How to choose a neutral color, plus the best neutral paint colors

Neutral colors are so hard to get right! If you're swimming in a sea of undertones unsure of where to turn next, my helpful tips on choosing the right neutral paint color for your space plus my top 5 neutral colors in each category should point you in the right direction.
Interested in a paint color consultation? Please view the packages I offer here: homelikeyoumeanit.com/hire-me/
--The easiest and best way to sample paint colors:
www.kqzyfj.com/click-10021575...
--Download my cheat sheet on neutral paint colors:
thoughtful-composer-8448.ck.p...
Chapter Markers:
0:00 Introduction
0:45 neutral color cheat sheet!
1:45 tip #1 on choosing the right neutral paint color
2:24 Tip #2 on choosing the right neutral
3:13 Tip #3 on choosing the right neutral
4:44 tip #4 on choosing the right neutral for your space (perhaps the biggest step!)
5:32 Tip #5 on choosing the right neutral
7:05 My favorite beige paint colors
9:35 Gray paint colors and my opinion about whether or not gray is out
12:45 the taupe paint colors I recommend
14:07 my favorite greige paint colors
15:50 my favorite white paint colors
My video descriptions often contain affiliate links. This just means that if you click on one of my links and then make a purchase, I can earn a small commission at no cost to you.

[@Tammy-zr9zw]

Breaking down the color selection process into steps was really helpful. I truly didn’t know where to start. And categorizing your recommendations by undertone was brilliant! That makes it even easier for me. Thank you, again!

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

Glad it was helpful!

[@davidlines7]

Thank you for your videos. It was helpful distinguishing between green, pink, and orange beiges. I chose soft chamois to go with our ranch style, and I love the green undertones of soft chamois.

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

Glad it was helpful!

[@coastaldiva]

Love classic gray!

[@coastaldiva]

I have balboa mist in my breakfast area! Love it!!! I never get tired of it

[@fayejordan175]

Is it more white or gray?

[@coastaldiva]

@@fayejordan175 its more like a light griege. Will not make room dark

[@Calpkgal38]

Thank you for this video. I’m having the hardest time finding the undertone of my new sofa/chairs! What looked like cream/off white in the store doesn’t look that way in my north facing, very bright (two large bay windows) living room. The color of the sofa material is “white sand”, and I love blues. Flooring is oak, walnut color but faded to a bit of an orangey tone. I can’t believe how difficult it’s been trying to choose a paint color! I’m planning on ordering several samples from your list to see if they work.

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

Let me know how the samples turn out. Hoping you can find something that works!

[@susansimonson5280]

Love the video. Question - do paints with green undertones bring out the greens in the room? Likewise, do gray undertones bring out gray colors in the room? I'm trying to emphasize green in my room and don't want gray. Thanks.

[@paulastrawser3363]

I couldn't find your code for samplize. Did you put one in the description? Thank you

[@shannonrevesz2136]

What do you do when you have open concept and have grey/ green in kitchen and yellow/ pink in living room? What undertone to you go with? Or do you go with one of those ninja colour changing colours with multiple undertones so it can blend?

[@coastaldiva]

Oh thank you for saying that gray is not out. I love gray paint but not everything in the room gray 😂 I live in florida and we do love the gray paints here quite a lot

[@jennbcousins7426]

I love the blue paint colour on your Millwork cabinets. Can you share what it is?

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

It’s Britannia blue by Benjamin Moore!

[@jennbcousins7426]

@@homelikeyoumeanit Thank you so much!!!

[@lynnrussell9337]

Our new home build is almost ready to paint the interior..I’m leaning toward SW Alabaster. Which white should I use on the ceiling? Which white trim paint color will give a clean pop of white color, no undertone?

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

You could go with SW high reflective white. that's a clean white with no undertone.

[@TamerShalaby-lq5nz]

Thank you for the tips, question what color pain is the cabinet behind you?

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

It’s Benjamin Moore Britannia blue

[@maureengutman3105]

Thank you so much for the insight into undertones and your personal favorites, this truly helps narrow the focus and hopefully train your eye to see the undertones. I have signed up for your cheat sheet but haven't received an email or a download . Does it normally take a while? Thanks again!

[@maureengutman3105]

Got it!! Apparently there was a problem on my end. I Tried my other email address and it popped right up. I am going with White Dove, which is already the ceiling color throughout the house. Thank you again!!

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

Hi Maureen, have you received it yet--it's typically instant. Sometimes it can get into your junk folder. Let me know!

[@maureengutman3105]

Thank you for the response, the issue was on my end. My other email address worked right away. I am trying out White dove on the walls to match the ceiling, and I know this sounds crazy but iron ore for the dining room. I am going for a contemporary look. Fingers crossed!

[@user-re6bx5xo7j]

I'm painting my cabinets white dove and my island is a greenish corian. Will the Hamilton Blue be a good contrast to the cabinets or should I just paint it the same as the rest? Is there a color you would recommend for that island?

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

Are you asking if White Dove and Hamilton Blue would work well together? I say yes, absolutely! I would make sure to pull in the blue tones in your decorating for a cohesive look.

[@laurenbuksbaum9200]

My new build is almost ready and they need me to confirm paint and I’m having such a hard time! I’m leaning towards white dove or Swiss coffee for the entire interior. Pale oak for the master bedroom. Hale navy for the laundry room and front door. Do you have any recommendations?

