Everyone needs a go-to white, cream or gray. Whether you’re playing up furnishings or simply leaning toward a more understated color palette, according to these following eight designers, these are the best neutral interior paint colors to have at the ready.

Check out the top neutral paint colors for your home

A NEUTRAL FORECAST WINNER

gray living room in nimbus 1465 benjamin moore, one of the best neutral colors

Photo: Victor Harshbarger

Josh Greene

Josh Greene Design, New York City

Nimbus 1465 by Benjamin Moore

It’s the all around gray that works in cool and warm schemes and never goes purple. Here it is in the living room of a Greenwich Village apartment but we even used it as the shade for a Venetian plaster. This is one of the top neutral interior paint colors used in homes.

ALL PURPOSE NEUTRALITY

living room in benjamin moore seapearl, which is one of the best neutral colors

Photo: Julie Soefer

Marie Flanigan

Marie Flanigan Interiors, Houston

Seapearl by Benjamin Moore

The shade offers a neutral palette with grey undertones, allowing for added versatility and depth. In this project, we wanted to achieve a light aesthetic that created a backdrop for subtle color. Seapearl’s tone layered beautifully with additional texture and accent colors.

GROUNDED PERSPECTIVE

Photo: Erin Comerford Miller

Cheryl Luckett

Dwell by Cheryl Interiors, Charlotte

Shiitake by Sherwin Williams

This go-to neutral home interior has the perfect mix of warm and cool tones. It works with so many schemes. It’s light and cozy at the same time, making it one of my absolute favorites.

PENSIVE COLOR PALETTE

bedroom with dresser in Metropolitan by benjamin moore, one of the best neutral colors

Photo: John Neitzel/Digital Destinations

Courtney McLeod

Right Meets Left Interior Design, New York City

Metropolitan by Benjamin Moore

I selected this moody, warm gray for this bedroom to convey a sense of calm modernity. The different decor accent pieces truly bring out the Metropolitan – neutral paint color by Benjamin Moore.

THE ULTIMATE BACKDROP

black bed in white bedroom painted in pure white by sherwin williams

Photo: Julie Soefer

Nina Magon

Nina Magon Studio, Houston

Pure White by Sherwin Williams

White is a classic color that goes with anything! Pair it with black and you get a chic and sophisticated space.

PICTURE PERFECT SCENE

gallery wall in bedroom painted in benjamin moore's gray owl, one of the best neutral colors

Photo: Matthew Millman

Jay Jeffers

Jay Jeffers, San Francisco

Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore

It’s a light gray, but it is my favorite version of white because I love how it plays off deep saturated colors. The crispness is just beautiful. We used it in this bedroom of an ultra-luxury condominium project in Pacific Heights. It boasts a double height ceiling, and the color makes the room look even larger.

FLORAL PEOPLE PLEASER

formal living room in manor house in gray by farrow & bal, one of the best neutral colors

Photo: Grey Crawford

Jeff Andrews

Jeff Andrews Design, Los Angeles

Manor House Gray by Farrow & Ball

I love to use in a living room or other formal entertaining space, is the perfect backdrop color to other warm or cool colors.

TIMELESS NEUTRAL TONES

layered living room in matchstick by farrow & ball, one of the best neutral colors

Photo: Miguel Flores Vianna Photography

Katie Leede

Katie Leede & Co., New York City

Matchstick by Farrow & Ball

It’s an especially effective, creamy wall color when decorating with fine antiques, gilt and silk. It provides a warm and quiet canvas for layering in richness. This New York City triplex takes on a livable coziness while maintaining old world elegance.

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