If you are new here, welcome! I am Katie, a Certified Color Expert and paint color consultant specializing in New England style. I help homeowners in Vermont and beyond, through my online color consulting business, choose paint colors for their homes. My goals is to help you create the home you love to live in through color.

Is Green Paint Trendy?

Green has always been a favorite for interior design, but it is more popular than ever! Over the last decade, the trending shades of greens have followed a distinct path, in the early 2020s we were deeply ensconced in the soft grayed green shades of Benjamin Moore’s October Mist and Sherwin-Williams Evergreen Fog. Both companies dubbed similarly low-chroma shades of sage green for their Colors Of The Year for 2022!

But now, in 2026 (and trendcasting for 2027) the green that everyone wants is much more saturated- like a crunchy and tart Granny Smith green apple! [I say this, then of course, Behr never moved on, and they chose a slightly darker version of Evergreen Fog for the coming year. Facepalm.} I personally have noticed that interior designers and online shelter magazines and retailers are moving to this green apple shade of green more and more. Not only that, my clients in my color consulting business are loving more saturated hues!

So today’s color consulting blog post is all about the perfect shades of Apple Green Paint. I’ll be sharing my favorite picks that are fun, cheerful and cottage-forward, without looking garish or like a 6-year-old picked them out. These green apple paints are sophisticated and evocative of English Country Interiors with the right amount of high chroma pizzaz!

What Color Is Apple Green?

Apple green is a clean, relatively high-chroma hue, with equal amounts of yellow and blue. Like the name implies, this color is similar to a green Granny Smith Apple.

Some other common ways of describing apple green are Spring Green (softer) or Avocado Green (more yellowed.) Apple stops short of cooler frosty or mint shades and sometimes has distinct sunny undertones.

While some sage green paints, like Nantucket Gray or Creekside Green have orange in their formula and achieve their percieved greenish hue when chroma collapses, these much brighter shades of apple green are true green made with blue and yellow pigments.

Why Is It Popular In Interior Design?

I personally think the trend going from gray-green sage shades of green into sweeter more high-key spring greens, and apple greens is due to the huge influence of English Country interiors. Our collective color palette has become more saturated in only a few year period and I believe it is a logical outcome of this fascination/obsession.

While I touched on this topic in my Color of The Year 2027 prediction post, I feel this Apple Green trend is important enough that it deserves its own palette! So today I have a complete line up of sixteen of my favorite Apple Green Paint Colors!

The 16 Best Apple Green Paint Colors

Blaize Green by Sherwin-Williams:

LRV 59. This sunny-tinged apple green is light enough to use in a darker space and would be one of my top picks for an apple green bedroom wallcolor. This would be lovely color capped with Sherwin-Williams Great Green on the trim.

Maindenhair Fern by Benjamin Moore:

LRV 59. Without comparing it side-by-side, Maidenhair Fern would feel almost sage-like. But hold it up next to Grassland by Sherwin-Williams and you will notice how distinctly candy colored and pigmented it is. Like Blaize Green mentioned above it has a soft yellow undertone that keeps it from feeling too minty.

Soft Fern by Benjamin Moore:

LRV 57. If you loved October Mist five years ago, then you will love Soft Fern now. It is similar in value, but slightly amped up in saturation which makes it feel more on-trend for today’s paint color vibes.

Spring Meadow by Benjamin Moore:

LRV 56. This is the lightest of my top three picks of these 16 paint colors. It would be beautiful and cheerful with creamy warm white trim (like Dover White or Whitetail by Sherwin-Williams) for a kitchen or bedroom.

Kittery Point by Benjamin Moore:

LRV 56. This classic historical collection paint color is slightly minty and lighter in value, so choose it when you are looking for a brightening color with a bit of cooler undertones.

Cooking Apple Green by Farrow & Ball:

LRV 53. This dirty shade of apple green is light in value and has complexity. The warmth gives it a slightly olive tone which would pair nicely with peach for a two colored harmony. This would be a great color to use on woodwork in a mudroom or similarly high-energy space.

Lily Pad by Benjamin Moore:

LRV 51. This is clean and simple and a beautiful choice for a nursery or playroom. Pair Lily Pad with a classic white like White Dove by Benjamin Moore or Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams for a crisp and traditional look.

Recycled Glass by Sherwin-Williams:

LRV 51. If Cooking Apple Green feels a little too dirty, try Sherwin-WIlliams’ Recycled Glass. It has a similar level of warmth and value but is higher chroma.

Burgess Green by Benjamin Moore:

LRV 49. Burgess Green is just right. It is neither too dirty nor too clean. It leans slightly warm and to the yellow end of the spectrum as far as apple green paint colors are concerned. I’d use this paint color on kitchen cabinets for a cottage feel paired with white quartz counters and dark wood floors and accents.

Urban Nature by Benjamin Moore:

LRV 44. Benjamin Moore Urban Nature is a favorite in my color consuting business. This Affinity collection color has a nice amount of complexity, which allows me to fold it into a whole house palette more easily. {I try to keep the chroma level consistent with all the colors in a home so none jump out at you!} In other words, this apple green will play nicely with other popular paint colors.

Liberty Park by Benjamin Moore:

LRV 44. Liberty Park is another of my top three favorite green apple shades of paint! I am currently working on a project and this is my green of choice throughout the home! It will work in both the living rooms and bedrooms! It is cheerful and clean without feeling tiresome or overly saturated.

Great Green by Sherwin-Williams:

LRV 43. If you really want to go for it, use Great Green. This is probably too much for an all over green IMO, but it would be a great accent color. I’d use it for a kitchen island or a furniture piece. If you are one of the lucky people who has a butler’s pantry, you could go for cabinets in Great Green and then use it in small amounts in the main kitchen. Or you could use it in a small space for the millwork, paired with Blaize Green on the walls. This would give total English Country vibes!

Sherwood Green by Benjamin Moore:

LRV 43. This historical shade from Ben Moore is right next to Kittery Point on the fan deck, and can be paired with it for color capping. It has a slight minty feel so it may be too sweet for some of you. Definitely sample it in your space! I love the idea of using it in an entryway or front stairwell on millwork paired with wallpaper or rich cream paint (like Neutral Ground by Sherwin-Williams) on the walls.

Yeabridge Green by Farrow & Ball:

LRV 32. I adore this fully in your face bright green paint color! It is all there and then some! It is one of our darkest shades here and it is also deeply saturated by comparison to some of the others. Use this for a single statement picece of furniture (like a hutch) or paint your trim with it and pair it with a patterned wallpaper for a charming cottagecore aestheic.

Kennebunkport Green by Benjamin Moore:

LRV 31. This tried-and-true shade is slightly cooler than Yeabridge Green. If you are a fan of Benjamin Moore’s Historical Collection, you will love this beautiful, rich spring green. In a space that leans dark, it can be a surprisingly fresh way to add charm to home office or dark stairwell.

Land of Liberty by Benjamin Moore:

LRV 29. This paint color is one of my top three apple green paint colors. I’d recommend it for furniture pieces or when you need a bit more oomph (depth) from your shade. Compare it to Liberty Park to decide which value is best or color cap with it and use both!

Which White Paint Goes With Apple Green?

I like a creamy warm white with apple green because it softens the feel of it. If you like a more crisp look, try one of the cool whites instead of a high LRV stark white. The feeling will be more soft and sophisticated not sharp or harsh. Here are some top recomendations:

Bright Warm Whites To Pair With Apple Green:

• Sherwin-Williams Whitetail
• Sherwin-Williams Dover White

Creamy Off-White Paints with Green Apple Paint Color Pairing:

• Sherwin-Williams Creamy
• Benjamin Moore White Dove
• Sherwin-Williams White Duck

Cool Whites To Pair With Apple Greens

• Sherwin-Williams Pure White
• Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White

Color Pairings For Apple Green

Apple Green looks great with medium valued and moderately high chroma colors like gold, peach and aqua or duck egg. Here is an example palette of some shades I would pair with Liberty Park

• Benjamin Moore Casabella
• Benjamin Moore Waterbury Cream
• Sherwin-Williams Clove
• Sherwin-Williams Quietude
• Benjamin Moore Dartsmouth Green

How To Pick The Best Shade Of Green

Cohesion With Your Home’s Palette Is Important: Apple green, while trendy, is not for every project. If your home is decorated in muted New England colors, like mine, then apple green may be a better color to accessorize with. Stick with grayed sage greens for your walls instead. But if your home is filled with more vibrant colors, it most certainly will look great with your palette!

Don’t Ignore Light But Ignore Online Photos: Lighting affects paint so much and paint colors in your home will look different than the way they look online! Knowing how light affects color is important. For example, if your space is used more at night, opt for a higher saturation color. If your space has southern sun, try one of the more minty shades with some depth.

Sample before committing! Try a few different paint colors and LRVs to find the right chroma level and value. If you want to try them out mess-free try large samples from Samplize! (That’s an affiliate link.)

Need help choosing the right color?
If you’re feeling stuck or want a second set of eyes, I offer Virtual Color Consultations to help you make confident, intentional choices for your home, wherever you’re located.

Green Paint Colors For Exteriors

Benjamin Moore Creekside Green Review

Nantucket Gray Review Benjamin Moore HC-111

Best White Paint for Trim

The post Apple Green Paint Colors appeared first on A Season For Home.

My Prediction For Benjamin Moore’s Color Of The Year: Liberty Park

While green has been trending for four or more years, this summer I have been noticing a marked shift in the types of greens we are seeing, and I think Benjamin Moore is going to call it for their choice. This apple green shade known as Liberty Park is my prediction for their choice.

While Benjamin Moore has recently picked a green, October Mist back in 2022, it was more of a stormy pastel gray green. And I have to say, it was one of their most accurate picks ever! But today’s green is totally different. It is an apple green paint color, much more saturated and overtly green. I’m calling Liberty Park as their choice merely due to the undeniable influence of British design trends. Where the instagram famous look of Evergreen Fog (the uber popular Sherwin-Williams 2022 pick) was soft, chalky and grayed, today’s trending green is more Granny Smith than ever before.

