Neutral Paint Colors We LOVE and Where to Use Them

Paint Colors

Best Neutral Wall Colors 2023

What are Neutral Colors?

Neutral colors are muted shades that appear to lack color but often have underlying hues that change with different lighting. Examples of neutral colors include beige, taupe, cream, and white. Neutral colors are not on the color wheel, but they complement primary and secondary colors. Read on for our favorite neutral paint colors!

Paint your walls a neutral color scheme and you’ll have the perfect palette for decorating.

Choosing a neutral paint color may seem simple. The truth, however, is that it’s much more complicated. For every neutral paint color, there are hundreds of similar neutral colors that have slight differences in undertones. Selecting the wrong one can be disastrous for a room. If you’ve ever selected a white paint, then painted the room and instantly realized it was more of a purple, well, you know exactly what we mean.

The great news is that we’ve been choosing neutral paint colors for years, so we know how to get it right. We’re pros at choosing the best neutral grey paint colors to the best neutral beige colors, greige paint colors and more. We’ve pulled together a roundup of a few favorites with inspiration too!

Sherwin Williams Neutral Colors

Sherwin-Williams – Dovetail

Ready to go bold, but still want to stay in the neutral family? Dovetail may be the shade for you. It’s a warm and saturated gray that is absolutely gorgeous! This warm deep gray color is especially rich with a contrast of fresh white cabinetry or trim. It’s ideal for spaces that you want to feel cozy and ultra-comfortable, like a basement theater or a master bedroom, as well as a warm inviting color for a kitchen. Dovetail has our vote for one of the best neutral gray paint colors on the deeper side of the spectrum.

Against a backdrop of Sherwin-Williams Dovetail, a collection of wooden cutting boards and woodfire oven paddles instantly draws the eye into this nook of the kitchen. (Interior Design: Carla Bast Design)

The white trim, ceiling, and cabinets pop brilliantly against the Dovetail paint, while the satin nickel fixtures provide a soft transition between the two neutrals. — The white trim, ceiling, and cabinets pop brilliantly against Sherwin Williams Dovetail, while the satin nickel fixtures provide a soft transition between the two neutrals. (Interior Design: Carla Bast Design)

Neutral-paint-colors-dovetail — A functional and stylish coffee nook blends together an array of neutrals, with white cabinets and dark countertops pairing beautifully with a hint of Dovetail paint on the walls. (Interior Design: Carla Bast Design)

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Get your peel & stick (real) paint sample of Dovetail – HERE!

Sherwin-Williams – Anew Gray

Sherwin-Williams’ Anew Gray is a shade of gray that is reminiscent of foggy mornings and misty afternoons. It’s a hue that feels simultaneously muted, yet fresh. This neutral color is great match for nearly any accent color or texture. Pair it with warm textures, blue, or black, and you’re sure to have a space that feels warm, but not too warm to fall into the beige category.

Sherwin-Williams’ Anew Gray pairs perfectly with a bold blue basement wet bar and contemporary island seating. — *Sherwin-Williams’ Anew Gray pairs perfectly with a bold blue basement wet bar with island seating. (Interior Design: Carla Bast Design)*

Neutral-paint-colors-anew-gray — *With warm infusions of exposed brick, rustic wood, and a faux taxidermy bull head, this basement’s use of Anew Gray is charming and sleek. (Interior Design: Carla Bast Design)*

Get your peel & stick (real) paint sample of Anew Gray – HERE!

RELATED: Best Greige Paint Colors

Benjamin Moore Neutral Colors

Benjamin Moore – Revere Pewter

Revere Pewter is a stunning color that manages to retain both the warmth of beige and the drama of a gray. It is a fantastic “greige” if you are looking for a gray that is warmer and has more saturation. This shade is a favorite that I’ve used on many projects, and throughout my own home.

Why does it work so well? Well, not only is it beautiful in the common spaces of your home, but it’s also the perfect match for home theaters and bedrooms. It works seamlessly with pops of both lighter and darker colors. If you long for the simplicity of a neutral-based home but aren’t ready to go the beige brown or cool grey route, this is the color you’ll want to consider.

