Our Top 5 Favorite Neutral Wall Colors

by Donna Hoffman, Owner, The Interior Design Advocate

I teach two types of interior design; I teach DIY design lovers how to decorate their own homes AND I teach new interior design professionals how to uplevel their businesses.

What do these two groups have in common? A lot of confusion when it comes to wall colors!

If I had a dollar every time one of my students asked me to help them select the perfect paint color for a room, I’d be one rich woman. So, while I don’t offer online paint consultations (color is far too subjective for that!) I can tell you five of my all-time favorite neutral wall colors. Read on, lovely!

Every year, multiple people write in to ask me what the wall color is in this soothing, chic family room I designed. Alpaca by Sherwin Williams has warm undertones, but can read cooler in certain lighting conditions, making it a flexible greige option that can work with many different color palettes

Edgecomb Grey is a true greige, making it a go-to neutral for many designers. Be wary, however! It’s subtle pink undertones can become more prominent under certain lighting conditions.

Shoji White is an excellent work-horse color to keep in your arsenal both as an interior design pro and as a DIY design lover. It is a warm, off-white that doesn’t read yellow like many off-whites can. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a touch of warmth in your walls while keeping your spaces feeling bright and open.

City Loft SW7631

Warm grey undertones give this neutral a calming quality. It is quite flexible, making it an excellent choice when trying to marry disparate finishes. In spaces with plenty of natural light, it appears more as an off-white. In darker spaces, it leans more taupe.

I hope you enjoyed this peek into my go-to wall color toolbox. But, before you pull out your paint brush please remember, COLOR IS SUBJECTIVE! Every space comes with its own unique lighting, architecture, and materials. Be sure to look at any color you are considering in the actual space before you commit!

City Loft by Sherwin Williams is a true favorite among design professionals. It has a soft pink undertone, which is very common amongst greige paint colors. We adore it in spaces that could use a little more depth than a typical offwhite can provide, like this cozy media room!

Called the nation’s leading interior design coach, Donna has empowered thousands of women through her engaging and actionable online courses. “I show women how to put more beauty, balance and joy in their life by teaching them the strategy they need to create spaces with an individualized aesthetic, across any design style, that makes them feel great and supports them to live their BEST lives!” Find Donna’s online courses and products at theinteriordesignadvocate.com