33 Absolutely Perfect Paint Colors Designers Love

Take the stress out of choosing a hue with one of these no-fail options.

Paint Colors Interior Designers Love, paint swatches
Photo: Courtesy of Manufacturers

Nothing sets the tone for a home quite like the color on the walls. It's no wonder then that choosing a paint color can be a daunting task. To help simplify the process, we turned to some of our favorite interior designers for advice. We asked them to share with us the go-to paint colors they rely on again and again.

From timeless classics like the misty gray that is Benjamin Moore's Shoreline to statement shades such as Brassica by Farrow & Ball, you won't go wrong when selecting one of these pro-approved hues.

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Paper White by Benjamin Moore

Paper White by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"This white is my absolute favorite!" says Ashley Darryl of Ashley Darryl Interiors in New York City. "It's warm and tends to go a touch gray, instead of blue or yellow like a lot of whites. I use it everywhere—in kitchens so white cabinets pop, up a stairwell instead of a stark white, and even on moldings against colored walls."

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Parma Gray by Farrow & Ball

Parma Gray by Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball

"I am obsessed with this blue," Darryl says. "It has a purple undertone that looks almost gray-blue, like a cloudy sky." She's used it in a high gloss finish for a dramatic foyer, in matte for a family room to make the space feel cozy, and on a ceiling as a pop of color in an otherwise white room.

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Light Pewter by Benjamin Moore

Light Pewter by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"We've used this light gray for years," says Jim Aman of Aman & Meeks in New York City. "It's a great neutral that works with almost all interiors." While all-gray walls might seem like a big commitment, Aman loves that Light Pewter provides a timeless backdrop to other colors throughout the home.

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Brassica by Farrow & Ball

Brassica by Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball

"If there is such thing as a quiet, masculine purple, this is it," says Richard McGeehan of McGeehan Design in Ossining, New York. "It's gorgeously subtle and it flatters everything from antique English mahogany to Moroccan black-and-white inlay—even 1970s chrome. It delights and surprises those who believed they could never love a purple room!"

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White Dove by Benjamin Moore

White Dove by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"This is such a classic, versatile white," says Alexandra Kaehler of Alexandra Kaehler Design in Chicago. "It has a little bit of warmth, but not enough to look yellow, so it's always fresh-feeling. I would absolutely fill an entire house with it—and have, many times!"

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Alligator Alley by Benjamin Moore

Alligator Alley by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

This rich green is Kaehler's favorite colorful choice. "It has some gray undertones that make it really easy to live with. I've used it as the ground for custom wallpaper, as an accent on the ceiling, and I've also covered an entire room in it."

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Heritage Red by Benjamin Moore

Heritage Red by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"I love this color in high gloss, in a dining room or library," says Lilly Bunn of Lilly Bunn Interiors in New York City. "It's best in rooms that you use at night, though, as it can be a bit too dark for the daytime." This rich hue will help make any space look luxurious and cozy.

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Linen White by Benjamin Moore

Linen White by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"This is the perfect ivory color that works with almost anything and has tons of depth," says Alyssa Kapito of Alyssa Kapito Interiors in New York City. "It has enough pigment to still feel ivory in a very bright room, but it turns the softest pink as the sun goes down. We use this color everywhere and anywhere!"

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Decorator's White by Benjamin Moore

Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"We turn to this color very often in our projects," says Susana Simonpietri of Chango & Co. in Brooklyn, New York. "It's white with a slight blue tone, which makes rooms look that much brighter and lighter! We use it on walls, trim, and millwork, and we love it on media built-ins and bunk beds."

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Shoreline by Benjamin Moore

Shoreline by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"My go-to neutral is Shoreline. I searched high and low for a pale gray that would not read blue, green, or lavender. This color has just enough pigment to contrast well against crisp, white trim, but not so much that you can't use it everywhere—even on the ceiling!" says Claire Paquin of Clean Design in Scarsdale, New York. "It's great for family rooms, hallways, and kitchens. It's the perfect, pale, neutral gray."

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Autumn Purple by Benjamin Moore

Autumn Purple by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"This sophisticated, rich hue of berry purple is my favorite bold color right now," Paquin says. "It's daring yet inviting, and it lends tons of warmth to a space. It's not too masculine or feminine, and works in every environment." Paquin recommends it in dining rooms, powder rooms, or as a high-gloss lacquer on built-ins in a home office.

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Passive by Sherwin-Williams

Passive by Sherwin Williams

Sherwin-Williams

"Unlike most neutral grays, Passive doesn't carry any undertones," says Elizabeth Darth of Martha O'Hara Interiors in both Minneapolis and Austin. "It's not too warm, not too cool, not too blue, and not too taupe. This go-to gray is totally reliable, and could look great in almost any room. I recently used it in a nursery."

