Looking for good interior paint colors to sell your house? What paint colors do real estate agents like and use?
When you live in your home, the paint and decor are all about your personal preferences. But when you decide to sell your house, a fresh, clean, neutral home often does better on the market than a personalized one.
The ultimate goal when selling is for your house to be a welcoming place potential buyers can envision themselves living in.
Look at the difference above, which is a real before-and-after paint & staging upgrade to sell a house in Wisconsin.
Pst! You can get our FREE Guide to Staging Your House as well as simple tips for staging a house while living in it to improve your home-selling process!
Should You Paint Before Selling Your House?
A fresh coat of paint can spruce up a home, but not every homeowner needs to paint. And the color you pick matters. Some paint colors help the sale of your home, while others can hurt your home’s value.
So here are guidelines from top Wisconsin realtors for painting your house before selling to help you decide IF you should paint, and WHAT COLORS to use.
Yes, you should paint before selling if…
- the paint is not in good condition (chipped, dirty, scuffed, or stained)
- the walls are bright paint colors (fire engine red, hot pink, lime green, bright orange, or bright yellow)
No, you don’t need to paint before selling if…
- the paint is in good condition
- and the paint is like-able colors of white, cream, gray, beige, soft greens, and most blues
Note: You can always text your favorite Shine realtor for painting advice if you’re thinking about selling. We’d LOVE to help!
What are Good Paint Colors to Sell a House?
If you’ve decided you should paint before selling your house, the next step is figuring out which color to paint it.
Paint colors can evoke different feelings. Some paints can make a room look bright and spacious. Paint can help a home feel welcoming and even evoke calm and pleasant feelings.
These are things house hunters will (sometimes unconsciously) look for when they’re viewing your house.
In general, light, neutral colors are the safest colors to paint the main living areas of your house.
Go-To Paint Colors From RE/MAX Shine Realtors & Staff
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- Prairie Grass by Sherwin Williams
- Whisper White by Behr
- On the Rocks by Sherwin Williams
- Mountain Gray by PpG
- 1905 Green by Magnolia
- Castle Cream by Magnolia
Caution with White Paint Colors
White paint can make a home feel bigger and brighter, but some shades of white can make a room feel cold and sterile, while others can feel dingy or outdated.
So here are six trusty white and off-white paint colors that can make your home look brighter and bigger for potential buyers:
- Alabaster by Sherwin Williams
- Greek Villa by Sherwin Williams
- Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore
- White Dove by Benjamin Moore
- Whisper White by Behr
- Shiplap by Magnolia Home
- Blank Canvas by Behr (their 2023 color of the year)
Trusty Neutral Paint Colors
Today’s buyers want the home to be “move-in ready” and even paint is hard for some buyers to see past. Neutral paint colors are a safe choice when painting a house to sell.
Even if a potential buyer doesn’t love your exact choice of gray or beige paint, they won’t be thinking about how they “have to paint that room before moving in” like they would if it’s a room with hot pink or lime green walls.
Here are some neutral paint colors by Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr, and Magnolia to consider to find one that goes with your flooring, trim, and decor.
Sherwin Williams Neutral Paint Colors
- Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams
- Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams
- On the Rocks by Sherwin Williams
- Natural Linen by Sherwin Williams
- Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams
- Natural Twine by Behr
Benjamin Moore Neutral Paint Colors
- Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore
- Seapearl by Benjamin Moore
- Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore
- Fieldstone by Benjamin Moore
Other Good Neutral Paint Colors
- Dove by Behr
- Antique White by Behr
- Wedding Band by Magnolia
Ultimately, the paint color that will look great in your home will depend on what color goes with your trim, floors, cabinets, curtains, and decor.
Related: How to Stage a House For Sale While Living in It
Paint Color Ideas by Room
You can keep it simple and pick one white or neutral paint color for all of the main living areas of your home that need re-painting. But if you’re looking for different paint colors that tend to work well in various rooms of the house, here are some ideas.
Bathroom Paint Colors
Light blue, gray, and off-white are three great options for bathrooms. Dark colors can make small rooms like half bathrooms feel even smaller.
- Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams
- Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams
- Serenely by Sherwin Williams
- Moonmist by Sherwin Williams
- Rainy Days by Magnolia
- Slate Blue by Benjamin Moore
- Beach Glass by Benjamin Moore
- Jubilee by Sherwin Williams
- Extra White by Sherwin Williams
- Seapearl by Benjamin Moore
- Blank Canvas by Behr
Bedroom Paint Colors
Deep shades of blue paint can make bedrooms feel restful and relaxing. Blue rooms have been shown to be associated with feelings of calm, peace, and tranquility, so it’s no wonder potential buyers are drawn to homes with blue bedrooms.
Other bedroom paint colors that could help your home sell are deep greens, light grays, and whites.
Here are some bedroom paint color ideas:
- Oyster Bay by Sherwin Williams
- Meditative by Sherwin Williams
- Favorite Jeans by Sherwin Williams
- Evergreen Fog by Sherwin Williams (their 2022 color of the year)
- Acacia Haze by Sherwin Williams
- Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams
- Natural Linen by Sherwin Williams
- Gray Cloud by Benjamin Moore
- Rainy Days by Magnolia
- Cement Pots by Magnolia
- Silverado Sage by Magnolia
- Blank Canvas by Behr
Living Room Paint Colors
Light gray has been a trendy paint color for living rooms and other main living areas, so the grays, whites, and beige colors listed above are safe living room paint colors.
If your living room or an accent wall would benefit from more color (to make a fireplace stand out, for example) a sage green or deep blue are good colors to consider with your trim and decor.
Here are some paint colors for living rooms:
- Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams
- Silver Strand by Sherwin Williams
- On the Rocks by Sherwin Williams
- Silverpointe by Sherwin Williams
- Prairie Grass by Sherwin Williams
- Svelte Sage by Sherwin Williams
- Evergreen Fog by Sherwin Williams
- Alabaster by Sherwin Williams
- Shiplap by Magnolia
- Oystershell by Benjamin Moore
- Abalone by Benjamin Moore
- Blank Canvas by Behr
- Wedding Band by Magnolia
Kitchen Paint Colors
White and gray are again popular paint colors for kitchens walls and cabinets. Painted cabinets can break up that wood-on-wood look if you have wood floors that meet wood cabinets.
Popular white paint colors for kitchens include:
- Alabaster by Sherwin Williams
- Pure White by Sherwin Williams
- White Dove by Benjamin Moore
- Cloud White by Benjamin Moore
- Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore
If your cabinets are outdated but you don’t want to paint all your cabinets, consider painting the kitchen island. It’s less work and money, and can still give your kitchen an updated pop of color for selling.
Popular kitchen island colors are:
- Cityscape by Sherwin Williams
- Cyberspace by Sherwin Williams
- Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore
- Ocean Floor by Benjamin Moore
- 1905 Green by Magnolia
Final Paint Tips Before Selling
Ask your realtor’s advice ((like us!) or a friend with interior design experience if you’re not planning to sell with a realtor! Realtors spend many hours walking with house hunters, so we regularly hear comments from buyers on what they do and don’t like when it comes to paint colors.
Some of us have Sherwin Williams Color Fan Decks that we’d be happy to bring over to discuss paint color choices before you sell too.
Test paint on a wall by ordering samples that stick to the wall, buying a small can, or using an online room visualizer (like this Sherwin-Williams one) to give you an idea of how a paint color will appear.
Don’t forget to touch up the trim if you have painted trim that’s chipped! Fresh paint can help a house feel newer, no matter its age.
Best wishes as you embark on the journey of selling your house!
Related: Frequently Asked Questions about Selling a House
Ultimately, the best paint color for your house is something that looks good with your flooring, curtains, furniture, trim, and decor.
-SHINE Real Estate Team
Do You Have a Realtor to Help Sell Your House Yet?
If you don’t have a trusted realtor to help you sell your house yet, call, stop by, or email RE/MAX Shine today.
Our team of highly-trained professional real estate agents would be honored to help you sell your house faster and for the most money, without the stress!
Related Tips for Selling a House
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Neutral is always a safe bet. We just picked up some fresh Clark and Kensington from our local home center to do a touch-up. That way we know it’ll last and satisfy all parties.