When you look at the above graphic adapted from Young House Love’s annual COTY report, I have added Liberty Park in and it fits with their evolution. In the color world, coming out of the pandemic, we are seeing more saturated playful colors that allow expressiveness while remaining grounded in nature. Liberty Park is the perfect landing place for this theme!

My Prediction For Sherwin-Williams’s Color Of The Year: Red Barn

You heard it here first: Sherwin-Williams will likely name Red Barn their color of the year. It is a brown-leaning russet red with slight softness from a little white blended into the formula to keep it from looking too stark or brash.

Okay so I may have cheated a little here. Sherwin has already announced the 48 handpicked hues that make up their 2027 palette, but they have not announced their official Color Of The Year for 2027. Last year they picked Universal Khaki out of their previously listed palette, so I am making a somewhat educated guess here.

Disclaimer, if there had been a viable yellow in this new palette, which they are calling Re-Wild, I would have chosen it. IMO, a complex gold-leaning yellow, like Ecru, is a better choice for them for 2027, but alas, they didn’t have any good yellows in the Re-Wild palette. The one gold-leaning yellow in their palette is called Trinket and is laughably childish and totally missed the mark in my opinion.

A Season For Home Color Of The Year Palette for 2027

Today, I decided to lay out what my choices would be for the coming year. This is based on what I am seeing in my color consultations. Interestingly, I do color consultations virtually all over the country and I am seeing these trends run coast to coast! First I am going to show you the whole palette together, and then I will tell you which one of them I think is my personal pick for 2027.

If you love this palette, you can sample it by buying large samples at Samplize. (That is an affiliate link, by the way.) Using large samples is a great mess-free way to test paint colors without commitment!

A Season For Home Color Of The Year 2027

This year I am crowning Nubuck by Benjamin Moore my Color Of The Year. This color, also known as Cream Soda, is a truly sublime shade of peachy beige.

It is neutral enough that when paired with a warm white like Dover White or Creamy from Sherwin Williams it reads like an earthy brownish tan.

Why I picked this color:

I picked Benjamin Moore’s Cream Soda, aka Nubuck, for many reasons. Not only does it work as a warm neutral, the current favored family of neutrals, but it also has a bit of personality. At the current moment, homeowners are adding colored walls back to their homes and adding their distinct style to interiors. It also has a soft chalky feel to it (texturally nappy and velvety as the name implies) that is on trend for what people are wanting in their homes today.

• Warm Neutral: Nubuck has a split personality. While it is somewhere between a pink beige and a peach paint color, it also acts like a neutral. Even though it is not a traditional neutral like white, gray or beige, it can feel neutral and like it is of the earth. This is true more so than a true peach paint color because it is lacking saturation and is much more low chroma (aka dirty) than bright peach colors like Pantone’s Peach Fuzz in 2024.
• Livable Personality: Color trend forcasters are talking about the fact that we are going more bold with our interiors and unleashing our personal preferences. While white, white and white were trending in 2020 to 2023, now my clients are asking for space refreshes and not afraid to take risks. The key is to do so without making a space feel tiresome. Nubuck is a great example of a paint color that has enough boldness to satisfy that desire for personal expression, without being over the top.

What do you think? Weigh in below and let me know what you agree with and what you don’t. I love talking all things colors with my fellow color nerds. And if you are interested in working one on one with me, reach out via my contact form. And if you are curious about my decorating services and paint color consultations, read more here!

The post 2027 Color Of The Year Palette appeared first on A Season For Home.

What holds this country-cottage color palette together is its soft, earthy quality and muted vibe. But unlike a cool coastal palette or a traditional New England color scheme, this country-inspired cottage look has a charming whimsy thanks to a touch more chromatic saturation.

Cottagecore Color Scheme

I’ve broken the palette into eight paint colors, starting with two flexible neutrals, a soft creamy off-white and a transitional beige. Next we come to the warm tones, which include a soft and airy light peach and softened yellow-gold. In the cooler tones, we have a couple of lovely nature-inspired greens and two chalky blues.

These paint colors can be used throughout the home for a cohesive feel when you move from space to space while allowing room for creativity and allowing each room to have its own personality. Complete the look with patern-on-pattern and textural elements.

Cottagecore Neutral Paint Colors

• Creamy by Sherwin-Williams: This warm and complex cream paint color is much softer and more relaxed than the stark whites of 5 to 10 years ago (I am looking at you Chantilly Lace.) Creamy has a buttery undertone and a LRV of 81, which gives it a nostalgic cottage vibe. It looks amazing on exposed rafters and shiplap.
• Manchester Tan by Benjamin Moore: This neutral paint color from Benjamin Moore’s historical deck is a Goldilocks beige, because it is not too gray not too yellow. It sits comfortably in the middle of the beige zone but is light enough to feel modern. Use it for transitional spaces like halls and entryways.

Cottagecore Yellow Paint Color

Benjamin Moore Twisted Oak Path: There are dozens of yellows I could have chosen to feature (many of which I mentioned in my Yellow Kitchen Paint Color round up recently.) But I landed on Twisted Oak Path for its light LRV of 67 and its complexity. It is not too pastel (like the butter yellows of fashion fame) because it has earthy complexity. Use it for millwork, color capping and reverse trim.

Peach Paint Cottage Core Color Scheme

Adobe Beige by Benjamin Moore: While the name may make you think this is a beige paint color, don’t let that fool you. This selection is most definitely a peach paint color, and it is just perfect for a cottage core interior! It shares a muted softened quality with the other colors in this palette that helps it blend cohesively together. It is the perfect warm and welcoming shade to use for a living room, three-season room or breakfast room.

Do you love peach? Check out my complete line-up of peach paint colors.

Green Cottagecore Colors

• Benjamin Moore Windchime: This popular green paint color from Benjamin Moore’s Affinity deck is a light and nearly-neutral green to add into your cottage interoior. Use it for reverse trim or kitchen cabinetry and pair it with a creamy white for a soft relaxed vibe.
• Benjamin Moore Flora: This nature-inspired hue is a touch more watery green with a blue undertone to keep it cooler and less apple green or olive. This shade of green is stunning on woodwork or walls. Layer lots of patterns and texture into the space to complete the look.

Blue Cottagecore Paint Colors

• Benjamin Moore Pearl: This gray-blue color from the Williamsburg collection has a green undertone which gives it a slightly more English country vibe than a cooler, more coastal blue. It is a great wall color or could be used for kitchen cabinetry. I think it would also be great color capped with another shade of blue.
• Sherwin-Williams Rain Cloud: This is the deepest valued paint color in the palette and offers a welcomed bit of contrast. It can be used as an accent color for furniture or to drench a space for a moody feel.

What is the difference between Cottagecore and English Country colors?

The main difference between the colors for cottgecore and English country interior design is in the saturation. English Country colors are brighter and have more playful intensity. Cottagecore as an aesthetic puts a strong emphasis on simplicity and a lifestyle rooted in nature. How this translates to color is the paint colors will feel more naturally pigmented than English country colors. Get my favorite English Country Color Scheme on Samplize.

How do you create the Cottage Core Aesthetic in Interior Design?

While the above paint colors are a great place to start, they are only part of the formula.

• Pattern: To complete the look, layer textiles with pattern throughout the home. When pairing patterns together, vary the scale and type of pattern, such as geometric vs organic shapes.
• Historic Details: Exposed beams, brick, stone and other building materials with rustic texture are a hallmark of cottage core. Mixing unique salvaged building materials and decorative items with patina into newer homes helps to create the feel of cottagecore too!
• Natural Texture: Decorating with natural fibers, like woven jute or sisal area rugs, hanging baskets or wicker furniture is a great way to add visual interest and add another cottagecore element to a space. Bringing nature indoors with fresh or dried floral arrangements and houseplants are another layer to consider adding.
• Antiques and Vintage: Antiques and vintage furniture are a key component in cottagecore interiors. Making sure that things aren’t too perfect or matchy-matchy comes naturally in interiors with antiques. New to antiquing? My friend Ann is a pro and can help teach you her vintage-finding ways!
• Wallpaper: Wallpaper even in small amounts (like in powder room or home office) helps to give the home a country cottage vibe. Look for patterns with historic charm and a soft vintage look.

8 Common Color Mistakes to Avoid in Traditional New England Homes

Historic New England Paint Colors That Just Feel Right For 2026

Picking The Best Home Color Combination: 5 Top Tips

Need help choosing the right color?
If you’re feeling stuck or want a second set of eyes, I offer Virtual Color Consultations to help you make confident, intentional choices for your home, wherever you’re located.

The post Cottagecore Color Palette appeared first on A Season For Home.

Hi, my name is Katie and I am a certified color expert. I help people pick the right paint colors for their home. And I’ll cut to the chase, the answer to all of these questions is: “it depends!” There are many factors to consider when picking a neutral paint color for your walls and there is no one-size-fits-all paint color that goes in every space. Read on to read the step-by-step process to figuring out which color is best for you!

Pin This For Later

But first, what does neutral even mean? Or let’s cut to the chase, simply skip ahead to the steps to picking the best neutral paint color.

How Do You Define Neutral in Paint Colors?

Here are the main neutral paint color categories:

White and black are technically neutrals, and the shades and tints in between that lack any significant saturation are considered neutrals. Those would be greige, taupe, gray, beige, tan and brown. There are additional variations of these categories, such as khaki, which is a subcategory of beige.

• White: True white paints are those without any discernible undertone and are very bright with an LRV over 90. These are colors like Sherwin Williams Pure White, Extra White or High Reflective White, Behr Ultra Pure White or Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace or Super White.
• Off-White and Cream: These are slightly darker than pure whites with LRVS in the 70s and 80s. Creams are warm whites with complex undertones that keep them from entering “pale yellow” territory.
• Gray: No longer in fashion, gray is still undeniably a neutral because it doesn’t have a distinguishing hue. Gray ranges from off white to deep charcoal and everywhere in between. There are also warm grays that lean toward greige and cool grays with blue undertones.
• Greige and Taupe: Greige (pronounced gray-zh) is an in-between category of neturals that encapsulates those lighter taupes and colors between gray and beige. These are generally a touch warmer than gray but still have very little saturation. Taupe is like dark greige and often has a little green undertone that can feel like putty or mushroom.
• Beige: Beige is a light tan or very pale grayed out brown color that is not discernibly any hue. Beige has a range of undertones from pink to yellow.
• Tan and Brown: These are darker in value than greige and beige. Where they differ is in their parent hues. Tan is essentially dark beige. Brown is also in this category and can range in value from tan to nearly black. Brown can have red or purple undertones.
• Black: Don’t forget that black is also a neutral color.

