Design to Sell: The Best Interior Color Palettes for House Flipping and Selling

Repainting your home is one of the most effective ways to prepare it for resale. In this article, we share some tips for designing a marketable space using color.

 

When decorating your own home, your paint and other decor choices should reflect your distinct style and personality. However, the same can’t be said if you’re preparing your home for resale. When it’s time to move on from your current property, you want to make sure that you redecorate it to appeal to a broader market. 

When it comes to color, you should choose hues that will make your rooms looks bigger and brighter and show off the space well. This can mean plenty of white, beige, and other classic neutrals, but it doesn’t have to—below, we explain several rules-of-thumb for devising a modern color palette that will appeal to a broad range of potential buyers.

Color Palettes That Sell

Tinted Neutrals

White and beige are the quintessential neutrals. As such, they tend to be safe colors to use if you’re prepping a property for resale. For a more modern take on a neutral, consider a tinted neutral, such as gray-green, light peach, a sandy yellow, or a subtle olive tone. When deciding on tints, make sure you test out your options by painting a small square swatch and watching how the color changes throughout the day with natural and artificial lighting. 

Go, Gray

In modern interiors, gray is fresh, understated, and appealing to both genders. And according to color psychology, gray is the color of compromise and cooperation, which might end up aiding in your buyers’ decision-making process. These traits make gray a great color to use in a big way. Consider using gray in communal rooms, such as the living area. For a room without a ton of natural light, consider using light gray, which can serve to brighten up an entire room.

TIP Opt for a low-sheen paint, which will help hide imperfections in the drywall. The more glossy the paint, the more imperfections stand out. 

Brighten With Yellow

Yellow can also brighten up a room that doesn’t have enough natural light. Again, when deciding between shades, make sure you test out your options by painting a small square swatch and watching how the color changes throughout the day with different lighting. 

Nods to Nature

Shades of blue and green tend to be crowd-pleasers when used in interiors. This is because they give a nod to the outdoors, and most people respond to the outdoors positively. Something that’s become increasingly attractive in the buyer’s market is kitchens outfitted in soft green or blue hues. If you’re planning on using a neutral color scheme throughout, you should consider bringing in green in the form of houseplants. 

Consider Your Curb Appeal

Color palettes don’t just matter on the inside, your exterior colors are important too! You’re doing your property a great disservice if you’re not considering its curb appeal. Before you even think about taking exterior photos or hosting an open house, take some time to survey the state of your home’s exterior. If it’s in need of a paint job, choose a color that works well with its surroundings—including the neighboring homes. One small renovation that packs a big punch is painting your front door. Some trend-forward options include charcoal, black, and navy blue.