If you're preparing to sell your home, a fresh coat of paint is one of the highest-return improvements you can make. But choosing the wrong colors can actually hurt your sale. At Olive + Baxter, we help homeowners in Naperville select paint palettes that appeal to today's buyers while making their homes feel warm and inviting.

Why Paint Color Matters When Selling

Buyers make snap judgments. Research from the National Association of Realtors shows that homes with updated, neutral interiors sell faster and often for a premium. The goal isn't to strip your home of personality — it's to create a canvas that allows buyers to project their own vision onto the space.

Warm Whites: The Foundation

Cool, stark whites are out. Today's most popular whites have warm undertones — think creamy ivories, soft linen tones, and whites with the faintest hint of blush or beige. Benjamin Moore's White Dove and Sherwin-Williams' Alabaster are perennial favorites. These colors make rooms feel bright and spacious while avoiding the clinical feel of pure white.

Greige: The Universal Neutral

Greige — the blend of gray and beige — continues to dominate the neutral palette. It works in virtually any lighting condition and pairs naturally with both cool and warm furnishings. Colors like Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray and Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter create a sophisticated backdrop that photographs beautifully for online listings.

Soft Sage and Muted Greens

Nature-inspired tones are resonating with buyers who want a sense of calm and connection to the outdoors. Soft sage in a powder room, a muted olive in a study, or a pale eucalyptus in a bedroom can differentiate your home from the competition without alienating buyers. Use green tones as accents rather than whole-house colors.

Navy and Dark Accents: Use Sparingly

A navy accent wall in a home office or a charcoal powder room can create drama and sophistication, but limit dark colors to small spaces. Large rooms painted in dark tones can feel smaller and may not photograph well for listings. When in doubt, keep it light and let architectural details and natural light be the stars.

Rooms That Matter Most

Focus your paint budget where buyers look first: the entryway, kitchen, primary bedroom, and main living areas. A cohesive palette that flows from room to room creates the impression of a well-maintained, move-in-ready home.

Our Signature Paint Colors

Olive + Baxter has curated an exclusive collection of signature paint colors — designed by our team to work beautifully in Naperville-area homes. Here are a few of our favorites for sellers:

View our full signature paint collection →

As both interior designers and general contractors, Olive + Baxter offers a seamless paint experience — from expert color selection to professional application by our in-house crew. Our consultants visit your home with curated samples and help you choose a palette that maximizes your sale potential. Whether you're staging or simply freshening up before listing, our design + build approach means one team handles everything. Contact us for a paint consultation.