What all of these colors have in common is that they are not highly pigmented and only offer a small amount of warmth or cool without a strongly colored undertone.

What is the difference between taupe and beige? <<Find out here.

What Neutral Paint Color is In?

While cool gray tones were the popular neutrals over the last decade, followed by an obsession with all-white, we are now in the middle of a warm neutral trend cycle. These macro trends tend to last about 10 years and are enormously influential on building materials and decor. So even if you don’t think you will be affected by them, you will, simply by an availability standpoint.

Will gray come back? I cannot tell you how many of my Color Consulting clients tell me they never want to see another scrap of gray anywhere again. But, it wasn’t that long ago the word “beige” was a bad word! Now Accessible Beige is one of the most popular paint colors sold! I know that the pendulum will swing back in a while, but currently warm neutrals are very much in.

Step 1: Analyze The Fixed Elements

The first step in picking a neutral is determining the temperature and undertone of the fixed elements in your space. This will be key for making your color scheme feel cohesive.

Before you can pick your neutral wall color, you need to analyze your fixed elements in your space. These are surfaces in your interior you are not going to change, like tile or flooring. For example, if your backsplash looks like the above Calacatta marble, you may notice some subtle yellow or green undertones. Conversely if you have Caraerra marble, you will notice cool undertones.

Here you can see how seamlessly the green and yellow undertones in the backsplash marble tile pairs with the khaki cabinets and creamy Wool Skein walls.

If you have a brown granite countertop, you will be better choosing a warm natural like cream, beige or tan. The main rules to remember are:

• Warm neturals go better with warm fixed elements
• Cool neturals go best with other cool fixed elements
• Don’t mix neutrals with different undertones (like a pink beige with a green gray for example)

What is the difference between warm and cool colors?

Step 2: Consider Chroma Preference

Next, you’ll need to narrow down the neutral based on your style for decorating.

Do you like to decorate with neutral wall paint and then accent with bright, splashy colors? If so, this means you prefer clean colors. Clean colors go best with white, black, grey, taupe and greige. Stay away from beige as it can look dirty, dingy or “off” next to brighter hues.

Do you like muted earthy colors? If you like low chroma colors, which are typical in the New England Style Homes I often work in, you have much more leeway and can use any of the neutrals. These softer and less saturated colors look great with beige, tan, brown, greige, taupe, cream, white and black! Aka they get along with everyone!

Step 3: Pick The Right Category of Neutrals

At this point, you have analyzed your fixed elements and chroma. So you are ready to choose a category of neutrals.

• Greige or Taupe: Best for minimalists, people who don’t like yellow undertones and folks who are hoping to warm up gray fixed elements. These are on the cooler end of the spectrum. Greige is lighter in value than taupe. Often taupes have a discernible greenish undertone. These can also be called putty or mushroom. These do not do a lot of heavy lifting in terms of warming up a space. So if you like a warm feel- this may feel too cool for you.
• Cream, Beige or Tan: In my consulting appointments, I have found the majority of people are looking for these colors for their neutrals. Cream is warm off-white. Beige usually has a yellow or orange undertone, though sometimes it can lean pink or green if it veers into khaki territory. Tan is like a light brown basically.
• Gray: There are a surprising number of gray paint colors, and they too range from cool (blue) to warm (bordering on taupe.)

Step 4: Pick a Value (Light To Dark) Depending On Your Lighting

Once you have decided on which type of neutral, you’ll need to analyze the light in your room. Darker rooms will need bright LRVs above 60 to 80. Rooms with moderate to bright light can be 45 to 60. If your room is very dark you’ll want to read my tips below in the FAQ section.

Best Greige and Taupe Paint Colors:

• Dark: I adore Shiitake by Sherwin-Williams (LRV 51) or Pashmina by Benjamin Moore (LRV 44)
• Medium: I love Sherwin-Williams’ Accessible Beige (LRV 58) and Smoky Taupe (LRV 54)by Benjamin Moore both of which are soft and relaxed and not yellow at all
• Light: I love Benjamin Moore Ballet White (LRV 71)for its versatility and lack of bossy undertones

Best Cream Paint Colors:

• Dark: Neutral Ground (LRV 70) by Sherwin-Williams or Ben Moore’s Natural Wicker (LRV of 71) are both tried and true cream colored neutrals that works in pretty much every house
• Medium: BM Linen White (LRV 81) and Sherwin-Williams Creamy (LRV 81) are two of the best creamy paints to brighten even the darkest spaces
• Light: Dover White (LRV 83) and Whitetail (LRV 86) both by Sherwin-Williams are two workhorse cream paint colors I use over and over again.

Best Beige and Tan Paint Colors:

• Dark: Pensive by Benjamin Moore (LRV 42) would provide tons of moodiness without a lot of bossy pigmentation
• Medium: Bungalow Beige by Sherwin Williams (LRV 53) or Bleeker Beige (LRV 51.66)
• Light: White Sand by Ben Moore (LRV 66) is a great catch-all beige that doesn’t pull too yellow for modern sensibilites.

Need help choosing the right color?
If you’re feeling stuck or want a second set of eyes, I offer Virtual Color Consultations to help you make confident, intentional choices for your home, wherever you’re located.

The post What’s The Best Neutral Paint Color For Walls appeared first on A Season For Home.

While the rest of the country calls the season we are in “spring,” here we call it “stick season.” March and April are an achingly long season of high winds with sideways rains, interspersed with snow and lots of mud. All the while, we wait for May flowers, warmer weather and time spent enjoying lobster rolls and watching the seals swim along the shoreline.

You dear reader, are about to benefit from my newfound mental escape: I bring you the prettiest New England Coastal Color Palette. So, if you are looking for a getaway or are looking for a coastal color palette, pull up a chair! I have tons of photo inspiration and actual paint colors for you to get started!

New England Beach House Color Scheme

Our palette includes a range of soft neutrals and greens as well as the requisite blues.

• Simply White: Creamy and bright- this classic white creates plenty of contrast for a classic beach house vibe.
• Sail Cloth: A go-to wall color wherever you need a neutral.
• Accessible Beige: A soft taupe that goes just about anywhere. It can be used on walls or cabinetry and looks stunning with blues and greens.
• November Rain: A cross between green and beige- this color is great for bedrooms and transitional spaces.
• Pearl Gray: A super pretty and bright green with hints of blue and gray.
• Imperial Gray: One of my favorite paint colors for any home in New England- but especially appropriate for those along the coastline.
• Adagio: Our go-to coastal blue for that beach house look. It doesn’t lean too green or too purple- and lacks any overt intensity which would make it feel out of place.
• Washington Blue: No beach house would be complete without Navy! This classic shade is de rigueur!

Benjamin Moore Simply White: OC-117

This popular bright off-white paint is creamy and soft when compared to more stark white paints (like Chantilly Lace.) It has an LRV of 89, which means you will get classic beach house contrast for your trim and ceiling but it has enough warmth that it feels softer and relaxed: just right for a coastal home in the northeast.

Use this paint color for walls, trim, ceiling and cabinetry. Keep in mind that the all-white look is best when a room is bright to begin with.

Benjamin Moore Sail Cloth: OC-142

This super-soft khaki beige is the go-to neutral for this beach house color scheme. With an LRV of 71, it can be used as a wall color or for trim. It would work on cabinetry as well.

In brighter spaces, it will feel warm, soft and barely there, and in darker spaces, the yellowish feel may be more pronounced.

Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige: SW 7036

For a cooler, mid-toned neutral I pulled in a favorite paint color from Sherwin-Williams: Accessible Beige. While it has a deeper value and LRV of 58, Accessible Beige can come in handy for built-ins or cabinetry, and works as a wall color as well. It is super pretty with navy and white too.

If you are painting your kitchen cabinets, you could use Accessible Beige, paired with white walls and navy accents for a timeless coastal look that will withstand the latest trend cycle.

Benjamin Moore November Rain: OC-50

This light neutral paint color has a green personality you may miss at first when looking at the paint chip. But don’t let that fool you. Once you paint a whole room with it, you’ll love the fact that it has a soft green undertone. In other words, it is not your basic builder beige!

I love it with creamy white, jute, sisal, linen and natural fibers. It is also pretty with aqua-gray and navy. It’s a no-brainer for our coastal palette!

Benjamin Moore Pearl Gray: 863

In darker spaces, you may need a paint color with a light LRV- but with a bit of pigment beyond your basic neutrals. Enter Pearl Gray.

This clean and fresh seafoam color has an LRV of 73, which gives it enough brightness for darker spaces. But it also has enough gray to make it feel appropriate in a New England coastal home. This is key! I like this paint color for bedrooms on the north side of a home (or those without a lot of natural light) and in transitional spaces like hallways.

Benjamin Moore Imperial Gray 1571

While splashy turquoise and tropical blue-greens work well in areas with cerulian colored ocean, here in New England, our waters are steely gray- and that means for our interiors the tones are equally understated.

When working with this palette, use Imperial Gray as a paint color, but also take the paint chip to pick out your furnishings too. While on its own, it appears gray- it actually has plenty of aqua in it to make it feel like it belongs in a serene beach house color scheme.

Benjamin Moore Adagio 1593

This blue-in-disguise looks gray on the chip, but blue when painted in a space. This blue gray paint color is classic and historic looking, but can effortlessly blend into a beachy look when paired with Simply White, Sail Cloth, Accessible Beige and November Rain. It also looks super-sharp with navy and natural woven fibers often found in beach houses.