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Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore

Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"This warm taupe-gray is like a chameleon, reflective of its surroundings and subtly changing with sunlight—which is what makes it so much fun!" says Hayley Schlueter, also of Martha O'Hara Interiors. "The color has been around for a while—it's on Benjamin Moore's historic swatch list—because it's so darn pretty!"

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Bermuda Turquoise by Benjamin Moore

Bermuda Turquoise by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"Small, transitional spaces such as foyers and powder rooms are prime places to go big with color," says Jennifer Jones of Niche Interiors in San Francisco. "I love Bermuda Turquoise, a rich, saturated jewel tone that looks especially beautiful in a high-gloss finish."

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Blue Haze by Benjamin Moore

Blue Haze by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

Blue Haze is a fresh, ethereal blue that’s both calming and stimulating," says Molly Torres Portnof of DATE Interiors. "It’s such a cheerful color, I love using it in everywhere, but especially in a bedroom."

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Hardwick White by Farrow & Ball

Hardwick White No.5 by Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball

“Don't let the name confuse you, this color actually reads more taupe. It's one of those colors that works equally well in historic homes and more modern spaces," says Jeanne Barber of Camden Grace Interiors. "It's neutral enough that it lets artwork shine, and the warm undertone gives spaces a sense of coziness. We recently painted an entire Connecticut office (walls, trim, ceiling) this color and now it feels like you're working in a cool Parisian parlor.”

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Wevet by Farrow & Ball

Wevet by Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball

"Our go-to white at SPACES by Hollie Velten is Wevet by Farrow & Ball," says Hollie Velten-Lattrell, founder and principal designer. According to her, "This color has the most calming effect. The delicate white has a barely-there and almost translucent feel to it—its name apparently comes from an old Dorset term for a spider’s web.

She adds, "We find that this white is incredibly neutral, and it's slight grey undertone gives that signature layered depth that all Farrow & Ball pigments bring to a room. We've used this in countless projects, and even advise clients start with this color as a blank canvas on new long-lead projects as a really easy color to live with."

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Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball

Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball

"Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball is another one of our studio favorites. We find this is the perfect light mushroom for neutral rooms," says Velten-Lattrell. "We've used this on kitchen cabinets for a really charming, warm cottage effect, and we've used it on many interior wall projects to help pull together a space that shouldn't feel too crisp or too dark. It's a lovely middle-tone that can really support and let the color and pattern play be front-of-stage in the textiles and finishes of a project."

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Jitney by Farrow & Ball

Jitney by Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball

"Jitney is another studio favorite. We've used this one on many projects—first in our Stone House project to support the standout viola fireplace," says Velten-Lattrell. "Sometimes clients are afraid of browns (maybe PTSD from all the shag rugs and granny upholstery leftover from the '70s in their childhoods?!) but more and more, our clients are opening up to seeing the warmth and depth and beauty that shades of brown bring to a project.

According to Velten-Lattrell, "Jitney is a really lovely 'starter brown.' It's still light and creamy with all the earthy moodiness a brown can offer. There is a touch of a pink or peach in it, which makes it feel balletic and soft, while still relaxed and earthy."

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Palest Pistachio by Benjamin Moore

Palest Pistachio by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"Palest Pistachio is just beautiful. It looks like white with a tinge of blue. On a rainy or cloudy day, it looks white but with a tinge of green," says Carla Fonts, principal designer of Dunbar Road Design. "Either way, it gives you happiness and a clean feeling. I tell my clients that it will make you happy and feel clean and crisp, even on a cloudy day. It is guaranteed to brighten up your home in a subtle way."

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Palladian Blue by Benjamin Moore

Palladian Blue by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"Palladian Blue is another favorite," Fonts adds. "It says blue, but to me, I see more green in this color. It’s deeper in color but in such an elegant and timeless way, like Tiffany Blue. This color will never go out of style."

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Brewster Gray by Benjamin Moore

Brewster Gray by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"While the name says gray, this is a dusty blue that we love pairing with brass or wallpaper," says Liz Goldberg, founder and creative director of design firm, CAROLYNLEONA. "The contrast is really beautiful and timeless. We have used this color on walls, time, and cabinetry alike, and we love how it glows in a space."

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Evergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams

Evergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams

"It's a saturated, dusty green paint that reads like a neutral," says Goldberg. "It's organic, and when paired with warm wood tones, it provides a calming effect. We recently used this in a client's home office and added beautiful wall trim work, all painted in the same color, and it's a showstopper!"

Alexandra Killion, the CEO and creative director of Alexandra Killion Interiors, also selected Evergreen Fog as a beloved shade. She says, "Across the board, clients are loving greens. This one is a soft, not in-your-face green. I feel like people have gotten burned out on blue and teal, and this color is the answer to that. It’s a go-to that clients are loving. It reads as more of a neutral."

