But defining a “neutral” paint colorcan be more difficultthan you imagine.
These include the gray, brown, andwhite families.
These “none-colors” are virtually foolproof since they easily support all other colors.
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“We have used it in bedrooms, dining rooms, and even bathrooms!”
According toCaroline Lizarraga, interior designer and decorative artist, “My go-to neutral is Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter.
I love using this color for several reasons.
Benjamin Moore
“The new go-to neutral is GREIGE!”
says Lisa Lorino, ofLJL designs.
“Greiges have a wonderful softness to them with subtle undertones of beige, keeping them from falling flat.
Benjamin Moore
Dunn Edwards Swiss Coffee
Dunn Edwards
Whites are a classic favorite neutral.
There is awarm whitepaint color appropriate for every room.
“Its creamy undertones keep it from appearing too cold and flat.
Benjamin Moore
It adds the right amount of warmth while still feeling crisp and clean in akitchen with modern appliances.”
“Benjamin Moore’s White Dove (OC-17) is my favorite white.
“My go-to cool neutral is Benjamin Moore’s Balboa Mist (OC-27).
Dunn Edwards
Tip
When painting baseboards and trim, beginners might findpainter’s tape usefulto help prevent mistakes.
Benjamin Moore Cloud White
Designer Bea Pila ofB.
Pila Designloves incorporating dramatic colors in her projects.
Benjamin Moore
Cloud White is the perfect neutral.
Sherwin-Williams Alabaster White
Sherwin-Williams
A fresh white paint color can be ideal forhighlighting woodworkand stone features.
Essentially creating a blank canvas to work with.
Benjamin Moore
Determine how much paint you need with The Spruce’s Paint Calculator (below).
It’s more cool than warm which brightens up a room without making it feel stark.
Erica also suggests using plenty of textured earthy tones and warm neutrals in rooms painted with Chantilly Lace.
Sherwin-Williams
But there are definite differences that keep these two classic neutrals tops on most designers' lists.
Understanding a paint’sundertonesis half the battle to choosing the right neutral.
An undertone is created from the tiny bits of color added to the base to create the hue.
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Some neutral paint undertones could make your entire room look dull and dingy or perfectly crisp and balanced.
Sample, sample, and thensample more with paint choiceson all walls of the room.
It’s slightly nostalgic, yet fresh, all at the same time.
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It feels fresh and organic, and it warms up low light spaces.
Benjamin Moore Mt.
Benjamin Moore White Diamond
Sometimes the exact color you need is a pure, pristine white.
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Benjamin Moore White Diamond is that color.
While it is a neutral, it holds its own.
This neutral is a brown-ish gray that is warm and cozy.
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It goes with nearly any decor, hence its name.
Try it in a farmhouse living room, a city bedroom, or even a minimalist kitchen.
Sherwin-Williams Inkwell
A dark near-black can be a neutral!
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This warm neutral is a delicious shade of ivory that simply looks expensive.
It’s just right in a hallway, a foyer, or even on kitchen cabinets.
This crisp, sleek shade has just enough lavender to make it feel complex and interesting.
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With white trim, it’s an elegant look.
This green-tinted neutral feels both moody and calming, perfect for a bedroom.
At home, this color is a goes-with-everything shade for kitchen cabinets, hallways, living rooms, andbathrooms.
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Sherwin-Williams Pure White
Despite its name, Sherwin-Williams Pure White isn’t quite pure white.
It’s striking in sunlit rooms where it’s allowed to shine.
Try it with olive green or brown.
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While it is technically black, its strong red overtones hit you with warmth.
It doesn’t feel cold or stark.
Instead, it wraps you up in dark color.
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It’s a nostalgic color that immediately feels comforting and familiar.
It’s a beige that has been infused with saturated warmth, giving it a glowy look.
Perfect in a low light guest bedroom, this color feels vintage-inspired and approachable.
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The warmth and fullness of this gray make it an elegant choice for dining rooms and primary bedrooms.
Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray HC-173
Can’t decide between gray and beige?