I love the fact that it doesn’t lean too green or too purple- but sits firmly in the middle of the blue spectrum- all while keeping it’s New England chroma levels appropriateely low. {Not sure what chroma is? Read our primer on clean colors vs dirty colors to learn more.}

Benjamin Moore Washington Blue CW-630

This navy paint color is key to any beach scheme. It is a pure navy without leanings toward violet or teal. It would be a great kitchen cabinet or island color or to paint bookshelves or bedside tables.

Use the paint chip to find navy furnishings and accents, and try not to mix in purple-based navys by mistake. They’ll look off!

Color Pairing Ideas

Use this color palette to inspire your paint colors and furnishings. Here are a few tips to make this beach house color scheme work for your home.

• Make sure to repeat the colors through the entire home to help it feel cohesive.
• Feel free to branch out beyond these colors to make it your own, keeping the chroma level consistent. Rusty coral colors would look lovely with this, as would soft chartruse.
• Test the paint colors in your space before committing to painting the entire room. The lighting in your space will affect the way these colors read.

Need help choosing the right color?
If you’re feeling stuck or want a second set of eyes, I offer Virtual Color Consultations to help you make confident, intentional choices for your home, wherever you’re located.

The post Coastal Color Palette For A New England Style Home appeared first on A Season For Home.

Home Color Combinations: Expert Tips and Tricks!

I get it! Choosing the perfect color combinations can feel overwhelming when designing your home’s interior. The colors you select will set the tone for each room and create the atmosphere you want to live in. Whether you’re working with an open floor plan, designing a cozy living room, or selecting paint for a small space, this guide will help you confidently navigate the world of colors. Here are five top tips to find the best home color combination. Here’s a line up of the tips and tricks I’ll be sharing:

• Why flow and cohesion are important.
• How to use tried and true color pairings for a harmonious interior.
• Why neutrals are the easiest part to mess up!
• Keeping chroma consistency is key!
• Why lighting makes all the difference.

Plus I will share some fun and fabulous pre-made color palettes to get your creative juices flowing!

TIP 1: Consider Whole House Color Cohesion and Flow

One of the most important lessons I learned from my mentor (and have seen how this plays out in real life during my color consultations) is that cohesion is very important. You probably already understand that, since you are researching color schemes!

The flow from space to space and the cohesive feeling of the combination of colors makes effortless flow. Like designing a capsule wardrobe, picking a whole house paint scheme relies on curating a selection of colors that all work together. That way the entire home feels cohesive.

The good news is, it will naturally narrow down all the choices. My advice is to start with one color you love and then build from there.

While the colors all need to flow, it is important to consider that every room in your home serves a unique purpose. Don’t forget that the color combinations you choose should reflect the room’s function and mood. In every home color consultation, I ask homeowners what the room is used for and how they want to feel in each room!

Tip 2: Use The Color Wheel To Make Color Choices

The color wheel is a fundamental tool for both interior design professionals and homeowners decorating their homes. It organizes colors into a circular format, showing relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.

Ways to Use The Color Wheel To Create Your Home Color Palette

Understanding the color wheel will help you create harmonious paint schemes for your home.

• Complementary Colors: These are opposite on the color wheel, like blue and orange or red and green. They create vibrant, high-contrast combinations, ideal for spaces where you want energy and drama.
• Analogous Colors: These sit next to each other, such as blue, green, and teal. Analogous color schemes offer a soothing, cohesive look perfect for bedrooms or living rooms.
• Monochromatic Colors: Variations of a single color, such as different tones of blue, create a sophisticated and calming atmosphere.

Keep in mind, there are varying degrees of intensity of colors! You can use these elements of color theory while using an entirely low-chroma or dirty color palette to keep everything feeling muted and soft. More on this in the next section!

By leveraging the color wheel, you can experiment with different schemes to find what works best for your home.

Tip 3: Pick A Color Chroma and Neutrals That Harmonize

If you haven’t read up on chroma yet, you may want to read this post about clean colors and what that means. From there, you’ll be able to do the next step effortlessly!

In general if you like bright splashy colors, they go better with cooler less saturated neutrals. And the converse is true of the more muted shades you would find in New England-style interiors. These do well with creamy off whites and warm beige, tans and khaki tones.

Knowing this will help you craft your home color palette and pick your neutrals!

• Decide whether you like low chroma or high chroma and keep all the hues your palette within the same rage- don’t mix!
• From there, you’ll be able to pick your neutrals because vibrant and clean colors go better with whites, off-whites and grays.  

PRO TIP: If your room feels off, it may be due to the blend of neutrals in your palette. Most neutrals have a subtle undertone (for example, khaki has a subtle green undertone) and when mixed together they can clash, making the room seem off. Compare them side by side and if one feels oddly pink for example, you probably mismatched your neutrals!

Tip 4: Pay Attention To Light

Lighting dramatically affects how colors appear in your home. Natural light changes throughout the day, altering the way paint looks in a room. For example, light colors, such as light green, can appear washed out in rooms with a lot of natural daylight, while deeply saturated colors like royal blue can seem dull in artificial light. 

• South-Facing Rooms: These spaces get bright, warm light, making cool colors like soft blues and greens a great choice to balance the warmth. Pick main colors with a low to medium amount of saturation for a softer look.
• North-Facing Rooms: These tend to have cooler, dimmer light. Avoid cool undertone colors for these spaces. Warm colors, such as creamy yellows or terracotta, can help make these rooms feel more inviting. While exterior paint colors tend to get brighter when painted on a whole house, interior colors can darken, especially in North rooms. 
• Artificial Lighting: Consider how your light fixtures affect color. Warm light bulbs will enhance warm colors, while cool LEDs complement cool tones. Color experts recommend looking at the bulbs’ CRE and to opt for those above 90 for the best color rendering. 

Testing paint samples on your walls and observing them at different times of the day is essential to ensure you choose the perfect color.

Tip 4: Use Neutrals To Bring a Whole House Paint Scheme Together

Neutral tones like white, cream and beige are versatile and timeless. They serve as the foundation of many successful interior color schemes. I tell my color consulting clients that if they’re not committed to a particular color, its always safe to use a neutral on the walls and to add colors in pops in the form of furnishings, an accent wall, an area rug and accessories. This is called an Accented Neutral Scheme and it is relatively easy to create.

• White Walls: White walls provide a blank canvas, allowing you to experiment with bright colors in your furniture and decor. Benjamin Moore’s Navajo White is a popular choice for its subtle warmth and peachy undertones. I love a warm white paint color or cream paired with wood and earth-tone textiles.
• Earthy Color Palette: Soft taupe and sandy beiges like Tapestry Beige, Ben Moore Muslin or Edgecomb Gray, and muted greens like Creekside Green or Nantucket Gray create a grounded, calming effect. Pair these with natural materials like wood and stone for a cohesive look.
• Layering Neutrals: Use different shades and textures within the neutral family to add depth and interest to a space without overwhelming it.
• Soften Contrast: While I love rich tones like dark green and dark blue they can create a lot of contrast. I used mid tone neutrals in my master bedroom to soften a high contrast paint color scheme. The light wall colors and dark wallpaper on the accent wall created drama. I was able to soften the contrast by adding a mid tone natural Belgian Linen duvet cover and neutral carpet to help bridge the gap. Another way to do this is to use a less saturated version of the same hue that is also lighter in value. For example, instead of a brighter red, try a rusty peach paint instead.

Neutral tones are particularly effective in open floor plans, where they provide a unifying backdrop for varying design elements.

Free Home Color Scheme

If you are looking for a jumping-off point, try one of these free color palettes I created. You can use them as a starting point and then tweak them to suit the needs in your home with your fixed elements and lighting conditions!

You can access them here. You can also get more tips on how to use these paint color schemes here.

Finding Your Best Home Color Combination

Choosing the right color combinations for your home doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By considering the flow between rooms, understanding the role of light, and using tools like the color wheel, you can create a color harmony. Start by identifying your desired mood for each space and build your palette around those goals. Remember, every room has its own function and personality, so your color choices should enhance both. Whether you opt for a bold complementary scheme or a soft, monochromatic look, let your vision guide the way.

Neutrals remain a timeless choice for creating balance and cohesion throughout your home. They serve as a versatile foundation, allowing you to layer in color and texture through furniture, accessories, and accent walls. Don’t forget to test your selections in different lighting conditions to see how they truly look in your space.

With these strategies, you can confidently transform your home into a space that reflects your style and meets your needs, one thoughtfully chosen color at a time. If you do this right, you’ll also have the added benefit of moving furniture from one space to another and it will all work together!

And remember if all else fails you can do a virtual color consultation with me. Learn more about working with a color consultant here.

The post Picking The Best Home Color Combination: 5 Top Tips appeared first on A Season For Home.

But choosing the right shade of yellow is key to working it in with the rest of your home’s color palette, and creating a look that will endure (and outlive any design trend!)

A simple run of yellow ochre painted cabinets looks time honored and fresh. Courtesy of DeVol.

If you’re new here, Hi! I’m Katie, I’m a certified paint color consultant and timeless New England color palettes are my thing. I help homeowners choose colors that feel rooted in tradition with a creative twist. Many of the yellows I recommend come from these historic palettes, which is why they continue to look beautiful decade after decade.

Want to save this for later? Pin this to your home decorating idea board on Pinterest!

The NEW Yellow Kitchen

Yellow kitchens are returning, but they look very different from what many people remember from twenty-five years ago. Many of those spaces leaned heavily into the Tuscan-inspired style of the late 90s and early 2000s. The color often appeared on the walls rather than the cabinetry, paired with heavy finishes and ornate details.

Today’s yellow kitchen looks nothing like that. Now, the color is showing up on cabinetry. My theory is butter yellow’s rise to popularity in fashion has helped spark renewed interest in the color family in interior design. But it’s not just butter yellow that is on the rise for interiors. As we speak, softer pastel yellow is giving way to deeper, more historic yellows. And I am happy to report this hue is starting to reappear in kitchens. The new yellow kitchen is much moodier– with vibes of historical pigments (think more tarnished gold less like a pastel baby chick.)

