Choosing the right neutral paint colors for your home can be a daunting task.
There is somewhat of a standard rule of thumb I follow when selecting paint colors which I share in all of my paint color guides.
It has taken me many years to perfect this and I love sharing these kinds of tips with you so you are confident in your design decisions.
With so many options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure about where to even begin. I totally get it!
That’s why certain neutral colors have become increasingly popular. They serve as a versatile alternative to more bold colors and can easily complement any home decor style.
The great thing about light paint shades is they lend themselves to many different décor styles—rustic, modern, bohemian, and Scandinavian.
It’s all about the ways you choose to accessorize the room with texture, furniture style, shape, and accents. Neutral colors are exciting because they create the perfect canvas for any space!
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If you’re ready for the clean, bright, cheer of a neutral color palette, here are some great ideas to inspire you, along with a guide to my favorite neutral paint colors.
Everything you need to know about neutral paint colors, from the different types of warm and cool tones to the key factors to consider when selecting the perfect shade for your living space, are much easier to decipher than you think!
The only thing you need to ask yourself is what space are you going to tackle first?!
What Are Neutral Paint Colors
Neutral paint colors are perfect for creating a calm and welcoming atmosphere in any room. But what exactly are neutral colors?
Neutral colors like white, beige, and gray come in a variety of undertones, such as warm beige and cool gray.
It’s important to choose a shade with the undertone that best complements your space and personal style.
These colors can be used in any style of home décor, from traditional to contemporary and everything in between.
The beauty of neutral colors is that they complement any accent color that you introduce to the space.
So if you’re looking for a low-risk way to add some style and sophistication to your home, consider painting your walls with a classic neutral shade.
What Is A Warm Neutral Color
So, you’ve probably heard of the term “warm neutral” before, but what exactly does it mean? Essentially, it’s a color that falls somewhere between warm (think: red, orange, yellow) and neutral (gray, beige, white).
Warm neutral hues typically have undertones of brown or taupe, which gives them a cozy, welcoming feel.
They’re the type of colors that make you want to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea.
Think of colors like tan, khaki, or even soft pink. While they might not necessarily be shades you lean towards, they’re incredibly versatile and can work in a variety of color palettes and design styles.
If you’re looking for a soft, inviting color for your home or wardrobe, a warm neutral paint color might just be the way to go.
What Is The Best Neutral Color For A House
Choosing the right paint color for your house can seem overwhelming.
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But if you’re looking for a color that will never go out of style and complements any decor, then neutral is the way to go.
One of the best neutral colors for a house is greige, a combination of gray and beige.
This color gives off a warm and inviting atmosphere while still providing a modern and sophisticated look.
Plus, it’s versatile enough to pair with any accent color, whether it’s a bold pop of color or calming earth tones.
Best Neutral Wall Color To Go With Everything
When it comes to choosing a wall color for your home, neutral shades are always a safe bet.
But with so many options out there, it can be tough to pick just one.
Generally, the best neutral wall colors are greige, cream, white, and soft grays.
A warm neutral, such as beige or taupe, can add coziness, while a cool neutral, like gray or white, can give off a more modern and sleek vibe.
These versatile hues can work with just about any style, from traditional to modern, and they look great with both warm and cool accent colors depending on your lighting.
Whether you’re going for a modern, minimalist look or a cozy, farmhouse vibe, these shades are the perfect backdrop for any space.
Don’t Forget To Order Paint Samples!
No matter what a photo looks like or description, every paint color will look different in your own space. It is so important to test a paint color before you commit to it.
That’s why I love buying these peel & stick samples.
It makes it so easy & affordable to test colors!
How To Select The Best Neutral Paint Color
I know it can be overwhelming to pick a paint color, but here are some tips to help you choose the right one for your space:
- Lighting: Lighting can have a big impact on the way a paint color looks in a room. Before selecting a color, observe how natural and artificial light affect the space. Some colors may look different under various lighting conditions.