How about a stunninggreigelike Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Gray?
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In a lighter room, Edgecomb looks grayer while it appears more beige in a darker space.
Pair it with earthy colors such as greens and whites.
Glidden Powder Blush 70RR 65/053
Who says neutrals have to be whites or grays?
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It has soft gray undertones and pairs well with cool whites and blues.
Technically aqua, Pale Powder looks nearly white in large, bright spaces and more blue/green in smaller ones.
The green undertones keep this color from feeling too gray or cold.
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Try it in a bedroom or evenon a ceiling.
Magnolia Fine Black
If you think black can’t be neutral, think again.
Because it pairs well with nearly any color palette, black is actually an extremely versatile paint color.
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We love Magnolia’s Fine Black because it’s creamy and full-bodied without feeling stark.
Try it in living rooms and kitchens and pair with warm yellows or reds for a beautiful combo.
Benjamin Moore Bleeker Beige HC-80
Benjamin Moore’s Bleeker Beige is a highly versatile neutral paint color.
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Its undertones are balanced, meaning they work well with all types of accent colors and lighting.
It’s especially good as a neutral canvas for living spaces.
This color can work just as well in a bedroom as it can in living spaces and bathrooms.
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Behr Monet Moonrise 410-A1
Greens can easily be considered neutrals as long as they are fairly muted.
Behr’s Monet Moonrise has just enough color to make it interesting but still stays on the neutral side.
And it will make any living space feel light and airy.
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This color is flexible enough to work with many decor styles.
It’s a perfect neutral for bedrooms to add a layer of coziness.
Most true white wall colors can look gray on cloudy days and too stark in bright lighting.
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This color is perfect for living spaces, kitchens, and bathrooms.
Valspar Distant Valley 5002-3A
Neutral paint color doesn’t always mean beige or taupe.
A muted blue or green can feel every bit as neutral as a warm color.
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Charcoal gray furniture and accessories would be stunning with this color.
It will make a living space look bright and airy, especially when paired with crisp white trim.
It has warm undertones and is bright enough to reflect plenty of light in any room of your home.
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This paint would look beautiful paired with rich, warm wood tones.
And theres just enough color to it to make white trim pop.
Benjamin Moore Bradstreet Beige
Benjamin Moores Bradstreet Beige is a warmneutral beigethat leans toward taupe.
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Because Bradstreet Beige is a warm paint color, it’s easiest to pair with other warm colors.
Cool blue accents look wonderful in a room painted in Bradstreet Beige.
Warm beiges and taupes can work with other cool color accents if they are crisp and not too muted.
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Kelly-Moore Paints Rotunda White
Kelly-Moore Paints' Rotunda White is a gorgeous warm white paint color.
Choosing a white paint can be difficult as white can appear gray, yellow, or even pink.
A warm white like Rotunda White is the perfect choice when you’re adding warm color accents.
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It can also work withcool colorsif theyre saturated, and not overly gray.
Using a warm white in your color scheme can improve color harmony and warmth.
Valspar Blue Arrow
Valspars Blue Arrow is a favorite of designers.
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The color trend for blues has shifted to a very slight green undertone.
The baby blue that was popular years ago has been made with green and gray.
Blue Arrow makes the best of both of those trends.
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Blue Arrow looks great with both dark and medium wood.
This soft gray paint is luminous, but not cold.
Because it’s so versatile, it can flow beautifully from room to room with grace.
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C2 Greige would look stunning with deep chocolate browns, black, or deep gray with warm undertones.
Paired with black and white, Filmy Green has a classic and crisp look.
Used in a bath or spa-themed room, Sherwin-Williams Filmy Green creates a misty beach vibe.
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It could be gorgeous with stone or solid surface countertopsin a kitchen with white or very dark cabinets.
Brighter spaces look best with cool tones, while darker spaces need warmer neutrals.
However, a cool tone can balance warm wood or floors.
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Greige is the most common neutral wall color.
A happy medium between gray and beige, it can lean cool or warm depending on the shade.
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