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When you decide to put your house on the market, you’ll also want to spend some time updating the paint in all the rooms. In fact, the color you paint your walls can affect how quickly your home sells and how much homebuyers are willing to pay. According to research by Zillow, buyers might offer as much as $2,590 more for homes with the most attractive interior paint colors.
But how do you determine the right paint colors? Should you opt for neutrals like white, beige, tan, and gray that make a room seem bigger and brighter or stronger, more saturated dark hues that help make a space feel cozier?
Zillow surveyed thousands of prospective homebuyers to determine which colors are the most desirable for different rooms. Surprisingly, people now prefer bold colors found in nature, like deep blues and greens, over plain neutrals.
Top Colors by Room
Given this shift in paint color preference, Zillow teamed up with Sherwin-Williams to highlight the best dark paint colors that homebuyers love so you can stay on top of this trend. Here are the top choices to use in the kitchen, living room, bedrooms, and bathrooms.
Olive Green in the Kitchen
Green paint colors help create a fresh, inviting feeling, which works well in a kitchen where everyone congregates. This hue is also popular now since it gives a sense of connection to nature and evokes some calm and sophistication. Zillow found that homes with olive green kitchen cabinets attract more interest from buyers than any other color. In fact, painting kitchen cabinets in this shade could potentially boost a home’s sale price by about $1,600.
Dark Gray in the Living Room
Dark gray is a staple favorite for living rooms, according to Zillow. It made it on their previous paint color assessment and remains an effective hue where people want to relax and cozy up on a sofa. Zillow’s research found that a dark gray living room can increase a homebuyer’s offer price by nearly $2,600.
Mid-Tone Brown in Bathrooms
When it comes to bathrooms, think coffee flavors like mocha and java. Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year is Mocha Mousse, and now Zillow has discovered that painting a bathroom a mid-tone brown color can raise the home selling price by $680. This range of hues offers a rich, warm, earthy tone that projects comfort, harmony, and luxury.
Navy Blue in Bedrooms
Navy blue is the top dark paint color choice for bedrooms. In fact, buyers said they were willing to offer the most for a navy blue bedroom, which could boost a sale price by an estimated $1,815, according to Zillow’s consumer survey. The main reason is that navy is a classic color that adds both elegance and depth to the room. Also, it can work in a variety of home décor styles, from traditional to modern.
Ways to Use Dark Colors in Your Home
Whether you are color drenching a room or just painting an accent wall, there are a variety of ways to decorate with these dark paint colors. The first step is to choose a color that fits with your personal taste and the mood you want to achieve. Then test several shades in the space to see how the color appears at different times of the day. You’ll also want to carefully consider the best rooms for each color. Not every room is conducive for a dark, rich hue. Small, windowless rooms, for example, might feel too depressing and confining with a dark color on the wall. Finally, it’s helpful to balance the dark paint color with the other décor in the room; light-colored furniture and accessories pair well with dark walls.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using dark paint colors can add drama, sophistication, and depth—but they must be used thoughtfully to avoid these common mistakes:
- Not using the right supplies: Using dark paint leaves little margin for error, as even small mistakes or uneven lines are more visible. Be sure to use proper tools such as high-quality painter’s tape to create sharp, clean edges, and drop cloths to shield floors and furniture from spills or splatters.
- Not applying a primer plus multiple coats: Dark paints require a primer as well as several coats of paint. Apply a tinted primer to enhance the paint’s vibrancy and then at least two coats of paint until you see its full intensity.
- Not choosing the best finish: Matte finishes help hide imperfections but are harder to clean, so don’t use them in high-traffic areas. More practical finishes include eggshell or satin. Also, avoid semi-gloss and gloss on dark walls.
- Not budgeting correctly: Dark paints often cost more to work with since they require additional coats and pricier supplies.
Avoid These Colors
While there are certain paint colors that make smart choices in 2025, Zillow warns that other colors could be a bad idea for those trying to resell their home. Avoid bright colors like reds and yellows when repainting and make sure these colors never appear in real estate listing photos. These fun, energetic shades might work well for current residents, but it’s best to paint over those walls before listing a home to avoid narrowing down the pool of likely buyers. According to the Zillow data, having a bright yellow kitchen could reduce a home’s sale price by as much as $3,915 and a red bedroom could lower it by $1,987.
