Selecting Paint Colors to Sell Your House Faster
There is no magic color that guarantees a house will sell. The best way to choose colors that buyers will love is to focus on a clean, bright, and neutral vibe. A home feels more appealing when it is bright and spacious, especially in shared areas.
The most current or popular colors may not be the best. Considering colors to sell goes beyond modern, traditional, or trendy schemes. It’s not only about making a statement, either. It’s about complementing the home’s natural features and fitting in with the neighborhood. This creates a warm and inviting space for everyone.
Suggestions from Painters and Realtors
Painters and realtors often base their recommendations on past experience. They often feel the need to demonstrate their expertise. At times, this involves thinking outside the box. However, selling a home is not the best time to be crafty or personalize it. It’s about pleasing your audience or at least not offending them.
If someone says, “We use this all the time” or “Everyone is doing this,” think twice about their advice. Ask which color works best for your space.
Coordinating within Your Home
Interior decor in traditional and contemporary homes in Raleigh varies. Hardwood floors, tile, and carpet all affect a room’s light, sound, and appearance.
Countertops, cabinets, fireplace mantels, and hardware are also considerations. All features in a house should match and coordinate with the wall colors.
How to Approach Colors
Surfaces within a home are painted with different goals in mind. Each offers different purposes and advantages. Getting this wrong could hurt your home’s ability to sell quickly.
Wall Color
Keeping the same wall colors in common areas helps them flow together, making the spaces feel more connected. Secondary bedrooms can also match the main color or have accent walls. The primary bedroom needs its own color. This will make it stand out and be more attractive than the other areas.
Do not personalize or use a dark color in an entire room. Single-color accent walls are great for adding contrast and color. They can add character without making the room feel cramped.
Ceiling Brightness
Ceilings reflect a lot of light, so they should be painted bright white. If they are discolored or dingy, painting them will also make the space look clean. Leaving discoloration or water spots will cause attention and caution.
Indoor odors and VOCs are most concentrated in carpets and ceilings. Painting the ceiling will improve indoor air quality.
Window, Door, and Trim Colors
Interior and exterior trim colors should match. This helps ensure consistency and makes the design look more intentional. Bright and off-white are the most common colors. We do not recommend accents around doors or windows.
Painted Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets take up a lot of space, and kitchens are essential in how the home is viewed. If you have wood cabinets and can afford to paint them, do so. You can make your kitchens and bathrooms look fresh and stylish for a few thousand dollars. It’s a quick way to update your space.
Stained wood shelves or butcher block countertops give a warm, natural feel.
Outdoor Colors Not to Choose
More and more home exteriors in Raleigh are being painted deep blue. However, exotic and energetic colors should be avoided. Dark colors always make a home look smaller. Additionally, curb appeal is compromised by colors that draw too much attention.
Every local listing, from Zillow to Realtor, shows the front exterior of the house first. The yard, landscape, color, and condition reveal how well the home has been maintained. It’s a first impression that could make or break whether someone even considers your home.
To avoid bad first impressions, choose light, natural colors. These colors should blend with the landscape and fit in with the neighborhood.
Exterior Colors
Gray, blue, white, and beige are exterior colors that are best for selling a home.
Medium Gray
Dark Gray
Neutral Blue
Crème/ Beige
Gray and White Colors for the Inside
Warm grays and whites with natural wood accents are timeless and desirable. Stark white can be too bland. Cream colors bring a sense of warmth and a cozy atmosphere.
Do not paint the entire kitchen or living space white. It could lower the value of your home. This is one of many examples of how quickly color trends change. However, this does not mean not to use white or lighter colors at all. Use them sparingly to light up the room. Dark grays work well as accents in key spots, like the kitchen and living room walls.
Green
Blue
White and Wood Accent
The Paint Finish Also Matters
- Flat Hides Imperfections
- Flat is also Easy to Paint Over
- Use Satin or Eggshell in Bathrooms
- Satin Creates Glare in Bedrooms
Updating and Upgrades
When trying to sell a home, it should be as presentable and move-in ready as possible. Buyers show more interest when homes are updated, including costly items like the roof, HVAC, windows, kitchen, and bathrooms. The goal is to prevent any potential objections or concerns, giving them no reason to resist the home.
Painting Increases Home Values
Painting the inside of a house is a relatively low-cost improvement. A home that does not show wear and tear will sell faster, directly influencing how long it stays on the market. Painting also increases home values by $2,000 to $8,000. So, in many ways, painting pays for itself.
While exterior painting and repairs could cost more, no one wants to purchase a home that is in bad shape. Sellers often use neglect and items in bad shape as a negotiating tactic. They usually ask for more than what it costs to repair them. Not painting can make a property take longer to sell. It also invites low offers.
Painting Helps Your Home Sell Faster
The U.S. housing market remains a seller’s market, even with a slight drop in sale prices. Zillow researchers found that 30% of buyers said that painting helped sell their homes.
A coat of paint can increase showings and help your home sell faster, even in challenging ZIP codes.
Color and Local Service
Get color recommendations from local professional companies. This ensures accurate suggestions based on your market. Color suggestions for the entire U.S. will not meet your personal needs and may not match what buyers in your area prefer. No matter how desirable, “Dark colors will always make a space look small,” says Liz Scott from Cooper Gate Realty.
We offer interior and exterior painting services in Raleigh, Apex, Cary, and nearby areas. We work with realtors and can help with colors as needed. Our fast and friendly service demonstrates dedication to our local area. We specialize in house painting solutions. Whether you are preparing to sell or moving in, we are here to help you!
Do you live in Raleigh or the Triangle area? Call us for a free quote and see how we can quickly add the finishing touches to your home.

