5 Paint Colors That Can Help Your Listings Sell for More

When preparing a home for market, fresh paint is a low-lift improvement that can have an outsized impact on the sale price. But defaulting to white could leave money on the table. 

Zillow’s Behavioral Science team surveyed 4,000 recent and prospective homebuyers to identify the interior paint colors that contribute to higher offer prices on a home.  The research points to warm, earthy shades fetching higher offers from buyers in 2026, while less favorable colors like ochre yellow and Millennial pink could shave thousands off an offer.

“The right colors can stop a shopper mid-scroll and instantly create an emotional connection, which ultimately drives higher offers.” Zillow home trends expert Amanda Pendleton said. “If a seller were to repaint the top performing color in each room, they could add more than $5,000 to their bottom line.”

Use the data to kickstart a conversation with sellers on the choices that can help their home appeal to today’s buyers, and consider these data-backed colors to maximize their sale price.

Dark gray still leads in the kitchen

Dark gray has remained popular three years in a row, suggesting this high-ROI color is an enduring trend. It’s the top choice for kitchens with a potential $1,373 premium compared to white. The sleek shade is also popular for living rooms, where the ROI could be $1,509. 

Tip: If a seller can only repaint one room, prioritize the kitchen — where the amount buyers were willing to offer had the widest range. Specifically, red kitchens could decrease offers by around $8,000.

Dark plum kitchens can attract buyers

Moody colors in the kitchen can pay off. If dark gray isn’t right for the space, dark plum is an alternative that can add $867 to offers. 

Tip: The moody kitchen trend is here to stay, but not all bold colors perform equally. Use the data to steer sellers away from red, pink, and ochre yellow. These colors could cost sellers thousands. Yellow used throughout a home could reduce offers by more than $18,000.

Chocolate brown delivers the most ROI of any color

The 90s are back, and that trend extends to home design. Chocolate brown was the highest value color in this year’s study, and it packs the most punch in the bedroom where it can add $2,277 to offers when used instead of white. 

Tip: While the data tells a compelling story about this retro bedroom color, take into account your knowledge of the local market to offer sellers neighborhood-specific insights.

Sage green is a safer bet than white

If your listing needs a fresh coat of paint in any room, you can confidently suggest sage. Sage green is the only shade that buyers ranked in the top tier in every room, making it a standout choice for 2026 listings. Sage green bedrooms in particular could add around $1,000 to offer prices. 

Tip: One in three sellers will paint before listing their home, but only certain colors are worth the investment — and the trends may not be your sellers’ style. Using the data to make your point can keep the conversation diplomatic.

Pale blue reads as lived-in, not basic

Along the lines of sage green, pale blue is another lighter shade that buyers are gravitating towards. In the living room, it could add $1,723 to offers.