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

I love all of those colors, but with neutrals like all of them except Hale Navy, you do need to know what your furniture/fabrics are going to be (or at least a direction) to make a good decision. I do offer color consultations if you are interested: homelikeyoumeanit.com/hire-me/

[@sharlenebozeman8994]

What two colors do you recommend for a gym where the equipment is black and red? I am considering Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore. Also simply white Benjamin Moore and a Dark Grey Paint 'Iron Ore' by Sherwin Williams. What are your thoughts? It’s a fairly open and light room.

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

In a home gym, I think you can have fun. I'd decorate the room to entice me to go in there more, haha! I'd pass on the Iron Ore walls, and vote for something more uplifting in this space. Chantilly Lace is a very stark white, which is fine if that's what you're going for, but it may seem a bit sterile in a gym, where it's more difficult to bring more warmth in. If you are set on white walls, perhaps have fun with the ceiling color or do a fun trim color. What about a warmer white (White Dove or Simply White aren't too yellow at all) and pair that with a pretty blue trim and baseboard color? Have fun with it!

[@sharlenebozeman8994]

@@homelikeyoumeanit Yes I have selected Dover white as an option. Thank you for your advice!

[@julieuthe7745]

I have grey LVP floors. I don't care for the grey. What color do you recommend to counteract the grey or what undertones should I look for? I want a beige or off white. Thank you.

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

Hard to say without seeing your space. You could choose to focus on other elements in the room and pull the neutral from those items. I do offer virtual paint color consultation if you are interested! homelikeyoumeanit.com/hire-me/

[@poppylove3673]

If you are starting with needing to paint and furnish an entire 20 year old house, bare walls, no furniture, needing new fixtures and appliances, where do you begin? I’m thinking choosing a whole house paint, or shades that go together, help please… There’s medium dark hardwood floors on main floor, and carpet in bedrooms and hallway upstairs, that we want to replace with new vinyl planks(?) looks like hardwood, but holds up better than hardwood, having 2 golden retrievers! I’ve taken screen shots of model homes and pictures of home interiors, that I’ve loved, but not sure of exact names of paint colors. Where do I begin? Thank you so much! Love your channel! ❤

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

Hey, do you have my neutral cheat sheet? That will help you get started if you don't have a direction. Besides that, if you don't have any furniture in place, perhaps decide what type of neutral you want, more of a beige, gray, cream, white or taupe and then how warm or cold you want the color to be. I do offer paint color consultations and can help you further if you are interested: homelikeyoumeanit.com/hire-me/

[@poppylove3673]

@@homelikeyoumeanit Thank you, I’ll look further into your services! ❤️👍🏽

[@jacquelinealford4236]

Which shade of white is that on the wall in your background?

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

Benjamin Moore White Dove!

[@ody2023]

The cheat sheet shows me nothing when I click on the link. Please advise? Thank you.

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

Try this: thoughtful-composer-8448.ck.page/f461e22545

[@sarahanspaugh5705]

I am having difficulty picking a neutral for my new kitchen….upper white cabinets with lower natural maple cabinets, white subway backsplash, Patriotic Calcutta quartz countertop…..I painted the living room and dining room Modern Gray but now I’m at a loss for the kitchen…ugh

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

Would modern gray not work well for your kitchen or you are just looking for something different? your countertop reads pretty warm, which should work well with a color like Modern gray.

[@lesatremblay2242]

After watching your video and making a note that Gray Owl has Blue/Green undertones and was considered Coastal, I downloaded your cheat sheet and Gray Owl is explained as having Blue undertone, not Green?

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

it has just the slightest undertone of green that I see. Nothing to worry about though. Overwhelmingly, it's a gray with blue undertone.

[@danarymarz5748]

How about an industrial rustic kitchen with brick, concrete and a steel gray/indigo cabinet😬

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

It's hard to make a recommendation without seeing photos, perhaps a very pale greige with a violet undertone? I do offer personalized paint color consultations if you're interested: homelikeyoumeanit.com/hire-me/

[@coastaldiva]

Not a fan of nimbus but love wickham and gray owl

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

I love them all for different reasons, but Wickham gray is my fav!

[@coastaldiva]

@@homelikeyoumeanit yeah you reviewed some great colors! 🩵

[@gracegamboa1819]

❤❤❤

[@cindyhumphrey3065]

Help! SW in my town has closed. I heard they all closed.

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

I didn’t hear this at all!

[@sarahanspaugh5705]

I buy at my local SW all the time…in WI…they have not closed

[@skunz1958]

Looking for neutral for low light rooms Getting my house ready to sell. Rooms are empty

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

Well you have a lot of options with empty rooms! Even though I don't agree with all white walls, buyers are very much into those right now. What about a soft greige that almost borders on off white? Perhaps Swiss Coffee or Classic Gray (both Ben Moore colors). If you have more "earthy" fixed finishes like terracotta tile, brown granite, etc, let me know, because you might have to go in a different direction.

[@skunz1958]

@@homelikeyoumeanit the carpet is a mixed light gray

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

@@skunz1958 Can you identify the undertone? grays have either purple, blue or green undertones.

[@skunz1958]

@@homelikeyoumeanit well, it’s definitely not green. I would lean a little bit more toward the blues.

[@homelikeyoumeanit]

You technically need a gray with a blue undertone then, but those are too cold for most buyers today. I’m going to suggest Ben Moore balboa mist. It works really well when you need a cooler toned gray.