Q: First of all I love your site. It inspires me to fix up my own home (you make it look so easy!). But if there was a class called Paint Picking 101 I would be getting a big fat F. So far every room I’ve painted in my new house is either too bright, too dark, too dirty looking and just plain ugly. I’m having the worst time finding a perfect tan tone and I’m even messing up colors like light blue and cream, which I never thought was even possible! Do you have any foolproof colors you can recommend? A favorite blue? Cream? Tan? White? Yellow? Gray? I know natural light and other factors can change the way paint looks substantially so it’s probably not 100% foolproof, but I’d love to know your favorite paint colors so at least I have a shot of living in a house that doesn’t make me feel like a total paint failure! Thanks so much for your help! – Meagan
A: Choosing the right paint color can feel overwhelming, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Repainting is inexpensive and fast, and a fresh coat can transform a room in an afternoon. Over the years we’ve collected many paint decks and swatches and developed a set of reliable go-to colors that work well in a variety of settings. While lighting and surroundings will always affect how a color reads, these selections are consistently good starting points when you want a safe, attractive result.
Below are tried-and-true favorites across the color spectrum. Some are bold and work best as accents or on a single wall, while others are calm, versatile neutrals that suit an entire room or home. Remember: always bring swatches into your actual room and view them under your light before committing.
White – Benjamin Moore Decorators White, Glidden Dove White, Behr Cascade White, Sherwin-Williams Alabaster.
Cream – Glidden Antique White, Sherwin-Williams Creamy, Benjamin Moore Muskoka Trail, Benjamin Moore French White, Benjamin Moore Natural White.
Red – Benjamin Moore Million Dollar Red, Glidden Red Delicious, Behr Firelight, Valspar Fabulous Red (excellent for a front door; may be intense indoors).
Pink/Coral – Sherwin-Williams Comical Coral, Benjamin Moore Wild Aster, Sherwin-Williams Animated Coral, Behr Be Mine, Behr Silk Sheets, Behr Coquette.
Brown – Benjamin Moore Branchport Brown, Benjamin Moore Woodacres, Benjamin Moore Stampede, Sherwin-Williams Cobble Brown, Sherwin-Williams Van Dyke Brown, Behr Traditional.
Yellow – Benjamin Moore Hawthorne Yellow — a standout choice for a balanced, cheerful yellow.
Green – Glidden Fennel (still available to mix even if swatches are limited), Glidden Celery Sticks, Benjamin Moore Mosaic Glass, Benjamin Moore Hibiscus (great in a kid’s room with white trim), Benjamin Moore Soft Fern, Benjamin Moore Silken Pine, Benjamin Moore Sweet Pear, Benjamin Moore Dune Grass, Sherwin-Williams Lime Granita.
Purple – Glidden Silver Plum (available to mix), Glidden Delicious Plum (rich eggplant for a door), Glidden Black Tulip (deep, dramatic purple-black), Benjamin Moore Nosegay, Benjamin Moore Violet Pearl, Benjamin Moore Iced Lavender.
Blue – Glidden Gentle Tide (available to mix), Benjamin Moore Quiet Moments, Benjamin Moore Saratoga Springs, Restoration Hardware Silver Sage (blue-gray with green undertones), Behr Pensive Sky, Behr Flint Smoke, Behr Grand Rapids.
Navy – Benjamin Moore Spellbound, Benjamin Moore French Barret, Benjamin Moore Hudson Bay, Sherwin-Williams Grays Harbor, Sherwin-Williams Naval.
Black – Glidden Onyx Black, Benjamin Moore Graphite.
Tan – Glidden Sand White (available to mix), Glidden Water Chestnut, Glidden Cafe Latte, Benjamin Moore Baja Dunes, Benjamin Moore Davenport Tan, Behr Harvest Brown.
Orange – Benjamin Moore Beverly Hills, Benjamin Moore Lion Heart, Benjamin Moore Corn Husk, Sherwin-Williams Marquis Orange, Sherwin-Williams Mandarin.
Gray – Benjamin Moore North Hampton Putty, Benjamin Moore Light Pewter, Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray, Benjamin Moore Nantucket Fog, Glidden Silver Dust.
Beige – Benjamin Moore Clay Beige, Benjamin Moore Green Brier, Sherwin-Williams Ancient Marble.
Greige – Benjamin Moore Tapestry Beige, Behr Ocean Pearl.
A couple of practical tips:
- Don’t try to use every color at once. A tighter, cohesive palette helps a home feel larger, more unified, and calming. Use art, textiles, and accessories to introduce accent colors so rooms feel unique without competing.
- Test before you commit. Tape several swatches to different walls and view them at various times of day under both natural and artificial light. If you’re still unsure, buy small test pots to paint sample sections and live with them for a few days—your perception will tell you what looks best in your space.
Have any favorite hues or cautionary tales of your own? Share what worked or didn’t work for you—your experience could help someone else avoid a repainting headache.