Fresh Paint, Higher Price: The Interior Updates That Macomb County Home Buyers Are Paying Premium For in 2024

When it comes to maximizing your home’s resale value in Macomb County’s competitive 2024 market, few improvements offer the impressive return on investment that interior painting provides. Since interior painting offers an ROI of around 107%, spending $8,000 for a fresh coat of paint can add around $16,500 to your home’s resale value. For Macomb County homeowners preparing to sell, understanding which paint choices matter most to today’s buyers can mean the difference between a quick sale and a property that lingers on the market.

The Current Macomb County Market Landscape

Macomb County’s real estate market has shown remarkable resilience in 2024. Macomb County’s growth is outpacing other parts of Michigan, seeing an 11% increase of residents aged 18-34 in just 10 years. Young professionals and families alike are attracted to careers in the county’s automotive, defense, and food processing industries. With the median home sold price in Macomb was $444,666 in January 2025, up 6.8% from last year, buyers are investing significantly in their future homes and expect move-in ready properties that reflect current design trends.

Color Choices That Command Premium Prices

Gone are the days when bland beige was the safe choice for resale. Today’s Macomb County buyers are drawn to more sophisticated color palettes that reflect contemporary design sensibilities. In the kitchen, prospective home buyers are willing to offer over $1,500 more for olive green cabinets. In the bedroom, buyers are after navy blue walls, which can increase a home’s sale price by around $1,800.

“Buyers view olive green and navy blue as contemporary colors, and that can have a halo effect on their perception of the entire home,” Amanda Pendleton, Zillow’s home trends expert, says. This shift toward richer, more intentional colors represents a departure from the sterile minimalism that dominated the market in previous years.

However, certain colors can actually hurt your home’s value. Bright yellow kitchens and bright red bedrooms actually have the potential to shrink resale value by $3,915 and $1,987, respectively. When working with a professional house painter macomb county residents trust, it’s crucial to discuss color choices that will appeal to the broadest range of potential buyers.

Room-by-Room Interior Updates That Matter Most

Kitchen Transformations

The kitchen remains the heart of the home for Macomb County buyers, and paint choices here can significantly impact perceived value. According to Zillow, the once-popular yellow or beige kitchens are out, and kitchens painted with light blues and gray-blues are preferred. The average Zillow listing with a blue-gray painted kitchen sold for over $1,800 more than kitchens in other colors.

Bedroom Appeal

Bedrooms painted in calming, sophisticated colors are particularly attractive to buyers seeking a restful retreat. Keeping with the nature-inspired paint colors, Zillow’s experts report that buyers prefer a navy blue in the bedroom, such as Naval by Sherwin-Williams or fan-favorite Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball.

Living Areas

Light blue bathrooms and taupe-colored living rooms were especially popular in homes that sold for more money. These neutral yet sophisticated choices create spaces that feel both current and timeless.

The Professional Difference

While the color choices are important, the quality of application can make or break the impact on resale value. A pro paint job not only saves you time, energy, and a lot of paint splatter, but it can make a big difference when it comes to the value of your interior paint job. Hiring a painter means the prep, application, and clean-up will be done right and you’ll be left with a professional-quality result.

Local companies like Legends Painting understand the specific needs of Macomb County homes. Legends Painting is built on more than 10 years of hands-on painting experience. We specialize in delivering exceptional residential and commercial painting services. Family-owned and operated, we prioritize superior workmanship, customer satisfaction, and competitive pricing. This attention to detail and local expertise can be crucial when preparing your home for sale.

When Paint Updates Are Essential

Certain situations make interior painting not just beneficial, but necessary for a successful sale. Your interior paint is peeling and chipping: You can remove some dirt marks and stains from interior walls with a deep cleaning, but chipping and peeling require sanding and repainting. Other signs it’s time to repaint include tough scuff marks, deep scratches, and grease stains.

If your walls are still sporting the color of the year from a decade ago, your house can look dated and passé. Refreshing them with a more popular paint color can de-age your home and make it more appealing to buyers.

The Investment Perspective

For Macomb County homeowners, interior painting represents one of the most cost-effective ways to increase home value. The significant ROI you can expect from a fresh coat of paint on your home’s interior and exterior is an average $4,000 increase in your home’s value. When you consider that painting the interior of your home costs an average of $2 to $6 per square foot. Painting a single room can cost anywhere between $150 and $2,000, so the cost to paint a bathroom will be significantly less than painting a living room or large bedroom. Painting a whole house can cost between $2,000 and $15,000, depending on the size of your home, the return on investment becomes even more attractive.

Timing Your Paint Updates

With homes in Macomb had an average listing age of 39 days in Jan 2025, down by 51.1% compared to the previous year, the market is moving quickly. Homes that present well from the start have a significant advantage. Many buyers will appreciate seeing a fresh coat of paint as they know they won’t have to put in the effort or money themselves.

As Macomb County continues to attract young professionals and growing families, the demand for move-in ready homes with contemporary finishes will only increase. Strategic interior paint updates, executed by experienced professionals who understand local market preferences, can position your home to command premium prices in this competitive market. The key is choosing colors that feel both current and timeless, ensuring your investment pays dividends when it’s time to sell.