Staring at a display case full of paint chips can leave even the most confident do-it-yourselfer's head spinning. We asked top interior designers and paint professionals which wall color they would choose if they could only have one. Here are their can't-miss paint colors.
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Memorybook Blue 4007-5C by Valspar
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Valspar's Memorybook Blue is a soft, peaceful shade that can work as a neutral in large doses. "Blues are said to promote productivity and help one's focus," says Sue Kim, color marketing manager at Valspar. "This hue is calming, creating a great foundation for a den or study." The muted shade of blue also works well as a kitchen wall color alongside white cabinetry and shiny fixtures and finishes.
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Rocky Coast 1595 by Benjamin Moore
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Use dark gray wall colors like Benjamin Moore's Rocky Coast to instantly add drama and elegance. "I love this moody gray," says Jessica Davis of Nest Studio. "It has a slight blue undertone and makes any room feel sophisticated. Use it in cozy rooms like libraries and dens."
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Calke Green 34 by Farrow & Ball
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Saturated green wall paint colors, like Farrow & Ball's Calke Green, are a favorite for rooms that need a personality boost. "I love a good, playful green," says interior designer Jeff Andrews. "This color has a vintage vibe that can work well in any room that you want to have a little sense of humor, to not be too serious. But it also stands the test of time."
Green Paint Colors Our Editors Swear By
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Tony Taupe SW 7038 by Sherwin-Williams
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Warmed-up, earthy shades of gray, like Tony Taupe, are the new go-to neutrals. Use these wall paint colors to envelop rooms in a rich, cozy feeling. "In a satin finish, this gray tone is ideal for a media room or library where you want a neutral color with great depth," says John Cialone of Tom Stringer Design Partners.
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Classic Gray 1548 by Benjamin Moore
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Gray is becoming the ultimate neutral because it looks good with almost any color. Classic Gray is a modern neutral wall color that creates a light and airy feeling yet adds more warmth to a room than basic white. "When you hear 'gray' you think dreary, but this is a wonderful gray that has a lot of light in it, especially when paired with white trim. Even on a dreary day, it looks good," says interior designer Mary Hickey. "Plus, it's a color that works well with so many other colors. It's absolutely beautiful with peacock blue accessories."
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Naval SW 6244 by Sherwin-Williams
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Sherwin-Williams' pick for 2020 Color of the Year, Naval is a rich, saturated blue wall paint color that makes a bold statement. "I like a little drama in the dining room," says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. "Navy is timeless, and paired with gold accents, this color seems to sparkle." Use blue paint colors alongside neutrals like white, gray, and beige; add wood finishes and natural textures to warm up the look.
Colors That Go With Navy Blue
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Escape Gray SW 6185 by Sherwin-Williams
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Escape Gray creates a cozy, soothing atmosphere that's ideal for the bedroom or living spaces when you want to kick back and relax. "A hint of green gives this gray a more natural and earthy tone," says interior designer Sara Hillery. "Pair it with deep, rich colors like papaya orange to create a warm yet striking statement in a living room."
Not-So-Boring Neutral Paint Colors
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Calamine 230 by Farrow & Ball
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For a modern twist on neutral colors for walls, consider Farrow & Ball's Calamine a subtler, more delicate version of millennial pink. "This pale wash of a cool pink works as a neutral, or pair it with red to amp it up," says interior designer Summer Thornton. "I like it best with warm southern and western light."
Here's What Colors Go With Pink
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Cayenne Pepper 8-14 by Pratt & Lambert
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Daring shades of orange, like Cayenne Pepper from Pratt & Lambert, are nothing to be afraid of. "Use this vibrant orange as an accent in a family room to create a warm and inviting atmosphere," suggests Stacy Garcia, design and color specialist. "Juxtapose it with cool neutral shades of white, gray, and midtone blues." If bold shades aren't your thing, consider using Cayenne Pepper for an accent wall color or even a piece of furniture.
