Looking for a list of the best paint colors for the whole house? I’ve complied a list of 25 go-to, neutral interior paint colors that designers swear by. These tried-and-true colors should be at the top of your list of colors to try for your house color palette.
Let me just start by saying that I’m a strong advocate for using different colors in different rooms of your home. Paint is one of the best and easiest ways to add personality to a space, and bring together the design elements in a room. So, it’s great to customize the look and feel of a room with its own paint color.
However, there is always going to be a need for that perfect, neutral base color that ties together the hallways and other main areas of the house with surrounding rooms. Or, perhaps you’ve got a rental property or are getting ready to sell your home, and just want to paint every room in the house a neutral shade that will work with any style and have universal appeal. This list of whole-house paint colors is your best resource for finding the perfect paint color.
Whites
White walls are making a comeback in a big way right now, and are very much on-trend this year. Pair soft white walls with contrasting black windows/doors, and lots of natural wood for a stunning and stylish room design. You’ll see several of my favorite whites for the whole-house listed here, but check out my post on the best white paint colors for interiors for more great options.
1. Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee (OC-45)
Swiss Coffee is a true classic that has been a designer favorite for years. It is a beautiful, warm, creamy hue with yellow undertones that is versatile, tranquil, and works great with earthy colors. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Swiss Coffee HERE
Check out this gorgeous living room painted with Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee. Studio McGee used this creamy white in their own home, so you know it’s a solid choice.
Image Source: Studio McGee
2. Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace (OC-65)
Chantilly Lace is a crisp, pure white with subtle cool undertones. If you want to create a bright white space, this is a great paint to try. Also works well for trim and ceilings. Order your sample of Chantilly Lace HERE.
3. Sherwin Williams Alabaster (SW 7008)
Alabaster was Sherwin-Williams’ 2016 Color of the Year, and there’s no doubt it has become a favorite white for designers. Joanna Gaines used this color to paint the main areas of her own house, and it is one of her go-to whites for walls and shiplap. Alabaster is a warm white and brings a serene softness to any room. Want to learn more about Alabaster…check out this post. Order a sample of SW Alabaster HERE.
Here’s an example of SW Alabaster painted on the walls and trim of this beautiful entryway.
Image Source: Addison’s Wonderland
4. Benjamin Moore Paper White (OC-55)
Paper White is a very pale gray that can actually look white in certain light. If you’re looking for a very pale gray, this is a great paint choice to lighten and brighten your space. Paper White leans toward the cool side, but has a nice softness to it. I love it paired with bright white trim, and it also tends to work well with Carrara marble in bathrooms and kitchens. Order a sample of BM Paper White HERE.
5. Benjamin Moore White Dove (OC-55)
BM White Dove is a versatile and nicely balanced warm white, and is one of my all-time favorite paint colors. It has a more of a greige base, so it rarely looks too creamy or too gray, making it a fantastic choice for any room in your home. White Dove is also a very popular choice for a trim color, ceilings, kitchen cabinets, and doors. In other words, you can use it pretty much anywhere! Check out my post on White Dove to learn more about this timeless, flexible white. Order a sample of Benjamin Moore White Dove HERE.
Greiges
Greige is a term used to describe a blend of gray and beige. It can be the best of both worlds, appealing to those that like the look of gray, but aren’t sure about moving away from the more traditional feeling of beige.
Greiges make a great whole-house paint color choice because they tend to go with everything and appeal to everyone! Here are some beautiful greiges for your home.
6. Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (HC-172)
Probably the most beloved greige paint color out there, it’s no wonder designers love Revere Pewter. It has just the right mix of gray and beige to satisfy almost everyone, and it works with pretty much every style. This is a fantastic choice for open floor plans, and is a paint color I recommend often to my clients for the whole-house and/or main living areas. In well-lit spaces, Revere Pewter will give you the gray appearance you are looking for, but warm up nicely in the evenings to create a cozy feeling. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Revere Pewter HERE
7. Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray (SW 7641)
Colonnade Gray is another favorite, and happens to be the whole-house paint color we chose for our Colorado home. It is sometimes referred to as the Sherwin Williams version of Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter, and it’s true that they are very close in depth, warmth, and tone. So close, in fact, you could consider them twins.
However, some report that Colonnade Gray is just a touch more neutral, in that it won’t take on any of the taupe or green undertones that are sometimes seen with Revere Pewter. Regardless, Colonnade Gray is another fantastic medium greige that works beautifully in all different lighting conditions, and with any design style. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Colonnade Gray HERE
Design by Welsh Design Studio
Here’s SW Colonnade Gray in an open concept family room. We chose this versatile color for our new build in Colorado.
8. Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist (OC-27)
Balboa Mist is a beautiful light greige with a faint, hardly-noticeable purple undertone, and is one of Benjamin Moore’s most popular neutral colors. Its soft, elegant undertone gives it a chameleon quality, such that the color changes slightly during the day, and in different types of lighting. The overall color is a light, neutral gray, with a relaxing, warm vibe.
Due to its tendency to shift, this is one color that should be thoroughly tested on your wall in different lighting conditions before committing. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Balboa Mist HERE
Need some help choosing the best paint colors for your home?
- I can help you choose the best paint colors for one room, or customize a whole house color scheme
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- Finally convince your significant other to paint the kitchen cabinets, or add a bold accent wall by showing them exactly how it will look
- Get customized, expert picks to make your home the envy of the block
9. Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray (SW 7029)
Agreeable Gray is one color that everyone seems to agree is a perfectly balanced greige paint. Not too dark or too light, it’s a great choice for every room in the house. Unlike some other greige paints, Agreeable Gray has no detectable taupe or purple undertones. It has become one of my favorite colors for a whole house color palette, and is one that designers everywhere wholeheartedly recommend.
