The Kitchen Cabinet Color That Is Hurting Your Resale Value

If you use your kitchen frequently, your cabinets could probably use an update. You've most likely seen some really amazing HGTV makeovers and Instagram pics of bold cabinet colors. The designers working on those projects frequently showcase deep blue, which seems to be a popular choice. However, is that the best option, especially if you might be putting your house on the market soon? As it turns out, not really. Many homebuyers prefer light colors over dark, even in newly-built homes.

"Dark colors are too much of a commitment for most buyers," says real estate agent Jennifer Leahy in an Apartment Therapy interview. She feels that many buyers look at a dark kitchen and see something that they'll have to spend money to change down the line. Instead, she encourages potential sellers to paint their cabinets white. She also offers a case in point when she says, "I had two new construction houses available for sale: one with a white kitchen and one with a blue. It took longer to sell the blue and the buyer ultimately wanted the cabinets painted white."

When updating your home for resale, choosing what will appeal to the most buyers is best. "Even if you have an old kitchen and give it a refresh with white paint and updated hardware, you can totally change how buyers feel about the house," Jennifer Leahy adds. "The cost of painting a kitchen is far less than the hit the seller will face if the kitchen keeps turning off buyers."

Of course, you do have to consider just how long you'll be staying in your home. White cabinets tend to show soiling and scuffs more readily than darker colors, especially in busy kitchens. You probably don't want to paint them now and then find redoing them is in order in six months to a year when you're actually ready to sell. Chances are if you were attracted to blue in the first place, the bland look of all white probably won't suit you for any length of time anyways.

If you're planning on staying in your home for years, you can definitely consider going with blue kitchen cabinets. After all, you're the one living with them now, and you can always update to what buyers are demanding down the road. It wasn't so long ago that dark wood cabinets were on every kitchen want list, so it's a given that trends come and go.