- Determine the undertones: Neutral colors can have undertones of different colors such as beige, gray, yellow, green, blue, etc. Determine what undertone would work best in your space based on your existing decor and preferences.
- Observe the existing decor: Consider the existing colors and textures of your furniture, flooring, and accessories in the room. Pick a shade that complements your decor and creates a cohesive look.
- Decide on the mood: Neutral colors can create different moods based on the shade you choose. Cooler tones like gray and blue can create a calming, soothing environment, while warmer tones like beige and cream can create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
- Test the color: It’s always best to test the color on a small area of the wall before committing to a full paint job. Observe how the color looks in different lighting and at different times of the day to ensure it’s the right fit for your space.
Favorite Neutral Paint Shades
Neutral Paint Colors
Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige is a warm, neutral paint color with a subtle greige undertone.
It's a versatile color that can work well in a variety of spaces, from living rooms and bedrooms to kitchens and bathrooms.
Accessible Beige has a soft and calming effect, creating a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
This color pairs well with warm wood tones and white trim, but can also be used with bolder accents for a more dramatic look.
Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray is a popular and versatile paint color that falls in the greige (gray-beige) category.
It's a warm, mid-tone gray that has a hint of brown undertones, making it a softer and more neutral color than cooler grays.
This color can appear slightly different depending on the lighting conditions, sometimes appearing more gray and other times more beige.
Revere Pewter is a warm, light-to-medium gray with subtle beige undertones, which makes it a soft and calming neutral color that complements a variety of decor styles.
It has become a go-to choice for many homeowners and designers because it pairs well with both warm and cool colors, making it a versatile option for any space.
Revere Pewter can appear more gray or more beige, allowing it to adapt to different environments.
Repose Gray is a warm, light-to-medium gray with a subtle hint of beige undertones, which makes it a soft and calming neutral color that complements a variety of decor styles.
It is a popular choice for many homeowners and designers because it pairs well with both warm and cool colors.
Repose Gray can appear more gray or more beige depending on lighting and furnishings in the space.
Benjamin Moore Gray Owl is a popular and versatile paint color that falls in the cool gray category.
It's a light-to-medium gray with a slight blue-green undertone, which gives it a fresh and airy feel.
Depending on the lighting conditions, Gray Owl can appear more blue or more green, which makes it adaptable to different environments.
It pairs well with white trim and warm wood tones, as well as bold accents for a more dramatic look.
Agreeable Gray a warm, light-to-medium gray with a subtle hint of beige undertones, which makes it a soft and calming neutral color.
it pairs well with both warm and cool colors, making it a versatile option for any space.
Depending on the lighting conditions, Agreeable Gray can appear more gray or more beige.
It's a timeless and sophisticated color choice that adds warmth and depth to any room, and it works well as both a wall color and a trim color.
Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee is a popular and versatile paint color that falls in the off-white category.
It's a warm, creamy white with a slight yellow undertone.
It's a light enough white to be used as an overall wall color, but also has enough depth to be used as an accent color.
Swiss Coffee is often used as a trim color to contrast darker wall colors, or as a ceiling color to create a bright and airy feel.
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace is a popular and versatile paint color that falls in the pure white category.
It's a bright, crisp white with no discernible undertones, which makes it a clean and modern neutral color.
It's a light enough white to be used as an overall wall color, but also has enough depth to be used as an accent color.
Benjamin Moore's White Dove is a warm, creamy white with a slight yellow undertone.
White Dove is often used as a trim color to contrast darker wall colors, or as a ceiling color to create a bright and airy feel, but it is stunning on the exterior of this home
Choosing the perfect neutral paint color for your home does not have to be overwhelming.
Neutral colors can create a versatile backdrop that allows you to add pops of color or bold patterns without overwhelming the room.
Whether you are looking for a warm neutral or a cool tone, there are a variety of options to choose from.
Be sure to consider the undertones of each color to ensure it complements your existing decor. Use swatches to see how the color will look in different lighting and be sure to test your top choices on the wall before committing to a final color.
