The Kitchen Color Scheme That Agents Say Home Buyers Are Looking For

Kitchens are often the heart of the home, so it's no wonder this room is the primary concern of most homeowners. For those looking to sell their house, experts believe that updating the kitchen can provide a high return on investment. In a survey conducted by Ramsey Solutions, 80% of homebuyers had the kitchen ranked in the top three of the most important rooms in a potential home. And the national average for a major kitchen renovation's return on investment is about 54%.

The key to getting a high return on investment is knowing what buyers are looking for when they're on their home search. And for buyers, knowing what the most popular home trends are can help gauge and compare home prices. A real estate agent must keep up to date on what buyers wish for in their potential homes. In a report published by HomeLight, real estate agents share what color scheme is the most popular among those looking for a home.

When selling your home, it's best to appeal to most buyers. Many purchase a house wanting to do as few projects as possible, so choosing the color scheme for the kitchen is paramount. In HomeLight's report, 84% of agents see that buyers want the classic light, white, and bright color scheme. There have been trends of bold cabinet colors featuring shades of greens, blue, and more. This report isn't saying to shy away from those colors. If you plan to stay in your home, you can choose any color you desire. But sellers should opt for white throughout the kitchen.

As a neutral, white allows potential homebuyers to imagine putting their stamp on the kitchen, whether that's by adding their décor, changing the backsplash, or even painting the cabinets. And many people prefer white in the kitchen because it looks crisp and clean. Bold colors are harder for potential buyers to imagine. If they don't like the color, they may be turned off by the idea of having to renovate. So, if you're trying to make your home more attractive to buyers, white and airy is the way to go.

But for those who might see white as a stark option, buyers are also drawn to other neutrals. HomeLight mentions that 29% of real estate agents say homebuyers love a gray or greige palette. These colors can add character while remaining appealing to many shoppers. Choosing gray can be tricky, though, because the undertones can make the shade warm or cool, which can be challenging to match the rest of a potential buyer's décor. However, gray or greige is still preferred over a vibrant color. Right behind these are earth tones, which 24% of agents say excite buyers. Earth tones can be natural shades of wood, which are timeless and more traditional. While green is an earth tone that has gained popularity for kitchen cabinets, experts still believe that staying on the neutral side of the earthy spectrum is best when trying to sell.

That said, the colors you should shy away from are black and matte black, and other deep and bold shades. These colors had only 14% of agents say buyers are excited to see when looking for homes. These can be statement-making shades that lend themselves to particular tastes and can easily scare potential buyers away.