When it comes to preparing a home for the market, color makes a bigger impact than many realize. While bold tones are a hot design trend right now, the wrong choice can distract buyers and even work against you during a showing.

Design experts and home stagers consistently agree that certain shades can be polarizing. Red, for example, is often seen as overpowering and is one of the least appealing colors to buyers. Other bright hues like lime green, bright yellow, mustard, pink, and turquoise may also be difficult for buyers to see past, making it harder for them to imagine the home as their own.

The most effective approach is to stick with warm, neutral tones such as soft whites, creams, and beiges. These colors reflect light beautifully, create the illusion of larger spaces, and allow architectural details and natural light to take center stage. Neutrals also provide buyers with a calming backdrop so they can focus on the features of the home rather than the walls.

While bold colors may be on-trend in interior design, they can feel too strong in a resale setting. Buyers tend to gravitate toward move-in-ready spaces, and neutral palettes make that vision easier. If you are preparing your home to sell, consider simplifying your color scheme. A few subtle accents through décor can still bring warmth and personality without overwhelming the space.

The goal is to help buyers see your home as a place where they can immediately picture themselves living. Choosing the right paint colors is one of the simplest, yet most powerful, ways to make that happen.