With these tips and a little bit of patience, you can transform your space into a cohesive and stunning space.
Happy painting!
Very intuitive. and a very good read.
I was going to try and paint my pine bedroom furniture. I don’t want it to be White and I don’t want it to be Cream. Is there a nice color that is in between that would look nice as a bedroom furniture color in your opinion.
I love the paint color of the paino! Any suggestions of a color like that?
I love the gray paint in the kitchen. I wouldn’t have ever thought to do that myself but now I may have to consider it.
My home is decorated with a lot of neutral colors. We actually have made the apartment look a lot better than it was. I like to say that it is really warm and cozy unlike before.
The whiter shades of the white cabinets really pop against the darker shade of the tile right behind it. It’s a nice way to use the white walls. We will have to paint it. I should use this same color coordinating guide for my own home now that I’m getting around to painting it.
I love spray paint!! I do wish there were a wider range of colors. I’ve learned to do several very light coats to avoid drips.
I’m trying to find the best color for my office. I do like bold colors, but I think that having something neutral will be better for helping me concentrate. I like the grant beige and the revere pewter, but actually think I want something with more color. Really about like these two colors but with more of a green hint to them. Any suggestions?
Thank you for the post. These are some really great ideas. I think adding a new paint color can really transform a room into something you could only dream about. I really like the look of more neutral colors, I think it is more chic and goes with anything.
I am definitely into neutral color trends! It makes your house look, clean, modern, and classy! It also makes it easier for you to change the decor as much as you;d like without having to paint the walls or get new furniture each time! I love the picture inspirations you picked!
Choosing paint colors based on the lighting in each room seems like a great way to choose the right neutral paint colors. That’s something I’ve been struggling with since I decided that I wanted to repaint all of the rooms in my house. While I was looking online to get ideas, I found this site that has a gallery of painted houses that rooms that gave me some inspiration: http://www.gandlpainting.ca/photo_gallery.html. There are a few rooms that were painted using different shades of browns and greys that look pretty good, so I might decide to paint some of the rooms that get more light in a light shade of grey.
I love the gray cabinets! I never would have thought to make cabinets gray but it really works well against the white walls. Thanks for the idea.
Thank you for the great tips and color suggestions!
Love your picks! We love the Repose Gray in our home. It was one of the few colors that looked true to color with our lighting, and really makes everything else in the room pop.
I like how you pointed out in each of your examples that there was some contrasting color or accents. If it weren’t for these then I think I would hate the neutral paint colors you are showing. I do have to admit that they are classy and I like the idea of picking a color that will look different in different light. However, I still like having a little bit of color to a room. Would it be too much to add an accent wall in a room with one of these colors?
I’m really glad that you showed the picture of the room with the silver accents. My husband wants to paint our living room grey, but I was afraid it would be a little boring. See how glamorous it looks with silver accents, I think I’ll definitely reconsider that interior paint
I have to admit that I am a fan of neutral colors on the walls. That way, they won’t clash with the color of our furniture and decorations. Still, I don’t want everything to just be a stark white. Most of these walls have a light undertone color. I like the ones that seem to have a pale golden yellow undertone. It’s not bright yellow, but it softens the white.
Neutral colors really bring forth a sophisticated look. Plus, they give you a lot of wiggle room with your decorations. Great post!
Since all the colors in the walls and furniture are neutral, the textures can really pop if you go for that. It would be fun to play around with those colors. It’s a nice way to use the white walls. We will have to paint it. That way we can have our room look bigger while we are at it.
Thanks for the tips! I really like your suggestions for how to use neutral paint colors in my house. I’ve never really taken very much notice into how darker and lighter neutral tones can affect the mood in a room before reading this post. That can clearly be seen in the picture of the kitchen that features that table set with the plants on top. The whiter shades of the white cabinets really pop against the darker shade of the tile right behind it. I should use this same color coordinating guide for my own home now that I’m getting around to painting it.