Best Yellow Paint Colors For Cabinets

Here are eight expert-approved yellow paint colors to choose from. I tried to find a Sherwin Williams select or two but honestly I didn’t like them. They all felt too clean and pedestrian. Sorry Sherwin- I love you anyway!

• Farrow & Ball Farrow’s Cream — LRV ~72
• Benjamin Moore Philadelphia Cream — LRV ~69
• Benjamin Moore Dunmore Cream — LRV ~68
• Benjamin Moore Wythe Tan — LRV ~61
• Farrow & Ball Dorset Cream — LRV ~59
• Benjamin Moore Waterbury Cream — LRV ~57
• Benjamin Moore Wythe Gold — LRV ~52
• Farrow & Ball Hay — LRV ~37

1. Farrow and Ball Farrow’s Cream

Farrow’s Cream is a soft but saturated creamy yellow with a golden buttery vibe. Yellow pigment pulls a lot of weight in a paint formula, so even very light colors can still read distinctly yellow. That is why Farrow’s Cream looks soft and pale but still carries a strong yellow personality.

It has an LRV of 72, which means it will work well in darker kitchens. Take a look at the sample photos on the Farrow & Ball website, and they’ve shown how nice it looks in a tone-on-tone application with darker yellows. I think it would work really well with a creamy white paint on the walls (and white backsplash and counter too).

For white pairings, look at Creamy or Dover White by Sherwin-Williams. Or from Benjamin Moore look at Linen White or Spanish White.

I love the slight touch of peach added to this paint color. It keeps it feeling warm and interesting and not too childish. If this isn’t for you, I have another option next that will perhaps fit the bill better.

2. Benjamin Moore Philadelphia Cream

Philadelphia Cream is another of the softer tints I’ve included here, coming in with an LRV of 69.12. It’s a good option if you don’t like mustard yellow but you don’t want your kitchen to feel too sweet or stylistically sophomoric. If you like Farrow and Ball’s Farrow’s Cream- but not the subtle peachiness- Philadelphia Cream by Benjamin Moore is a good choice for you.

Seriously, friends, this paint color is a no-brainer if you want yellow cabinets for your kitchen. Pair your Philadelphia Cream cabinets with a creamy white quartz counter and you will start questioning if you should launch a home renovation influencer account.

Before you decide on this shade, compare it to another contender. Place your sample side by side with Dunmore Cream (next on the list and another lighter option.) You’ll see Philadelphia Cream has less khaki or green undertones than Dunmore Cream but it still feels like an time-tested and enduring paint color that won’t trend out with the next cycle. I love this color for a stand-alone hutch in an otherwise white kitchen or used all-over a kitchen on shaker inset cabinetry.

3. Benjamin Moore Dunmore Cream (AKA Mansfield Tan)

Dunmore Cream HC-29 is a creamy soft yellow with more complexity than a standard pastel butter yellow. It is ideal if you want cabinets that feel warm but still fairly neutral. Look at Spanish White for your white paint to pair with it! Dreamy!

This would be a truly charming cabinet color for a kitchen with black counters, creamy off-white walls and yellow kitchen cabinets.

I have a huge affinity for this color, and not just because it was our exterior trim color for 20 years. It is the perfect blend of creamy and complex. This is a great option for those of you who want a softer yellow but don’t like the idea of pastel. It is so pretty with deep greens like Trailing Vines by Benjamin Moore.

4. Benjamin Moore Waterbury Cream

Waterbury Cream is slightly richer and more saturated than some of the other options I’ve mentioned so far. It can work especially well in kitchens that get a lot of natural light. While I don’t condone painting kitchen walls with this color with white trim, as it would have been in 1999, I think this color can be truly sublime when used with restraint in more contemporary ways.

In the example above, DeVol used two shades of cream on the walls and trim and only painted the cabinets on either side of the range in yellow. This variation of color capping feels modern and classic not tied to the Tuscan kitchen trend- like yellow walls with white trim would. This is how I would suggest using Waterbury Cream in your kitchen.

It has a LRV of 57.79 and has a good amount of saturation to give it plenty of boldness. Consider this choice if you have high ceilings and a lot of indirect light in your kitchen. It would be really great with a creamy marble-like Quartz countertop and unlacquered brass.

5. Benjamin Moore Wythe Tan

Ignore the name of this paint color my friends, this is not a tan. Wythe Tan is indeed a yellow. I love this color which comes from the Ben Moore Williamsburg collection. It was formulated and inspired by a historical white base tinted with yellow ochre color pigments.

It has an LRV of 61 which means it is one of our medium selections here- neither mustard nor cream- somewhere right in the middle. I love the softness and chalkiness of it that makes it look like it is straight out of an old farmhouse kitchen filled with chipped ironware pottery. It would look equally at home in a kitchen with modern lines.

6. Farrow & Ball Dorset Cream

Dorset Cream has depth that works well in traditional kitchens and historic homes but it is also a fun way to re-imagine a mid-century inspired kitchen renovation like the below kitchen by Swedish Designer, Historiska Hem.

What I love about this shade of yellow paint is its faint pink essence. This subtlety keeps it from feeling “expected” or too primary- a hallmark of Farrow & Balls highly curated color selection.

7. Benjamin Moore Wythe Gold

Wythe Gold has more presence than Wythe Tan and would make a great choice for a single stand alone piece of an unfitted kitchen or for a kitchen island.

It has a lot of depth with an LRV of 50 and enough complexity to its undertones to keep it from looking like a pedestrian crossing sign. It can pull slightly green in some conditions so make sure to test it before buying a large quanity of it or placing your cabinet order!

8. Farrow and Ball Hay

Hay is a deeper golden yellow with an earthy character. It pairs beautifully with natural wood, dark stone counters, and aged brass hardware.

In this kitchen in Hamburg, Germany photographed by Horwood Photography, the yellow painted cabinets in Hay by Farrow & Ball showcase how changible the look can be depending on your lighting. With these darker shades of yellow (this has an LRV of 37 and is our darkest choice) you can wind up with quite a moody look!

Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Yellow Cabinet Paint

One of the biggest mistakes people make when selecting yellow for kitchen cabinets is going straight to the yellow section of a paint fan deck. Those colors are usually designed to be primary, bright and saturated. They often look cheerful on a small paint chip but become overwhelming when applied to an entire set of cabinets.

Instead, I recommend looking at historic collections. Many of the best yellow kitchen cabinet colors are actually named creams, tans, or golds. Compare them side by side to start to get to know their true nature. You’ll find they have a yellow personality but are balanced with other pigments that keep them feeling sophisticated.

If you choose a true primary yellow from the fan deck you may grow tired of within just a few years.

Countertop and Color Pairings for Yellow Cabinets

Choosing the right countertop is just as important as selecting the cabinet color.

Yellow cabinets tend to look best when paired with natural materials that have subtle movement and contrast.

• White Marble or Marble-Look Quartz: A white marble or marble-like quartz countertop is one of the safest and most timeless choices. The cool veining balances the warmth of the cabinets and keeps the space feeling fresh.
• Black Granite: Black granite such as Uba Tuba can be surprisingly beautiful with yellow cabinetry. The deep contrast creates a grounded, traditional look.
• Slate: Slate countertops also work nicely with yellow cabinets, especially in more rustic or English country style kitchens.

KATIE’S PRO TIP: I generally caution clients against pairing yellow cabinets with Taj Mahal quartzite or Taj Mahal style quartz. Sometimes khaki undertones in this trendy natural stone can clash with certain yellow cabinet colors. Because kitchen cabinets are often ordered concurrently with the counter slab, months prior to install, it is hard to verify your actual piece of stone will arrive with the undertones you need. It is not impossible though! If you are thinking of this color combo, check with your countertop fabricator to make sure you can pick and earmark your exact slab. Take your large samplize sample of the paint color you like, and look at it in natural light with no artificial light to verify the undertones.

Cottagecore Color Palette

Apple Green Paint Colors

Best Peach Paint Colors

Coastal Color Palette For A New England Style Home

Need help choosing the right color?
If you’re feeling stuck or want a second set of eyes, I offer Virtual Color Consultations to help you make confident, intentional choices for your home, wherever you’re located.

The post Yellow Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets appeared first on A Season For Home.

If you are new here, my name is Katie. I am a certified color expert and all-around paint-obsessed gal. Through my color consulting business, I have helped everyday homeowners choose paint colors for their homes, from the Rocky Mountains to sunny Florida. In today’s post, I am sharing the best taupe paints from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams that I actually use with my clients.

If you like Accessible Beige, you’ll Love These Taupe Paint Colors

If you love the idea of using a warm neutral wall color but want to avoid a true beige (that would slide straight into early-2000s vibes) you are not alone! A lot of my clients have this same quandary and inevitably ask me about Sherwin-Williams’s super popular Accessible Beige.

This is arguably the most popular taupe paint on the market. {Aside: Though the name calls it a “beige”, it is actually much less saturated. Read the difference between beige and taupe here.}

While I love Accessible Beige, and in fact it is included below in this lineup of my favorite taupe paint colors, I wanted to create a more comprehensive collection of paints that have a similar vibe, but vary in value and undertone to fit every home’s unique lighting and needs.

What Is Taupe Color?

• Taupe is a warm neutral color that sits between tan and gray.
• When lightened, it becomes greige.
• Taupe is similar to beige in value, but it is far less saturated and has a relatively cool color temperature.
• Some mushroom-leaning taupes have a slight green undertone, while others are more sandy and lean a little peachy. While these are all technically taupes, the distinguishing factor is the relative amount of gray mixed in.
• In northern exposure with cooler or bluer light taupe can have an almost purplish cast.

16 Taupe Paint Colors (Lightest To Darkest)

Below is my list of taupe paint colors I recommend to clients and have used in my own home.

Pro Tip: The taupe paint colors in this list are medium-light to medium-dark. (65 to 30 LRV.) If you are looking for something lighter than these colors, then you are probably looking for a greige paint color. Ballet White and Natural Cream are two favorite greige colors. You may also find my Minimalist Paint Colors helpful- there are some other options listed there that you’d like.

