So, what color house sells the best? According to a recent survey of home designers, white houses will most likely sell the best. White and off-white exterior paint colors appeal to potential buyers because they help the home look new, which enhances curb appeal and helps a house sell quicker.

The Psychology Behind What Color Houses Sell The Best

Certain colors have certain effects. Like blue, which feels calm and soothing, or yellow, which is happy and energetic. The way we view and attach meaning to colors makes it easier for someone to prefer one color over the other, so the trick when selling your home is to go as neutral as you can to widen the audience appeal.

What color you choose for your house’s interior and exterior can affect your home’s value because of the way we view different colors. Colors that invoke a certain feeling will narrow down the number of buyers that find the color appealing.

Best Exterior Paint Colors For Selling A House

Now that we know white or neutrals are the best color to sell your house quicker, let’s look at the different options that fall under that category. A good rule of thumb if you do want to go in a different direction and try color, stick to paler tones that aren’t too bright and closer to neutral.

1. Whites

A white paint job is going to be the best exterior paint for you if you’re selling your house. It looks clean, makes your home look newer and houses that are painted white often have a classic, traditional look. This is great for your property value and curb appeal, both of which are factors that buyers are looking for.

It’s also appealing to seller because they won’t have to worry about the cost of covering up an old color or painting it altogether.

2. Neutrals And Earth Tones

Another great option, as the neutral and earth tones are very versatile and great complementary colors to landscaping. This is a broader category, from cream to tan to gray, and depending on the undertones, can be applied almost anywhere as a neutral base.

An increasingly popular color for an exterior is ‘greige’, a beige and gray mix, which pulls in warm and cool tones to create a neutral color.

3. Grays

Shades of gray are great options as well, since gray can be cool or warm toned, there are many options within the color that might work best as a neutral.

Gray can come in light and dark shades – both work well for home exteriors, with darker grays being more dramatic and light grays being less risky.

4. Blues

Blue is a great option if you want to have color, but don’t want to go overboard. Blue has a versatility to it because it can be paired well with both gray and beige tones.

For example, a blue gray color will be the safest shade of blue to paint the exterior of your home because incorporating gray into your blue will guarantee that it’s not too bright. But depending on the location or style, a house on the coast could be painted a light blue and still feel neutral.

Best Interior Paint Colors For Selling A House

Now let’s talk about the inside, which is just as important since a color can make or break the appeal of a room and its layout. Here are some of the best and popular color choices to paint your interiors.

1. Warm Grays

Just like the exterior, a warm gray does wonders to a room. You have the gray, which brings a neutral and versatile color to the room, but on top of that, it’s a warm gray, which brings a certain coziness and warmth to the color that helps create a homey atmosphere.

This color is a great option for kitchens, living rooms or any room that needs a bit of warmth in it to achieve a lived-in vibe.

2. Taupe

Taupe is a popular option because of its neutral yet warm tones that help create the perfect interiors. With its slightly pink undertones, the color is a great option to bring a welcoming atmosphere to any room.

This is also a great choice if you’re trying to avoid an all-white kitchen, which can feel cold and clinical. Or a nice taupe in the living room, might help potential buyers envision their own furniture in the space better.

3. Navy

If you’re into darker neutrals or want to venture into color without losing versatility, navy is a great choice for your interior.

Especially great for bedrooms, navy is dark and bold but also classic and very traditional, making it a great option if you’re looking to incorporate color. Opt for a navy with charcoal gray undertones, to bring that neutrality back in.

What Color House Is Hardest To Sell?

Let’s look at the colors that make a house harder to sell or are potentially keeping your house from selling.

  • Yellow: Yellow houses have long been thought to sell fairly well, but in recent years it seems that the color’s appeal has decreased as it can be too warm of a tone for interiors and can be too bright or saturated for exteriors.
  • Red: Red is a polarizing color for both interior and exterior paints. While there are many different shades of red, they are all darker in tone which limits where you could potentially use if you’re looking for a more neutral tone.
  • Brown: Browns are a difficult color to sell, since dark tones can make an interior room feel cramped and can hide details of the exterior in the color.

The Bottom Line

While a paint color can affect how fast your house sells or even the offer amounts that you receive, there are many other factors that can interfere like the age of the home, the condition it’s in or the location. While painting your house white is shown to have benefits for selling homes, take the time to evaluate other factors to see if you want to consider another neutral, like taupe or gray.

If you’re preparing to sell your home, match with an agent today.

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Morgan Chaperon

Morgan Chaperon is a freelance writer and Michigan State University graduate. She holds a degree in English and History and enjoys reading, writing and going on walks.