Painting. It seems like such a simple, straightforward home task—and, in many ways, it is. But it can also be a task that goes terribly wrong. If you’re not careful, that deep red hue in the dining room or the art deco-inspired accent wall in the entryway can cost you more than just the price of paint.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to painting, but there are certain paint mistakes you definitely want to avoid if you’re thinking about selling your home (or if you just don’t want to kick yourself every time you stare at the wall). But what, exactly, are those mistakes? According to a recent article from Apartment Therapy, design experts claim baby-inspired hues (like baby blue or pastel pink), accent walls, and painting your ceiling in anything other than flat paint are major painting no-no’s—and if you want your house to appeal to buyers, you need to avoid those mistakes like your home sale is depending on it (which, ironically, it does).

Bottom Line:

You can paint your home in whatever way strikes your fancy. But if you’re thinking about putting it on the market, it’s not about what strikes your fancy—it’s about what strikes the fancy of potential buyers. So make sure to consider these tips, and paint with a potential buyer in mind.