I’ve arranged them from lightest to darkest, and you will see in the below graphic that there is a range of tonality due to the undertones. These are all technically taupe, but some lean sandy (reddish) and some lean green. Theres another interesting thing about taupe in that it can do funny things in low light. So make sure to look at actual paint chips before buying samples! As with all paint colors, these will look different on the screen than in real life- and taupe is especially prone to variations from screen to reality!

Sherwin-Williams Dumpling – LRV 64

When a client wants a lighter shade of Accessible Beige, a lot of times, they will ask me about lightening it by a certain percentage (which is a common internet thing that I do not recommend). Instead, I say go with a known entity and try Dumpling!

This designer collection color is bordering on greige territory but has enough depth to still feel like a taupe. I love it with tone-on-tone pairings (like with White Duck or Minimalist by Sherwin-Williams) It is soft and bright but doesn’t look gray.

Sherwin-Williams Modern Gray – LRV 62

I included this one for the true minimalists here. It is a barely there wall color for people who do not like a hint of yellow. Which is another way of saying it can look gray to those of you who have a higher tolerance for warmth.

If you are leaning toward this color, make sure to buy a sample from Samplize before you commit to buying a whole gallon of this paint as it can skew pink in certain light.

Benjamin Moore Cedar Key – LRV 61.05

As you can see from my above graphic, Cedar Key is super similar to Dumpling and Modern Gray. It is a little creamier than Modern Gray and can still skew purplish in darker rooms so make sure to check out our troubleshooting tips below for this issue. Cedar Key by Benjamin Moore is on the same paint chip as Wind’s Breath (see my Minimalist Colors), Smokey Taupe and Indian River (see below.) It’s a really good wall color in Southern-facing rooms and would be lovely on kitchen cabinets or a bathroom vanity.

Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige – LRV 58

Accessible Beige is like the homecoming queen in a John Hughes film. You kind-of hate her because she is so perfect. Even still, I love this color and have specified it more times than I can count. What can I say, if it ain’t broke…

Seriously, Accessible Beige is a great whole-house taupe paint color because it has plenty of depth without being too dark. Above you can see Accessible Beige in my client’s home. They have a two story Great Room that is flooded with light. We paired it with crisp white trim for a tradtional look. It looks great with their low-chroma decor.

Sherwin-Williams Slumber Sloth – LRV 56

If Accessible Beige is the it-girl of taupes, then Sluber Sloth is like Jan Brady. This gorgeous taupe paint color needs more recongnition IMO and I have no idea why it isn’t as popular as Accessible Beige! They are virtually the same but it is just a touch moodier/ darker.

This is a great color for a bedroom to create an enveloping feel or for a home office where you want it to feel elevated, peaceful and den-like.

Note this list is arranged by value and with this paint color we are getting into the values of taupe, where I personally like them better with a darker trim color (like SW White Duck.) These taupes that fall in the mid 50s LRV and below are good ones to use for contrast trim or on wainscotting.

Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe – LRV 54.53

I’ve used this paint color a bunch. I heart it! I’ve written a full review of Smokey Taupe with more photos.

You can see in the above photo how it looks in our guest bedroom. This room faces south and gets plenty of light, but I do live in Vermont and we don’t get tons of sunny days. I have observed this paint color a lot and it can go oddly purple on low light overcast or snowy days. And in warmer sunny light it can look pink. Here you can see it at around noon on a snowy day. It is paired with White Dove by Benjamin Moore here.

Sherwin-Williams Minimalist – LRV 52

Promise me you will check out this mid-tone taupe paint color from Sherwin-Williams. While on paper it looks too saturated, once you buy a large sample of it, you will see it has gorgeous warmth without looking yellow or like an old-school beige paint color.

It is a good choice if all the colors you are looking at look gray/flat in your space. Minimalist pulls through in these rooms! I’ve used it as a feature wall behind a headboard to add grounding to a bedroom. I have also used it in brightly lit living rooms and sunrooms. (Pair it with Dumpling for a super dreamy designer look!)

Sherwin-Williams Shiitake – LRV 51

When all else fails, Shiitake is to the rescue. It has a sandy tone that works well for cabinets and millwork, giving it softness and warmth without feeling like a dated yellow beige. It’s a popular look when paired with black hardware (I recommend it with Oil Rubbed Bronze over matte black) and deep chocolate brown accents.

My clients who love white oak furniture and Champagne Bronze hardware love Shiitake for a cabinet color for a warm neutral kitchen. It goes equally well on walls with White Oak cabinets!

Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth – LRV 48.45

If I had to describe the aesthetic of Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth, I’d say it gives Farrow & Ball vibes in the best way. It is sort of like a putty or mushroom paint color that was sent to it’s room to think about what it has done. It is a little moody and little deep and I love that about it.

Stone Hearth is exactly the kind of paint color I love to see on plaster walls in older homes here in New England. It has old-world charm but feels modern because it lacks any gold tones.

Unlike Shiitake and Minimalist (both listed above), Stone Hearth has a faint green undertone that keeps it feeling cool, but it will not go pink or violet in low light. If anything, it can get a little too serious or austere looking in darker rooms, so make sure to buy a sample and test it out. If your room is darker, it is also a good one to use for woodwork and use your brighter off-white on the walls.

Benjamin Moore Gallery Buff– LRV 46

Everything I just said about Stone Hearth above goes for this color too. (Same about the moodiness and hidden green undertone.) It is just a click darker.

If you are one to try cool decorating trends like color drenching (or color capping) Gallery Buff is a great color to do it with- and it won’t make your space feel like a cave!

Benjamin Moore Pashmina – LRV 44.2

Pashmina is a really popular Benjamin Moore color from their Affinity deck. I have recommended it in color consultations, and I always love seeing the after photos because it looks great in every home I have seen it!

Above, you can see it in a real homeowner’s music room. This space was a challenge because it didn’t have any windows. We decided to embrace the den-like feel and use Pashmina to make it feel even cozier!

I love the fact that it has a secret green undertone that you would only notice if you were comparing it side by side with a bunch of other similar colors. It is this quality that keeps it feeling cool, and modern and not like a yellow beige. Artificial lights can eliminate this green color and make it feel gray. So if you use this space mostly at night, keep this detail top of mind!

Sherwin-Williams Tony Taupe – LRV 37

Confession: I have tried to get my clients to use Tony Taupe, but I have yet to have someone take the plunge. It is just a touch too dark for walls in most houses here in New England. I am including it here anyway because it is a beautiful color, and an excellent example of a darker taupe.

This taupe is one of the more brown ones I have included, and doesn’t have the same cooler gray feel that some of the others in these darker values. If you are thinking about a brown for color drenching, I vote for Tony Taupe. Look at this bedroom for an idea of how it would look! Stunning!

For my New England peeps, and those of us who live in old houses with small windows and low light, use Tony Taupe as an accent color for a kitchen island when paired with one of the lighter taupes mentioned above, or even White Duck. It is in fact on the same paint chip as Accessible Beige, so if you are looking for a kitchen accent to pair with Accessible Beige, consider Tony Taupe!

This is also a great taupe to look into for an exterior- but it can look a little brown depending on the exposure of your main facade. More on that below!

Benjamin Moore Indian River / Ranchwood – LRV 36.6

This darker taupe color is known by two names: Ranchwood and Indian River. It is one of those taupes here that leans more green and less sandy but it is minimally so.

I used Indian River in our guest bathroom. Friends, this tiny room is in serious need of a remodel, so I almost didn’t want to include photos here. But… I feel like this is helpful for you to see, so here goes.

OMG please do not judge. Fixing this space is on our five-year plan but there have been bigger fish to fry in this old house! Anyway, these photos show the depth in value, lack of saturation and super-subtle green undertone.

Indian River/Briarwood is an excellent choice for an exterior paint color scheme. I think it would also be a lovely addition to a room painted in lighter colors used only for accents (like on a mantle or built in cabinets or bookshelves.)

It is also the kind of color that works well in small spaces (like this tiny bathroom) or in a mudroom or office.

Benjamin Moore Cole Stone – LRV 32.87

From the Benjamin Moore Williamsburg collection, Cole Stone is a colonial-inspired paint color with a deep, grayish tone. This taupe feels like it belongs in a building on Independence Mall. It is beautiful for interiors and exteriors.

I chose it for the trim and wainscotting in these pictured areas to give a historical vibe to this space. I used it for the trim and wainscotting, and paired it with Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee wich is a warm bright white with a touch of green in its undertone.

As you can see in my photos here of this space, Cole Stone is another one of the taupes that lacks a sandy quality and instead feels a little like a warm gray-green. If it feels to gray to you, go back and take a second look at Tony Taupe!

Benjamin Moore Weimaraner – LRV 30.99

Weimaraner is another winner from the Affinity Deck from Benjamin Moore. This dark taupe is a beauty for exteriors or for accents (like furniture, cabinets, stairs etc.)

It has great depth of value if you need a darker element in your space and everything else feels too soft. For example, if you are decorating with white oak and champagne bronze and mostly soft neutrals, your space may feel flat. Adding in a dark taupe will help to make the space feel dimensional and interesting.

This paint color gets along well with others because it doesn’t have an overtly sandy or too-green cast to it. It sits right in the middle- which can also make it feel kind of gray! I’ve noticed in darker light it does have a purple tone that may not be what you are looking for so make sure to look at it in all different lights before you paint. It has a soft chalkiness to it that is very trendy at the moment and would look great in a color-drenched space.

Sherwin-Williams Moth Wing – LRV 29

Moth Wing is like Weimarainer but with a bit more gusto.

It is so similar that you may not be able to tell them apart but if you have low light or are planning to use this in a space that will mostly be used at night, Moth Wing is more saturated and warmer. It reads like a brown by comparison.

Exterior Taupe Paint Colors

In general, for an exterior paint color, pick darker taupes with less saturation or go toward green. Remember, outdoors your paint color will appear 3x brighter than it does on the paint chip! And sunlight will make warm colors appear warmer. If you like the gray quality of taupe, avoid the sandy-toned taupes because they will look warmer on an exterior.

