What are the trending paint color palettes for 2025 that can help sell my house faster?

For 2025, trending paint colors include warm neutrals like soft whites, beiges, and greiges, as well as earthy tones such as terracotta and sage green. Also consider the colors of the year from leading paint companies like Cinnamon Slate from Benjamin Moore or Mocha Mousse from Pantone. Incorporating these colors creates a welcoming and modern aesthetic that appeals to potential homebuyers.

Why are neutral paint colors recommended for selling a house?

Neutral colors like warm whites, soft grays, and beiges create a blank canvas that allows potential buyers to envision their own furniture and personal style in the space. These colors make rooms feel larger, brighter, and more inviting, increasing the perceived value of the home and leading to quicker sales.

Are there any specific paint colors I should avoid when selling my house in 2025?

Yes, avoid bold and overly personalized colors like lime green, bold pink, red, purple, bold orange, and mustard yellow. These colors can be overwhelming and limit a buyer's imagination, potentially decreasing your home's appeal and resale value.

How can I incorporate trendy colors without overwhelming potential buyers?

Use trendy colors as accents rather than painting entire rooms. Consider painting an accent wall in a deep blue or earthy tone, or use pops of color in accessories like throw pillows and artwork. This adds personality without straying too far from market-friendly neutrals.

What is the best approach to selecting paint colors for different rooms in my house when preparing to sell?

Use warmer tones in gathering spaces like kitchens and living rooms to create an energy-boosting environment. Cooler colors are ideal for bedrooms and offices to promote relaxation and productivity. Maintain a cohesive color scheme throughout the house with complementary undertones to create a sense of flow and make the home feel more comfortable.

2025's Top Colors to Sell Homes

By Home Sidekick Team May 23, 2025 8 min read 1554 words

paint colorshome stagingreal estate trendsinterior designselling your home2025color palettes

Selling your home can be a daunting task, and in today's competitive market, every detail matters. One of the most impactful and cost-effective ways to boost your home's appeal is with a fresh coat of paint. However, choosing the right colors is crucial. The wrong shades can turn off potential buyers, while the right ones can significantly increase your home's perceived value and help it sell faster. As we move into 2025, interior design trends are evolving, and understanding the color palettes that resonate with homebuyers is essential. This guide will walk you through the top colors to sell homes in 2025, offering practical advice and insights to help you make informed decisions.

The Power of Paint: Why Color Matters When Selling

Paint is more than just a cosmetic touch; it's a powerful tool that influences buyers' perceptions and emotions. According to Zillow’s home trends expert, Amanda Pendleton, "Paint is a relatively affordable and easy change, yet it has an outsized impact on a buyer's perception of the home." A fresh coat of paint signals that a home is well-maintained and contemporary, while the wrong colors can create the opposite impression. Color can affect mood, perception, and emotion. In the world of home selling, it also influences buyer behavior, perceived property value, and even how long your home sits on the market.

A recent survey by Fixr.com polled leading home staging and design professionals, revealing that certain paint colors could be a major turn-off for potential buyers and, worse, could hurt your home's resale value.

Key Takeaways:

A fresh coat of paint can significantly impact a buyer's perception of your home.
Strategic color choices can increase perceived value and help your home sell faster.
Outdated or unusual colors can deter buyers and reduce offers.

Neutral Ground: Timeless Colors That Appeal to Everyone

Neutral colors remain a safe and effective choice for selling homes because they offer a blank canvas that allows potential buyers to envision their own furniture and décor in the space. However, the definition of "neutral" is evolving. Stark whites are falling out of favor, replaced by warmer, more inviting tones. According to a 2025 report, 85% of experts recommend using warm neutrals in the primary bedroom.

Warm Whites: The New Standard

Soft, warm whites are the top choice for living areas, offering a cozy and welcoming atmosphere while remaining neutral enough for buyers to envision their personal style. Unlike stark whites, these shades have subtle undertones of cream or beige, preventing them from feeling cold or sterile. Benjamin Moore's White Dove and Sherwin-Williams' White Snow are popular choices.

Actionable Advice:

Use warm whites in living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens to create a bright and inviting space.
Pair warm whites with natural wood finishes and soft textures to enhance the cozy feel.

Greige: The Perfect Blend

Greige, a blend of gray and beige, is a versatile neutral that works well in any space. It offers the coolness of gray with the warmth of beige, creating a balanced and sophisticated backdrop. According to Fixr.com's 2025 Interior Design and Color Trends Report, 28% of designers and stagers recommend greige for living spaces.

Practical Examples:

Use greige in open-concept layouts to create a cohesive and tranquil aesthetic.
Pair greige with pops of color in furniture and accessories to add personality without overwhelming buyers.

Beige and Taupe: Earthy and Inviting

Beige and taupe are earthy neutrals that bring warmth and sophistication to interiors. These colors evoke a sense of calm and balance, making them ideal for creating a relaxing atmosphere. Sherwin-Williams' Malabar, a sandy beige, is an uplifting-yet-warm hue, while taupe is close in color to Pantone's Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse.

