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What Is a Good Neutral Paint Color for Interior

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Paint your walls a neutral color scheme and you'll have the perfect palette for decorating. Here are the most popular neutral paint colors for your home in 2021.

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Why Neutrals Are A Still Popular Choice

For 2021 neutral paint color trends we are seeing less of the cool grays of the past, and more warmth bring brought into interior spaces thanks to warmer grays and greige paint colors, creamy whites and even shades closer to beige.

As far as paint colors go, neutral colors remain the most popular paint colors for interiors in 2021. The neutral color palette of greige, beige and grey is a great choice when you want to create an interior with a clean, modern feel.

These paint colors can also work well in both traditional and contemporary settings!

Warm Gray and Greige

Gray has been a popular color for neutrals for close to a decade. This year, many homeowners and designers have started leaning into warmer grays and shades of greige. The warm neutrals create a soft, neutral tone, without the coldness associated with traditional gray.

These shades of paint can be used in any room without overwhelming or competing with the other colors or design elements of your space, making them the perfect neutral backdrop for your decor.

Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams

Repose Gray is one of the best selling paint colors for interiors. I've used it throughout my own home and absolutely love it.

large armoire in front of a wall painted sherwin williams repose gray
Sherwin Williams Repose Gray, lightened by 50%

Repose Gray is a warm gray that has a slight green and purple undertone. But don't let that scare you away! Those colors simply add just the right amount of warmth to ensure it never feels like a cold gray.

I regularly have Repose Gray lightened by 50% at my local store, and love how light and airy the lighter version is.

Repose Gray is one of the most popular whole-house colors in recent years.

Crushed Ice by Sherwin Williams

This is a beautiful greige that works well in transitional spaces with a good amount of light. Despite its name, it does not have an icy appearance.

SW Crushed Ice walls via Redeeming Hampton

In fact, its quite warm and can even skew a touch pink. It's lighter than Repose Gray, but has more saturation of color. It was another contender for my kitchen remodel, but ended up being just a little too warm for what I wanted.

Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams

Another incredibly popular neutral paint color from Sherwin Williams. Agreeable Gray is considerably warmer than Repose Gray, firmly leaning more into the "greige" category.

living room walls painted Agreeable Gray with white slipcovered coach and trunk coffee table
Living room painted SW Agreeable Gray via Living Simply By Design

However, it's one of those funny paint colors that can change color depending on the light - sometimes it leans more gray, and sometimes it looks quite beige.

Agreebable Gray is a popular great choice for a living rooms and kitchens, and as a whole-house color.

Wind's Breath by Benjamin Moore

Wet bar area with walls painted Wind's Breath by Benjamin Moore
Sherwin Williams Wind's Breath via DecorPad

I first saw Wind's Breath in my friend's bedroom and instantly fell in love with its warmth and softness. Paired with white trim, it's the fresh modern version of a traditional beige.

Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore

Classic Gray has been gaining in popularity recently. I would consider this paint color to be the quintessential greige. It's a perfect mix of beige with just the right amount of gray undertones to stop it being too warm.

White kitchen with black countertops and french bistro counter stools. Walls are painted Classic Gray.
Benjamin Moore Classic Gray kitchen walls via Studio McGee

It will look grayer in darker corners but in a room with a lot of light it is beautifully soft and bright, and adds the right amount of warmth. It is a true warm neutral. If you like Repose Gray but want a bit more warmth, then I think Classic Gray will be perfect for you.

Balboa Mist by Benjamin Moore

Balboa Mist is a light warm gray paint color, that just about falls into the greige category.

In north facing rooms, or hiding in the shadows, it can look a bit grayer. While in brighter, warmer spaces with lots of sunlight it will look more beige.

Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams

Accessible Beige is one of Sherwin Williams' top paint colors, and for good reason. It's an excellent choice if you're looking for a neutral that has a bit more saturation and warmth, while still having that slight gray base to tone it down.

Light wood vanity in a bathroom with wainscoting on the wall that's painted accessible beige, with a black oval mirror
SW Accessible Beige bathroom walls by Jenna Sue Design Co

White As a Neutral

Warm white colors as well as shades of cream are another great choice when you're trying to achieve a neutral look in your home. The right white paint color (or cream) will look warm, soothing and play well with modern decor styles too - especially if paired with clean lines and finishes like warm wood furniture.

Drift of Mist by Sherwin Williams

I discovered this paint color when choosing between colors for my recent kitchen remodel.

It is very similar in tone to Repose Gray lightened by 50%, making it a wonderful light and airy color.

Entrway walls painted drift of mist with two pieces of artwork hanging and a large staircase
SW Drift of Mist entryway via The Creativity Exchange

However, in certain light, it has a distinct green cast. For this reason, I think it would be better suited on am individual room basis, and not as a whole house color.