You can read more about Agreeable Gray in my post here. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Agreeable Gray HERE
10. Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray (HC-173)
Edgecomb Gray is a lovely, soft greige that leans a little more to the beige side than others in this category. This color will appear light gray in rooms with good natural light, but appear more like a creamy beige in warm lighting. It has an understated, classic, and reserved nature, which is why it pairs so well with a wide range of natural materials like wood, stone, and granite. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Edgecomb Gray HERE
I love Edgecomb Gray in the main areas and entry of this lovely home from Young House Love.
Image Source: Young House Love
Grays
Over the last decade, gray overtook beige to became the most popular wall color for every room in the house. Grays are very flexible, offering a fantastic neutral backdrop for a wide range of design styles. For a whole-house color, I recommend going with a warm or neutral light-medium gray, and I’ve rounded up some great options for you in a variety of different shades.
11. Benjamin Moore Classic Gray (OC-23)
A minimal, barely-there gray that almost reads white. This is a great choice if you just want to add the slightest contrast against white trim, but want your overall look to be very light and bright. Classic Gray is a great option for dark spaces that don’t get a lot of natural light. and it has a slight warmth to it, which might not appeal to someone looking for a darker, true gray. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Classic Gray HERE
12. SW Repose Gray (SW 7015)
Repose Gray is an excellent light-medium gray paint, that is not too dark or heavy, and is often described as the “perfect gray color.” It looks fantastic against pure white trim, and is a great whole-house choice for those of you who are looking for something that looks like a true gray. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Repose Gray HERE
13. Benjamin Moore Silver Chain (BM 1472)
Possibly one of the truest grays out there, Silver Chain has no apparent purple or blue/green undertones. While all grays have slight undertones, this is one that stays gray on the walls in almost any lighting. Its medium value (lightness versus darkness) creates a beautiful contrast against white trim or cabinetry, and its neutral nature lets it work with any design style. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Silver Chain HERE
14. Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray (HC-170)
Ask any designer, and it’s likely they know all about Stonington Gray. Part of Benjamin Moore’s historic color collection, Stonington Gray is a timeless color that works in both traditional and more contemporary homes. This light gray is cool with a slight blue undertone, which means that it can read a tad blue in some light. Stonington Gray works really well with cool tones often seen in marble, so it can be a good paint color for bathrooms and kitchens. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Stonington Gray HERE
Here is a living room with BM Stonington Gray used on the walls. It’s a great choice with the cool color palette of blues and grays used in the room.
Image Source: Adam Beasley
15. Benjamin Moore Gray Owl (OC-52)
Gray Owl is always on my list of gray paints to recommend to clients, and it’s a color you’ll find over and over again in photos of designer rooms. Gray Owl is considered to be a true gray, but it has subtle blue/green undertones. Because of this, it can look VERY different from one room to another, so it’s important to test this one out in a variety of lighting conditions. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Gray Owl HERE
In this upstairs landing space, you can see a great example of Gray Owl in action.
Image Source: Kylie M Interiors
16. Benjamin Moore Moonshine (OC-56)
Moonshine has quickly become a Benjamin Moore bestseller. It is a pale gray with green undertones, and looks beautiful when paired with soft blues and greens, so it’s often used in bedrooms. However, Moonshine’s etherial nature and ability to add subtle color without competing for your attention makes it a great choice for the entire house. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Moonshine HERE
Beiges
Even though gray has become today’s neutral color of choice, beige will always remain a timeless classic. Its ability to work in a variety of rooms, and warm up a space, makes it a perfect choice for a whole-house neutral.
17. Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige (SW 6106)
Back when beige ruled the world, Kilim Beige was king. Kilim Beige is a very warm, comfortable beige that has been a top seller for Sherwin Williams for many years. If you love beige, and want the feel of a cozy space, this is a great choice for you! It looks fantastic with rich wood tones, soft blue/greens, and natural stone. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Kilim Beige HERE
Image Source: Terracotta Design Build
18. Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan (HC-81)
Manchester Tan is a light, sandy beige that is neutral enough to work well throughout the house. It’s a favorite amongst designers due to its flexible, casual nature and ability to play well with others. With just a touch of gray in it, it pairs very well with other grays in the home, like stainless steel and stone, and it looks beautiful with a wide variety of wood tones. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Manchester Tan HERE
19. Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige (SW 7036)
A whole-house color should be versatile, which describes Accessible Beige to a tee. At the top of the list for Pottery Barn neutrals, Accessible Beige provides a great backdrop as a balanced, warm neutral color. Beige, yes, but with enough gray to keep it subtle and flexible for any room in the house.
Accessible Beige is gorgeous in spaces with lots of natural light, and provides a warm elegance in the evenings. A great choice for modernizing your home, without entering into the greige/gray realm. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Accessible Beige HERE
Image Source: Mary Cook Associates
20. Benjamin Moore Shaker Beige (HC-45)
One of the top selling colors of all time for Benjamin Moore, and part of their Historical Collection, this inviting paint color is a true classic. Shaker Beige is a warm, medium-value, sandy beige, that is expertly balanced, and works in a variety of rooms. Shaker Beige contrasts beautifully against white trim, while pairing perfectly with Fall colors and rich wood tones. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Shaker Beige HERE
21. Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan (SW 7531)
Soft and fresh, Canvas Tan is perhaps the most neutral of all the beiges on this list. It reads pure tan, without any obvious undertones, and is light enough to brighten up a dark space. If you’re looking for a classic, light tan for the main areas of your home, this is a great place to start. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Canvas Tan HERE
Here’s a beautiful dining room painted with SW Canvas Tan. It looks bright and fresh, without leaning too golden.
