Decorating Guides
Beyond Greige: 8 Sophisticated Paint Colors to Try Now
Ready for a shade that doesn’t rhyme with beige? Try one of these rich hues for your next room makeover
Gray and its neighbor greige have become go-to hues for many designers, homeowners and stagers in recent years, and with good reason: These neutrals are subtle, sophisticated and have wide appeal. But if you’re getting a little greige fatigue, consider adding one (or more) of these equally sophisticated hues to your palette. From navy to smoky blue to buttermilk, these colors are elegant, easy to work with and sure to please.
2. Milk chocolate. A light brown that’s warm but not too warm, this hue looks especially sophisticated on woodwork. Milk chocolate pairs well with ivory, plum, taupe and deeper shades of brown. Try it in the living room or bedroom.
How to pick the right color of brown
How to pick the right color of brown
3. Smoky blue. Like a moody sky or turbulent sea, this color is rich and dramatic. And because it’s strong without being overpowering, it works equally well as an accent or main color. Try smoky blue in the dining room, mudroom, bath or kitchen alongside crisp white, black and shades of gray.
Blue paint: Normandy 2129-40, Benjamin Moore
9 Beautiful Saturated Blue Paints
Blue paint: Normandy 2129-40, Benjamin Moore
9 Beautiful Saturated Blue Paints
4. Buttermilk. Warmer than off-white but not as cloying as full-on yellow, buttermilk is a friendly, uplifting hue. Try it in the kitchen, breakfast nook, living room or anywhere you’d like a warm, cozy atmosphere. Buttermilk looks especially at home among natural wood tones, and including some black in the design for contrast keeps the look fresh.
Browse white and wood interiors
Browse white and wood interiors
5. Taupe. Looking for a baby step away from gray? Try taupe, which sits squarely in the middle of the neutral spectrum. It’s not too warm or too cool, making it easy to coordinate with just about any other colors or wood tones in your home.
Wall paint: Shaker, C2 Paint
Wall paint: Shaker, C2 Paint
6. Neutral green. With both gray (cool) and brown (warm) undertones, a green like this has a timeless, historic feel that works especially well with rich woods and warm whites. Try it in the living or dining room paired with wood floors and natural wood finishes.
Find professional house painters near you
Find professional house painters near you
7. Purple-gray. Purples can be tricky, but a shade with a lot of gray in it is far easier to work with than others. Violet Verbena from PPG Paints, one of the colors of the year for 2017, is a purple-gray with a soothing, not too sweet feel. Try it in the bedroom or bath paired with gray, cream, oatmeal and natural fibers.
Wall paint: Violet Verbena, PPG Paints
Wall paint: Violet Verbena, PPG Paints
8. Black. Black is bold but also classic, making it a solid choice for cabinetry in the kitchen or bath. It’s become more common as a wall color in recent years, but it still feels edgy to go all-black on the walls. Test it out as an accent wall in the living room or hall or in a small space like the laundry room. Black also works well as a backdrop for art or lining open shelves filled with fresh green plants.
Cabinet paint: Black Beauty, Benjamin Moore
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Tell us: Are you still loving shades of gray or are you ready to move on? Share your favorite wall color in the Comments.
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12 Tried and True Paint Colors for Your Walls
Browse rooms featuring beautiful black walls and accents
Cabinet paint: Black Beauty, Benjamin Moore
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Tell us: Are you still loving shades of gray or are you ready to move on? Share your favorite wall color in the Comments.
More
12 Tried and True Paint Colors for Your Walls
Browse rooms featuring beautiful black walls and accents
Cabinet paint: Devine Macaw, Devine Color
See the rest of this home | More ways to work with navy