Paint Color Picks | Our Go-To's
We’re thinking today is a good day for a good ole fashioned paint color post! Everything has been upside down recently with hurricane Dorian so we’re looking for a little stability. And we couldn’t think of a better staple then our go-to neutral paint colors. Even though there’s a number of different paint brands out there and each one comes with a huge variety of color options (only adding more each year), most designers have their comfort zone of paint — colors and brand. We pick colors that we know work because we’ve used them before….and thus, a staple is born.
When we’re going for brighter pops of color, we are usually selecting it based on another specific element in the room — a fabric it coordinates with or a wallpaper. So bright colors don’t usually make it on our staples list. Neutrals however, are always being used. Neutrals work not only for wall colors but also for trim colors, door colors, even exterior paint colors. Once you find a good neutral, you file it away for safe keeping because you know you’ll have another use for it soon.
So that’s what we’re giving you today — our go-to, tried-and-true, tested and proven neutral paint colors. Instead of giving you a bunch of whites or a bunch of greys, we’re going to give you our top pick of each — one white, one greige, one grey, or black, and one blue. These colors, like almost any color, will change in different lights, so be sure to test them in your own space before you go painting an entire wall….but we don’t anticipate there being much not to like about them. They’re just good colors!
As a side note, we love Sherwin Williams. Sherwin Williams is our go-to paint brand for color choice. So all of these selections are Sherwin Williams paint colors.
SW 7005 PURE WHITE
The image never does this white justice. It’s much brighter in person but has just the right amount of warmth in it to not feel cold and sterile. It’s soft but crisp and clean—definitely our favorite white!
SW 9166 DRIFT OF MIST
We refer to this as our chameleon color. This color can go more gray in rooms with cooler tones and more beige in rooms with warmer tones. It’s definitely more current then a basic beige with it’s gray undertones however, it works well for the person who’s scared of white but wants an updated look!
SW 7015 REPOSE GRAY
If you’re still a die-hard gray fan and haven’t given up on the “new neutral” that emerged around 2011, then this is the best bet for you. Repose Gray will give you that cool gray tone with just a hint of beige to keep it soft. It’s darker than Drift of Mist so it’ll give you contrast, if that’s what you’re looking for, but won’t feel like an office building!
SW 6258 TRICORN BLACK
Black has become a staple color for us. We love it just as much, if not more, than white. Black makes things pop and makes a statement. While selecting a good black isn’t as hard as figuring out the perfect white, there are still lots of choices out there but this one is our fave.
SW 6244 NAVAL
With the revolution of the painted cabinet, blue has quickly become a staple neutral. We’ve always thought it was (for the record), but everyone else is finally catching up! Ha! So what’s the perfect blue? It’s hard because for cabinetry, the wood species can affect how the color takes, but we do love this muted blue by Sherwin Williams. Naval is denimy and calming and if you test it out, you’ll realize it can really work with any other color!
