51 Neutral Paint Colors the Professionals Swear By
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE Decor editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
Cotton Balls by Benjamin Moore
“When a room calls for a versatile backdrop, I turn to the timeless elegance of white. Cotton Balls, with its subtle infusion of yellow, adds a warm glow that effortlessly embraces any decor style.” —Rayman Boozer, Apartment48
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Slipper Satin by Farrow & Ball
“Slipper Satin by Farrow & Ball has become one of our most beloved colors in recent years—we find it to have just enough pigment to give rooms the right amount of depth without being too overpowering. We’d call this color ‘neutral adjacent.’ ” —Jean Liu
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Abalone by Benjamin Moore
“While I typically steer clear of beige, there is one exception that I’ve grown fond of: Abalone. With its hints of gray complemented by a subtle blush of pink, this color surprises and delights, proving that neutrals don’t have to be boring.” —Rayman Boozer, Apartment48
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Mt. Rainier Gray by Benjamin Moore
“I love Mt. Rainier Gray in Benjamin Moore’s Matte Regal Select collection. The icy blue tone with touches of gray resembles the sky, imbuing any space with a sense of calm. Mt. Rainier Gray is an ideal backdrop for any style that sparks joy in one’s life.” —Courtney McLeod, Right Meets Left Design
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Playa Arenosa by Sherwin-Williams
“This color is a café latte–colored hue—a beige with the slightest pink tones in it. It’s a warm hug! Super soothing but never dull.” —Ghislaine Viñas
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Metropolitan by Benjamin Moore
“Metropolitan by Benjamin Moore is always a go-to warm gray for me. I wanted to create a moody environment, especially in the bedroom. The color conveys a sense of calm modernity.” —Courtney McLeod, Right Meets Left Design
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Iced Mocha by Sherwin-Williams
“Iced Mocha is an aptly named color, since that’s exactly what it looks like. There’s a tint of pink in this color, making [it] both soft and inviting. I’m not known for working in beige or brown color palettes, but [this neutral] feels fresh and modern to me.” —Ghislaine Viñas
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Havana Tan by Benjamin Moore
“This tan is just so rich and pretty. It has some pink undertones so it feels warm and enveloping while still serving as a great backdrop for art and furnishings.” —Jessica Davis, Atelier Davis
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Turbinado by Clare
“Beige is back, baby! I’m dreaming up projects using earthy, plaster-inspired walls, and Clare paint in Turbinado is giving me all the neutral vibes. Bonus points for being earth-friendly and a Black female–owned company!” —Lori Paranjape, Mrs. Paranjape
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Paean Black by Farrow & Ball
“I’m always looking to pair our wallcoverings with the perfect paints that highlight our designs. Farrow & Ball has the most gorgeous velvety black shade that looks extraordinary paired with our Dahling [wallpaper] in charcoal. We highly suggest painting the ceiling and crown molding in this deep dark color to make the paper pop.” —Melinda Marquardt, The Vale London
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Table Linen by Portola Paints
“Table Linen on its own has a bit of a creamy, almost yellow undertone that, when paired with bright white, might feel too buttery. When you pair it with deeper, more saturated colors like Figueroa and Piano Room, it cuts all the yellow out and it just feels like a warm white.” —Jamie Davis, Portola Paints
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Manchester Tan by Benjamin Moore
“A go-to warm neutral that is a wonderful chameleon color. It can go modern or traditional and pairs easily with textiles for window treatments. I have had it in my living room for 11 years, and it still feels fresh.” — Marika Meyer
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Silver Satin by Benjamin Moore
“It has the slightest hint of gray and beige together; it adds a lot of depth and body to a space while still feeling neutral.” — Rebecca Hay
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Shaker Beige by Benjamin Moore
“This neutral paint color is the perfect backdrop to allow the art to take center stage. We recently used it in living room, and it complements the rusts and greens in the artwork perfectly.” — Marguerite Rodgers
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Harbor Gray by Benjamin Moore
“Finding a good neutral color can be tricky. Benjamin Moore’s Harbor Gray is one of my go-to grays because it is such a great middle ground between a warm and a cool gray. It works with everything!” — Rozit Arditi, Arditi Design
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Lost Locket by Benjamin Moore
“When it comes to bedrooms, I want them to be soothing and calming. Lost Locket is such a soft and dreamy color that we can’t get enough of it for bedrooms.” —Rozit Arditi
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French Canvas by Benjamin Moore
“It’s the perfect neutral; it has a green undertone that makes it pair well with so many colors, and there is an organic feel to this neutral. It’s not boring.” — Isabel Ladd
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Navajo White by Benjamin Moore
“Navajo White is the best in the beige family. It doesn’t have an undertone of pink, yellow, or green like so many neutrals can have.” — Carolynne Kollar-Flanagan, Mojo Stumer
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Ammonite by Farrow & Ball
“Neutral can go in so many directions, but for me, it’s about how the color reflects, absorbs, and accentuates natural light in a room. This is a chameleon of color that can appear like a creamy off-white one minute, and a very pale gray-blue the next. I love when a paint color surprises you from hour to hour and almost adapts to its surroundings.” — Jeff Andrews
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Cedar Key by Benjamin Moore
“Benjamin Moore’s Cedar Key is one of my favorite neutrals in both brightly lit and moodier rooms. It’s a versatile neutral that is like a warm hug—cozy, and inviting. Truer whites can feel sterile sometimes, and this warmer off-white mitigates for that.” — Clara Jung, Banner Day Interiors
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Rachel Silva, the Assistant Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, covers design, architecture, trends, and anything to do with haute couture. She has previously written for Time, The Wall Street Journal, and Citywire.
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, and ELLE Decor, among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.
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