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White walls have a few competitors for the most popular interior color these days. Gray is having an undeniable moment, but we can’t gloss over the fact that there’s an ecru shade that’s caught our design-savvy eye—we’ve gone totally nuts for taupe paint colors. While having similar characteristics to creams (pairing well with just about anything), Taupe wears it much more gracefully. It also has the ability to add a dash of warmth to any décor style with just a few coats.
- Color Family: Brown
- Complementary Colors: Blue
- Pairs Well With: All colors
- Mood: Sophisticated, earthy, romantic, soothing
- Where to Use: Walls and trim
We tapped a few designers to figure out the best taupe paint colors for your walls. After these tips, any loyal white paint user may just be a convert.
Farrow & Ball Stony Ground
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Design: Hive LA Home; Photo: Amy Bartlam
According to interior designer Ginny Macdonald, taupe can be a hard color to nail down. While some run red-ish, others have the tendency to turn out murky. But fear not, she’s found a happy medium: Stony Ground by Farrow & Ball, a classic neutral smack in the middle. “Used in the right way, a taupe can really elevate a space and add a warm depth of sophistication,” says Macdonald.
Benjamin Moore Vintage Taupe
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Taupes are having “a bit of a moment,” Jennifer Vaquero of September Workshop tells us, as we begin to opt for warmer tones over cool. One to look out for is Vintage Taupe by Benjamin Moore, which plays nicely with just about any accent color.
Sherwin-Williams Amazing Gray
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If you're seeking out a more contemporary take on taupe paint, designer Laura Hay points to Sherwin-Williams Amazing Gray as one of her favorites. “It's a cool, modern shade of taupe,“ she says. “I love how it works equally with warm and cool tones.“ We also give it the Goldilocks stamp of approval—not too light, not too dark, but just right.
Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath
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Emma Beryl swears by Farrow & Ball’s Elephant’s Breath. “It brings a rich sense of warmth to any space, but its gray undertones feel totally new and fresh,” she says. Renowned for its original inception by sought-after British designer John Fowler, this taupe has made its way to bedrooms all over the world. “It is the most perfect neutral taupe with a magenta undertone,” adds Decorist designer Jessica McCarthy, noting its earthy, yet romantic impact.
Sherwin-Williams Eider White
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Part of the Coastal Cool family by Sherwin-Williams, Vaquero also offers us Eider White, a taupe that scales almost gray. Soothing and laid back, it can play the charming supporting role to a whimsical space. If your style runs on the wild side, this is the perfect color to tame it.
Farrow & Ball School House White
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Design: Hive LA Home; Photo: Amy Bartlam
Just barely bridging the space between taupe and cream, this shade was designed to be used as effortlessly as you would a white. Vaquero tends to lean towards “softer and lighter hues,” when picking a taupe, and School House White satisfies just that approach.
Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn
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Christine Markatos Lowe of Christine Markatos Design thinks that in a space with wood and brick elements, Baby Fawn by Benjamin Moore could be just the refresher you need. “Taupe paint is a great way to give warmth to a more contemporary design scheme, as opposed to the starkness of white paint.” As a shade rich with grey undertones, it adapts to earth tones nicely.
Sherwin-Williams Perfect Greige
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If you’re looking for a color that pairs well with just about anything, Decorist Elite Designer Becky Leu leads us to Perfect Greige, an almost plum-hued paint choice. Subtle yet warm, it evokes the comfort of a log cabin. Leu swears by it: “I've used it in entire-home projects before because of its versatility.”
Benjamin Moore White Dove
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Design: Emily Henderson Design; Photo: Zeke Ruelas
The lightest of the taupe family is Benjamin Moore’s White Dove, a warm, luminous tone. According to Markatos Lowe, this paint choice will “perfectly complement the fresh pastel colors of a feminine space, creating a calm and welcoming room for entertaining.”
Try keeping the walls minimal while saving the “wow” moment for fabrics and accessories.
Behr Creamy Mushroom
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Turns out this highly divisive soup flavor makes the perfect interior accent color, too. Just take a look at how the DIY-guru behind Brie Builds used Behr’s Creamy Mushroom on a geometric sliding door to add subtle warmth to her black, white, and gray bathroom reno. Creamy and dreamy.
Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray
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“The easiest way to describe taupe is that it’s a cross between grey and beige,” says Eugenia Triandos, co-founder of Hibou Design & Co. “Some taupes are just grey with a touch of warmth and some are far more yellow with a touch of grey.” In this kitchen, the cabinetry is finished in Sherwin-Williams’ Repose Gray, a warm gray that plays beautifully with both the browns and grays throughout the space.
Benjamin Moore Sandy Hook Gray
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Diana Rose of Diana Rose Design is a big believer in taupe interiors. “Taupe has significant power in interior design,” she says. “It is a monochromatic go-to color that is rich in depth, as opposed to white.” In this primary bathroom, Rose opted to layer Benjamin Moore taupes for a tone-on-tone effect. While the walls are sporting a soothing shade of Revere Pewter, it’s the custom vanity in Sandy Hook Gray that’s the showpiece in this space.
The term “Primary Bathroom” is now widely used to describe the largest bathroom in the home, as it better reflects the space’s purpose. Many realtors, architects, interior designers, and the Real Estate Standards Association have recognized the potentially discriminatory connotations in the term “Master.” Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge.
Sherwin-Williams Gossamer Veil
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“Working with complex neutrals like taupe can be challenging since there is always a prominent undertone,” shares Triandos. One of her personal recommendations is Sherwin-Williams’ Gossamer Veil. She likes that it’s a pale yet warm shade of taupe that creates a visible contrast against white. “Gossamer Veil has a green undertone, which paired nicely with the green backsplash selected here for this kitchen,” she adds.
Behr Smokestack
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Roll out the relaxing vibes with a fresh coat of Behr Smokestack on the walls. See it in action in this cozy corner styled by Danielle Preston of Danielle It Yourself. The mid-tone taupe shade is the perfect balance between clean and inviting without weighing down the room.
Benjamin Moore Copley Gray
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Seen at another angle, this soothing primary suite from Diana Rose Design also features the darker Benjamin Moore Copley Gray on the doors, which coordinates with the chic bedroom beyond. “I love working with [taupe] for layering shades that are both lighter and darker. It is so versatile and luxurious, yet calm and soothing at the same time,” says Rose.