If the word “beige” immediately brings to mind dated ’90s living rooms and overstuffed upholstery, then think again. This warm neutral can give a room character and depth, and has a decidedly more welcoming look than any plain old white. That’s why designers are bringing it back to the forefront, using it in kitchens, bedrooms, and dining rooms alike. “Beige gets a bad rap,” says Melanie Olson, founder and owner of Melanie Olson Design Group. “But it’s actually a very flattering paint color that provides depth and warmth.”
Any room can get an inviting new look thanks to this sandy pale shade. Want to use it in your own home? With hundreds, if not thousands, of beiges to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. Here, we’ve put together a list of 16 paints that are enthusiastically designer approved.
Crème by Sherwin-Williams
Beige is a lovely way to paint a room in a neutral shade without resorting to white or gray. Crème, a classic beige, is an easygoing, warm tone that can work in a living or bedroom space. “It’s super versatile depending on how it’s used,” says Grey Joyner, founder of Grey Joyner Interiors. “It has a light reflectance value of 82, so it’s quite reflective. If a room gets a lot of light, [Crème] tends to appear a little lighter. In a room with less natural light, it appears a bit warmer, a bit richer.”
Aged Beige by Behr
Aged Beige leans darker than other beiges and has a depth that looks beautiful in moodier rooms with less natural light. Johanna Lyle, principal and owner of Jo Lyle & Co., used it in this dining room, where it complements a monochromatic design with beige chairs and print drapery. The molding adds dimension to the swath of neutral.
Analytical Gray by Sherwin-Williams
Analytical Gray may have gray in the name, but its warm stone tones lean beige. “This beige can bring out both warm and cool tones depending on the other colors and textures used in the scheme,” says Olson. “It has a neutral base that doesn’t lean too yellow or too gray—which, in my opinion, is the perfect recipe for a beige paint.” In this living room, she used the color to complement the brass details on the cabinetry and the blue accents in the upholstery, creating a serene but cozy space.
Cumulus Cloud by Benjamin Moore
Cumulus Cloud is meant to evoke the color of clouds on an overcast day, giving this beige a more solemn look. “[It’s] a very versatile, cooler beige that easily lends itself to warm and cool palettes alike,” says Courtney Hill Utt, principal and owner of Chu Interiors. In this bathroom, it’s used on a vanity to complement a traditional wallpaper.
Sea Salt by Benjamin Moore
Sea Salt is the ideal neutral beige and is a calming color that can be used as a foundation for both neutrals and colors alike. “It’s the perfect backdrop to let the rest of your room shine with both cool tones and warmer tones,” says Meghan Kluth, founder and lead designer at Moment of Kluth Design.
Canvas Tan by Sherwin-Williams
This living room by Studio Vyas uses Sherwin-Williams Canvas Tan as a warm, welcoming backdrop for a room full of cozy seating and built-ins. This beige leans more towards khaki, but still has a light and airy look that feels bright.
Handwoven by Dunn-Edwards Paints
For a warmer, more yellow-forward beige, Handwoven by Dunn-Edwards Paints is a choice that feels both rich and significant. “Handwoven goes hand-in-hand with a warm, modern design aesthetic,” says interior designer Tracy Metro. “It’s super approachable, with the right amount of tonal depth.”
White Sand by Benjamin Moore
White Sand is an easy beige that works in modern and traditional spaces alike. It has warm undertones and is more than a kiss of color—it holds its own against lighter whites and neutrals. In this kitchen, artist and home renovator Sarah Madeira Day used it on her cabinets.
Antique White by Sherwin-Williams
Leaning towards a warm ivory with yellow undertones, Antique White by Sherwin-Williams is a pretty beige that’s perfect in a cozy space. Johanna Lyle, principal and owner of Jo Lyle & Co., used it here in a living room that bridges modern silhouettes and vintage touches.
Saint Sauvant by Portola Paints
Saint Sauvant is a seamless and subdued beige that’s a calming background color for clean, minimalist spaces. “I love this color for how versatile it is,” says Jackie Johnson, founder of Jackie Johnson Design. “While a lot of beiges can appear yellow, this one has a cooler undertone. I especially like to use it as the wall color in a home with tall ceilings.”
Accessible Beige by Sherwin-Williams
When a beige is named accessible, you know it’s going to be an easy color to use. “Choosing the right beige can be hard, but Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams is our perfect shade!” says Shelby Van Daley, founder and principal of Daley Home. “We love how the warmth works with any metal finish, but it’s also not too light where you don’t have any contrast.”
Aged White by Sherwin-Williams
The yellow tones in Aged White warm it up enough to make it work in any space, whether it’s a living room, bedroom, hallway, or office. “[It’s] the perfect warmer beige paint color,” says Utt. “It’s light enough to feel like an off-white, but it has a lot of depth and really warms up a space.”
Shiitake by Sherwin-Williams
Much like its namesake, Shiitake by Sherwin-Williams is a pleasant mushroom shade. It’s a little bit gray, a little bit warm, and so easy to use throughout the home. “Shiitake is a perfectly warm and understated neutral that pairs beautifully with brass finishes and an ornate countertop,” says Laura Williams, owner and principal at ATX Interior Design.
Manchester Tan by Benjamin Moore
While beige is often associated with more traditional interiors, it can also work within a modern, more minimalist space. “We recently used a beautiful beige paint, Benjamin Moore’s Manchester Tan, for one of our projects,” says Alexis Woodbury Earman, an interior stylist at The Woodbury Home. “It immediately added incredible warmth to the space and complimented the furniture and accent pieces.”
Litchfield Gray by Benjamin Moore
Litchfield Gray is a color from Benjamin Moore’s historic collection, and adds a touch of lavender to a familiar beige tone. Moriah Frantz, founder and principal at Moriah Frantz Designs, used it in this bedroom for the most relaxing neutral shade. “Beige is becoming the new black for sure,” she says. “All shades—even shades that make you question if it’s leaning on the whiter side. It’s all about texture and warmth right now.”
Drop Cloth by Farrow & Ball
Beige is always a classic choice in a kitchen, and it’s a more inviting alternative to white cabinetry. Cyndy Cantley, owner of Cantley & Company, used Drop Cloth by Farrow & Ball in this kitchen space. “It’s neither too yellow nor too white—a perfect neutral that always works beautifully with deep shades of blues, greens, or white,” she says. “It picks up the slight variations of the veining in marble and adds age to new kitchen cabinetry.”
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