How to Use Neutral Paint Colors
09/18/2008 02:40 PM by Gretchen Schauffler
The main reason people want neutral paint colors in their home is because they want their space to be adaptable and uncomplicated. The assumption is that neutrals colors go with everything, and they do if you choose the right neutral paint color. To understand how to use neutral color combinations in your home, you have to know that neutral colors have hidden colors within. Taupe is not a color in the rainbow, but the rainbow hides inside every taupe. Think about the colors you have in your home. If you have lots of blues, a warm taupe that has a red or pinkish hue can make walls look fleshy. Instead, you may want a taupe that hides cool greens, or purples to enhance the cool feel of blues or try a yellow taupe to create a crisp contrast.
There is a reason why using taupe paint color outdoors so frequently goes wrong. Taupe houses look pink, gray houses look blue, and beige houses look yellow—that’s because the hidden color within these neutrals comes out unexpectedly. Here are tips on how to successfully choose a neutral paint color to flow through out your home without unfavorable color surprises. This is what Devine Color® is exceptional at, beautiful neutrals that refuse to be flat, dirty, anemic, or sallow. Look at our neutral colors next to natural surfaces such as granite, stone, and brick. Watch how our colors seep out from them.
Here is an overview of some of our neutral paint colors to help you decide the kind of neutral that best fits your home decor:
CREAM WALL COLOR: YELLOW NEUTRALS
When you want the warm, soft glow of yellow without yellow try Devine Shell™, Devine Custard™, Devine Vanilla™, Devine Sand™, Devine Peanut™, or Devine Oat™. These neutralized yellows have either hints of reds or hints of greens that create affinity with multiple décor and wall colors. We also have devinegreen: Siamese™ and Persian™.
KAKHI WALL COLOR: GREEN NEUTRALS
For neutral greens, try Devine Pecan™, Devine Macadamia™, Devine Crunch™, or Devine Glass™. These neutralized greens have hints of yellows, reds or blues as well. A great example of a neutralized green with a hint of blue would be Devine Almond™. Richer versions of these are found in our Espresso Blends™ palette like Devine Roast™ and Devine Hazelnut™. Take a look around all the color collections and see other versions sprinkled throughout.
GRAY WALL COLOR: BLUE NEUTRALS
Take a look at Devine Silver™, Devine Rain™, Devine Fog™. Also check out Devine Storm™ and Denim™. They are cool and warm versions of neutral blues with hints of greens, reds, and purples. The devinegreen: flora-fauna™ color collection has amazing richer, darker versions of blue neutrals as stunning grays. See devinegreen: Buffalo™, devinegreen: Beluga™, devinegreen: Komodo™ and also other versions sprinkled through out the collections like Devine Comtesse™.
WARM TAUPE WALL COLOR: RED NEUTRALS
Warm taupe is best experienced as temperature, not color. Those of you who are looking for warm neutrals that take after coffee colors and milk chocolates, take a look at Devine Muslin™, Devine Filbert™, Devine Sumatra™, Devine Mocha™, and Devine Medallion™—all variations of each other. For those looking to have beautiful “warm mauve pink” neutrals on their walls, look no further than Devine Grain™, Devine Pebble™, Devine Canyon™, or Devine Brick™. Success comes from finding the neutral that has the best affinity with your natural surfaces, fabrics, and art. For deeper coffee shades, look at Espresso Blends™ and the flora-fauna collection #3.
TERRACOTTA WALL COLOR: ORANGE NEUTRALS
Orange neutrals are a fantastic warm alternative. For light and soft creams check out Devine Feather™ and Devine Sand™, Devine Cashew, Devine Café, Devine Shade, and Devine Tamarind™. All of them have hints of red and yellow to make orange meet both ends of the spectrum. The entire Desert Lights™ palette is one beautiful terracotta swirl.
COOL TAUPE WALL COLOR: PURPLE NEUTRALS
Cool taupe often reveals hints of purple. We have taupe that reflects both red and blue versions of purple. Those that have a red to the purple play well with most colors and fabrics. See Devine Mist™, and Devine Twilight™. The cooler versions of taupe have sultry and smoky flavors to include purple. See Devine Stone™, Devine Latte™, and Devine Ginseng™, as cool neutral colors without purple hints. Devine Cappuccino™, Devine Bavarian™ are neutrals with cool purple undercurrents that are great as an overall color throughout a home, especially with white or black trim. For deeper cool shades, look at Espresso Blends™ and the flora-fauna collections.
