interior design, Paint
Our Guide To The Best Neutral Paint Colors (that Aren’t White!)
There's something to be said about a fresh coat of white paint - it's crisp, clean, and offers a completely blank palette. So, don't get me wrong when I say I'm ready for a change of pace, because it will always be a classic. But, as much as I love the look, we're definitely ready for something with a little more depth and added interest. Take the path less traveled and check out our guide to the best neutral paint colors that are anything but stark!
Tones of green are always in my go-to palette. I'm attracted to the soft, neutral hue below...
It adds color without really having to commit to something crazy and bold. It's subtle and goes with pretty much any type of decor or finish. I'd style this bedroom with white, gray, or blush textiles. Organic wood tones would also look pretty amazing against this paint color!
We live in a world where people automatically think "boring" when they hear the word beige. It kills me! Why? Because beige is so beautiful when done correctly!! It literally goes with anything and everything, but more importantly- it pushes me out of my comfort zone to find interesting decor because the possibilities are limitless. In that way, I guess it's sort of challenging (in a good way), ha! Farrow & Ball sort of takes the guess work out of colors like these because their limited selection means each color is sort of amazing - try Elephant's Breath for the perfect tonal beige.
Gray has been having a moment for a few years now. It's chic, easy and looks amazing with metals. In my opinion, cool gray was created for rose gold, brass, or even nickel finishes for a tone-on-tone look. Restoration Hardware is an often overlooked source for paint, but we have to say they know how to nail greys!
If you're ready to commit to a feminine color and subdued hue, please please paint your space blush! Someday I dream of having a studio soaked in this gorgeous color. It's just as bright as white, but with more attitude, interest, and personality. Try a shade like 'Oyster' if you want to sneak an undertone in, or 'Mauve Hint' if you really want to go for it!
Warm gray, otherwise known as greige, is exactly what the nicknames sounds like: gray and beige combined. The red and yellow undertones cause this color to be inviting, with all the trendiness that neutral gray has to offer. I'd paint my walls in eggshell or something similar with a really flat finish to exaggerate the soft, chic undertones.
If you're still not convinced... what's the plus side to painting your walls something other than white? These colors will also help add contrast to architectural elements like moulding and millwork! Even a subdued tone can make your trim look crisp and really pop. Most people add fresh paint to their walls every 7 years, but I think I might have to jump on board a little earlier to take advantage of these gorgeous non-neutral hues. xo, Sarah
Need help picking the perfect paint? Hire us at The Emerald Studio!
I LOVE the idea behind this post. Horizon and Elephant’s Breath are definitely my favourites. I’m keen on the idea of having nice calming neutral hues too, but white can sometimes feel a bit clinical. I much prefer these soft non white hues.
Steph – http://www.nourishmeblog.co.uk
Huge fan of the first green grey colour scheme. Very fresh and neutral perfect for a bedroom or living room, nothing too girly or too stern. Would look fantastic with white furniture.
https://lifestylelodestar.com/
i think sea salt and horizon are mixed up… nice colors though!
No. They aren’t mixed up. Sea salt is nowhere near as dark as Horizon, nor does it have that much green in it. Depending on what kind of light your room gets, Sea Salt will sometimes read as blue. It’s a gorgeous very light color that I have used in several homes.
love these!! I’m a big fan of white but I also like to mix it up from time to time
Is there a source for the image of the green bedroom? I’ve had a look through the blog archives but can’t find a post for it and wanted to see if there were any more angles of the lovely green decor 🙂
[…] white is sometimes a little too safe, here is Coco + Kelley’s Guide to the best neutrals with which I agree wholeheartedly. (Read here: everyone who writes me to know what is my […]
What blush color is it in the picture??
What is the yellow color in the middle of the top picture?
Can you buy Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore paint in the UK?
Can you tell
Me who makes the green grey on your page?
bonjour
avez vous un distributeur dans le nord de la france?
My biggest frustration with 90% of blogs and posts that show photos with wall colors rarely give the actual name of the brand and color in the photo or where the photo originated. And when you ask they never answer. HGTV is notorious for this. Ugh
Hi Anana – first of all, we always give credit for the photos at the bottom of our posts. You should be able to find them there. Secondly, the reason we don’t provide the brand and color is because either a) we don’t know either and b) paint colors are going to appear differently in every room anyway. That’s why we create these guides that will help to show similar colors to the one you’re seeing on the walls of these rooms as a good starting point!
The paint color Horizon by Benjamin Moore is mistitled. What is pictured is actually Horizon Gray with lrv of 51.9. Horizon is a lighter color with an lrv of 73.96. If anyone is interested in buying just keep in mind it’s called Horizon Gray not Horizon.