Image Source: John Cannon Homes
Blues & Greens
While neutral colors tend to work best for whole-house paints, due to their ability to work with any style and appeal to large populations, there are other colors options out there worth considering. Blue and green are relaxing, serene colors, that are often used in bedrooms. But, they can work beautifully as a whole-house color, as well. The key is to keep it light and airy. Here are some of the best blue and green shades to use in the main areas of your home.
22. Farrow & Ball Borrowed Light (No. 235)
This is a gorgeous, subtle blue that is a designer favorite. Borrowed Light has just enough saturation to read blue, without overwhelming the space. This is a great option for many different styles! Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of F&B Borrowed Light HERE
Image Source: Palette Paint
23. Benjamin Moore Quiet Moments (BM 1563)
Quiet Moments is a soft gray with a hint of blue-green. One of Benjamin Moore’s top sellers! Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Quiet Moments HERE
Image Source: Benjamin Moore
24. Sherwin Williams Sea Salt (SW 6204)
Sea Salt is a cool, muted green with blue undertones, and it’s a favorite paint color for coastal interiors. Sea Salt really shines against with crisp white trim, and pairs beautifully with blues and neutrals. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Sea Salt HERE
25. Benjamin Moore Camouflage (BM 2143-40)
Camouflage is a bit of a chameleon, in that it can take on the qualities of different colors, from a gray to a sage green. In the right lighting conditions, it’s a soft, yet stunning earthy hue. Camouflage is very versatile paint color, and is a beautiful option for a whole house paint color. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Camouflage HERE.
So there you have it! These are the 25 best-of-the-best neutral paint colors for the whole house; the tried and true designer favorites that should be at the top of your list of samples to try. Time to head out to the paint store, grab your samples, and start painting!
Speaking of sampling (which is an absolute must when choosing paint colors), you’ve got to check out Samplize. They offer convenient, affordable peel-and-stick paint samples that are much easier to use than traditional methods or holding up a tiny paint chip to your wall. Here are just a few reasons why I always recommend Samplize to my clients…
- Samples arrive quickly (1-3 business days, or even overnight, depending on location)
- They’re more affordable than buying the samples paint/rollers/foam boards that are needing for traditional paint sampling
- You can move them around the room, and test them in a variety of lighting conditions
Sorry, but what is with all the bland and similarly boring paint colours? Especially if you live in a country where we have snow at least 6 months of the year – the very last thing I want is for the inside of my home to look as dreary as the landscape. Who decided that these are classic tried and true colours for everyone anyway? Is you house supposed to be just a show place for the masses or look like what some designer likes, or somewhere where you feel at home? Life is too short to live with boring beige or it’s new cousin grim gray.
Thanks for your comment! I believe everyone should make their home a reflection of their personality. Some may prefer more color on their walls, and others may prefer having neutral walls and bringing in color with artwork, rugs, pillows, and accessories. No matter which way you lean, it’s important that you create a home that you enjoy spending time in.
Hello! I disagree with both your commenters, I love this list of colors. I’m currently trying to decide what colors to paint my house. I’ve noticed when I look at houses for sale online, I tend to be drawn to the bright, light painted, color coordinated houses. My house has a lot of warm earthy colors, oranges/yellows, and I’m trying to convince my husband that we want to go with the greiges, whites and blues. The problem is, we have to work with the browns in our furniture, flooring, and counters. Thank you for such great ideas!
Thanks so much for your comment! Greiges, whites, and blues can all work beautifully with the brown tones in your home. Blue can sometimes be a little tricky to pick out, because there are certain shades of blue that work better with browns that others, but I wouldn’t hesitate to add blue into the mix!
The title of this post states clearly that it’s a list of colors appropriate for the whole house. Now, you might like bright, saturated colors on all your walls, but I assure you there are masses who don’t. If this post wasn’t appealing to you, why not just search for one that is? Why the snarky, bitter comment?
Well said. when I hear this color or that color is making a comeback, all I can think is sheep.
Bahhhh
I agree with San. I have used only the whites in this collection. I did like any of the others. Sooooo tired of beige! Getting ready to paint my house throughout and I guarantee you it will not be gray or greige. It will be sea salt or light blue-grays. No beige anywhere! Blue and white is classic.
Thank you, thank you for this post! Not a big fan of gray but love soft neutral backgrounds thru-out my home. Right now in the middle of major repairs, changes for our home due to storm damage. Need to use colors that I can live with for a few years before downsizing time comes. The photos you used are great inspirations and make my heart feel both happy and calm. Just what I need right now.
I went from canary yellow walls to greige. I cried when it was done and hated it for a couple of weeks, then fell in love! I thought I wanted to go all “neutral” and “cool” but ended up realizing I need COLOR in my life – so I added a bright turquoise couch, brightly colored rugs and table to balance my need for color with pale furnishings and mixed hard surfaces. It works great and I love coming home now! Thanks for the color overview!
Going from yellow to greige would be a big change! 🙂 It sounds like you did a great job incorporating your love of color into the space. You’ve shared an excellent example where you can have both a neutral wall color and a colorful home. Thanks for sharing!
Recently used Fb borrowed light in a becroom and bath and i love it! Worked beautifully with chantilly lace you also mention as the trim and used a white carrara large retified tile floor. Debating if its too much color for most of the house though and id get tired of it but everything i own coordinates with this color! So im still looking for a coordinatung color for dining room and formal living). So far bm horizon which is a shade darker than paper white and bm silver bells two shades darker than paper white is what im trying out. Not sure how but stonington grey turned pukey green for my walls in a study (i think its the red tones in my red oak color floors perhaps? That floor needs to go! Lol)
Love your paint choices …. tried most of them 🙂
I can not believe Benjamin Moore Pale Oak is not in this list! Actually, I am trying to decide between Balboa Mist and Pale Oak for a whole house look.