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Kendall Charcoal HC-166 by Benjamin Moore
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Paint walls with a luxurious charcoal gray wall color to foster a sense of comfort (and make white trimwork pop). "Kendall Charcoal is a sophisticated, moody color that makes a living room feel elevated and intimate," says Caitlin Murray of Black Lacquer Design. "I love contrasting it with pastels to anchor and complicate them."
Our Best Gray Color Schemes
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Clay Beige OC-11 by Benjamin Moore
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For a favorite designer paint color, go neutral. As an off-white hue that suits any environment, Clay Beige is a natural choice for hallways or living rooms. "This is my go-to whenever a neutral, but not boring, background is needed," says interior designer Mandy Lowry. "It's a chameleon color. It has the amazing ability to read either warm or cool and never fails to make its surroundings elegant in any light." Beige works well in any room and with any accent hue.
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Wickham Gray HC-171 by Benjamin Moore
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This timeless shade of gray promotes calm and relaxation. "Bedrooms should feel like an oasis or retreat from our hectic lives," says interior designer Marika Meyer. "Wickham Gray is a restful tone that sets this mood." Pair gray with neutral finishes and natural textures for a soothing space.
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Glowing Apricot 165 by Benjamin Moore
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Bright and summery, this shade of orange adds brilliance to any wall. "I love Glowing Apricot for any room, but it's particularly beautiful in a dining room where it casts a soft golden glow that makes everyone look radiant," says interior designer Danielle Rollins. Pair this yellow-orange paint color with cool hues like navy or gray for balance.
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Blue Arrow 5001-3C by Valspar
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For your bedroom, try a soothing shade of blue, like Blue Arrow, a versatile color that calms without being boring. "Easy on the eye, easy to live with. It's a robin's egg blue-green with a bit of muddiness to it," says Melissa Birdsong, Lowe's vice president of trend design and brand. "I always like my colors a little muddy." Blue is a popular wall color because it goes with almost any wood tone. Blue Arrow is a versatile color that is calming without being boring. Painting ideas that involve blue-gray colors work well with almost any neutral fabric, making them great for living room or basement makeovers.
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Hawthorne Yellow HC-4 by Benjamin Moore
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This buttery yellow paint color has a slight gray undertone that balances the brightness. "Hawthorne Yellow is a vibrant choice for bedrooms," says interior designer Gary Mcbournie. "It has a certain cheeriness and works with tailored patterns in blues, greens, and browns or soft florals in a variety of garden colors."
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Sea Salt SW 6204 by Sherwin-Williams
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Gray-blue is one of those paint colors that's both modern and classic. Sherwin-Williams' Sea Salt has the versatility of a blue and the contemporary cool of a gray. "This pale gray-blue is soft and soothing," says interior designer Janie Hirsch. "It's kind of like sea glass where it can look blue or green—and it works with both. And it's great with neutrals or cream. I've used it in a beach house, a traditional home, a sorority house—so it has a lot of flexibility." Sea Salt will look great with almost any accent. Try the blue paint color in a bedroom, living room, or bathroom for a serene atmosphere.
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Savoury Beige 3002-10C by Valspar
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Timeless and versatile, Savoury Beige sets a soft backdrop for any decorating style. "This is the perfect cafe au lait that puts just enough color on the walls to warm them up," says interior designer Elaine Griffin. "Even the biggest colorphobes can commit to this pale tan." Just like any great neutral, Savory Beige (also sold in some regions as Churchill Hotel Ecru) looks good everywhere and with everything. Paint colors with this kind of versatility are a safe bet to make when choosing a room color because you can count on them being in style for years to come.
