5 Paint Colors That Will Increase the Value of Your Home

A crisp coat of paint can make a big difference when you're preparing to sell your home. "It gives potential buyers a good first impression and instills the belief in a buyer's mind that the house has been well taken care of," says agent Karen Kostiw of Warburg Realty. Along with making a space more attractive to prospective buyers, certain paint colors can help your home sell faster—and in some cases, for more money.

"A buyer needs to be able to envision their furniture coordinating with the chosen paint color," Kostiw adds. For this reason, agent George Case of Warburg Realty recommends selecting a neutral shade of paint when staging your home, which he says will appeal to the largest base possible. "The most important thing is to use paint color to create a space that feels fresh and relevant to any aesthetic or style," he says. So, which paint colors can increase both the appeal and value of your home? There are a number of good options.

Warm Gray

For an elegant paint color that's versatile enough to use in any room, our experts say to look no further than a warm shade of gray. "When selling your home, you want high-traffic spaces to feel welcoming, so people can envision themselves living in them," says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. "Mindful Gray SW 7016 is a timeless, warm, greenish gray that suits a variety of interiors, while Agreeable Gray SW 7029 is our most popular, light soft gray."

For a warm gray that will complement just about any color of furniture, Ashley Banbury, senior color designer at Pratt & Lambert Paints suggests Row House 408B. "It's a slightly more mid-tone neutral that provides the perfect balance of warm and cool," she explains.

The Best Gray Paints to Swatch Now

• Sherwin-Williams Mindful Gray SW 7016
• Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray SW 7029
• Pratt & Lambert Row House 408B
• Clare Windy City
• Farrow & Ball Skipping Stone No. 241

Soft White

Light and airy, our experts say a coat of white paint can make a big impact on buyers when selling your home. "White walls allow a buyer to see how their furniture, artwork, and fabrics can seamlessly fit into their potential new space," explains Patrick O'Donnell of Farrow & Ball. "Soft nuanced whites, such as School House White No. 291 or the perennially popular Wimborne White No. 239, create a clean backdrop for anything."

For a bright shade of white that will stand out in listing photos, Wadden recommends Pure White SW 7005. "Think about how color will translate [virtually]," she says. "Certain colors can appear different in person than they do online."

The Best White Paints to Swatch Now

• Farrow & Ball School House White No. 291
• Farrow & Ball Wimborne White No. 239
• Sherwin Williams Pure White SW 7005
• Benjamin Moore Capri Coast OC-87
• Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17

Light Pastel

If you want to introduce some color into a room, O'Donnell says to consider a mid-to-light-tone pastel that can supply a dash of drama without overpowering the space. "A soft muted pink, like Setting Plaster No. 231, or a pale silvery blue or green, such as Light Blue No. 22 and Mizzle No. 266 are interesting enough to bring a pop of personality to a room, but gentle enough to read as a warm neutral," he explains.

The Best Pastel Paints to Swatch Now

• Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster No. 231
• Farrow & Ball Light Blue No. 22
• Farrow & Ball Mizzle No. 266
• Benjamin Moore Pale Sea Mist 2147-50
• Benjamin Moore Majestic Mauve 2115-60

Velvety Beige

Wadden says that a fresh shade of beige paint is a foolproof way to make a space feel more inviting to buyers. "Spaces painted in beiges are seen as versatile across various design styles," she explains. "Accessible Beige SW 7036 has a gray undertone that works well with differing wood tones, while bringing depth and dimension to open floor plans."

The Best Beige Paints to Swatch Now

• Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige SW 7036
• Clare Neutral Territory
• Behr Spice Beige PPL-61
• Benjamin Moore Shaker Beige HC-45
• Farrow & Ball Slipper Satin No. 2004

Creamy Off-White

According to Banbury, you can always count on cream-colored paint to make a stark space feel cozy and welcoming. "Shades of cream work wonders when selling a home, because they make a space feel comfortable but adaptable," she explains. "Milk Glass WH31 brings a sophisticated touch to a room while creating a warm backdrop for furniture and accessories." For a creamy shade of off-white that will complement both warm and cool color palettes, Wadden suggests Dover White SW 6385. "Spaces painted in off-white are seen as versatile across various design styles," she says.

The Best Off-White Paints to Swatch Now

• Pratt & Lambert Milk Glass WH31
• Pratt & Lambert Dover White SW 6385
• Sherwin Williams Alabaster SW 7008
• Sherwin Williams White Flour SW 7102
• Benjamin Moore Linen White OC-146