Revere Pewter paint provides a simply stunning backdrop, allowing the creamy white and gray cabinets in this kitchen to come to life. — *Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter provides a simply stunning backdrop, allowing the creamy white and warm grey cabinets in this kitchen to come to life. (Interior Design: Carla Bast Design)*

neutral-paint-colors-revere-pewter — *With a vaulted ceiling, exposed beams, and an open floor plan, Revere Pewter is the perfect paint shade to make everything in this space feel cohesive. (Interior Design: Carla Bast Design)*

With pops of deep brown stain and charcoal as bold accents, this home theater gets an extra dose of elegance with a coat of Revere Pewter on its walls. Design: Carla Bast — *With deep brown stain and charcoal as bold accents, this home theater gets an extra dose of elegance with a coat of Revere Pewter on its walls. (Interior Design: Carla Bast Design)*

Get your peel & stick (real) paint sample of Revere Pewter – HERE!

RELATED: Home Theater Inspiration

Benjamin Moore – Balboa Mist

Because it’s touch lighter than Revere Pewter, Balboa Mist adds a brightness to a space that simply cannot be beat. Especially in rooms flooded with natural light, it’s the perfect way to add a sense of wakefulness to an area. Use this light neutral paint color in rooms where activity is high (like a poolside lounge area or a basement bar) – the light hue will feel happy, and extra chic.

neutral-paint-colors-balboa-mist — *This basement lounge space that opens up to the pool looks fresh with a coat of Balboa Mist and chic black-and-white accessories and decor. (Interior Design: Carla Bast Design)*

RELATED: How Much Shiplap is Too Much?

Paired with reclaimed wood and cowhide-upholstered stools, this basement bar stuns against walls painted in Benjamin Moore’s Balboa Mist. — *Paired with reclaimed wood, this Modern Farmhouse basement bar stuns against walls painted in Benjamin Moore’s Balboa Mist. (Interior Design: Carla Bast Design)*

Get your peel & stick (real) paint sample of Balboa Mist – HERE!

Benjamin Moore – Collingwood

For a light neutral grey paint color, Collingwood pulls a bit more of a cool tone into the mix. It works like a charm with medium-to-dark grey decor and warm brown accents, so if you’re drawn to classic black and white combos (and shades in between), then you’ll want a can of this color.

neutral-paint-colors-collingwood — *A mix of charcoal gray cabinetry and furniture, pull out the gray undertones in the wall color, Benjamin Moore’s Collingwood. (Interior Design: Carla Bast Design)*

neutral-paint-color-collingwood — *Black and white are a classic duo when set against a wall painted with Benjamin Moore’s Collingwood. (Interior Design: Carla Bast Design)*

Get your peel & stick (real) paint sample of Collingwood – HERE!

Benjamin Moore – Snowfall White

Finally, for lovers of white walls and the crispness of a lighter paint color, Benjamin Moore’s Snowfall White is your cup of tea. It’s not too abrasively bright like you typically see in primers, but it instead has a touch of warmth and a yellow undertone. For a completely streamlined aesthetic, this paint works particularly well as both wall and trim color together. Adding in pops of color and woven textures to the decor completes the look.

neutral-paint-color-simply-white — *Fresh and crisp, this entryway feels classic thanks to an all-over coat of Benjamin Moore’s Simply White. (Credit: Studio McGee)*

RELATED: Simply White vs Chantilly Lace – Comparing Top White Paint Colors

neutral-paint-color — *Paired with a large blue kitchen island, this all-white space has the perfect balance of neutrals, color and textures. (Credit: Life on Virginia Street)*

Get your peel & stick (real) paint sample of Snowfall White – HERE!

So, there you have it! Just remember that before you purchase a gallon and slap it on the wall, do a large test sample first. The key is to see it in the room and take inventory of how it makes you feel in a variety of light situations (natural light in the day and night, artificial light, etc.). Once you’ve completed this important step, your room will come together in a flash!

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Still feeling a little apprehensive about choosing your color? Here is my free guide to choosing paint colors with confidence.

Be sure to check out our other paint color reviews for more inspiration.

Choose your paint colors with confidence

Hi, I’m Carla

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