Painting Your Kitchen for Resale

Certainly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder— but if you have paint in the kitchen that's not exactly mainstream, re-do it before that "For Sale" sign goes up, says Sue Pelley, national spokesperson for Interiors by Decorating Den, based in Easton, Md.

"Lots of colors are personally pleasing, like deep purple or dramatic dark chocolate brown walls," says Pelley. "But if you've painted in a color that might not be for everyone, it can be a real barrier to sales, particularly since the kitchen is a space where potential buyers envision themselves spending a lot of time."

Repaint the dark and dramatic walls in neutrals, soft, sandy taupes or light greens like Benjamin Moore's 2145-40 Fernwood Green, says Pelley: "A small kitchen could benefit from soft sagey greens and light yellows for a more spacious feel, maybe mixed with raspberry trim."

If your kitchen is part of a "great room" design or opens up to other rooms, remember that any new paint will need to work with the color schemes in those rooms, too, says Pelley.