My 3 top choices for exteriors would be:

• Pashmina by Benjamin Moore AF-100, LRV 44.2
• Cole Stone CW-60, LRV 32.67
• Weimaraner AF-155, LRV 30.99

Complete The Scheme: You can pick another softer taupe from the above list for your trim color or go with a greige for a brighter contrast. These colors look great with a bronze roof and windows. They are also pretty with dark green, rusty reds or nearly black accents too. For more tips and pro-tricks on picking an exterior paint scheme, read my tutorial here.

Best White with taupe

When pairing white paint with taupe, undertone matters more than brightness.

If you like a crisp, clean contrast, I suggest a grayed white like Sherwin-Williams Pure White (LRV 84). It will not feel oddly stark or like a value-grade “white” that the handyman picked up.

If you prefer a subtle, tonal and more modern look (this is becoming increasingly popular) I tell my clients to choose a white with a darker LRV and low saturation, such as Sherwin-Williams White Duck (LRV 74). It is not too creamy so it won’t feel strong next to these dusty taupes. This pairing feels softened and frankly like when your friends come over, they might think you had a decorator pick out your paint colors!

Color Palette For Taupe

Most of my paint consultation clients who gravitate toward taupe opt to use it as their main neutral and then build a small supporting color palette around it. These are the accent colors I return when building out these schemes:

• Blue: From complex historic navy blues like Benjamin Moore Hamilton Blue HC-191 to softer blue-grays like Benjamin Moore Wales Gray 1585
• Green: Soft greens such as Benjamin Moore October Mist or Benjamin Moore Raintree Green
• Red: Deep, muted reds with a rusty or burgundy quality work best. For painted accents or furniture, look at colors like Benjamin Moore Coyote Trail or Benjamin Moore Chestnut

Taupe acts as a calm backdrop that lets these colors shine without competing.

Do you need help picking paint colors? I offer one-on-one paint color consultations. Read more here!

The post Taupe Paint Colors appeared first on A Season For Home.

If you’re new here, welcome. I’m Katie, a Certified Color Expert and professional color consultant. Here at A Season For Home my work is rooted in historic New England color palettes, which is why I love seeing peach make a comeback. The secret is picking a shade with enough depth and balance so it reads complex, muted, livable and timeless, not like a scoop of sherbet on the wall.

Is Peach A Trendy Paint Color?

Blame it on the English Country Trend that swept us off our feet in 2025. Perhaps it is backlash from the millennial gray era, or the starkness of the black-and-white trend, now homeowners are craving comfort in their interiors. Peach is roaring back to the limelight!

Wait, if the idea of choosing a “trendy” color makes you nervous, here’s the good news. When you choose a historically inspired shade of peach, you are far less likely to wake up one day wondering how you got swept into a Pinterest vortex. These versions of peach have been used for generations, which gives them staying power even when they feel newly rediscovered. If you’re considering adding peach to your home, you can feel confident that the right shade will read as both rooted in history and refreshingly current.

The Best Peach Paint Colors

Below, I’ll share my favorite selections of peach paint colors, all of which live on a sliding scale, from softly saturated hues to colors that feel more tan (or beige) but have just enough warm pink to soften and liven. These more complex shades of peach aren’t just red, yellow and white. They also have a bit of black added into the mixture to knock back the sweetness. This is a key point I want to make to you dear readers! Depending on how clean or dirty the tint or tone you pick is, peach can act as a true color moment or function almost like a warm neutral, depending on the shade.

Benjamin Moore Tissue Pink

Soft, pale, and light-reflective, Tissue Pink is one of the most delicate peach-pink options. It’s highly sensitive to light and is one of the few peach tones calm enough for bedroom use.

Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster

This soft, light peach paint shade from high-end English paint company Farrow & Ball is enormously popular with the influencer set. It’s light in value but deeply complex, so is a great pick for darker spaces. I love it for a vaulted foyer with creamy millwork. It can also work in a bedroom with higher ceilings to help make the space feel more cozy.

Benjamin Moore Kitsilano Beach

This apricot-hued paint color is a sun-washed peach tint with enough complexity to give it a relaxed, cottage feel. The yellow undertones in Kitsilano Beach work beautifully in high-energy family spaces like mudrooms, kitchens, breakfast nooks, and high-traffic informal living spaces. This shade of peach is a little too cheerful for dens or living rooms, and too sweet for dining rooms or offices.

Benjamin Moore Galt Peach

Galt Peach is a true peach classic. I used this color inside the hutch in my own kitchen, where it adds a pop of personality without overwhelming the space, a perfect example of how peach can be used thoughtfully as an accent. It’s from the Benjamin Moore Williamsburg Collection and thanks to its roots in historical pigments it isn’t too bright or overly saturated.

Benjamin Moore Georgetown Pink Beige

If you were to ask me to pick a favorite peach paint color, this would be my pick! From the Benjamin Moore historical deck, it firmly rests on it’s laurels of having historic cred, yet feels fresh and a little edgy today! It has an LRV of 55, which is moderately dark and will give your space an enveloping feel without feeling like a drenched statement. I love it for living rooms, dens and dining rooms. Try it lightened 50% on the ceiling if you want to try the hot new color-capping trend!

Benjamin Moore Winthrop Peach

This is one of the go-to samples I take on color consultations. It is also from the historic fan deck. Winthrop Peach works best in rooms with warm light and pairs well with darker, creamy trim (like White Duck by Sherwin-Williams) and traditional details. One caveat: I’ve noticed that this paint color falls flat in artificial light and reads almost brown with the warmer lightbulbs. My recommendation is to paint spaces that you use mostly during the day with Winthrop Peach.

Farrow & Ball Templeton Pink

Muted, chalky, and complex, Templeton Pink reads more architectural than sweet. I added it to this mix because I wanted a cooler peach from which to choose. It is one of those shades of peach that feels like a neutral because it is barely saturated. It’s especially well-suited to older homes, plaster walls, and spaces where you want subtle color with depth.

Benjamin Moore Casabella

This peach is all there! It’s a rich, earthy peach with depth and warmth. Casabella (formerly Indian Summer) leans toward terracotta without going orange, making it a top choice for painting a furniture piece. I wouldn’t select it as a wall color necessarily, unless you really want to make a bold statement, but this gorgeous paint has its uses for more refined interiors too! It was a strong contender for our sunny mudroom to paint our hall tree with cubbies because it has enough playfulness to give English Country vibes without feeling like a hue from a candy shop.

Sherwin-Williams Sociable

Sociable is a higher-chroma peach tint that feels cheerful compared to some of these other more muted shades I’ve identified. It hails from the 2026 Colormix Forecast from Sherwin-Williams, and I’ve added it here with caution as a higher chroma option for spaces that do not get much natural light like back hallways, stairwells in older homes or powder rooms. It will still read peach even with artificial light. I love how warm and pigmented it feels and think it would look gorgeous in a flat finish with creamy trim. Try it with SW Dover White or Creamy. However note that it can feel too childish if used for a wall color a larger space with big windows. In bright indirect light this paint color will be too much of a good thing.

Benjamin Moore Foxhedge Tan

Foxhedge Tan is a darker peach with a tan personality. It’s also good in smaller spaces- like in a home office and looks amazing with dark wood (like walnut) or medium-dark hardwood floors. It is a natural pairing with blues (particularly navy) and I love it with old brick. Like Winthrop Peach, it can feel brownish in artificial light, so make sure to test it in your space and look at it at different times of day before committing.

Sherwin-Williams Colonial Revival Tan

This historic shade of peach is an excellent choice for homeowners who want peach influence without obvious color. It has a bit more warmth than Benjamin Moore Nubuck (below) so it will work a little better in rooms without a lot of natural light. This is a great choice if you are sifting through pink beige paint colors, but want more depth and cozy warmth.

Benjamin Moore Nubuck

I am obsessed with this paint color from the Designer Series by Benjamin Moore. Nubuck is also known as Cream Soda and has a warm beige vibe. It is the perfect all-purpose peach. Like Georgetown Pink Beige it works in pretty much any space, but be wary of the fact that it will feel like a brown or tan in artificial light. That’s kind of what I love about it! It feels like a neutral-but with more personality! It works well in a study, dining room or as part of a layered neutral palette.

How to Use Peach Paint in Your Home

1. Choose the right shade of peach for your space based on the lighting

As I mentioned in several of the above descriptions, peach does some unexpected things depending on the light, so choose the right shade for your lighting conditions. If you want the color to feel peach and are going to use the space mostly at night, go with a more saturated shade that will read with artificial light. If you prefer a more brownish tone, knowing this can be an asset!

2. Use Peach Instead of Red

Consider this color if you think you want to go with red walls. I’ve been pointing my clients toward peach as an alternative wall color to the red trend that is surging. Peach brings intensity and visual weight that has more longevity to red which can be agitating and difficult to live with long term. Peach offers warmth without the same level of stimulation.

3. Placement Matters: When to Use it on Walls Vs Other Surfaces

Peach is flexible, but placement matters. Years ago I used to have peach throughout my mudroom, kitchen and living room, which I’ll admit was A LOT! Today, I don’t really recommend it as a whole-house color. Instead here are some time-tested places to use peach in your home:

Accent Color: Use peach as an accent color on furniture and built ins in a mudroom, on a kitchen island or bookshelves and built-ins. You can also use it above creamy off-white wainscotting for a less intense impact.

Best rooms for peach walls: In general large rooms and those with vaulted ceilings feel cozier when they have peach walls. In rooms where you want to feel enclosed like a dining room or den, go for it with peach walls. Bathrooms are alwaus a great place to add personality- without disturbing the peace!

Where Not To Use Peach:

Peach brings energy and warmth, which makes it less suitable for bedrooms in most cases. The exception is are the lighter tints such as Tissue Pink and Setting Plaster which are both light and soft enough to create a calming, serene atmosphere appropriate for sleep.

 I also wouldn’t suggest it for kitchen cabinets. Instead use it on the island or as an accent color for a pop of color that feels fresh and cheerful- not exhausting.

