Certain Colors Entice Home Buyers to Pay More

Houston homebuyers consider a variety of factors when making their purchasing decision.

They look at location, scrutinize floor plans and discuss features of their new home. But often, something as simple as paint color can help make or break a deal, as well as sway home prices, according to a new report.

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Homes with light blue bedrooms sold on average for about $1,856 more 

PAUL TAKAHASHI / Houston Business Journal

Zillow Inc. (Nasdaq: Z) recently released its 2017 paint color analysis report, which looked at more than 32,000 photos from homes sold across the country. The Seattle-based online real estate firm found that certain paint colors can help sell a home for more money while other colors can take a hit on the sale price.

In Houston, pink is a popular color choice for bedrooms, particularly kid’s rooms. In fact, pink bedrooms are most common in the Bayou City, according to Zillow.

However, pink bedrooms can often negatively impact a home’s sale price. On average, homes with pink bedrooms sold for about $208 less than homes with more neutral colors, according to Zillow.

On the other hand, homes with light blue bedrooms sold on average for about $1,856 more than homes with other colors, according to Zillow.

Some color choices can sway home prices a lot. A light powder blue or periwinkle-colored bathroom can fetch $5,440 more on a home, while an off-white or eggshell white-colored bathroom can subtract $4,035 from a home's sale price, according to Zillow.

Here are the colors to choose and to avoid when selling a house, according to Zillow:

Kitchen:

• Do: Blue — Homes with a light blue to soft gray-blue kitchen can sell on average for $1,809 more
• Don’t: Yellow — Homes with a straw yellow to marigold kitchen can sell on average for $820 less

Bathroom:

• Do: Blue/Purple — Homes with light powder blue to periwinkle bathrooms can sell on average for $5,440 more
• Don’t: White — Homes with off-white or eggshell white bathrooms can sell on average for $4,035 less

Bedroom:

• Do: Blue — Homes with light cerulean to cadet blue bedrooms can sell on average for $1,856 more
• Don’t: Pink — Homes with light pink to antique rose bedrooms can sell on average for $208 less

Dining room:

• Do: Blue — Homes with a slate blue to pale gray-blue, or navy blue with white shiplap dining room can sell on average for $1,926 more
• Don’t: Red — Homes with a brick red, terracotta or copper red dining room can sell on average for $2,031 less

Living room:

• Do: Brown — Homes with a light beige, pale taupe or oatmeal living room can sell on average for $1,809 more
• Don’t: Blue — Homes with a pastel gray, pale silver to light periwinkle blue living room can sell on average for $820 less

Home exterior:

• Do: Gray/Brown — Homes with a mix of gray and beige, or “greige,” exterior can sell on average for $1,526 more
• Don’t: Brown — Homes with a medium brown, taupe or stucco exterior can sell on average for $1,970 less

Front door:

• Do: Gray/Blue — Homes with a navy blue to dark gray or charcoal front door can sell on average for $1,514 more

Paul Takahashi covers residential and multifamily commercial real estate, as well as education, for the Houston Business Journal.