Paper White by Benjamin Moore

Paper White is another go-to paint color of mine. It's a very very soft gray, but technically falls into the "off-white" category.

neutral bedroom with walls painted benjamin moore paper white
Bedroom with walls painted BM Paper White

It has just enough green in it to stop it from ever feeling cold. In fact, it's my number one choice for east and west facing rooms that can feel cold and dark at one end of the day and warm and sunny at the other end.

It balances out really well for both lighting conditions to create the perfect neutral backdrop.

Simply White by Benjamin Moore

A highly popular shade of white, Simply White was actually Benjamin Moore's Color of The Year back in 2016.

It's still as popular as it was that year, and makes a great choice for a warm, creamy white for walls and trim.

shiplap walls in a boys bedroom painted BM simply white in a matte finish
Shiplap walls painted with Simply White in a matte sheen

The one caveat with this color is that it can skew quite yellow, so opt for a higher sheen on the walls (I don't recommend this color in a matte finish, which is what we painted the boys' shiplap with).

It should be fine during the daytime, but incandescent light may bring out that yellow. In which case, consider switching your bulbs to a cooler daylight variety to combat those yellow undertones.

Alabaster by Sherwin Williams

Alabaster is a soft, creamy white. It verges almost on the territory of being off-white, but is just light enough to still be considered white.

Living room with gallery wall over the couch, fireplace stacked with wood and a jute rug on the floor
Alabaster Living Room walls via Bless This Nest

If you are looking for a warmer white that doesn't have any of the starkness or coldness or other whites, this may be the perfect choice for you!

White Dove by Benjamin Moore

White Dove is a soft, warm white. It feels warm and creamy but never comes across yellow.

White walls in a hallway with wooden beams overhead and medium toned wood floors
White Dove hallway via Studio McGee

In bright light, it looks almost like a clean white but with just a hint of softness. White Dove is a popular choice for trim but also makes a beautiful neutral paint color for walls.

Creamy by Sherwin Williams

Creamy is a stunning cream paint color. It will add a warm, cozy, and inviting feel in your space. It helps make your space look fresh, welcoming, and bright at all times.

Corner of a living room with a tv unit and accent chair
SW Creamy via Kylie M Interiors

If you're looking for a light, fresh and well,creamy, neutral...this is the right choice for you!

Navajo White by Benjamin Moore

Another beautiful creamy paint color. Similarly to Simply White, artificial light will bring out more of the yellow tones. But don't let that scare you off!

Fireplace mantel decorated with starfish and flowers
BM Navajo White mantel via Satori Design For Living

This is a wonderful warm white paint color that can serve as the perfect neutral backdrop for an entire home. It works particularly well in a more traditional home, filled with warm wood tones.

A Traditional Beige or Tan Neutral

Beige and tan make an excellent addition to these two classic shades because they offer richness that lighter neutrals may lack while still being easy on the eyes! Plus, these colors can be found in so many different varieties of taupes, browns and even shades that are closer to blonde.

Manchester Tan by Benjamin Moore

Beige is having a moment again in 2021, and I'm happy to see this popular color from the last decade making a resurgence.

Bottom of staircase with walls painted Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan
Walls painted BM Manchester Tan

Manchester Tan works wonderfully alongside warm wood tones and honey oak. But equally works with bright white trim to clean a warm vibe for any room in your house.

Bleeker Beige by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore's Bleeker Beige is the perfect beige that holds true in sunlight and is subtle and highly adaptable. It can be considered a taupey beige, but it does have just a smidge of gray that stops it from being overly warm.

Walls going up a staircase that are painted bleeker beige
Bleeker Beige staircase walls via The Land of Color

Bleeker Beige is a great choice if you have a lot of dark wood furniture and white trim. It's a great neutral that works particularly well in a modern traditional style home, but I've seen it work equally well in coastal-style homes paired with lots of navy blue!

Think Outside of The Box

A "neutral" paint color does not have to mean gray, greige, white or beige. In fact, any soft hue of a color can be used as a neutral.

While you may not want your whole house color scheme to be pastel pink, that may serve as a neutral in a little girl's room. Similarly, a soft blue-gray paint color would be a stunning neutral for a bedroom or bathroom.

Final Thoughts

I hope this paint guide has given you some ideas and inspiration as you find the perfect neutral paint color for your home this year.

And remember, don't let trends dictate how you decorate your home. At the end of the day, your home should be an expression of your personality and unique style! Don't be afraid to think outside the box and do what feels right for you and your home!

More Paint Colors To Consider

  • 11 Beautiful Kitchen Cabinet Paint Colors

  • 10 Of The Best Kitchen Island Colors

  • Best Living Room Paint Colors 2021

  • The Best Green Paint Colors

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What Is a Good Neutral Paint Color for Interior

Source: https://jennakateathome.com/best-neutral-paint-colors/