The Common Paint Color That Could Cost You Thousands When You Sell

For many years, various shades of white and beige dominated the home trend market, but now, gradually, color is coming back in a big way. And there are several colors that could make you more money when it comes time to sell your house, plus others that could cost you.

According to Zillow’s 2026 Paint Color Analysis, the interior paint color choice that saw the biggest return was chocolate brown in a bedroom. The report found that bedroom walls in this hue could add an estimated $2,277 to a home’s offer price.

Maybe it has something to do with the dark, moody hue. But brown was not the only color making home sellers some extra cash. While white walls are seen as a blank slate, sometimes potential buyers need a little assistance envisioning themselves living in a space.

It was also discovered that pale blue living room walls could add about $1,723 to an offer price. That was more than white or gray walls, which were both calculated to add around $1,509. Charcoal gray kitchens were found to boost a home’s offer price by nearly $1,373. Overall, sage green was one of the safest color options for any room, including the bathroom.

“Greens continue to be seen as a modern neutral; sage is calming and nature-inspired bringing that dose of versatility to the bedroom without feeling plain,” Emily Kantz, Color Marketing Manager & Trendsight Team member at Sherwin-Williams, told Zillow. 

She said it’s all part of a trend to embrace color in favor of neutrality.

“Giving your home some personality by using a color that has depth is driving measurable return on investment,” Kantz added. “I’ve been seeing that a lot lately when it comes to design — playing it safe is riskier than experimenting with color and design.”

There were also plenty of paint colors that could cost money when it came to getting offers.

Ochre yellow was found to be one of the worst financial choices. Bold red bathrooms reportedly attracted offers that were $7,971 lower than if the room were white — the largest impact the study found for a single-room color choice, according to the report.” Blush pink bathrooms were a close second and resulted in offers that were $6,013 less.

The experts recommend painting your home whatever color you want while living there, then repainting it when it’s time to list to maximize profits. 

“If an ochre yellow kitchen brings you joy, embrace it!” Zillow’s home trends expert Amanda Pendleton said. “There will be some buyers who will love your yellow kitchen as much as you do. But getting top dollar for your home is all about appealing to the most potential buyers. So enjoy your ochre kitchen and when it’s time to sell, paint it charcoal gray or plum.”