You’ve researched the best neutral paint colors. You’ve spent weeks on Pinterest and Houzz finding inspiration and ideas. You pay extra attention when Joanna Gaines talks about wall color (but she never talks specifics!). You’ve been led to the likes of White Dove and Revere Pewter ad infinitum. But you’re looking for the ultimate “best of” list, not tired old suggestions. Here it is! You don’t need to go to new paint brands like Clare and Backdrop to get a curated list of the most attractive, versatile neutral paint colors. Just keep reading. 

What are neutral paint colors?

The most commonly understood meaning of a neutral paint color is one which goes with everything. But we know almost no color can go with everything (other than stark white). A color which works well with most other colors is considered neutral and is extremely versatile and useful. Covering your walls with these type of colors allows your furnishings and decor to do the heavy lifting in terms of making a color statement. Keeping walls neutral allows changes to be made easily as swapping out throw pillows and rugs takes less effort and investment than repainting your house. The photo above shows a completely neutral space. It’s soothing and elegant but lacks a focal point. Adding some deeper or more saturated colors in the decor would ramp up the wow factor.

To be a bit more technical, neutral colors are usually desaturated ones. They lack chroma or colorfulness and approach white or gray, showing only a hint of the other color(s) in their make up. Often they’re pale versions of earthy tones.Think cream, greige, taupe, beige, tan, etc. As you ramp up their chroma they show their true selves and become more pronounced in reflecting the color family they come from.

These colors often appear to lurk in the world of in-betweens. Not quite this or that. Their “barely there” nature makes them mysterious as you can’t quite place what they are. That subtlety can create the foundation for a sophisticated room.

This list focuses on Benjamin Moore paints. One last note. Every so often we hear about a color like navy or deep green becoming the “new neutral.” Don’t buy it. They don’t fit the definition.

In-between colors:

 

Balboa mist OC-27

Cloud cover OC-25

November Rain OC-50

French Canvas OC-41

Titanium OC-49

Morning Dew OC-140

Cumulous Cloud 1550

Vapor Trails 1556

Coastal Fog 976

Classic Gray 1548

Ally’s Earring CSP-125

Old Prairie 2143-50

Minced Onion 2145-60

Whites and off whites:

Simply White 2143-70

Cotton balls OC-122

Chantilly Lace OC-65

Super White PM-1

Soft Chamois 969

Monterey White HC-27

Grays:

Silver Half Dollar 2124-40

Gray Owl OC-52

Gray Sky 2131-70

Moonshine 2140-60

Stonington Gray HC-170

Wickham Gray HC-171

Mid toned and Darks:

Wrought Iron 2124-10

Upper West Side CSP-70

Smoke & Mirrors CSP-105

Whale Gray 2134-40

Iron Mountain 2134-30

Gray Gardens CSP-55