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Accessible Beige by Sherwin-Williams

Accessible Beige by Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams

"This is such a pretty beige that doesn't scare people," Killion says. "I feel like people have PTSD from the 2000s-era beiges. It’s a perfect warm color that doesn’t skew too yellow. I used it on kitchen cabinets recently—it's perfect for when you're tired of an all-white kitchen."

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Simply White by Benjamin Moore

Simply White by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"Our go-to warm white! This shade of white works for us 99% of the time, especially when creating an all-white scheme," says designer Isabella Patrick of Isabella Patrick Interiors. "Recently, we used it in flat [finish] on the walls, semi-gloss on the doors and high-gloss on the baseboards. And that's an important little tip: Vary your sheen finishes to create interest in a monochromatic application."

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Calm by Benjamin Moore

Calm by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"We've also paired Simply White on the walls and Benjamin Moore's Calm on the trims, and this adds the perfect amount of interest—the most subtle contrast," Patrick continues. "Calm is also a great wall color that changes beautifully in different lights."

She cautions, "Just be very careful about seeing these white or light colors in your space on the walls they're going on. If you're sampling a white or light color and holding it up to an existing wall color, beware that it will skew your color perception." Patrick recommends swatching colors on primed walls, applied in large swatches (the size of two sheets of paper), and viewed dry. Swatches should not be too close to each other, either.

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Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore

Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"The perfect navy blue," Patrick shares. "We love this color, because it's deeply saturated and it has no red or yellow undertones, so it never reads purple or teal, even in bright light. Recently, we drenched an entire kitchen wall and ceiling in this color, and it created the coziest and most dramatic setting. Navy is a great way to go bold in a restrained way. It's timeless, sophisticated, and goes with nearly everything."

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Topsail by Sherwin-Williams

Topsail by Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams

"Topsail is my go-to color choice for a fresh, mint color. Its subtle hue gives that perfect hint of pale blue and green that feels cool and refreshing without overwhelming a room," says Natalie Papier, the artist and designer behind design firm Home Ec. "This works really well as a whole room color to provide an uplifting but relaxing vibe or as an accent color when combined with more saturated tones. Pairing Topsail with bright whites in other room furnishings and/or textiles make this color feel especially crisp."

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Cavern Clay by Sherwin-Williams

Cavern Clay by Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams

"Cavern Clay is a saturated, earthy color that adds such richness to a space," Papier says. "This Terracotta-inspired hue feels especially organic when paired with warm woods and neutral colors. Because it's not a super vivid tone, Cavern Clay also gives you the opportunity to pair with other color pops to create a warm, layered design. I love using this color on the ceiling as it creates a really nice rosy glow that's both comforting and energetic."

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Outerspace by Sherwin-Williams

Outerspace by Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams

"This deep blue has heavy gray undertones making it the perfect moody-yet-sophisticated blue for high impact areas like built-ins," says Mollie Ranize, Lead interior designer and founder of DMAR Interiors. "Because of its depth of color, it works well on various types of woodwork and has serious shadow play. It's quite timeless and sets a nice backdrop for art, accessories, and furnishings. We have used it in different styles of homes and depending on the room it's in, it can feel playful or grown up. It’s a blue go-to!"

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Lawn Party by Backdrop

Lawn Party by Backdrop

Backdrop

"We are loving Lawn Party by Backdrop," says Lucinda Aron, interior design director of Terracotta Design Build. "This vibrant medium green, with its warm yellow and tan undertones, not only complements neutrals but also elevates various surfaces such as walls, ceilings, and cabinetry."

She adds, "Our recent application of Lawn Party in a Cuban restaurant has truly transformed the space, infusing it with vitality and character. Furthermore, we are excited to utilize Lawn Party in another project—a sunroom adorned with textured brick walls, a white oak ceiling, and a checkerboard floor. In every space, this color possesses a unique ability to illuminate, evoking the invigorating sensation of a freshly cut lawn."

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Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball

Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball

"This exquisite hue serves as a delightful alternative to traditional grey, offering a perfect blend of blue and grey tones that exude versatility," Aron says. "Inspired by the evocative skies of Scotland, Inchyra Blue possesses the remarkable ability to shift between blue and green hues depending on the ambient light."

"We recently incorporated the color into an expansive kitchen island, anchoring the space amidst neutral millwork. Acting as a neutral itself, this color seamlessly integrates into both contemporary and classic projects, offering endless possibilities for design expression," she adds.

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Red Earth by Farrow & Ball

Red Earth by Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball

"Red Earth boasts a harmonious blend of red and yellow pigments, making it an ideal accent color," Aron suggests. "Its warmth lends itself to a dynamic interaction with changing daylight. Recently, we incorporated this terracotta red into accent cupboards with brass mesh fronts, allowing the color to gently infuse into the space. It serves as an excellent choice for front doors, extending a warm welcome to guests and adding a vibrant touch wherever a warm pop of color is desired."

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