Painting Your Kitchen for Resale

If this restriction means you must stick with an outdated color or palette, try to select a lighter version of the original hue.

"The heavy chocolate browns from the '70s and '80s are very different from today's light lattes, which may look wonderful with your existing color scheme" says Ingerson. "And while you probably should get rid of a screaming lemon yellow, you can easily replace it with a creamy, buttery shade." One good choice for latte paint and other fresh, updated colors is Restoration Hardware's line of interior paint.

Age is as much of a consideration as color, says Ingerson: Buyers will not respond to dingy, peeling or grimy walls.

"If you haven't painted in the past 10 years," Ingerson says, "at least put on an extra top coat in the same color and make sure to paint any accent walls the same color as the rest of the kitchen for a unified, contemporary feel."

The finish for the top coat is more important than the brand, says Ingerson: "Paint with eggshell or satin so it's easy to wipe clean. If a buyer is an avid cook, that's something they're going to look for."

And even though posh luxury kitchens can help drive up the price on a home, Ingerson would not recommend investing in the super-popular Venetian plasters for a kitchen finish. "It must be troweled on by a professional, and even though it looks spectacular, it's not to everyone's taste," he says.

"If you like that look, save the expense for the house you're planning to move into!"

Resources

Restoration Hardware interior paints, www.restorationhardware.com

Benjamin Moore Paints, www.benjaminmoore.com

Interiors by Decorating Den, www.decoratingden.com

Hirshfield's, www.hirshfields.com