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Gervase Yellow 72 by Farrow & Ball
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To add color to a room without overwhelming the space, opt for a soft, muted shade like Gervase Yellow. "When I'm using a color rather than a neutral for walls, I pick in the golden range," says designer Barry Dixon. "With a little tone of green peeking through, this yellow is not so intense that it's overly dramatic. It's warm and embracing—not one of those overly cheerful yellows. It's a subtle yellow you'll never tire of." Yellow is a popular wall color because it brightens rooms and is versatile enough to go with almost any style of furniture or accent. Gervase Yellow is a muted hue that has these attributes yet isn't too intense for rooms with lots of natural light.
FAQs
What is the most popular interior paint color for 2022? ›
Each year paint firms offer up their top pick for the color of the year that will freshen up interiors and exteriors. The overwhelming favorite hue for 2022: Green—all shades of it. Besides the greens, some paint firms chose bold color pops to add more memorable marks on an interior.
What colors do interior designers use? ›Traditionally, shades like red, orange and yellow are thought of as warm colors because they are more vibrant. However, neutrals like brown and tan are also included in the mix. On the other side of the spectrum are the cool colors, or blue, green and purple, as well as gray.
What are Joanna Gaines favorite interior paint colors? ›- Neutral Whites. Via Magnolia.com. This shade is an interior design staple. ...
- Botanical Greens. Via Magnolia.com. No farmhouse is complete without fresh spring shades somewhere! ...
- Bold Blues. Via Magnolia.com.
As the reigning champion of interior paint, white is a color that transcends both time and decorating styles. White can make a room feel bright, fresh and up-to-date in settings ranging from modern to traditional.
What is the new wall color for 2022? ›Pantone's 2022 Color of the Year is making history with its best reveal yet: an entirely new hue created, for the first time ever, to serve as Color of the Year. They call it Very Peri (17-3938).
What is the living room color for 2022? ›Green, grey, and navy are the most popular living room colours for 2022. New research by Swyft Home found that we are making bolder choices in our living spaces, embracing bright and rich shades, as well as some more unexpected colours.
How many colors is too many in a room? ›How many colors should you use in a room? According to the 60-30-10 rule, you should only use three colors in any room – although you can successfully incorporate many different tones of these three colors.
Should you paint all your rooms the same color? ›As a general rule of thumb, you should never paint your entire home one singular color. That isn't to say that you can't use the same color in some capacity throughout your entire home; however, it shouldn't be the primary wall color in every room.
What paint sheen does Joanna Gaines use? ›EGGSHELL. The Eggshell sheen offers a velvet-like finish, and will give you a soft, warm look on the wall. Ideal for: Living Rooms.
What is Joanna's favorite white? ›Another fun fact? Joanna Gaines has used Alabaster so much it's one of her favorite colors! She painted the main living areas of her own farmhouse Alabaster and she continually uses it in homes she designs on Fixer Upper as well.
What color do builders use on walls? ›
Builder's Beige is the generic colour that most new homes come with. It usually is the colour that a builder uses for an entire subdivision of homes.
Are gray walls still in style 2022? ›Yes, while gray has seen an uninterrupted reign over recent paint trends, its reign may conclude in 2022. However, this shift is perhaps only expected in the interiors world, as Anthony Barzilay Freund, the editorial director at 1stDibs, explains.
Are white walls in Style 2022? ›White walls are pretty classic but are definitely still on trend. While dark, moody walls are very popular, white is the light and bright neutral option that is most on trend at the moment!
What color is replacing gray? ›Brown neutrals commonly appear in spaces like living rooms where it makes sense for leather or wood furniture to be. But the experts told Insider that you can make brown work anywhere in a home if you know what you're doing.
Is grey still popular in 2022? ›Navy and gray are on the way out
The report also highlighted a declining interest in navy (down 43%), mustard yellow (down 27%), and light gray (down 25%). Yes, while gray has seen an uninterrupted reign over recent paint trends, its reign may conclude in 2022.
"Darker, more saturated colors are going to be everywhere in 2022," shares designer Hope Austin. "Think wallcoverings and fabrics in bold blues and bright citrines paired with rich espresso and slate finishes."