Best Neutral Interior Paint Colors

So you’re like, ‘Kassy, I need help. My house looks like I haven’t touched it since 2003. How can I give it a refresh without breaking the bank?’

And I’m all like, ‘A fresh coat of paint will do WONDERS!’

And we’re both like, ‘YASSSSSS!’

So now what? Odds are, you’re not a designer. And even if you have an eye for design, you still might be at a loss when it comes to making big decisions like interior paint colors for your home. So, I’m here to help.

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The first piece of advice that I’m going to give you is this. NEVER. I MEAN NEVER buy gallons of paint without getting a sample first. Don’t be dumb guys. Try a couple of sample colors on your walls before committing. Colors look different in everyone’s homes under different lighting. I was helping a friend a few weeks ago and she tried 2 of the colors that I have on my walls and they look COMPLETELY different on hers. It was crazy!

That being said, stop shying away from the paint brush. Sure, it’s a daunting task but a day or so later, you’ll have a fabulous, updated space. A fresh coat of paint can make a room feel brand new!

So today, I’m sharing some of my tried and true neutral interior paint colors with you guys. These are colors that I’ve tried personally, seen in person, or recommended to my clients. These may not be exactly what you want or need but it’s a great place to start.

All of my faves are Benjamin Moore paint colors. YES. BM paint is more expensive, but did you know that places like Home Depot and Sherwin Williams will mix BM paint colors for you? All you have to do is tell them you want Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee and BAM, you’ll get it!

A couple of quick tips.

1. ALWAYS PRIME. Primer is less expensive than paint. If you do 1 coat of primer, that’s one less coat of paint and therefore less paint you have to pay for! I use Kilz Premium for most of my walls. If it’s a really dark color or you’re painting over wood, use Zinser 123!
2. If you want a beautiful, relaxing, cohesive home, you should have no more than 3 paint colors! That includes trim color too! That means 2 different colors on walls. Gone are the days of a different color in every room. This doesn’t include kids rooms (because you know they’ll want something weird) or accent walls!

If you have any more painting questions, feel free to leave them in the comments! I’ll get back to you as quickly as possible!

Whites.

One of my biggest pet peeves as a designer is when people make up excuses as to why they can’t have anything WHITE in their homes because they have pets or children. I’m not asking you to buy a white linen spot clean only $4000 sofa. I’m asking you to brighten up the space with a light white wall! They make paints now a days that can be wiped off with a paper towel. And FYI a Magic Eraser can fix anything.

I’m not a fan of paper white walls or trim. They have no dimension, so I typically choose a warmer white to make the space feel a little warmer and richer. You can go buy ‘white’ paint from the store but you’re not going to like the outcome. It’s going to look cheap and a little like white out! So these 3 colors can solve that problem and really make your space pop!

White Dove – This gorgeous Ivory makes everything it touches look more expensive. It’s appropriate for anything. Cabinets, trim, and walls! My mom’s friend recently painted her whole house this color and it’s absolutely spectacular! This color is GREAT in a kitchen. If you want one of those crisp, clean, white kitchens you see on pinterest, this is the color for you.

Swiss Coffee – OC-45, my tried and true, bff, paint color. This is the color that I have on ALL the walls in my house except my kitchen. The swatch makes it look yellowy, but it’s totally not! It’s a rich, warm white/ivory with lots of dimension.  This is typically what I suggest for people with large open spaces who also want white walls. It’s got enough of a brown under tone to keep the space feeling cozy while giving you that bright white feeling that you want. I used Benjamin Moore’s Pearl Finish paint for my house (I learned this trick from my old boss, Karen) and it’s AMAZING. I get tons of compliments. It doesn’t actually look pearlized, it just gives it a nice sheen.

Simply White – This is the whitest of the 3 whites. It looks great on cabinet and will look, overall, a bit more modern than the other 3. Great for small spaces like bathrooms and bedrooms too! This is an awesome trim and cabinet color as well. This is the ‘whitest’ that I would go on a wall. Any whiter and it’ll be blue.