I agree, Pale Oak is a great color for the whole house! I will have to add that one to the next update. 🙂
I used Pale Oak at my home at the coast and it is great. Especially if you have a lot of natural light!
Love it!
What are your thoughts on Benjamin Moore paint called Pale Oak? Just painted my whole downstairs that color 😬 with White Dove trim.
I love white walls with colours from flooring, artwork and accessories allowing for colour punches and adding texture as well with baskets and perhaps bamboo shades. White dove, Oxford white, f&b all white and wimborne white are my favs. Not keen on bm chantilly lace myself as I find it too cold. Ok for trim I suppose but hard to pair with a warm white as it looks dirty so I stick to simply white trim. F&b pigeon is a fab kitchen bottom cupboard colour with with wimborne white or white dove upper cabinets and brass trim. I also want to use f&b oval room blue somewhere in my house. It looks gorgeous and you can’t beat f&b for their saturated, deep pigment paint.
Sounds like you have a great eye for color! I love Farrow & Ball paints, too!
Which of the paints you listed here would work best in north facing rooms without picking up a bluish cast.
North-facing rooms are notorious for casting a cold gray, and often bluish tint into the room. The key is to choose a color that has a lot of warmth to it, like a creamy white, greige, or beige. From this list, I’d recommend trying SW Alabaster (a creamy white), BM Revere Pewter or BM Edgecomb Gray (for a greige), and either BM Manchester Tan or BM Shaker Beige (for beiges).
I’m working on painting my entire townhouse in Colorado including cabinets. What’s best to go with pine doors and trim. And what’s a good contrast color for cabinets from the color you think goes with pine?
That’s a tough one to answer without seeing your doors, because it’s important to take the wood tone into consideration when choosing a paint color to compliment it. You can’t go wrong with soft white (BM White Dove) walls to highlight the wood trim and doors, and then a beautiful gray (like SW Repose Gray) for your cabinet doors. If you’d like a more personalized recommendation, check out our Online Mini Consultation service.
Which color you can recommend for black and white floors in foyer, and white Kichen floor? The second floor is dark wood.
You seem to have nice neutral flooring in your home, so it’s likely you could go with a wide range of colors. It really depends on what style you’re going for, and what other colors/elements are in the rooms. If you’d like a personalized recommendation, check out our Online Mini Consultation. You can send me pictures, and I can give you some specific color suggestions.
Hi there! I love all your help and comments! I’m trying to paint a “whole” house neutral. Couple things to work with are warm trim and cabinets. Ppg accolade… I think BM Swiss coffee is close to this? I have a medium dark red oak floor and large areas that are 24 ft tall in some places. Definitely want to lighten the home but can’t decide if I should go neutral off white, Griege, or beige. I know I don’t like too much gray. BM soft chamois is looking blueish on the wall just to give you an idea of house lighting. SW alabaster looks too cold. I’m leaning towards SW white duck but even with that trim looks a little yellow. Most counters are a very earth with hints of red granite, black granite combined on a island on the kitchen and around fireplace. Don’t forget an almost yellowish trim sand cabinets. Please help with a wall color that will not clash with the other colors. This is probably a Mediterranean Tuscan house feel that I’m trying to brighten. Thanks for you help!
Hey, I am also struggling with picking the right paint color. I have glazed maple cabinets (orange/yellowish color) with an open floor plan, 24 foot ceilings, and a wall of windows. We are north east facing. I would like to brighten up our walls with a warm white/beige color. I am looking at white duck, creamy and natural choice. But, I really would like a warm color without the yellow. Do you have any suggestions.
I’m so overwhelmed with all the paint colors out there! I loved the color (Beige) when we first bought our house, but I want something different. We have beige tile in the kitchen with gray wash/ walnut cabinets and dark hard wood everywhere else and it’s an open floor plan. Every color I have picked and tested has worked in one area and not the other. The undertones and lighting is really a challenge. I think our wall color is Macadamia, but I want to go lighter. Would taking the macadamia color 25% lighter be an option? I’m try it keep away from yellow and grey tones, more of a light warm taupe. If that makes sense
I know how overwhelming it can be to choose paint colors when there are hundreds of options out there. I think going lighter is a great idea for your space, but having the paint store make a color 25% lighter doesn’t often work out the way you intend. You might find yourself with a strange version of Macadamia that just doesn’t work. Something like Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige would be a great one to try. It’s a very neutral color, so it doesn’t have strong undertones and tends to go with everything. Good luck!
I have lived with beige walls forever & am so done with it! At 66, I find myself single (not by choice) & getting ready to buy a 1954 fixer ranch style home. The inside is painted Agreeable Grey and I love it!! It’s a soothing, pale grey/blue/green color and goes with everything. It looks wonderful with the wood floors & white trim work. Here’s the thing: it’s my house so I can put any colors in it I want! Yay!!! So here comes a luscious pink painted brick fireplace & front door! Woohoo!!!
Good for you! Your home should be a sanctuary, and be filled with things you love, and that reflect your personality. Focus on things that make you happy, you deserve it!
I have a rather large honey oak wall unit in my home and medium brown hardwood floors. I want to paint my whole house the same color, but not really into the popular grey that most people seem to love. What soft/warm color with a little bit of grey would be work?
This has to be the most boring slate of colors I have seen. 20 colors and even the blue is gray! Come on! The world is filled with color! Look outside your window and see the brilliant greens and blues of the trees and the skies. Look at the variety of colors of the flowers and the birds. Take your cue from there and from your own heart instead of these hoity-toity designers who dictate how they think you should decorate your home and never mind how numb you feel looking at these bland, ugly ‘colors.’
