Housing News

The 4 Paint Colors That Will Boost Your Home’s Value—And the Ones That Could Cost You Thousands

Forget all-white kitchens and baby blue walls. If you’re hoping to increase your home’s value, avoid light and bright colors and choose dark, moody colors instead.  

Olive green, rich navy blue, charcoal gray, and creamy, brown rooms boosted a home’s sale price by the most in 2025, according to a new study from Zillow.

Homebuyers will often pay premiums worth thousands of dollars for homes with interiors painted these colors, according to Zillow.

"Buyers view olive green and navy blue as contemporary colors and that can have a halo effect on their perception of the entire home," said Amanda Pendleton, Zillow's home trends expert, in a statement. “These nature-inspired colors evoke…feelings of serenity and tranquility." 

To come up with the findings, Zillow surveyed more than 4,200 prospective and recent homebuyers.

Almost a third of homeowners paint their homes before putting them on the market, according to Zillow.

The most lucrative color was charcoal gray. Painting a living room this darker color can help homes sell for $2,593 more, according to Zillow. Homebuyers were also willing to pay more for kitchens and bedrooms in this color.

Navy blue was the runner-up. Bedrooms painted this color can help a home sell for $1,815 more than homes with different colored bedrooms.

“Navy blue is a classic that adds depth and elegance,” Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams, told Zillow. “It works well in both traditional and modern spaces and can act as a neutral when styled correctly.”

Buyers were also willing to pay $1,597 more for homes with olive green kitchen cabinets.

“​​Olive green is a timeless, grounding color that evokes a sense of calm and sophistication,” Wadden told Zillow.

A bathroom painted a mid-tone brown could translate into an additional $1,389.

The worst colors to paint your home

While the “right” colors can boost a home seller’s bottom line, the “wrong” colors can cost them thousands of dollars.

Daisy yellow and fire hydrant red are the colors to avoid, according to Zillow.

Buyers would pay $3,915 less for homes with daisy yellow kitchens and $3,981 for bright, yellow living rooms.

Homes with red bedrooms could sell for $1,987 less, while red living rooms could result in a $1,820 penalty.

"Getting top dollar for your home is all about appealing to the most potential buyers," said Pendleton. "So, enjoy your bright yellow kitchen and when it’s time to sell, paint it olive green.”