The Absolute Best Neutral Paint Colors, According to Designers

Joel Wong and Amanda Gunawan, the cofounders of OWIU Design, chose an "off-white beige" for this dining nook to "prevent the wall from being too stark…against the dark wood." This neutral paint color, Sherwin-Williams Dover White, "eases one's eye as it moves from the wall to the natural white oak and paper Akari lamp."

Get this paint color: Sherwin-Williams Dover White

This hardworking neutral can work wonders due to its color-shifting quality, says Jamie Ivey of Ivey Design Group. "Farrow & Ball Mouse's Back changes depending on light levels—at times reading mushroom, green, or taupe," she says.

Get this paint color: Farrow & Ball Mouse's Back

"This peachy pink can do anything your typical neutral color can do," according to design firm Em + Me at Home. "It plays well with black and white if you're a neutral lover, but if you need a background color that doesn't overshadow your decor, Malted Milk will add just the right amount of warmth and interest to your walls." If you're tired of stark white, this hue can handle "bright primary pops of color while adding just a little bit of softness to neutral spaces."

Get this paint color: Sherwin-Williams Malted Milk

Jordan Slocum and Barry Bordelon, aka the Brownstone Boys, wanted a refreshing gray with green undertones to give new life to the primary bedroom in an 1899 building they restored. Painting everything in this "very subtle tone" made it feel like a sanctuary.

Get this paint color: Clare Chill

To give a wall texture and dimension without relying on color, OWIU Design cofounders Wong and Gunawan tinted a Venetian plaster with a cloudy gray from Sherwin-Williams. "This fully toned and textured wall allowed us to create a beautiful backdrop for the furniture pieces in the foreground, almost like a canvas does in a painting," the design duo says.

Get this paint color: Sherwin-Williams Skyline Steel

This neutral paint color helped Corey Damen Jenkins marry the two very different styles of two clients. "The wife loved jewel tones and embellishment, while the husband was on the total opposite end of the spectrum—no color, no wallpaper," he explains. His solution was to paint the living room in Garlic Clove by PPG, "which has enough warmth to counterbalance the bright white of the often snowy landscape," and the door to the adjacent room in Navy Masterpiece by Benjamin Moore for a splash of color.

Get this paint color: PPG Garlic Clove 18-09

A yellow neutral evokes a happy, airy atmosphere. Designer Lilse McKenna's favorite is Capitol White by Benjamin Moore. "It is a white with just a hint of ivory and warmth," she says.

Get this paint color: Benjamin Moore Capitol White CW-10

For a moody neutral paint color that would fit right at a spa, consider Nitty Gritty by Portola Paints & Glazes. One of designer Rydhima Brar's favorites, this hazy green is deep and soothing.

Get this paint color: Portola Nitty Gritty

Somewhere between gray and warm beige, greige paint can underscore the dimension of molding and millwork and have a soothing effect in a flat application on the wall of a bedroom. Designer Purvi Padia's favorite is Collingwood by Benjamin Moore, a slightly cooler take on the neutral color.

Get this paint color: Benjamin Moore Collingwood OC-28

Justina Blakeney, designer and blogger behind the Jungalow, used this light green, Farrow & Ball Breakfast Room Green, to make a statement on a transitional wall between a living room and kitchen. "If I had to boil it down, Jungalow really consists of four ingredients: color, pattern, plants, and global finds," so neutral shades of green paint like this one are staples. In her own kitchen, she used even subtler shade, Silver Maple by Glidden, that almost looks gray in certain lighting.

Get this paint color: Farrow & Ball Breakfast Room Green No.81

Since this white color, Benjamin Moore Huntington White DC-02, is dead center between warm and cool, designer Darryl Carter says it works equally well in traditional and modern settings. "I am historically prone to a neutral palette, and this white has been my go-to for years. It's a chameleon, taking on subtle changes in shade over the course of the day," he says. Huntington White was part of a limited-edition collection Carter curated with Benjamin Moore in 2011; it's also known as Benjamin Moore Moonlight White OC-125.

Get this paint color: Benjamin Moore Moonlight White OC-125

Blanket them in a luscious eggshell paint color, and your interiors will feel extra cozy. Designer Sherrell Neal loves Creamy by Sherwin-Williams "for its traditional warmth." She recently added the neutral paint color to her project color cards.

Get this paint color: Sherwin-Williams Creamy SW 7012

Designer Patrick Baglino recommends using this versatile gray paint color in large, open spaces with turquoise, scarlet, or tangerine accents. "The warmth of this gray comes from the addition of a splash of beige, and it feels as comforting as a bowl of homemade chicken soup," he says.

Get this paint color: Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter HC-172

"It works with everything," says designer Candace Mary Griffin of the off-white neutral Snowbound by Sherwin-Williams. Soft with warm undertones, it's her current favorite. You could paint your every room in your house in it.

Get this paint color: Sherwin-Williams Snowbound SW 7004

Since this saturated gray-brown-black reads like black but not quite as hard, it's easy to live with, says designer Peter Dunham. "It's not that intense fortune-teller black but soft and sun-bleached, with depth and mystery," he adds. "In a matte finish, it looks like a slightly smeared blackboard."

Get this paint color: Benjamin Moore Gray 2121-10

More: The 35 Best Shades of Gray Paint You'll Ever Use

Designer Brett Beldock says this mauvey taupe is as warm as a cable-knit cashmere sweater, which is why he recommends using it all over a bedroom, not only on the walls. "It would turn the room into a cocoon…very peaceful. Bring in ivory, gray, eggplant, or chocolate for contrast," he advises.

Get this paint color: Sherwin-Williams Doeskin SW 6044

Since this bold color is the same earthy red you see in a Turkish rug, pre-Columbian art, or an Etruscan mural, it's surprisingly neutral and goes with anything, says designer Carey Maloney. "We used it in our front hall as a backdrop to a Chinese coromandel screen and a huge African wooden sculpture," he says. "It creates this incredibly warm, inviting entry that draws you into the rest of the house."

Get this paint color: Donald Kaufman Color DKC-17

More: 13 Cool Shades of Red Paint for Every Style

According to designer Jonathan Rose, aqua is perfect for a country house or beach house since it complements greenery and ocean views. "The idea is for the wall color to be quiet so it can blend seamlessly with the outdoors," he says. "This blue-green is a pastel with personality. Keep the overall feeling serene with light floors, white trim, a touch of deeper aqua, and a few dark accents to anchor the room."

Get this paint color: Farrow & Ball Pale Powder 204

This beige is designer Jonathan Taylor's dependable neutral that marries with any white—even a white gone wrong. "Years ago, a Fiorucci salesperson stared at my all-beige outfit and said, 'Well, beige is the rage.' I say yes! Best on walls in washable matte, this changes hues with the light, warms a chilly entry hall, and whispers, 'Shhh!' in the master suite. It's nearly foolproof," he says.

Get this paint color: Benjamin Moore Hush AF-95

Although typically considered feminine, designer Laura Burleson says lilac performs beautifully as a neutral when paired with strong, deep colors like charcoal, black, or navy. "This shade is the perfect balance of saturation and tone, like seeing a sunset through a soft filter." She recommends trying it in unexpected applications, like the ceiling of a moody, masculine library or the interior of creamy cabinetry in a kitchen.

Get this paint color: Sherwin-Williams Wallflower SW 6281