Hoity-toity is definitely not how most people describe me, but thanks for your comment :). There are a lot of ways to add color into your home, besides painting your walls a rich, saturated color. This post was intended to give options for whole-house paint colors, which tend to be more neutral as they are often used for multiple adjoining rooms.
Recently moved into a home that has beautiful dark wood trim. The walls (and ceilings!) are a flat beige and definitely need to be updated. I am stumped as to what to use bc most posts feature white trim. What would you recommend for a beautiful neutral that would work with dark chocolate trim? I have already started painting the ceilings Greek Villa. Wow what a difference from the heavy beige on the ceiling!! I would like something that contrasts nicely with the white ceiling, but I don’t know which direction to go. 🙁 Any suggestions?
I bet that dark trim is stunning! I’d go with a soft white (you could stick with Greek Villa for the walls), a timeless greige (BM Balboa Mist, SW Colonnade Gray or BM Revere Pewter), or something like SW Silver Strand or BM Vapor Trails.
Ooohhhh….. a harsh and bitter comment. . Yes, some people prefer to have vibrant painted walls and then very bland furniture – cause something has got to give. . Many of us prefer our walls to be a “boring” backdrop that showcases our art, furniture and other decor items. Items that can be replaced easily versus repainting the walls. The colours presented are designed for that purpose. To each his/her own. Try and be kind if you can.
Thanks for your comment! 🙂
Kris, you might want to look at SW Softer Tan (if it’s not too late!). I have Macadamia in my dining room and had Softer Tan in the adjoining foyer and family room and they complimented each other nicely. ST looked like a lighter version of Macadamia in our house.
I too am trying to decide on all over room color. I like the gray/greige colors. Repose gray, for kitchen. My problem is, I have light pine cabinets and Mexican tile floors in my kitchen. Dark wood floors in the rest of my house. Should I god with the grays or a warm neutral?
Because you have flooring and cabinetry with a lot of warmth to them, any paint color you choose is likely to look warmer in your kitchen. So, if you go with a beige, it will look even beige-ier (probably not a word). I would start with something a little more neutral, like a greige or a neutral gray.
Love the information you had provided and your inspiration that goes behind it. I roll my eyes at some of the negative comments because at the end of the day it’s about suggestions -take it or leave it. Why do these people need to voice their opinion and be so insulting! My goodness people be kind. I have spent endless hours- and seriously months on Pinterest trying to figure out how to go from my all beige/brown house to Greige. I’m no designer, not creative and far from choosing the right shades. Not an easy task! But this Post has helped me ALOT. I do not have an open concept bungalow so each room is individual.
I have cherry wood flooring and brown furniture -all on the red tone side in my living room.
My all white kitchen I painted Edgecomb Gray, dining room is Muslin. The bathroom at the end of the hallway I just painted Gray Owl (north facing and green tones are coming out) Not my favourite but maybe I’ll like it more once I figure out the right colours in the hallway/foyer which is currently Dufferin Terrace and living room which is right off the kitchen with Quincy Tan. I’m going to add pops of colour which you suggested like in throws, pillow and accessories. Likely a blue/green tone. Any suggestions what would blend best with Edgecomb Gray that I could paint my living room?
Thanks for the supportive words, Dian! I’m glad to hear this post was helpful for you. One great color that pairs really well with Edgecomb Gray, is BM Revere Pewter. It’s slightly darker than Edgecomb, but along the same greige lines. Plus, it’s a fantastic color for living rooms!
We just put up wainscoting and painted it white. Above the chair rail we still have Sherwin Williams 2857 – Peace Yellow. Want to change and was thinking some type of beige khaki (warm color scheme). This would then blend into the family room. OR, I was thinking of painting the wainscoting and above chair rail all the same, again some type of beige/khaki color. Do not want to go to dark.
Some of my favorite beige/khaki paint colors are BM Shaker Beige, BM Manchester Tan, and SW Accessible Beige, and SW Canvas Tan. I happen to love white wainscoting, so I recommend keeping it white.
Any thoughts on light paint color that would go well with slate tile fireplace that is in my basement? I know slate tiles are a little dated but I’m hoping to improve the look with brighter surrounding paint color! Thanks
Hi love your paint choices but I need another opinion. I am fixing up an old family home in Italy. I am trying to keep the old world feel but crispen it. Most of the house I’m thinking of just BM dove white but I’d like to add some slight contrast to the foyer. The floors are a striated shiny travertine tile in the beige/taupe Family and the foyer does not get much light. Any suggestions? Maybe even two different shades of white with the foyer adding just a little more interest.
After 17 years of a “colorful” home and spending several months trying to pick a new color, I found your page. The tones are warm and the types I have been looking for. I love Kilim Beige #6106, Canvass Tan 7531, SW Sand Trap 6066 and SW Accessible Beige 7036 and other such colors. Problem is, which one. I would like to add another tone since my house is somewhat contemporary. It will be another two or three months before I would need to make a decision. Have I confused you enough?
Choosing the perfect paint color can be a struggle. The great news is that you’ve already taken the first step – research! Now that you have a list of colors you like, the next step is to purchase samples, paint them onto some poster or foam board, and then look at each color in your space during the daytime and night. One of the colors will emerge as a winner, or you might find that you need to go back to the research phase. This approach is the only way to be certain you pick the right paint color for your room! Best of luck to you!
We have Quiet Moments in our bedroom. It is a beautiful color! Would you have a recommendation of a BM color similar to the Borrowed Light? Our daughter would like a light blue in her bedroom but thinks the Quiet Moments is too green.
