Planning on selling your home? If so, it may be time to break out the blue paint. According to a new study by Zillow, home interiors painted blue can boost the selling price of your home.
The online real estate marketplace analyzed more than 32,000 photos from sold home listings across the country to see how certain paint colors impacted the amount of money for which the home sold.
The analysis revealed that homes with light blue bathrooms sold for an average of $5,440 more than other, similar homes. Using blue in other rooms was also found to increase a home’s sales price.
Makes a home feel larger
Light blue or soft slate blue kitchens resulted in a $1,809 increase in selling price, while dining rooms painted slate blue or navy with white shiplap put an extra $1,926 in sellers’ pockets. Bedrooms painted light cerulean or cadet blue resulted in a $1,856 increase in selling price.
"Painting walls in fresh, natural-looking colors, particularly in shades of blue and pale gray, not only make a home feel larger, but also are neutral enough to help future buyers envision themselves living in the space," said Svenja Gudell, Zillow's chief economist, in a press release.
"Incorporating light blue in kitchens and bathrooms may pay off especially well as the color complements white countertops and cabinets, a growing trend in both rooms,” Gudell added.
Colors that lower price
While blue paint may be a good choice for bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms, sellers may want to opt for a different hue in the living room. Blue living rooms resulted in an average drop in sales price of $820, according to the study.
Conversely, light beige or oatmeal living rooms were correlated with an increase in sales price of $1,809.
In addition to avoiding blue in the living room, it may be wise to sidestep two particular shades in the dining room: terra cotta and brick-red. These two colors were found to lower a home’s selling price by $2,031 on average when used in this space.
Avoid all white
The absence of a paint color also didn’t do any favors for a home’s ultimate sale price. White or eggshell-colored kitchens tended to go for more than $4,000 less than expected.
Tastefully painted walls can often help potential buyers see your home as their future home. But in order for this tactic to work, experts say it’s best not to let your personal style have too much influence on your color choice.
To improve the odds of your painting effort paying off, steer clear of style-specific colors and opt for colors with mass appeal, such as those named above.