Best Paint Colors for Selling a House That Help It Show Better

Before you sell your house, painting is one of the best ways you can improve curb appeal and spruce up your interior. So what color should you paint? Light, neutral colors sell best. Think of warm whites, soft taupes, and greiges.

This is because paint affects first impressions, listing photos, and how big, bright, and clean a home feels. The right color can make rooms look larger, hide flaws, and signal that a home is well cared for.

Whether you're refreshing tired interiors or boosting curb appeal with exterior updates, the right color palette makes buyers see themselves living in the home. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best paint colors for selling a home, both for your home’s interior and exterior.

Should you paint your house before selling? 

Painting before selling is often worth it, but the decision to paint also depends on your market and your home’s condition. If walls are scuffed, bold, or dated, a fresh coat of neutral paint can deliver one of the highest returns for the lowest cost. Buyers may not notice new paint directly, but they’ll see a well-maintained home that feels move-in ready.

You may want to skip painting in hot markets, especially if homes in your area are selling quickly with multiple offers. You can also hold off if the paint is new, neutral, and in good shape, or if you’re selling to investors who plan to renovate anyway. In these cases, buyers often care more about price and layout than cosmetic upgrades.

The goal is to emphasize return on investment (ROI) by repainting areas buyers see first and most often without overspending on unnecessary upgrades.

Why neutral paint colors help homes sell faster 

Neutral paint colors help homes sell faster for several reasons, including:

• Broad buyer appeal: Neutral shades appeal to many buyers because they don’t clash with furniture styles or personal tastes, which lowers the chance of being turned off the moment they walk in. Instead of focusing on the walls, buyers can focus on the space.
• Spaces feel larger and brighter: Light neutrals reflect natural light and make rooms feel 15-20% larger in photos and in person. Buyers subconsciously add square footage value when spaces feel open and airy.
• Buyers picture themselves in the home: When buyers see bold colors, they're calculating repaint costs. With neutrals, they're imagining their furniture in the house.
• Reinforces “move-in ready” perception: Fresh, neutral paint often means well-cared-for, and that alone makes the home move-in ready.

Best interior paint colors for selling a house

The best interior paint colors for selling a house are light, neutral shades that feel clean, modern, and easy to live with. These colors appeal to more buyers and help a home feel move-in ready.

Best overall interior colors

These shades consistently perform well in resale listings and are widely recommended by major paint brands.

• Warm whites: Top choice for resale. They brighten rooms and work well in homes with warm wood tones or limited natural light.
  • Sherwin-Williams Alabaster (SW 7008) — one of the most popular resale whites, soft and inviting rather than stark
  • Benjamin Moore White Dove (OC-17) — works well with both warm and cool finishes
  • Behr Swiss Coffee (12) — a forgiving white that hides minor wall imperfections
• Soft greige: A mix of gray and beige is another strong option.
  • Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray (SW 7029) — a top-selling neutral that balances warm and cool tones
  • Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (HC-172) — especially good for open floor plans
• Light beige/taupe: Light beige or taupe is ideal for traditional homes, adding warmth while staying neutral.
  • Glidden Pebble Grey — subtle warmth without reading yellow
  • Behr Sandstone Cove (730C-2) — a classic choice for traditional homes

Undertones matter, too. Warm undertones like yellow, beige, and soft brown create a welcoming feel. Cool undertones, such as blue or green, can look crisp but may feel stark if overused. For resale, slightly warm neutrals tend to be the safest bet.

Room-by-room guidance

Here are the best paint colors for each room in a house.

• Living rooms and hallways: These high-traffic areas need to feel open and flow together. Use one consistent neutral throughout to improve flow. Agreeable Gray, White Dove, or Alabaster work especially well here.
• Bedrooms: Bedrooms should feel calm and neutral. Light greige or warm beige works well, helping buyers imagine their furniture and decor in the space. Skip bold colors, even in children’s rooms.
• Kitchens: Warm white walls (like Alabaster or Swiss Coffee) let cabinets, counters, and backsplashes stand out without competition. Let your cabinets and countertops be the focal point.
• Bathrooms: Soft white or light greige reinforces a well-maintained, move-in-ready impression.

When selling a home, consistency matters more than creativity.

