Best Neutral Paint Colors
What are Neutral Colors?
Neutral colors are muted shades that appear to lack color but often have underlying hues that change with different lighting. You may see hints of warm undertones, green undertones, or yellow undertones. Examples of neutral colors include beige, greige (grey and beige blend), taupe, cream, and white. Neutral colors are not on the color wheel, but they complement your favorite colors. Primary and secondary colors (on the color wheel) are great for accent walls and accessories in your interior spaces! Read on for some of my favorite neutral paint colors!
Paint your walls a neutral color scheme and you’ll have the perfect palette for decorating.
Choosing a neutral shade 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. 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 I mean.
Interior designers been choosing neutral paint colors for years, so we know how to choose the perfect neutral paint color We’ve pulled together a roundup of a few favorites with inspiration too!
RELATED: Best Paint Colors for you 90s Era Home
Sherwin Williams Neutral Colors
Sherwin-Williams – Agreeable Gray
Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams is a versatile and sophisticated neutral paint color. This warm, soft gray with beige undertones, often referred to as “greige,” seamlessly blends into a variety of design styles, from modern to traditional. Its balanced hue makes it an excellent backdrop for any room in the house, offering a serene and inviting ambiance without overwhelming the space.
Whether you’re refreshing a single room or painting an entire home, Agreeable Gray’s ability to complement both warm and cool color schemes ensures it harmonizes effortlessly with existing décor, making it a favorite among designers.
Sherwin-Williams – Dovetail
Ready to go bold, but still want a neutral tone? 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.
RELATED: Interior Design Styles Beyond “Farmhouse”
Many of my posts contain affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and purchase something, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. The affiliate money I earn helps pay the fees to keep this site up and running. You can read our disclosure statement here. Thank you so much for your support.
WHATS THE BEST WAY TO SAMPLE NEUTRAL PAINT COLORS?
Look no further than SAMPLIZE! Using a peel and stick paint sample is cleaner, easier to use, more affordable, AND more environmentally friendly.
Here’s why I recommend SAMPLIZE to my clients:
1. Cost-Effective: They’re more budget-friendly than traditional methods, which often require purchasing sample pots, rollers, and tag boards.
2. Easy to Use: Keep your Samplize samples on their white paper backing and you can effortlessly move them around the room to see how they look in different lighting conditions.
3. Speedy Delivery: Samplize samples arrive at your doorstep in just one day, depending on your location.
Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE to explore their range of options.
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.
RELATED: Wilds Overlook Basement Design Finishes and Fixtures
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 warm undertones of beige and a light gray. It is a fantastic “greige” if you are looking for a gray that is warmer and has more saturation. This shade is one of the most popular neutral paint colors 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 a great choice.
RELATED: How to Get Fast and Affordable Interior Design Advice
RELATED: Sherwin Williams Iron Ore: Paint Color Review
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 (like a poolside lounge area or a basement bar) – the light hue will feel happy, and extra chic.
RELATED: Insider Tips on Luxury Vinyl Flooring
RELATED: How Much Shiplap is Too Much?
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.
RELATED: 23 Best Gray Paint Colors for Cabinets by Sherwin Williams
Get your peel & stick (real) paint sample of Collingwood – HERE!
RELATED: Choosing Kid and Pet Friendly Fabrics
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 pure white primers, but it instead has a touch of warmth and a yellow undertone. For a completely streamlined aesthetic, this warm white 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. This is a lovely neutral color for wainscoting in dining rooms and entryways as well as trim color throughout.
RELATED: Simply White vs Chantilly Lace – Comparing Top White Paint Colors
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, order peel and stick paint samples from Samplize! 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.
Pin this for easy reference:
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.