Quiet Moments is gorgoeous! Probably the closest BM color to F&B Borrowed Light is one called Bunny Gray (2124-50). Hope that helps!
I love your list. I’m looking to get rid of the Tuscan look and the yellows and have chosen canvas tan. Will this give me enough warmth?
Canvas Tan is a great option! The best way to know if it will work in your home (and feel warm enough to you) is to sample it in your home. Pick up a sample from your local SW paint store, and paint it on some white paper or foam board. Look at it during the daylight and at night, and soon you’ll be able to see if it’s the right choice.
I have just painted my kitchen cabinets sw comfort gray less 25%….walls are sw oyster bay and need a complimentaery wall color for adjoining east facing family room..Its now bm lenox tan but want to go lighter with a beachy vibe…..off whites or sands. Any suggestions?
Great color choices so far! East-facing rooms look best when the paint color has a bit of warmth to it. For a beachy off-white, you might try SW Alabaster, SW White Duck, or BM Ballet White. For light, sandy shades, try SW Canvas Tan or BM Edgecomb Gray.
I am thinking swiss coffee for my trim and kitchen cabinets and my walls edge comb gray. Medium stained red oak floors My countertop in my kitchen is uba tuba a dark black granite. My kitchen has a north east exposure, open floor plan into the great room with large windows and 18 ft ceilings. Does this combination sound good?
What did you end up doing and does it look good? I have a similar situation.
Hi I’m so stuck between accessible beige and agreeable beige we have a yellow/tan color now and I hate it, I’m going for a farmhouse look. I wish accessible beige was a bit lighter and I love agreeable but in some areas while sampling I noticed a blue tint I don’t want the blue. Can you please help! Any advice I’d love.
If you love accessible beige, you can always ask the paint stores to mix it 25% lighter and test it again in your home. If you’re seeing a blue tint to your paint, then the lighting in your room is bringing out cooler undertones, and you need to choose a warmer paint color (more on the beige side than gray side). Accessible Beige is a great choice.
Does SW Kilim Beige go with Canvas Tan?
Hi! I have colonnade gray painted in my kitchen and dining room. What color would you recommend on the adjoining living room?. My fireplace is brown bricks, can’t decide to keep or paint the bricks? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I’ve always loved the idea of neutral tones in the background so that I can add pops of color that reflect my moods and taste. The great thing about using grays or beiges is that you have endless ability to change decor and add pops of color in your choice of drapery, wall hangings, pillows, accent furniture or accent pieces like lamps, etc. Give me grays or greige as a backdrop any time!
I love the flexibility that neutral walls offer, too!
What do you do when painting a semi open concept floor plan? My kitchen/dining/living room are all semi open concept. Meaning they are open to each other but separated by a vertical half wall. If I am standing in my kitchen I am looking at both my dining room and living room. It would all be the same room if the half wall wasn’t there. The kitchen/dining faces north/east but the living room faces west. I really wanted to paint it all one color because two different colors looks strange. I like neutral and was looking at paper white but maybe that will be too blue in the room that is northeast? Any suggestions? My trim is all sherwin williams extra white.
I want to paint my laundry room a soft sage color. It’s a small room with no natural light. I have white trim and a creamy gold and dark beige tile floor. Any recommendations? Thanks!
I am considering painting mye ntire house Sherwill Williams Rock Candy as suggested by a realtor, It looks beautiful in the kitchen, bathroom and office. My husband wants a deeper color for my famiy room. The hous is filled with Oak trim and cabimets… 3.000 square feet of it so changing this is not an option. Any suggestions would be apppreciated.
Ok so I love your paint color picks. Currently I chose balboa mist for overall. I did do the office in agreeable gray. If I wanted some other rooms some different greiges, which rooms would you suggest if I didn’t want to do balboa mist in every room?
I do have an upstairs also with 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. Downstairs is a master with a bathroom, an office , a bathroom, and a laundry room , dining, and living room
I’m so very stuck. Please help
Choosing paint colors can be a struggle, I know! 🙂 Bedrooms are a great place for their own unique color. I also love to paint powder rooms and dining rooms with something a little more bold. If you’d like some additional help with choosing a paint color scheme for your home, you can purchase a paint consultation
I could really use your suggestion; I am looking for a whole house interior color. My difficulties are we live in a timber home( not new timber but old floor joists that are a weathered wood color) and our trim is cedar. Our house has a tendency to be dark, we live in the woods. I am replacing the carpet so we are not tied to a color on the floors. Our exterior inside walls are the timbers and we have an open floor plan, the counter tops are cement. We also have a very large field stone fireplace. Thank you😊
Hi Lisa! I would be happy to help you. I offer interior and exterior paint consultation services, which you can check out here.
Wondering if you can suggest the best creamy yellow colors. I want a soft very barely yellow tone. Thank you, Joanne
One of my favorite creamy yellows is Mannequin Cream by Benjamin Moore.
I moved into a new home that has sw antique white trim. I wanted to paint the walls gray and chose Sw repose gray. I love the way it looks!
Repose Gray is a fabulous color! Great choice!
Hi, my new home is under construction!The builder provides Sherwin Williams paint and I get two colors and the trim is SW extra white. My kitchen cabinets are white, counters are grey quartz( slightly cool) and the flooring in the foyer, long hallway and great room, kitchen are mid brown wood tone LVP with lots of of grey striating. The great room is vaulted but faces north. I have options of reclaimed wood beams that are lighter than floor. I would like to,pick two neutral colors for the builder to paint the whole house and then decide on accent wall colors later as I buy furniture and accessories. Carpet is ecru in all bedrooms. Master bath is white, grey carrera marble with lots of windows and other bathrooms are brown/grey mix with no windows.
