Traditional wisdom suggests that when preparing your home for sale, painting the walls white is a prudent choice to provide a blank canvas for prospective buyers. However, a recent report from a prominent real estate website challenges this belief. Instead, it proposes that incorporating rich, moody color palettes into your home can actually boost its selling price. According to Zillow’s 2023 analysis of paint colors, homes with charcoal gray kitchen paint can command an average premium of $2,512, while a dark gray living room can add $1,755 to the selling price.
This study resonates with design experts who draw from their own experiences. Bethany Adams, the principal of her eponymous design firm in Louisville, Kentucky, notes, “Designers like Jake Arnold, Amber Interiors, and Heidi Callier, known for their moody aesthetics, have been dominating Pinterest lately. It’s no surprise that homeowners are drawn to these cozy styles when searching for new homes. Whether it’s dark gray, green, blue, or another deep color with neutral undertones, these spaces evoke strong emotions and make it easy for buyers to imagine themselves living there.”
Interestingly, the Zillow study suggests that a white kitchen is losing its appeal, potentially causing a reduction of more than $600 in a buyer’s offer. This shift may be attributed to the perception that a blank canvas can sometimes appear dull and ordinary.
Jason Saft, founder of Staged To Sell Home, a staging service in New York, comments, “While most home-staging guides recommend painting everything white, luxury homebuyers prefer turnkey properties that exude a sense of design, not institutional sterility. People aspire to have the perfect backdrop at home.”
This doesn’t mean you should avoid white walls altogether. According to Houston interior designer Benjamin Johnston, “White walls are timeless and provide an excellent foundation for introducing color through decor, furniture, and art.” Nevertheless, he agrees that rich, vibrant colors can enhance the selling price, explaining, “In today’s age of social media, where others easily showcase their homes, there’s a bit of design ‘fear of missing out.’ People see others experimenting with color, patterns, and wallpaper and want to try it themselves. There’s now an abundance of color and creativity to explore.”
The preference for dark, opulent colors is undoubtedly influenced by exposure to mood boards and projects on social media. On a deeper level, Mehnaz Khan, a color psychology specialist and principal at Color Conscious Living in Albany, New York, explains, “Human beings have an innate desire for belonging. If your home’s interior colors align with those of a favorite influencer, it creates a sense of belonging and community. This is why people follow trends.” Khan also points out that no one desires a mundane home. Subconsciously, the bland color schemes of the past suggest that “the house is stagnant, and nobody wants to invest their life savings in a property that requires renovations.”