A lighter field color will make it look larger; a darker color will visually shrink it. Lighter colors can also make a house look visually flimsy, while darker colors can give it a strong, solid appearance.
What Are the Worst Colors for Resale? The most off-putting color for buyers is red, according to the 2024 “Paint and Color Trends Report” from Fixr. For its report, the home remodeling site polled 71 interior designers and home stagers, and 59 percent agreed that red turns away buyers.
Lighter exterior colors generally make a house look bigger. Shades such as soft whites, light grays, pale blues, and pastel colors can create an illusion of space and openness. These colors reflect more light, which can enhance the perception of size.
To give your home a luxurious feel, choose sophisticated colors such as soft grays, muted blues, and elegant whites. Add opulence with rich jewel tones as accents, and introduce metallics like gold or brass for a touch of glamour. Achieve balance with a mix of light and dark hues for depth and visual interest.
Yes, painting a room a darker color can make it feel smaller. Dark colors tend to absorb light, which can create a more enclosed and intimate atmosphere. This effect can make the walls appear to recede, giving the impression of reduced space.
Believe it or not, painting your house a dark exterior color can actually increase your home value. A 2023 Zillow study revealed that homes with darker paint colors sold for about $2,512 above the anticipated price. This represents a significant profit for a simple investment of around $50 per can of paint.
Light and Bright
For the illusion of a larger room, use a light color scheme. Pastels, neutrals, shades of cream and white are all color possibilities. If you love color, make your predominant wall color light and then add bold pops of color, such as this cheerful bright blue on the front door.
Instead, “recent and prospective homebuyers are willing to offer more money for a home painted in dark, moody colors,” Pendleton said. In fact, dark gray is associated with higher offer prices than white in every room of the home that Zillow studied: the kitchen, living room, bathroom and bedroom.
Overall: Put It in Neutral
White, gray, beige and taupe tones are favorites for designers and homeowners alike because they work overtime to visually enlarge small spaces and brighten shadowy rooms. Neutral hues also enable potential buyers better visualize themselves living in the home.
Light colors can open up a space, painting a room a really dark color can make the walls recede, giving the illusion that they are further back than it really is. Meanwhile, medium tones can take focus off the size of the room entirely. The walls are just there, and no illusion is cast.
Gray: Gray has become a popular neutral recently, and for a good reason. It's a sophisticated color that can work with various decor styles. Whether you choose a light or dark gray, it's a timeless color that will never go out of style.
Age could bring down a home's value, especially if the home needs work. Buying a fixer-upper can translate to all kinds of additional costs. There are cosmetic concerns such as an outdated kitchen or a less-than-modern floor plan, and then there are functional issues like problems with the home's roof or plumbing.
White is one of the best colors for selling a home because it's simple, timeless, and not influenced by personal taste, which allows potential buyers to see it as their own blank canvas.
Sometimes lower property values are due to factors with your property, such as neglected maintenance, outdated kitchens, or patchy home improvement projects.
Bright hues and pastel tones, like yellow, orange, pink, and teal, tend to lose their resale value quickly and should be avoided if there's any chance the property will be listed for sale in the future. Bright siding colors are fantastic for adding fun, unique looks, and standout character to a home's exterior.
Slate Blue Or Black Doors Are The Big Winners
When a home was decorated with a front door painted in slate blue, it not only captivated buyers - it enticed them to offer $1,537 more on average! This chalky light blue-gray hue earned the highest overall score from prospective and recent purchasers.
Home Exterior Colors to Avoid
There are still unpopular colors that might reduce the value of your home to a greater extent when painted on your exterior. Some of the colors to avoid include shades of pink, brick red, straw yellow, dark greens, and any exceedingly dark and bold pellets.
Everyone knows that black is the most attractive color, which is why every woman should have a perfect little black dress. This color always makes you look slimmer and more elegant. When you wear black clothes, you will not only look slimmer but also feel more at ease and move with the confidence of a queen.
A soft white or gray creates a peaceful and clean ambiance. They can make a small bedroom feel more spacious and airy, promoting a clutter-free mind. What's more, white and light gray are excellent for those who prefer a minimalist approach.