So I like the accessible beige, Kilim beige, repose gray, alabaster, but the BMoore paper white sounds perfect, yet she only uses SW. what is the closest to Paper White in SW? I’d like a beige and a gray to go with the SW extra white and two very contrast-y colors of mustard and rust in the future to coordinate,
Hi Kristen! I offer an interior paint consultation service for situations just like this, where I can give you specific recommendations. Based on the colors you mentioned, I would avoid Kilim Beige (way too warm with the materials you’ve listed). Repose Gray could work well. The closest SW match to BM’s Paper White would probably be SW First Star.
Our house is currently undergoing transformation from the Tuscan over to more transitional look. We had/have BM Deer Path and Sandy Brown on the walls and in the master we had BM Decatur Buff/Mystic Gold…I know. 😉 lol but that was the look 10+ years ago. I have already been through several full guts in our house (been in it 26 years) and want to work with the hard elements/bossy surfaces we currently have. We painted the bathroom cabinets, trim, walls and master walls/trim all Alabaster! It looks amazing and gorgeous! We love it!! We are in the process of painting the rest of the house SW Canvas Tan because of all the high ceilings, we wanted a bit of color. It’s gorgeous so far. The master bedroom/bath face north with no sun all day so Alabaster is perfect for those rooms. Canvas tan has enough weight to it and looks very transitional in the 2 story foyer/dining room and hall. I honestly can’t believe how neutral it looks. It looks like a greige more than a beige.We are so happy….so far! we haven’t made it to the kitchen yet.
Sounds like you’ve made some fantastic paint choices so far! I can just imagine how beautiful it looks!
Please suggest some paint colors for a powder room with dark reddish brown vanity, Carrara marble floors and sink lots of blue shades in marble, besides paper white, stonington gray and sea salt. Thank you!
This would be a perfect fit for one of my Mini Consultations. That way I could also look at some pictures of your space and recommend a few options for you.
Hi, I enjoyed reading your article! I am super challenged when it comes to choosing paint to say the least! I tend to pick a lot of different samples, paint them on the wall and leave them there for months because I don’t know what to do with them. I have a north facing kitchen and family room with a darker wood floor. My trim, doors and kitchen cabinets are SW Casa Blanca throughout the whole house. The backsplash in kitchen is beige/grayish tile. I recently hired someone to pick an updated color for me and they chose SW Passive. Pretty color on the paint chip, but powdery blue, lavender in my space. Did not look right!! I cried when I was done painting! It looked very different on every wall and way to cool in the kitchen. This is how it goes with me and paint. Now I’m on the hunt again for another color. Any suggestions?
Sorry to hear about your experience with Passive! It’s so frustrating when you think you’ve found the right color, and then it doesn’t end up looking good on the walls. SW Casa Blanca is a very warm shade, and you’ll need another warm color to coordinate with it. SW Passive is a very cool gray, rather than a warm one. Also, in a north-facing room, you need a warm paint color to offset the cool light coming in. I’m thinking something along the lines of SW Shitake or SW Loggia (one shade darker than Shitake). If you want it to look gray, you might try SW Anew Gray or Amazing Gray.
I love your ideas! I am in the process of building a house and need one color for the entire house! I am torn between the whites and the greys list. I came across SW Site White- 7070. What are your thoughts?
Site White is very pretty, but has some pretty strong blue undertones. If your fixed materials (flooring, tile, carpet, etc.) are all on the cool side, then a color with cool undertones can work well as a whole-house color. But, if your materials have warm undertones, then Site White might not be the best choice.
Hi there! I love all your help and comments! I’m trying to paint a “whole” house neutral. Couple things to work with are warm trim and cabinets. Ppg accolade… I think BM Swiss coffee is close to this? I have a medium dark red oak floor and large areas that are 24 ft tall in some places. Definitely want to lighten the home but can’t decide if I should go neutral off white, Griege, or beige. I know I don’t like too much gray. Current situation, BM soft chamois is looking blueish on the wall just to give you an idea of house lighting. SW alabaster looks too cold. I’m leaning towards SW white duck but even with that, the trim looks a little yellow. Most counters are a very earthy color beige and brown with hints of red in the granite, there’s black granite on a island in the kitchen and around the fireplace. Don’t forget an almost yellowish trim and cabinets that would be too much too repaint. Please help with a wall color that will not clash with the other colors. This is probably a Mediterranean Tuscan house feel that I’m trying to brighten. Thanks for you help!
There is so many beautiful colours having a hard time my senior main floor semi is 1050 square feet the halls and kitchen living room and dining room all connect so that’s about 500 square feet that connects the rest is bathrooms and bedroom so my kitchen cupboard are white and the only wall their is small area over cupboards and stove my walls now are off white with white trim but walls look yellow so looking for neutral colour that will work in that area to blend with most colours and not a lot of undertone as dining area isn’t as light as kitchen and living room please send me ideas
There is so many beautiful colours having a hard time my senior main floor semi is 1050 square feet the halls and kitchen living room and dining room all connect so that’s about 500 square feet that connects the rest is bathrooms and bedroom so my kitchen cupboard are white and the only wall their is small area over cupboards and stove my walls now are off white with white trim but walls look yellow so looking for neutral colour that will work in that area to blend with most colours and not a lot of undertone as dining area isn’t as light as kitchen and living room please send me ideas sorry also all my curtains are white
Hello! I love your article. I’m needing help with the perfect neutral for our entire home. We have had a flood and the repair crew is coming soon to repair, paint, and carpet it all. My current home colors are a tan beige with touches of warmth through yellow, greens, and peach tones. I want a change in the form of a cooler neutral wall paint, but want to decorate with soft aqua, pale blues, navy, turquoise, and soft greens. What do you recommend as a base color for the entire home? I would love any advice on contrasting or matching colors to paint cabinetry. Thank you so much in advance.
