property value
home selling
home improvement
real estate
paint colours

The Best Paint Colours for Selling Your House

Discover the paint colours that can add thousands to your property value and appeal to the widest range of buyers.

By The Trades Team
3 min read

Thinking about selling your home? Before you list it, you might want to grab a paintbrush. The right paint colours can be the difference between a quick sale at your asking price and your property sitting on the market for months. It's like giving your home a fresh, clean shirt before a job interview - first impressions matter.

Why Neutral Colours Win Every Time

When it comes to selling, neutral colours are your best friend. Think of your walls as a blank canvas that lets buyers imagine their own furniture and style in the space. Bright or bold colours might reflect your personality, but they can turn off potential buyers who can't see past your taste.

  • Warm whites and creams create a welcoming, spacious feel
  • Light greys offer modern sophistication without being cold
  • Soft beiges provide warmth and comfort
  • These colours appeal to the widest possible audience

The Top Paint Picks for Maximum Appeal

Based on what real estate agents and professional painters recommend, here are the colours that consistently perform best:

  • Dulux Lexicon Quarter - A crisp white with subtle blue undertones that makes spaces feel bright and clean
  • Dulux Natural White - A warm white that's been an Australian favourite for years
  • Haymes Greyology 1 - A light, modern grey that's become the new neutral
  • Haymes Liveable White - Exactly what it says - warm and inviting

These paint colours have proven track records for helping homes sell faster and for better prices.

What About Feature Walls and Accents?

While keeping main walls neutral is key, you can still add personality with feature walls in secondary spaces. Think about:

  • Soft blues like Wattyl Heavenly Tears in bedrooms for a calm, airy feel
  • Earthy tones like Haymes Sand Haze for a natural, comfortable vibe
  • Keeping bold colours like Taubmans Black Pearl for small accent areas only

The key is moderation - enough personality to make the home memorable, but not so much that buyers can't imagine themselves living there.

Don't Forget the Exterior

Curb appeal matters just as much as interior appeal. For your home's exterior:

  • White is the most recommended colour for maximum appeal
  • Neutral tones like sand, cream, or soft greys work well
  • Keep front doors in sophisticated neutrals like white, charcoal, or navy

Remember, buyers often make up their minds about a property within the first few minutes of seeing it.

Colours to Avoid When Selling

Some colours can actually decrease your home's appeal and value:

  • Bright reds, oranges, or yellows in main living areas
  • Dark, moody colours that make rooms feel smaller
  • Highly personalised feature walls that reflect niche tastes

These colours might work for your current lifestyle, but they limit your potential buyer pool.

Final Takeaway

Choosing the right paint colours when selling your house is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase its appeal and value. Stick to neutral, light colours that create a blank canvas for buyers to imagine their future in your home. A few hundred dollars spent on paint could add thousands to your final sale price and help your property sell faster. It's the home improvement equivalent of polishing your shoes before a big meeting - small effort, big impact.

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