When it comes to painting your home to sell, it’s best to leave personal preferences aside. While you may love your barn red kitchen, leaving it that color could cost you. When done effectively, a well-staged — and painted home invites prospective buyers to imagine them- selves living there. Painting your home before putting it up for sale can be critical to selling it faster and for a better price

When it comes to your interior space, you’ll want to avoid dark colors and anything that is very specific to certain styles or tastes. It’s a good practice to stick to neutral colors. The idea is to create a blank canvas to help people envision themselves living there. However, it’s important to remember that neutral doesn’t have to mean boring. For instance:

Light Gray – When you think of neutrals, most people immediately think of beige or white. But most of the time these aren’t actually the best options to showcase your home’s features. Beige is a very warm color, but these days people tend to prefer cooler colors. A great alternative to beige is gray. It has cooler tones, which create a soothing and calming atmosphere. A light gray can really highlight a room, making it look open and bright.

Taupe – It’s neutral, but adds a hint of color. It comes in a variety of shades, each with different undertones. You can go a little more gray, brown, or even a hint of lavender for a look that is classic, yet incredibly sophisticated.

White – If you do choose to go with all white, choose something with cooler undertones. You’ll want to avoid a bright, stark white, since this can feel too clinical and sterile. The same can be said of off-whites with intense yellow undertones, which can also feel dated. Soft cream can work well in some spaces, but the lighting has to be right. Instead, look for something with slight gray or blue undertones.

To save yourself the research, you can seek out the advice of your local real estate professional who will tell you more about expectations in your market.