Curating your ideal paint color moodboard takes time, but bringing the design vision to life is a delicate process we prefer to leave to the pros. Luxe tapped designers across the country to share today’s popular paint color choices and the rooms where they’re making a splash. From the best moody paint colors to trusted neutrals and jewel tones, consider this design guide inspiration for your ultimate interiors palette.
THE MAGIC OF COLOR + PATTERN
Discover the best in color and patterns for an invigorating home refresh. Explore the latest wallpaper trends, moody shades and neutral hues, plus colorful textiles invigorating today’s most buzzy spaces.Take In Today’s Best Moody Paint Colors, Neutrals And More
Colors with a timeless quality top the lists of requests from many clients, says Studio Heimat principal Alicia Cheung. (Photo: Frank Frances)
Use Warm Neutrals—With A Little Variation
“Clients are requesting neutrals that have some warmth, and colors that almost function like neutrals (because you don’t get tired of them). We also see clients asking for finishes with texture, which we can achieve with lime paint, and also with a juxtaposition of sheens in the paint.”
—Alicia Cheung, Studio Heimat | San Francisco
Both moody and cool, Sherwin Williams’ Rock Bottom elevates this sophisticated office space by Shea McGee. (Photo: Lucy Call)
Be Enveloped By A Dark Green-Gray
“Sherwin Williams’ Rock Bottom is a great shade of green, with mossy undertones that lend a moody aesthetic. I’ve used it inside and on the exterior of homes and I love how it gives a dark tone to the space without being charcoal or black.”
—Shea McGee, Studio McGee | Salt Lake City, Utah
Used for both personal and professional projects, Cloud Cover by Benjamin Moore is a favorite of designer Bradley Odom. “It has the tiniest hint of blue that makes everything feel extra crisp,” he says. (Photo: Sarah Dorio)
Can’t Go Wrong With A Crisp White
“Cloud Cover by Benjamin Moore is my go-to for whites. It’s such a great palette cleanser and a fantastic starting off point at the beginning of a project. It allows you to see where adding color would make the greatest impact.”
—Bradley Odom, Bradley Odom Interiors | Atlanta
You can’t go wrong with a classic white, but moody colors like Pigeon by Farrow & Ball instantly create cozy spaces, according to designer Brittany Hakimfar. (Photo: Brian Wetzel, Styling: Kristi Hunter.)
Channel Those Cozy Vibes
“We always like to do at least one dark room that creates a moody vibe. This could be a powder room, office or dining room. We also love to choose a dark green to accent a room like a guest bedroom.”
—Brittany Hakimfar, Far Studio | Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Designer Dan Mazzarini opted for a smoky color for this Long Island, New York, residence. He often splashes the hue in libraries, hearth rooms and bedrooms. (Photo: Reid Rolls)
Lean Into Dark, Moody Paint Colors
“Dark hues like Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore are cocoon colors that make you want to curl up and read (or nap). Don’t be afraid of the dark—the outcome is cozy, soft, and almost velvety in appearance.”
—Dan Mazzarini, BHDM Design and ARCHIVE by Dan Mazzarini | New York, New York
Benjamin Moore’s Forest Green adds a playful yet sophisticated touch to this kitchen by designer Daniella Villa, who strives to infuse character and confidence into her projects. (Photo: Kim Cornelison)
Turn To Jewel Tones For Inspiration
“We love jewel tones, from emerald greens to ruby, we find them full of character and warmth. To us, color enhances life and makes it prettier; it is a way of expressing your uniqueness in a space.”
—Daniella Villami, Daniella Villamil Interiors | Las Vegas, Nevada
Black Beauty by Benjamin Moore adds an air of mystery to this inky dining room by Devon Wegman. (Photo: Dustin Helleck)
Make Room For (The Right Kind Of) Drama
“Clients often want inviting, airy and bright spaces, especially when a house is open-concept, and therefore we tend to go with crisp, warm whites throughout the space. In main living areas, we love to incorporate a moody paint color in one of the rooms, such as the living or dining room to break things up and add a touch of drama to the space.”
