The Power of Blue Paint

Specific paint colors can either boost or crimp the value of your home.

 

Home sellers are often advised to slap on a fresh coat of neutral colored paint before listing their properties, but a new study shows they might want to be a little bolder in the color selection.

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A recent Zillow analysis of more than 32,000 photos from sold residential properties finds that light shades of powder blue and periwinkle, especially in a bathroom, are correlated to an increase in home value of $5,440, on average. (If you were wondering what Home Depot’s top-selling blue interior paint hue is, it’s this soft blue-gray called “Siberian Ice.”)

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The results? Color makes a huge impact on buyers and can serve as a “powerful tool” for attracting potential bidders, according to Zillow chief economist Svenja Gudell. Prospective owners seem hate homes with white or off-white walls, which sold for an average of $4,035 less according to Zillow. Mind you, trends can change quickly, which is why it’s worthwhile to consider what colors are most favorable with would-be buyers.

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“Both kitchens and bathrooms are big focal points for home buyers. However, bathrooms are a bit more standardized than kitchens, so certain wall colors can really change the look and feel of the space,” says Kerrie Kelly, a home design expert at Zillow. “While wall colors in kitchens are also important, so are the kitchen appliances, counter top materials [and] layout.”

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Different hues of blue appear to boost home value in other rooms, as well. Homes with bedrooms painted in colors like this bold cadet blue called “Blue Edge or Caribbean-inspired cerulean shades command an average of $1,856 more. Homes with dining rooms in slate blue, blue-gray and even navy blue, when paired with distressed white “shiplap” finishes, sold for an average of nearly $2,000 more.

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Blue-gray tones and soft blues in the kitchen are associated with an increase in a home’s value of around $1,800. The yellow kitchens that commanded the highest premium last year have fallen out of favor and Zillow data shows that a yellow kitchen today is associated with a decrease in a home’s value by an average of $820.

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The exterior color of a home may also have an impact on its sale price. Homes that were painted in “greige,” a mix of light gray and beige, sold for $3,496 more than similar homes painted in a medium brown or with tan stucco. For a pop of color, homes with front doors painted in shades of dark navy blue to slate gray sold for $1,514 more.

The Power of Paint

One of the quickest and most cost-effective ways a prospective seller can get the most money for their home has been cited as painting a room or two. It’s also one of the easiest things not-so-handy homeowners can do themselves without having to call in the pros.

The investment is fairly minimal, aside from the paint itself and maybe a weekend of your time: A set of paint rollers for walls and trim, a plastic or coated-canvas dropcloth to keep your floors and furniture paint-free, and painter’s tape to protect ceilings, baseboards and so on, is pretty much all you need.

“Sellers should select paint colors that appeal to the broadest audience possible,” Kelly says. “The more eyeballs to your listing, the better.”

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