What your living room colour says to buyers

Paint colours are one of the easiest ways to stamp your personality onto your home, but they can also be one of the most controversial aspects of a house viewing.

Even though it's an easy thing to change, every disappointed buyer matters. If a potential buyer sees a wild fuchsia living room as soon as they walk into your home, they're generally more likely to walk away with their money.

Neutrals: the subtle matchmakers

Greys, soft whites and barely-there beiges aren’t exactly thrilling, but they're great when it comes to selling.

Neutral shades act like matchmakers, letting potential buyers imagine their own lives and furniture in your space without distraction. A living room in a tasteful white suddenly feels bigger, lighter and less like someone else's house.

Now, if at this point the idea of painting your whole house a colour that's not your preference just to sell it is already leaving you cold, you're not alone.

Nowadays, options like cash buying companies exist which value your house quickly and objectively regardless of decor, so you can still enjoy your existing paint scheme without worrying about others' judgement. Sold in particular allows sellers to choose your own completion date and a guaranteed sale.

Of course, you could still go the estate agent's route and retain your original colour scheme, but you're less likely to convince buyers. Fortunately, there are some more interesting colours which might get your house sold yet.

Blues and greens: the calm operators

Nature-inspired colours are having a real moment. Soft sage greens and watery sky blues create a sense of peace and balance, turning living rooms into mini sanctuaries. They’re also friendly on the eye, which helps buyers relax as they mentally rearrange the room with their own furniture.

Richer shades, like midnight blue or deep emerald, work beautifully in the right space – say, a cosy snug or dining room – but too much and you risk shrinking the walls inwards.

Bold shades: the show-offs

Magenta, mustard and those moody jewel tones can look fabulous on Instagram, but in real life they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. Bold walls demand attention and can make it hard for buyers to see past your taste and into their own vision for the house. It’s like wearing sequins to a job interview – fun, but not always strategic.

That doesn’t mean you have to abandon your love of colour altogether, though. Keeping your brights to accessories is a good compromise – a velvet armchair, a graphic rug or statement artwork can work wonders, giving you the wow-factor without putting off buyers.

You might consult what's currently trendy for tones that don’t overwhelm, such as Dulux's Colour of the Year.

At the end of the day, your home should reflect you while you live in it. But when it’s time to move on, a little paint psychology can work wonders.

Whether you stick with neutrals, embrace calming blues or scatter bold accents, the right palette can sell much easier – and if you’d rather skip the repainting altogether, cash buyers can take that pressure off your hands.

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Our writers like to blog about interior design and the home. We launched the award-winning Seasons in Colour in 2015 and the luxury property and interior decor blog www.alltheprettyhomes.com in 2024 to cover all your interior design, travel and lifestyle inspiration needs.