Our Favorite Gray/White/Neutral Paint Colors

If there is one decorating topic I seem to get asked about more than any other it has to do with paint colors. Selecting a paint can be hard, there are literally millions of brands, colors, and finishes and all have undertones that can look different in different spaces. While I have made plenty of painting mistakes, I have learned to stick with a few of my very favorites that are always strong performers. I thought I’d pull them together into a reference for you all so you have a resource of the ones we recommend and have been pleased with in our own spaces.

See more about this room HERE

It can be hard to tell on a computer what a paint color looks like, especially since we use editing tools to help the rooms look visually appealing and light and bright. I will share the paint swatch to help, but I always recommend getting a sample and seeing how it looks on your walls as paints can look different depending on all sorts of factors.

I will start with this color as it is truly one of my favorites, Benjamin Moore MOONSHINE.

Benjamin Moore – Moonshine

When it comes to selecting a neutral color that is between a white and gray with a warm undertone, Moonshine is my go to. While it reads slightly gray, it is a very light neutral that is less ‘boring’ than a plain white and works with almost any decor. I used it in my dining room in our last home, and am planning to use it again in our family room in this home.

See more about this kitchen makeover here

Benjamin Moore – Revere Pewter

A gray/greige with a little more saturation than Moonshine, I used Revere Pewter on my kitchen island. I felt like it was the perfect gray/greige that blended with the perimeter white cabinets. This is another paint color that I feel like works almost everywhere, it’s slightly darker and warmer then moonshine if you want a bit of a darker color. PS my kitchen cabinets were painted Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White, a great pure white color.

Sherwin Williams – Rhinestone

I love this next paint color so much I wrote a post a few years ago entitled “My Favorite Paint Color, Rhinestone by Sherwin Williams”. This swatch below directly from the SW site does not do it justice. This is a cool light blue/gray, but it definitely has strong cool, blue undertones.

I used it in our breakfast room in our last home (see more here), and when we decide to paint our bedroom I’m sure I’ll use it again. I am drawn toward cool blues and grays and this color to me is beautiful in any light. It can, however, look white, gray or pale blue in different spaces and lights.

Sherwin Williams – Sea Salt

See more about this room here

Christy has used Sherwin Williams Sea Salt in a number of rooms, it must be good since she painted her daughter’s room this color in three different homes. This reminds me of the Rhinestone color but is a bit more of a bolder blue/gray and in my opinion reads less white. It’s another beautiful color especially for a coastal style room.

Sherwin Williams – Rock Candy

See more about this room here

Sherwin Williams – Rock Candy

I think this paint color looks gorgeous in Christy’s new home. It works perfectly with the traditional accents that come with an older home and pairs with her furniture. This also is a light gray with some pale blue undertones.

Benjamin Moore – BoothBay Gray

I used this color on the back of my front door (see more here) and loved it so much I selected it again to paint my laundry room cabinets. I love it, it’s a very crisp blue/gray that pops against white. I’d use this again especially in a bathroom or a boy’s room. If you are looking for a pretty cabinet color, I’d also recommend this color against a lighter wall.

See more about our painted laundry room cabinets here

Also, another question I get frequently is the base color in our Virginia craftsman home, the answer is in this post here.

Finally, this is a bonus since I get asked about this color all the time. I painted our front door Woodlawn Blue by Benjamin Moore. It is a little beachy and definitely has some aqua/green undertones but I think it was a fun change! See more of it in this post HERE.

Another nice, warm ivory I use often is Sherwin Williams Alabaster. I had our entire first floor painted in this color in our country home.

Over the years we’ve shared quite a few tips on the painting process and other decorative painting ideas. Here are some popular posts:

Mudroom updates with accent doors

How to quickly paint an accent wall

How to paint a porch

How to paint ceilings and tall walls without scaffolding

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