—Devon Wegman, DGI Design x Build | Chicago
Palmer Green by Benjamin Moore cloaks the walls of a colorful bedroom retreat by designer Isabel Ladd, while Sunlit Coral provides a subdued contrast on the ceiling. (Photo: Katie Charlotte)
Embrace Unexpected Moody Color Complements
“People often think they should use light colors in rooms to make them appear bigger. But I recommend the opposite: Dark, moody colors create cozy, comfortable rooms. I often suggest wild colors on the ceiling (the ceiling is the fifth wall, after all!).”
—Isabel Ladd, Isabel Ladd Interiors | Lexington, Kentucky
A custom hue from Portola Paints envelops a moody bathroom by Dallas designer Ginger Curtis, who finds herself leaning into saturated greens and green-blacks as much as warm whites and light taupes for interior projects. (Photo: Nathan Schroder)
Soak In The Coveted Moody Color Palette
“Green, taupe, rust, and blue-black are popular asks from clients. We are seeing an influx of requests for these colors in kitchens, studies and bathrooms.”
—Ginger Curtis, Urbanology Designs | Dallas, Texas
Light-yet-warm neutrals, as pictured here, are befitting of almost any space, says designer Kate Marker. “But when we want more dramatic shades, we love Benjamin Moore’s Dark Olive, Stonecutter, and grayish greens such as Sabre Grey.” (Photo: Stoffer Photography)
Stick With the Classics
“Soothing neutrals that unify a space and will look good for a very long time. Swiss Coffee and Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore are tried and true!”
—Kate Marker, Kate Marker Interiors | Chicago
Sage greens and nautical blues are recent favorites for designer Raili Clasen, who encourages thinking outside the box with complementary pops of color like this distinctive yellow by Sherwin Williams. (Photo: Tanveer Badal)
Add A Pop Of Personality
“For our clients who want to take a chance on fun in laundry rooms, offices and mud rooms, we love the mustard from Sherwin Williams named Auric.”
—Raili Clasen, Raili CA Design | Newport Beach, California
Tones of earth and sea connect us to our surroundings. Favorites of designer Regan Baker include Benjamin Moore’s Gentleman’s Grey (pictured here), Hale Navy, Garden Path and Lafayette Green. (Photo: Suzanna Scott Photography)
Incorporate Nature’s Blues And Greens
“We like to use a lot of greens and blues. Not only do they introduce a nature-like feel within the home, but they also offer enough color that has a calming effect and can still feel timeless.”
—Regan Baker, Regan Baker Design | San Francisco
Designed by Ruben and Katie Gutierrez for the Kips Bay Palm Beach 2023 Show House, this statement bar features Benjamin Moore Cranberry Cocktail paint, as well as Ann Sacks tile and Kohler fixtures. (Photo: Dan Cultrona)
Lean Into Highly Saturated Hues
“We help create spaces that are self-expressions. This has led us to use every color imaginable. Lately, we’ve been very excited to use deep berry tones, bold greens, marine blues and warm neutrals.”
—Ruben and Katie Gutierrez, Errez Design | Miami
Farrow & Ball Shaded White No. 201 provides a perfectly neutral backdrop to art in the entryway of this South Carolina penthouse. “It is neither too warm nor too cool and for that reason it is one of my favorites,” says designer Kathy Smith. (Photo: Brie Williams)
Opt For Neutrals That Highlight Other Hues
“Go with neutral interiors with the color accomplished through art work, textiles, and accessories.”
—Kathy Smith, Kathy Smith Interiors | Belmont, North Carolina
With homeowners steering from the “allover stark white look,” as designer Ryann Swan Hackett puts it, there’s never been a better time to lean into statement colors, such as In the Navy by Portola Paints. (Photo: Read Mckendree)
Tune Into What You Like
“Take risks incorporating bold hues, especially in more intimate spaces of the home: dens, music rooms, powder rooms. Generally, clients aren’t coming to us with specific colors but more with imagery they are seeing, and it’s up to us to turn inspiration into reality.”
—Ryann Swan Hackett, Ryann Swan Design | Greenwich, Connecticut
