The Best Neutral Paint Colors for Any Home

How to choose paint colors? That is one of the most difficult questions in home decor! There are so many options which can make it even harder to choose. Colors can look different in each space under various lighting. If they have undertones, that makes it even harder! Over the last ten years, I’ve explored a variety of brands, colors, and types of paint – learned a lot of lessons but have settled on some of my very favorites that work well again and again for me. I am no firmly in the neutral color camp – specifically choosing paints without significant undertones. Here are some of the best neutral paint colors for inside or outside the home.

Why Choose Neutral Paint Colors

Neutral paint colors are my best decor friends. They are tried and true – you always know where they stand and they place nice with others. This is helpful when dealing with existing features like wood floors, trim, or cabinets. Plus, there are so many design and mental health benefits to neutral decor.

But when I say neutral, I mean an actual neutral. Like it has no funny blue or pink undertones…

So what do mean by neutral paint colors? Without getting all technical, all colors have undertones to them. Some are more warm (with reds and pinks) and some are more cool (with greens and blues). Like me, you may have learned this hard way!

I cannot tell you how many folks have said to me, “Allisa, I painted this wall gray. Really, it was gray on the swatch. But now it’s blluuuuuuue!”(I know this pain all too well after an ill-fated go round with Behr’s Dolphin Gray in 2012). This means that the gray has more cool, blue colors in the mix. Different rooms and different lighting will make it appear more or less cool.

Neutrals, however, walk the line (cue Johnny Cash) with balanced undertones. This means that they have a relatively balanced amount of cool and warm undertones in their color combination. Wonderfully, this leaves little room for surprise.

Tried & True Neutral Paint Colors:

Over time, I’ve gathered up a few neutral paint colors to keep in my arsenal. I use them time & time again (looking at you Iron Ore). From major remodels to quick accent walls, these are the colors I turn to repeatedly. I’ve used them in my own homes (I’ve moved a lot) and are the ones I recommend to friends. I keep this list updated with my very favorite neutral paint colors to make it easy to update any space.

Paint Color Samples

Luckily, we live in a world of peel & stick samples to make it easy to select the right paint. Not only do the large panels make it easier to see the color over those tiny little swatches, there is zero mess. Yes, please. Click below to grab any neutral paint samples:

• Iron Ore – Sherwin Williams
• Pure White – Sherwin Williams
• Hale Navy – Benjamin Moore
• Chantilly Lace – Benjamin Moore
• Tricorn Black – Sherwin Williams
• Penthouse- Clare
• Seize the Gray – Clare
• Fresh Kicks – Clare
• Peppercorn – Sherwin Williams

And once you have the samples, there are a few ways to optimize using them. It’s important to keep lighting and time of day in mind. I’ve outlined my favorite tips for Testing Paint Colors to help choose the right color for your space. Ok, onto my favorites…

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace

In the forefront of what I consider to be one of the best white paint colors is Chantilly Lace – a neutral, crisp white. I’ve used it in many settings, from south facing living rooms to kitchens and bathrooms. It stands out as a very true, pure white.

In this home, I painted all of our walls Chantilly Lace. I love how it feels like an artist’s canvas and also contrasts against dark colors and woven shades. This color works well for modern, contemporary spaces.

Sherwin Williams Pure White

Another favorite white paint color is Pure White from Sherwin Williams. It is a neutral white with an ever so slight touch of warmth. It’s soft and subtle yet not warm enough to be a cream or pinky white. This is a great, all around option for walls, trim work, and kitchen cabinets.

I used it on all of our window and floor trim, going for a white on white effect. Pure White is very similar to Chantilly Lace but just a touch warmer, perfect for framing a space or for those who want a classic white paint color.

I know it can seem like these two paint colors are too similar to matter, but really there are some key differences. I love each in their own right and continue to use them in all my projects. Read More about how these two white paints compare: Chantilly Lace vs Pure White Review

Sherwin Williams Iron Ore

Ooh, now it’s time for some of the darker shades. I love a good black paint for contrast and classic design. Over the years, I’ve used black paint in a variety of ways and one color I lean on again and again is Sherwin Williams Iron Ore. While not an actual black, it is more of a very dark, neutral charcoal gray with limited undertones.

Unlike some darker colors, it doesn’t have purplish red undertones, however, it can have a very slight hint of blue especially with just one coat. This is one of my all time favorite dark paint colors that looks great just about anywhere!

We use used Iron Ore on my Office Accent Wall and the color blocked wall in our main bedroom. This shade is one of the best neutral paint colors and is perfect for a bold accent wall!

Sherwin Willams Tricorn Black

Ok, ready for a deeper, richer black paint color? Well, I’ve got just the answer. The holy grail of my dark paint color world is Sherwin Williams’ Tricorn Black. This paint color is a rich deep dark color – a true neutral black if there ever was. Not a touch of red or blue undertones in sight. When someone says black paint, this is the color you are imagining!

I keep a can of Tricorn Black in my closet like it’s my pantry. There is always a can of it there. When I move, it travels with with me. From doors to fireplaces and to the entire exterior of my previous home – Tricorn Black has never done me wrong.

A Few Other Paint Color Favorites:

Behr Black Boudoir

This black paint is one of my newest favorites! Black Boudoir is a very rich, velvety almost neutral black. I love how it creates a very smooth, neutral back drop for artwork and wood. I used it here in my office nook and it created a soft, lovely contrast to the rest of the room. It has a touch of bluish purple undertones to it, making it not quite a neutral – but still very lovely!

Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray

I admit, I’m not the biggest fan of gray paint but I’ve added this beauty to my list of secondary favorites. SW Dorian Gray 7017 is a medium dark, gray with a bit of warmth (that looks way different on the online color cards!).

I just used this to paint my older son’s bedroom walls (no pics yet!) and I love it for how almost neutral and calm it feels. It definitely has some warm undertones so I would be mindful of this in different lighting and spaces. Moving forward, I would consider Dorian Gray as a good accent color, like the front door. I’ve gathered up more options in my post, Warm Gray vs Cool Gray Paint Colors.

Final Thoughts on Neutral Paint Colors

I hope this helps choose neutral paint colors for your home! There’s a lot to understand about paint so breaking it down just a little can make a big difference. Color is one of the 7 Interior Design Elements so it’s important to choose wisely. Personally, I’ve found that neutral paint colors never do me wrong.

Want to learn more? Check out my thoughts on and How to Add Color to Your Home and the Best Paint Color Visualizers. Or, if you want even more help, check out my Curated Paint Color Palettes where I’ve created researched and labeled schemes for the whole house to make it easy!