From Bold to Sold: How Neutral Paint Boosts Buyer Appeal

One of the simplest yet most powerful ways to get your home market-ready is with a fresh coat of paint. I’ve seen it time and time again - paint has the ability to completely transform a space, both inside and out.

In fact, during one of my trainings, another Home Stager shared a phrase that stuck with me ever since: “Paint is money in a can.” And it’s true. Few updates deliver such a big return for such a relatively small investment.

When I walk through a home during my Buyer’s Eyes Consultation, paint color is often one of the first things we talk about. Buyers form an impression within seconds, and wall colors play a big role in how they connect (or don’t connect) with a home.

The Power of a Neutral Canvas

We all have our favorite colors - maybe it’s a deep red dining room, a cheerful yellow kitchen, or a bold teal bedroom. Those choices reflect your personality, but when it comes to selling, they can be a roadblock. Harsh accent walls or very personal color schemes can make it harder for buyers to see the home itself.

That’s where a fresh, neutral palette works wonders. It creates a blank canvas that highlights the space, light, and flow of the home rather than the paint color.

Take a look at this BEFORE & AFTER of a lovely dining room. We painted the red wall the same color as the rest of the home's interior, worked with the same dining table, used a mix of Hanisch Designs' and existing decor; and see how it made the space feel more open and appear move-in-ready.

7 Days on Market | Multiple Offers | $30K over list price

Easy Fix, Big Impact

The best part? Paint is one of the easiest updates you can make. A purple kids’ bedroom, a bold green accent wall, or an outdated exterior trim can all be toned down in just a weekend. Suddenly, the home feels lighter, fresher, and far more inviting. Buyers can focus on what matters - the layout, the yard, the potential - rather than on the projects they’ll need to tackle.

Why Color Choices Affect Offers

Here’s the hard truth: when buyers see a home that requires work - even something as simple as repainting, they often start lowering their offer in their head.

• They’ll deduct what they think it will cost.

• They’ll hesitate, wondering if it’s worth the time and effort.

• Or they’ll skip to the next listing that already feels move-in ready.

The result? Lower offers, more days on the market, and extra carrying costs. And all of that is avoidable with something as simple as a can of paint.

Take a look at this transformation and collaboration with Pablo Salazar. After our Buyer's Eyes Consultation, the homeowner went with my recommendations and invested in painting the exterior trim and entire interior for a turn-key appeal. The results were amazing!

BEFORE

The Paint colors that were used to create a fresh and updated first impression as seen below.

Sherwin Williams 'Urban Bronze' for trim & fence. 'Watery' for a pop on the front door.

AFTER

Click here to see the AFTER presentation that created these fantastic results!

3 Days on Market | 25 Offers | $36K over list price

Paint or Staging? I’ll Help You Decide

Not every home needs to be repainted before

hitting the market.

During my Buyer’s Eyes Consultation, I evaluate each home individually and make specific recommendations.

Sometimes Occupied Staging & Styling services are enough to balance or soften a stronger color choice, making the home feel cohesive and inviting without lifting a paintbrush (see picture to the right & below). Other times, however, a color is simply too specific, too bold, or too distracting to work around. In those cases, painting becomes the biggest priority with the highest return on investment.

My goal is always to guide you toward the updates

that will make the most impact for your time and budget.

Courtesy of Shot Archives

The Bottom Line

When preparing to sell, it’s important to step back and remember: this is no longer about your personal taste - it’s about appealing to the largest pool of buyers. Neutral paint choices help your home feel fresh, turn-key, and irresistible. And that means more showings, stronger offers, and top dollar.

So yes, as another Home Stager wisely put it: “Paint is money in a can.” And when it comes to preparing your home for the market, those words couldn’t be more true.

Tip: If you’re thinking about selling, let’s talk! I’d love to help with a Buyer’s Eyes Consultation to make sure your home’s first impression captures buyers from the moment they walk in - or even before, when they see the photos online.

~ Rita Hanisch-Dunbar