Thank you so much for this informative article.
Aloha! I lover your article. I am looking for a whole house neutral beige/tan wall color. Right now I have Lovely Bluff and I don’t like how it lends itself to pale yellow on some walls. I have a large off-white slipcovered sectional with dark wood floors in the living room and medium cherry kitchen cabinets w/ Venetian gold granite and beige/whitish travertine floors in the kitchen. The rest of the house has the same hardwood and travertine floors. Some rooms get more light than others. I have tried the greiges (accessible beige/ageeable gray/revere pewter) and they do not look good at all. I was looking at using Natural Linen (SW) but it seemed too light on my walls. Then I was thinking maybe Manchester Tan, Canvas Tan or Softer Tan, but I am not sure. I don’t want to get a color too close to my sofa because I need contrast. Any advice you could give would be great!
Mahalo
Loved this article! I want to paint an 1850 Greek Revival home in Dover w/ a nice neutral gray beige throughout, so this is just the article I was hoping to find. Will buy some paint chips and hang around the house tomorrow. Thank you!
Amazing article! I really like neutral colors even when some people call them “boring.” Idk, I just feel they blend well together and with anything, and you can just change them anytime. I recently worked with my friend Bonnie Carlson on my bedroom and kitchen and we used the Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray (HC-170). It looks stunning and never loved those spaces as much as now.
Thanks for sharing so many neutral colors! And adding the name and code. You saved me lots of time 🙂 https://605primetimepainting.com
Love this blog post, especially the beige colours!! We have a very Tuscan inspired home with deep cherry-brown wood floors and cabinets, and orange/pink beige tile with taupe bits in it. I am wanting to get rid of the deep, warm beige wall colours and tried some greiges but don’t think they connect as well with our very warm hard finishes. Would any of these beiges listed work well for a whole home colour with our above described hard finishes?
A friend even suggested a warm taupe like BM Elmira White. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Off-whites and light beiges are in right now, and could be a great option to freshen up a Tuscan/Mediterranean style home. BM Elmira White or Edgecomb Gray (not a gray) could work well, though they do lean more greige. BM Manchester Tan is another good option. You might also try something like SW Accessible Beige or SW Shoji White.
I have white cabinets and brown/black/cream granite counter tops and hard wood floors. I want to paint the walls neutral but have no idea what neutrals. I’m thinking beiges cause grays don’t seem like they would go with the counter tops. Kitchen face SW with lots of light. Please help me.
Thanks
If you have white cabinets and warm fixed materials (countertops and floors), a light-medium, warm paint color will work great. I agree that grays are not your best choice, though a greige could work. You might try something like BM Edgecomb Gray (which is not really a gray) or SW Accessible Beige as a good starting point.
Hello. Looking for a suggestion for a greige that is slightly more beige and goes with Shaker Beiges walls that are in other adjacent areas. My living room is south facing and thought just do Shaker Beige but it is very dark yellow and Edgecomb is okay but a bit pink and maybe a bit too light. Revere Pewter too green. I think my brown tweed couch may have a pink tone so that may be a problem with the samples so if there another colour that you would suggest we would appreciate your help. Thank you.
Have you tried SW Accessible Beige?
Looking for a paint color that will go with serenity kitchen cabinets (light sagely green), a counter top in a granite that grayish with a bit of purple in the veining. It looks good with the cabinets. The kitchen is open to the living room where I have a navy blue sofa. I’m thinking a soft cream color, or something with a bit of green undertone. The floors are a light wood looking tile, and there is a stone fireplace done in gray, green and light brown stone (called oaky moss). The room does not have much natural light, just one large east window and two small west facing windows looking onto a porch – so pretty shaded. Any suggestions?
Could you suggest a paint color to go with mineral maple vinyl flooring.
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I painted most of my house Accessible Beige but my windowless hallway is way too dark. Can you recommend some lighter colors I can consider? Thanks
These color are absolutely boring
Absolutely love Cedar Key Benjamin Moore 982 but would like that in just a little lighter… what would you recommend please??
What is your thought on Softer Tan as a beige compared to Manchester tan. The room is west facing.
Thank you
Softer tan can have a bit more of a golden look to it that will be amplified in a west-facing room. Manchester Tan will look a bit more neutral in a room. Best thing to do is get samples of both colors and see them in your room. I highly recommend using Samplize sheets.
I am also wondering what color to choose for the walls at home. I’m doing a renovation and it’s a good time to choose such colors. The problem is whether to make all the walls the same color or have different ones. The white ones are nice, but won’t the meringue be too white – when I paint everything in these colors.
I enjoyed your article. My bedroom has been Manchester tan for a few years and is a south facing .Love it early in the day. Later the walls seem more muddy and the room is not as “happy” . Our house is a 1930 English Tudor. Hardwood floors and mahogany furniture. Sometimes too heavy and dark. I loved Manchester tan so much I have it at work in my office and my living room. I have whites and off white samples all over my room and feel stumped.
Manchester Tan is a fantastic color – I used it in one of my homes, too. When a paint color looks a little muddy at certain times of the day, you might need a slightly brighter, or slightly more saturated color (or both). You might try Manchester Tan lightened – ask the paint store to mix it at 75% and see what you think. BM Hidden Cove is slightly brighter than Manchester Tan and might be worth a look.
I’m looking for some ideas for my house color painting and Colonnade Gray would be a good choice. I love the white but i can be dusted easily and have to repaint many time later. Thank u for sharing this useful article.
Thanks for stopping by and reading the post!