Bathroom Paint Colors That Can Tank Your Home's Resale Value, According To Experts

House hunters typically have their own unique sets of priorities. Some are focused on outdoor space while others are looking for a chef-worthy kitchen. So, when you're selling your home, it can feel like a game of Whack-a-Mole trying to make all of the details just right. However, there's one space that buyers tend to really hone in on — the bathroom. Not only can your bathroom design choices make it harder to sell your home, but the color of the walls can impact the price that potential buyers are willing to pay. 

Michael McGuirk, licensed real estate agent with Sotheby's International Realty, explains exclusively to House Digest, "When listing a house for sale, you want to make it as universally appealing to as many buyers as possible and this definitely is the case with the bathroom. If the bathroom does not get a lot of natural light or is a smaller space, having the wrong paint color can really turn off a buyer and have limited mass appeal."

Plus, a survey by Zillow revealed that buyers are willing to up their offer by around 1.6% for certain colors (hello, airy blues). There are also some key colors that tend to make buyers cringe. So, House Digest got advice from seasoned experts on which ones to avoid, and what tried and true hues to paint your bathroom with instead.

Dark grays and even trendy black can seem like a chic color for a bathroom. However, don't be fooled by those Pinterest pics showing off stunning charcoal living rooms and inky-toned powder rooms. While they might work beautifully for your own personal vision, they don't translate to a large pool of buyers. In person, the intense shades often translate to dark, cavernous, and frankly overwhelming — not exactly a buyer-friendly vibe. 

McGuirk points out, "Dark grays and even blacks take away from the bright and airy feel that appeal to buyers and a lot of times can make the space feel claustrophobic and smaller than it actually is. Also, with natural light not being so prevalent in the bathroom, the darker colors don't allow what little natural light that comes in to reflect off the walls." He also points out that dark walls highlight things like dirt, dust, and grime, giving the buyers the impression that the space isn't the cleanest. 

While those are more than enough reasons to avoid dark gray or black paint, they're still timeless hues. That means they can still have a rightful place in your bathroom color scheme, even if they aren't the primary one. Black light fixtures, like Dpyrrhic's Matte Vanity Light, can give a space a sleek look while providing functional, unobstructed lighting. Or, opt for chic black fittings, like KZH's Matte Black Bathroom Faucet, for an elevated look that works with a range of aesthetics. If you want to add dark gray, details like plush charcoal towels and framed greyscale photography add welcome contrast in a light bathroom.

You may think that because the bathroom is small, it's the perfect place to experiment with a bold shade. But think twice, especially if your home is about to hit the market. McGuirk explains, "Vibrant colors like bright yellows or orange often put off buyers as well. They are over-stimulating, which is the direct opposite of what buyers want to feel in a bathroom. One thing that I have heard when encountering these colors is the work that will need to go into covering them up, as it will take a little more than a coat or two to hide."

The last thing buyers want to envision when touring your home is how many coats of paint and primer it will take to transform your tangerine bathroom. Kevin Daniels, CEO and Acquisition Specialist at Palm State Home Buyers, agrees. The flipping expert exclusively told House Digest, "I've personally experienced the power of color changes during my property rehabs. In one project, a bright orange bathroom was a significant sticking point for buyers." He explained that they toned down the room with a more neutral light gray, and they snagged a buyer in just two weeks.

Avoiding too-bold paint doesn't mean abandoning color completely. Just integrate it in more buyer-friendly ways. An accent wall featuring bright peel-and-stick wallpaper or a bold statement-making art piece is easy enough for buyers to swap out. You can even install an LED Color Changing Backlit Mirror to add vivid hues to your space. Then, it can be switched to neutral lighting with the touch of a button when it's time for a showing.

It may be tempting to coat your bathroom in a unique hue from your favorite interior designer's TikTok. However, trendy paint colors can fail to translate to that wide range of buyers, decreasing your chances of selling your house for more money. Plus, not everyone latches on to each color trend, and potential buyers could imagine it fleeting quickly, leaving them with a dated space. Daniels recalls, "I was dealing with a bathroom that had an outdated avocado green color scheme. By switching it to a soft beige, the space was transformed, and we ended up receiving multiple offers."

The other hiccup with these in-the-moment colors, is that their appeal can be very personal. With a trendy in-your-face paint choice, buyers can't envision living in and injecting their own style into a space. McGuirk explains,"Basically, any niche colors (bright pinks, dark reds, mint greens, yellows) that appeal to one person might not appeal to the masses." The agent even redid his own bathroom before selling, repainting the dark blue bathroom into a more mainstream light blue. "While the darker color worked for my wife and me, I knew that to be universally appealing to more potential buyers, a change was needed," he explained.

While you can — and should — paint your bathroom any color you want, you may want to incorporate your bold hue of choice in subtler ways if you know you'll be moving in a year or two. For example, textiles like American Soft Linen's Luxury Towel Set allow you to enjoy your favorite color daily. But, they can easily be swapped out for more neutral options when an open house rolls around.

Chocolatey brown decor can give a space a warm sophistication. However, when its covering bathroom walls, things can start to look murky. These small spaces typically lack much natural light, in turn, making dark browns appear even more dull and dingy. As it turns out, homeowners agree. Daniels tells House Digest, "Dark or overly bold shades like dark brown tend to make bathrooms feel smaller and less inviting. While some buyers might appreciate the drama of these colors, the majority of potential homeowners want something lighter and more welcoming."

Fortunately, you can still use your favorite brown tones in other ways to bring warmth to your bathroom. Decorative, wall-mounted storage like Rustown's Rustic Medicine Cabinet with Barn Doors oozes character and provides much-needed organizational space. Or, opt for nature-inspired countertop accents like Mihiro's Wooden Bathroom Accessories Set. A wooden vanity is another popular choice that adds charm without closing in the space.

So what are the best bathroom paint colors when it comes to resale? And how do paint colors affect your resale value? The best advice is to focus on how the shade makes the space feel. McGuirk explains, "Light neutral or soft colors tend to create a more soothing and welcoming environment, which many homebuyers prefer. Light and airy colors also help to create a spa-like environment and give the illusion of a bigger space, reflect more light, and tend to be universally appealing, which is why they are often preferred in bathrooms, especially when thinking of resale value."

It's important to check the light reflective value (LRV) when choosing a paint color, especially if your bathroom has a lack of light. This scale from 1 to 100 refers to the amount of light the color will reflect on your walls. A higher LRV paint will bounce light around the space, while one with a lower LRV will absorb light, creating a cavernous feel. Look for a LRV of at least 60 to create that bright and airy vibe.

If you want to go with an iconic blue bathroom, Sky High by Sherwin Williams is a fresh hue with a touch of warmth. Pale gray is another great go-to, and Dimpse by Farrow and Ball reads as both sophisticated and refreshing. Of course, you can't go wrong with off-white. Benjamin Moore's favorite Swiss Coffee is a welcoming cream, ideal for creating that spa-like bathroom that buyers will love.