Interior paint colors to avoid when selling

Certain interior paint colors may turn potential home buyers off, so it’s best to avoid them. The most common off-putting paint colors include:

• Dark, saturated colors: For example, deep red, navy, or charcoal gray tend to make rooms feel smaller. In listing photos, they absorb light and can make spaces look cramped or dated, which hurts first impressions.
• Bold accent walls: While they may reflect personal style, buyers often see them as extra work. Instead of focusing on the layout or features, they start thinking about repainting costs.
• Highly personalized palettes: Themed rooms can also limit buyer appeal. What feels meaningful to one homeowner can feel distracting or overwhelming to someone else.
• Inconsistent color schemes: Moving from room to room with different colors breaks visual flow and makes a home feel smaller and less cohesive.

Finishes and sheen choices that photograph well

Paint finish affects how a home looks in photos just as much as color. For most interior walls, eggshell is the safest choice. It reflects light softly, hides minor imperfections, and photographs cleanly without glare. Flat paint can work in low-traffic areas, but it scuffs easily and may show wear during showings.

Semi-gloss is best reserved for trim, doors, and baseboards. It’s more durable, easier to clean, and creates subtle contrast without drawing attention. Durability matters most in kitchens, hallways, and bathrooms, where moisture and fingerprints are common.

For resale, keep finishes simple and uniform. Mixing too many sheens can feel busy and distract buyers in listing photos.

Best exterior paint colors for selling a house

Painting the outside of your house can be one of the best ways to improve curb appeal, and therefore the home's value. The best exterior paint colors for selling a house are safe, neutral shades that appeal to most buyers. White, light gray, greige, and soft beige are reliable choices because they give a first good impression of a well-cared-for home. Plus, these colors also photograph well.

Reliable choices include:

• White and off-white:
  • Sherwin-Williams Alabaster
  • Benjamin Moore Simply White (OC-117)
• Light gray or greige:
  • Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray (SW 7015)
  • Behr Silver Drop (790C-2)
• Soft beige:
  • Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray (HC-173)

Your roof color and fixed materials should guide your choice. Warm-toned roofs pair better with beige or warm greige, while cooler roofs work well with light gray or crisp white. Stone, brick, and hardscape elements can’t be changed easily, so exterior paint should complement them.

Darker colors can work, but only in limited areas. Use deeper shades on front doors, shutters, or small accents to add contrast without overwhelming the home.

Exterior paint colors that can hurt resale value

Certain exterior paint colors can make buyers hesitate before they even step inside.

• Highly saturated colors: Think of colors like bright blue, green, or red. They feel too bold for most buyers and often mean future repainting costs.
• Ultra-dark siding in hot climates: This can also hurt resale value, especially in hot climates. Dark colors absorb heat, which may raise concerns about energy efficiency and maintenance.
• Clashing trim and accents: Often creates visual chaos. Buyers respond better to simple, balanced color combinations.
• Overly trendy choices: What’s trendy now may feel outdated by the time you want to sell your home. Neutral, timeless exteriors age better and attract more offers.

How much does painting before selling cost? 

The cost to paint a home before selling depends on whether you’re painting the interior, exterior, or both. According to Angi, the average cost to paint the interior of a home is anywhere from $965 to $3,088, while painting the exterior costs between $1,819 and $4,551. These costs may vary based on the size of your home.[1]

DIY painting may seem like a way to save money. However, speed and finish quality matter more than small savings. Uneven coverage or visible brush marks can show in photos and during showings, hurting buyer confidence.

That’s why hiring a professional painter is always a smart move. Faster turnarounds and consistent painting will help your home photograph better, attract stronger offers, and reduce time on the market.

Is painting worth the return on investment?

Painting is one of the lowest-risk, highest-impact improvements you can make before selling a home. Fresh, neutral paint improves photo listings, how it feels during showings, and how confident buyers feel about making an offer. Additionally, homes that look clean and move-in ready often spend fewer days on the market and attract stronger interest early.

However, buyers will repaint the house 60% of the time within the first year. They always do it to personalize the home but not to fix it. Still, a fresh paint helps buyers say yes sooner, which is where the real return comes from.

How a real estate agent helps you choose the right colors

A good real estate agent knows what local buyers expect and which paint colors are helping homes sell faster right now. They see which listings get strong offers quickly and which ones sit on the market.

They’ll also help you avoid over-improvement. That means you’ll know when a simple repaint will pay off and when spending more won’t move the needle. Instead of guessing, you get guidance tied to real buyer behavior in your local market.

FAQ