Moving into a new home comes with its fair share of decision making. Even if it just boils down to choosing a paint color, the process of designing your home can be overwhelming — especially when you don’t know the first thing about undertones, how lighting can impact the look of each room, and whether or not your selected color is going to complement your furniture. Luckily for you, our design team is taking the guesswork out of the decision making process for you by sharing 8 of the best neutral paint colors that will look great in any room. P.S. they’re all by Sherwin-Williams.
1. First Star
The perfect cool gray that isn’t too stark.
First Star will make your home feel crisp and airy from the moment you walk through the door. A cool, light gray paint colour with the slightest blue undertones, this popular shade brightens like a white but still gives you a hint of color on your walls. Neither too modern nor too stark, this hue pairs nicely with contemporary, coastal, Scandinavian or transitional homes.
2. City Loft
Marrying the best of beige and gray.
City Loft is a versatile color that works well in any room. The perfect combination of beige and gray, City Loft imparts a feeling of warmth, without the yellow undertones. The color can be manipulated depending on the type of lighting used, but its light hue will never dominate a room.
3. Agreeable Gray
A subtle greige shade.
Agreeable Gray is one of Sherwin Williams’ best selling paint colors and it’s not hard to see why. From floors and countertops to furniture pieces in all color families, this neutral shade pairs nicely with just about everything thanks to its chameleon qualities. For those who can’t decide between gray or beige, Agreeable Gray is your opportunity to have both.
4. Accessible Beige
Neutral beige with a hint of gray.
Accessible Beige is best known for its soft and subtle undertones, and is a go-to for those looking to brighten their home. Depending on where you use this color — be it in north-facing or south-facing rooms — Accessible Beige can steer more towards the spectrum of cool but it typically favors its beige undertones. The paint color complements modern and traditional decor, pairing nicely with white trim and natural hardwood floors.
5. Alabaster
White, just not too white.
A neutral off-white color, Alabaster sets the foundation for an aesthetically-pleasing space. It’s the perfect choice for those who haven’t solidified a design style yet or are looking to refresh their decor as it allows furniture to be the star of the show. Its neutral base gives off a creamy look without being too warm or showing any signs of yellow.
6. Incredible White
A soft, warm white.
Incredible White is another one of Sherwin Williams’ more popular colors. With taupe undertones — specifically pink and purple (yes, we said that right) — the way this warm paint color looks is heavily dependent on the light. For example, in south-facing rooms, you may notice some of the color’s pink undertones shine through, whereas in north-facing spaces, they may not be as noticeable.
7. Aesthetic White
An off-white paint color with neutral undertones.
Aesthetic White doesn’t have very strong undertones, meaning that it’s a fairly neutral paint color compared to some of the other shades Sherwin Williams offers. If you’re looking for a color that exudes comfort and warmth, Aesthetic White may just be the color you’ve been looking for.
8. Creamy
The warmest of the off-white colors.
Creamy, like most cream-colored paints, has a pale yellow undertone. Don’t worry — your walls won’t look like bumble bees, but it is important to understand how lighting can affect the hues that stand out. While Creamy tends to look off-white most of the time, Creamy’s yellow undertones can be a bit more pronounced in south-facing rooms where there’s warm sunlight.
Want to give a new hue a virtual test run before making it permanent on your walls? Check out these four popular paint apps that help take the stress out of choosing your paint color by letting you upload images of your room to try various shades. For more design inspiration — including why royal blue is the pop of color you need in your home, and why black is the timeless hue we can’t get enough of — visit our blog.
Please note: this blog post is for inspiration purposes. Paint colors may not be available at our Design Centers.
Pictures courtesy of: CrackerJack23 (First Star); Pinterest (City Loft, Aesthetic White); Living Letter Home (Agreeable Gray); Housekeeping Bay (Accessible Beige); Farmhouse Living (Alabaster); Southern Living (Creamy).