Greiges.

Greige is all the rage right now. Gone are the 2000s beigey yellow colors and dark brown. The two have combined and had a baby called GREIGE. Now, I tend to always lean on the gray side of the color because I’m not a fan of any sort of yellow based color on the walls. The Greige I like typically has a brown undertone and not a yellow or orange one. I also like to keep this color on the lighter side. A dark brown on the walls can make the space feel really traditional and dated.

Revere Pewter – I’ve never seen this one in person but I’ve heard fabulous things. I love the soft brown undertones in this rich shade. If you see it on a wall, it will look gray, but have just a small hint of that beige color that really warms the space up.

Classic Gray – My all time favorite warm gray. I love this color. For my clients who feel that white it too stark for them but still want a lighter wall, this is my first suggestion. It’s just a hint of brown undertone with a mostly gray look. It’s perfect for those with large open plan areas that want to keep the space cozy. Pair this with a White Dove Trim for a gorgeous combo.

Balboa Mist – This shade is right in between the Classic and Revere. Its got a little more gray undertone than brown. It’s basically just a little darker than the classic gray.

Cool Grays.

Cooler grays definitely have a more modern look in space. So if you’re looking for that contemporary, eclectic vibe but don’t want white (as you can tell, white is always my go-to) a cool gray is your best bet.

Gray Owl – This is the color I have on the walls in my kitchen. Honestly, I don’t love it in that space. I do, however, love this color. If I could go back, I’d paint my kitchen Swiss Coffee just like the rest of my house! But If you’re in the market for a cool gray, this is a big time winner. It pairs beautifully with Swiss Coffee cabinets or walls. It has more of a blue undertone so it’s very ‘cool’ feeling on the walls.

Stonington Gray – This gray is a neutral light gray There aren’t many undertones in this one. It’s a pretty basic, tried and true gray. This one is obviously darker than the Gray Owl and can really provide some nice contrast in your space.

Coventry Gray – This is a true medium gray. With cool undertones and a deep saturation, this color would be awesome in a cozy bedroom or office. Somewhere where you want (or need) to relax. I would pair this with an ivory trim like white dove with a pearl finish! Gorgeous!

Dark Grays. 

So I typically wouldn’t suggest you paint an entire room this color unless you’re really going for an edgy modern look. If you like classic style like I’m sure most of you do, this would be a good detail color. Like a fireplace wall or accent color. Or cabinets.

Chelsea Gray – This is a warmer dark gray. It’s got great brown/green undertones and is going to make the space feel more transitional. I love this color on cabinetry and even in a formal dining space. It could also be nice in a bedroom but just know you’ll need to contrast it with lots of lighter furniture and bedding. I wouldn’t pair this with darker wood elements.

Kendall Charcoal – This is a cooler dark gray. I love this color in all the different sheens. It even looks great in a matte finish. I would use this for some moody cabinetry, a fireplace accent color. Or even an accent wall behind your light colored headboard for a high contrast look.

Wrought Iron – I’m obsessed with this color. Although, I would use it sparingly. It would be great in a moody bathroom with white cabinets and countertops, paired with black and white patterns and natural woods. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE it as a front door color. Especially as the interior side of your front door. Never knew that was a thing, huh? That is a really fun way to bring color into your space without going cray with an accent wall. It would also be great on a kitchen island or on interior doors!

I hope you guys got a lot of good information from this post. You all have been begging for some more interior content and I want to bring you as many helpful things as I can! So please let me know if you enjoyed this by sharing it on FB or pinning the image below to your favorite ‘home inspo’ board!

I hope you guys got a lot of good information from this post. You all have been begging for some more interior content and I want to bring you as many helpful things as I can! So please let me know if you enjoyed this by sharing it on FB or you can pin it to your favorite ‘home inspo’ board!