Avoid peach as a transitional color in hallways, stairwells or wide open floorplans. It’s too much of a good thing!

What is a good peach paint color for a home’s exterior?

For exteriors, I recommend Benjamin Moore Frontenac Brick (CC-182). This color works beautifully with dark bronze windows and shutters, or paired with deep forest green for a classic, grounded palette. Use it as an accent color in costal homes or as part of a Victorian home’s colorway.

What colors go with peach?

Peach pairs especially well with:

• Green (from sage to deep forest tones.) I love muted greens like Creekside Green.
• Blue, particularly navy, indigo or admiral blue. I’ve added Brewster Gray to the above palette and love the soft low-chroma look it adds.
• Soft beige and khaki paint colors
• Cream and warm off-whites like Navajo White by Bm or Sherwin-Williams Creamy, White Duck and Dover White.
• Chocolate and dark browns, even nearly black paint colors like Silhouette

These combinations keep peach feeling sophisticated and balanced.

Is Peach The Right Color For You?

Peach can be a great addition to your home if you know which shade to use and you apply it appropriately. It can veer from colorful and give all the English Country Vibes to stately and nearly neutral depending on which paint color you choose and which room you paint.

Softer, more complex peaches with brownish tan undertones give grown-up vibes and are surprisingly versatile. And punchier peach tones (like Casabella or Kitsilano Beach) are also useful shades in the right applications (like a mudroom or breakfast room.)

In my opinion, peach does not need to be loud to be interesting. I like it best when it becomes one of those colors that you stop noticing. And that is usually the sign that you picked the right one

Cottagecore Color Palette

Apple Green Paint Colors

What’s The Best Neutral Paint Color For Walls

Coastal Color Palette For A New England Style Home

If you love the idea of peach but want help choosing the right shade for your home, this is exactly what I do in my color consultations. We look at light, architecture, existing finishes, and how a color will actually behave in your space so you can move forward without second-guessing or repainting. You can learn more about my virtual and in-person color consultations here.

The post Best Peach Paint Colors appeared first on A Season For Home.

As a certified color expert, I spend most of my days helping homeowners sift through endless paint chips and talking them off the ledge of second-guessing (because trust me, we’ve all been there). But my love for New England color didn’t start in a color studio. I grew up in a home on the Historic Registry, surrounded by quirky charm and old-house soul. And later, during our own multi-year Vermont farmhouse renovation, I learned just how transformative paint can be. The right color doesn’t just change a room,  it makes an older home feel warm, grounded, and true to its bones.

Over the years, I’ve noticed I return to the same tried-and-true hues again and again. Not because I’m stuck in a rut, but because these colors work beautifully with New England architecture and light. They feel timeless, cozy, and instantly welcoming. Today, I’m sharing those five go-to colors with you, plus the color principles behind why they’re so reliable.

Photo Credit: Crisp Architects

What Paint Colors Are Best for a New England Home?

You might be thinking, Why would paint colors behave differently here? I promise, they do. New England homes come with a special set of characteristics that influence how colors show up on your walls. Here’s what makes this region unique:

• Cooler, softer natural light. Many of my clients, especially those in rural areas, also get strong green reflections from surrounding woods, fields, and mountains especially in the summer months.
• Antique or unpainted wood tones. Older homes often feature warm, rich wood that plays beautifully with some colors and completely clashes with others. Add to that slate tile floors in the mudroom and brick fireplaces, and you have distinct russet browns and reddish earth tones that must be considered when picking paint colors.
• Classic architecture. Colonial lines, farmhouse bones, millwork, and low ceilings give older homes charm but can also create darker spaces. The right paint color can enhance this character instead of fighting against it.
• Major seasonal shifts. Summer sun washes colors out; winter brings cool shadows that make some hues look minty, dingy or muddy. The goal is to choose colors that ride these swings gracefully.
• Bright whites can fall flat. If clean modern whites feel harsh, sterile, or oddly gray in your home, you’re not imagining it. Luckily, there’s a workaround.
• Timeless New England style favors earthy, desaturated color. Ou color palette in New England is rooted in Colonial Pigments. As a result, low-chroma colors (aka dirty colors) and historically inspired hues feel naturally at home here (and no, you don’t have to stick to the “Historic” fan deck to get the look!)

With that foundation in mind, here are the five paint colors I recommend over and over for New England homes.

1. Warm, Creamy Off-Whites

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but one of my most reliable creamy off whites that looks gorgeous (even in the darkest spaces) is Sherwin Williams Dover White. This is the white paint I go to again and again for ceilings, trim and white walls.

Sherwin Williams Dover White. Photo Credit: @hatcliffconstruction

Why We Love Dover White By Sherwin Williams

• One of the biggest mistakes I made when we bought our 1790s farmhouse was painting the walls of our dark dining room White Dove by Benjamin Moore. What I didn’t know was that certain white paints look terrible in dark spaces! Silly me, I was just trying to brighten it up.
• What I learned in my Color Expert Certification training is that this is a common misconception. In fact, bright whites can look flat or dingy in low light, but creamy whites glow in dark interiors with small windows or porches overhanging. Warm whites with yellow undertones can even handle the cool northern light we get in the winter!
• Now I know that Dover White is stunning in low-light rooms. It has the same high LRV (83) as White Dove but carries more warmth, perfect for darker New England rooms.
• It plays beautifully with antique furniture, patina-rich wood, and traditional trim.
• While it isn’t stark, sterile, or overly yellow it also feels classic, cozy, and quietly historic.
• I highly suggest considering a warm off-white like Dover White as a softer alternative for trim when you want white but not builder-basic white.

Best for: Trim, ceiling and anywhere you want to use white. It looks great in foyers, on kitchen cabinets, living rooms, bedrooms and hallways.

2. Soft Beiges, Taupes & Warm Greiges

I feel like a broken record sometimes, but I will happily admit that Sherwin Williams Neutral Ground is one of my most recomended paint shades when coming up with clients home color combination . I literally cannot count the number of clients for whom I have specified this creamy warm neutral beige paint color!

But don’t run away when you hear me say “beige” this is much softer and lighter than the beige paints of yore. This is much lighter and not as intensely yellow of the beiges of the early 2000s.

Neutral Ground on The walls with darker contrast trim in a mudroom. Photo: @buildingacasehouse

Why It Works

• Neutral Ground handles both summer’s strong directional light and winter’s cool blue shadows.
• A higher LRV (70) brightens darker homes with low ceilings and small windows.
• Feels grounding and warm during long winter months.
• Doesn’t clash with earthy fixed elements like brick and antique floors.
• A perfect backdrop for the muted greens, reds, and blues often found in historic New England homes. Having a workhorse neutral like Neutral Ground is key when using an accented neutral scheme for interior design.

Best For: living rooms, dining rooms, parlors, historic trim moments

3. Earthy Sage Greens

Examples: Benjamin Moore Nantucket Gray (shown above in my office) or Sherwin Williams Grassland

Why It Works

• Soft, muted, low-chroma greens feel naturally at home in New England’s landscapes and historic architecture.
• Timeless without drifting into “colonial kitsch.”
• Beautiful for cabinetry, wainscotting, and even exterior trim.
• Adds color while keeping the overall palette calm and refined.
• Looks great with muddy and complex undertones of fixed elements like stone, brick and aged wood.

Best For: mudrooms, kitchens, libraries, guest rooms

4. Dusty Gray-Blues

When I meet with my clients before our color consulting appointments, I always make sure to ask what colors they are drawn to. Three quarters of the time the answer is often greens or blues. When I sift back through the paint schedules I have created, these dusty blues come up time and time again.

Examples: Brewster Gray, Wales Gray, Templeton Gray, Puritan Gray (all Benjamin Moore)

Brewster Gray by Benjamin Moore is a perfect example of a New England paint color that can be used on walls, trim or accents and always feels timeless.

Why It Works

• All of these above mentioned blue gray paint colors have enough weight for traditional millwork but stay soft and livable thanks to gentle graying.
• These mid tones vibe effortlessly with historic wood, clear old-growth pine planks, aged oak, even yellow-leaning maple.
• Look New England coastal, farmhouse, or traditional depending on your styling.
• I love these colors for reverse trim in spaces with lots of ornamental woodwork.

Best For: Stairwells with tons of woodwork, bathrooms, bedrooms, mudrooms, breezeways, Federal-era home’s foyers and stately home offices.

5. Earthy, Desaturated Reds (Brick Tones)

While red is not a paint color that comes to mind for most people, earthy brick colored pigments are traditional early New England and always look at home in the classic homes of the North East. I use these red paint colors in moderation for my paint schemes. The key is to use them for a pop of contrast!
Examples: Benjamin Moore Audubon Russet, Walnut and Boston Brick

A rusty red bench in a mudroom gives a pop of contrast. Photo: @sanfordcollectiveinteriors

Why It Works

• Browned, earthy reds with warm undertones feel rooted and authentic, never costume-y like blue or purple-leaning burgundies. I love those that look like they were created using natural pigments.
• Provide the “pop” most color schemes need while still looking natural and historic.
• Perfect for unexpected moments of charm: interior doors, stair risers, a kitchen island, or built-ins.
• Echo classic New England barn reds and brick tones.

Best For: front doors, dining rooms, interior doors, built-ins

How to Choose the Right Color for Your New England Home

Keep these principles in mind as you narrow your options:

• Pay attention to light direction, it changes everything. North facing rooms and those with small windows or low ceilings get less warm direct light and the colors will need to be adjusted accordingly.
• Consider your wood undertones, they’re part of the palette whether you want them to be or not. A lot of older wood floors and beams have orange tones which pair well with blues and greens but clash with taupes. Keep that in mind when you are picking your main neutral and your highlight colors.
• Look down. Your floors matter more than most people realize. As do the other fixed elements in your home including brick, stone and slate.
• Your personal style determines how muted or saturated you should go. While traditional New England colors are based on colonial era pigments, if you prefer a bit more saturation, the key is keeping it consistant throughtout your whole home palette.

The post The Essential New England Color Palette: 5 Foolproof Paint Colors for Classic Homes appeared first on A Season For Home.