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!
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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.
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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.
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Get your peel & stick (real) paint sample of Anew Gray – HERE!
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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.
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Get your peel & stick (real) paint sample of Revere Pewter – HERE!
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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.
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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.
Get your peel & stick (real) paint sample of Collingwood – HERE!
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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.
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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.
10 Responses
Carla, These are great neutral color selections and insight. So beautiful.
Thank you, Lisa! I appreciate you taking the time to check it out!
Love all of this information. Beautiful choices.
Carla: I really enjoyed seeing how all of these neutrals look in your actual designs for your clients. It’s so interesting how lighting makes all the difference. I especially love how Revere Pewter looks in that room with the vaulted ceiling and the fireplace. It perfectly ties it all together.
Excellent neutral options, Carla! Revere Pewter is a go-to for me too!
Beautiful colors and examples!
A few of these are new to me, and I’ll definitely be looking them up to add to my rotation. Balboa Mist is an underrated favorite of mine.
Wonderful selections, as well as examples, of these gorgeous colors!
So many great choices here!
Wow, that Anew Gray looks great with the brick wall….matches well with the mortar and the Revere Pewter looks beautiful with the stone in that fireplace.. Nice selections.