Tips for Using Beige and Taupe:

Use beige and taupe in bedrooms and living rooms to create a serene and inviting space.
Pair these colors with natural materials like wood and stone to enhance the earthy feel.

Embracing Color: Strategic Pops for a Memorable Impression

While neutrals are essential, incorporating strategic pops of color can make your home stand out and create a memorable impression on potential buyers. However, it's crucial to use color judiciously, avoiding overly bold or personal choices that may deter buyers.

Soft Greens: Nature-Inspired Serenity

Soft greens inspired by nature are gaining popularity, bringing a sense of tranquility and renewal to interiors. These colors evoke feelings of calm and well-being, making them ideal for creating a relaxing atmosphere. According to Fixr.com's 2025 Interior Design and Color Trends Report, 10% of design experts recommend soft greens for living spaces.

Color Suggestions:

Sherwin-Williams' Quietude, a soft sage with a whisper of blue influence, is an emerging color for enduring design.
October Mist, a soft muted sage green, evokes a sense of calm and renewal.

Muted Blues: Coastal Charm and Sophistication

Muted blues offer a refreshing and sophisticated alternative to neutrals, evoking a sense of coastal charm and serenity. These colors create a calming atmosphere, making them ideal for bedrooms and bathrooms.

Examples of Muted Blues:

Beach Glass, a soft misty blue-green, captures the essence of coastal waters.
Sea Mariner, a deep rich navy with gray undertones, reflects the depth of the ocean.

Cinnamon Slate: A Nuanced and Grounded Hue

Benjamin Moore's Color of the Year 2025, Cinnamon Slate, is a delicate mix of heathered plum and velvety brown. This nuanced color brings a smooth familiarity to any design and creates instant depth without feeling heavy, making any space feel refined yet inviting.

How to incorporate Cinnamon Slate:

Use Cinnamon Slate as an accent wall in a living room or bedroom to add warmth and sophistication.
Pair it with neutral furniture and accessories to create a balanced and inviting space.

Colors to Avoid: Shades That Can Hinder a Sale

Just as certain colors can enhance your home's appeal, others can detract from it, potentially hindering a sale. According to home staging experts, the worst colors to use when selling a home in 2025 are lime green, bold pink, red, purple, bold orange, and mustard yellow. These shades are seen as too personal or intense for potential buyers.

Why Avoid These Colors?

Bold colors can be overwhelming, limiting buyer imagination and making spaces feel smaller or outdated.
They distract from the home's architecture and require repainting, something many buyers want to avoid.

Instead of using these colors on walls, consider reserving them for home accessories like throw pillows, blankets, or artwork. Used at smaller doses and strategically, these colors can draw eyes into a space without being off-putting.

Exterior Appeal: Colors That Draw Buyers In

Curb appeal is crucial when selling a home, and the exterior paint color plays a significant role in creating a positive first impression. When asked what siding colors buyers prefer, 45% of experts say off-white is the most attractive paint color for 2025. Unpainted natural wood siding grabbed the second spot (36%), offering a warm, organic look that blends with biophilic design.

Off-White: A Timeless Classic

Off-white is a classic and versatile hue that complements diverse trim colors and architectural styles. It creates a clean and inviting façade, signaling that the home is well-maintained.

Tips for Selecting Off-White:

Consider your home's style, the surrounding landscape, and the neighborhood aesthetic when choosing an off-white shade.
Use contrasting trim colors to make the central color pop.

Natural Wood: Organic and Inviting

Unpainted natural wood siding offers a warm and organic look that blends with biophilic design, appealing to buyers who appreciate nature-inspired elements.

Dark Gray: Sleek and Modern

Dark gray stands out as a top paint color, appealing to buyers who love a sleek, modern aesthetic. It adds a touch of sophistication and can make your home stand out from the crowd.

Zillow's research finds recent and prospective buyers would offer an estimated $3,365 less for a home with a cement gray front door. Rather, buyers prefer black front doors to those painted gray, and would offer $300 more for a home with a mid tone rosy brown front door.

Beyond Color: Finishes and Preparation

In addition to choosing the right colors, paying attention to paint finishes and preparation is essential for achieving a professional and appealing result.

Repair and Prepare Walls: Fill holes, patch cracks, and sand rough spots to create a smooth surface.
Use Primer: Apply a primer to ensure proper adhesion and coverage, especially when painting over dark colors.
Choose the Right Finish: Matte finish paint does an excellent job of hiding imperfections in walls, such as scuffs or marks.

Conclusion: Painting Your Way to a Successful Sale

Choosing the right paint colors is a critical step in preparing your home for sale in 2025. By understanding the trends and preferences of today's homebuyers, you can create a space that is both inviting and marketable. Remember to stick with neutral bases, strategic pops of color, and avoid shades that may deter potential buyers. With careful planning and attention to detail, you can use paint to transform your home and maximize its selling potential.

Next Steps:

Consult with a real estate agent or home stager to get personalized advice on color choices for your specific property.
Gather paint samples and test them in different rooms and lighting conditions to see how they look throughout the day.
Create a painting schedule and budget to ensure the project is completed efficiently and cost-effectively.