Read How to Choose the Right Shade of White
| Textile Help | ||
Using Purple Paint Colors Successfully
How to Choose Shades of White Paint
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doing a bedroom like to use taupe cld you help me with accent colors
— melanie pusecker 11/23/2008 02:55 PM #
Melanie:
All of our color collections offer you a variety of color combinations you can put together to paint your walls and ceilings with perfect color. If you start with one of our Devine Color neutral’s, the sky is the limit. We have paint palette pages that have perfect blues, reds, greens, yellows, purples, and orange accents as well as other richer neutrals. If you give me a direction of color, I can give you more specific recommendations…BUT…if you really want to do this right from the get-go and not waste any time getting the wrong color, read How to use our Devine Palettes. Buy our Trend-proof Color Collection. If you use this paint palette the way I suggest the colors will speak to you out loud and show you exactly which ones are the “perfect” ones for your home.
— gretchen Schauffler 11/23/2008 03:13 PM #
What color white is best for a steel, concrete and glass house with gray stucco outside that carries inside in areas and a gray mottled conrete floor. I want to put artwork on the walls and have the artwork pop. Thank you.
— Terri 12/01/2008 06:33 AM #
Terri:
Give Devine Latte, Ginseng, Muslin, devinegreen: Beluga, Buffallo, and Elephant a try. BUT…if you really want to do this right from the get-go and not waste any time getting the wrong color, read How to use our Devine Palettes. Buy our Trend-proof Color Collection. If you use this paint palette the way I suggest the colors will speak to you out loud and show you exactly which ones are the “perfect” ones for your home.
— gretchen Schauffler 12/01/2008 10:09 AM #
I’m looking for advice on the color of low natural light for my laundry room walls with open beam ceiling of hemlock and one side wall of same. Trim is walnut. (lots of orange and yellow in the wood).
Floor is brown with black. I sample painted a corner of the room wth Deivine Filbert which appears more gold and another corner with a terra cotta which stands out because it’s orange. Would neutral colors look bettter in the room?
— Patricia mahurin 01/13/2009 12:39 PM #
Patricia:
Devine Filbert is beautiful, and the best way to tell if it’s the best color for your room is look at it next to the wood, and the floor. With lot of orange in the wood, other options are Devine Macadamia, Siamese, or Shell. When it comes to laundry rooms, make sure you love the color. You will be spending time in there working :) Also a higher sheen with more reflection will bounce more light and make the space brighter to work in.
— gretchen Schauffler 01/14/2009 01:56 PM #
I am painting a room with a pitched ceiling. It receives harsh indirect light from snow on the roof and on a nearby mountain. I think I need a cool color to calm the room down. I am planning to paint the ceiling and walls the same color as you suggested. Any color suggestions?
— Toni 02/07/2009 12:53 PM #
My current project is a home gym. I would like to paint the walls a shade of gray and would like suggestions for the ceiling. The woodwork is white, the furniture in the room is bright red lockers, and the workout equipment is black and grays. What would be your suggestion for the walls and ceiling. Thanks! Jane
— Jane DeLuca 03/02/2009 09:59 AM #
Jane:
Try Devine Buffalo, Comtesse, Elephant, Penguin and Grizzly. Mix and Match them to cover walls and ceiling. Any of our finishes will look great!
— gretchen Schauffler 03/02/2009 10:33 AM #
Back to my home gym question from 3/2/09…I have purchased fabric for the window treatments. It is a white background with green, red, black, and grey pattern. Very retro 1960s print. With white woodwork, bright red lockers, and black/grey gym equipment, I am leaning towards Grizzly for the walls. My question…The Pistachio Lime Beans looks great with the fabric…am I nuts to think that I can paint the ceiling this color with Grizzly walls? Would you suggest alternative colors for the ceiling for me to mull over? Thanks!!! Jane
— Jane DeLuca 03/06/2009 10:18 AM #
Jane I love this idea! It seems to fit the ambiance and bright scheme of your project…you know I am a sucker for lime green :) The other option would be to do Devine Grizzly on both walls and ceiling. Please, send pictures, I would love to see it!
— gretchen Schauffler 03/09/2009 04:34 PM #
painting my whole house Devine Sand™, what color carpets would look best. also what color should the trims be? Linda W
— Linda Whipple 03/16/2009 11:15 PM #
Linda:
Devine Sand is a great warm yellow neutral. You can go chocolate, Kakhi, Honey, or even Pumpkin. Stay away from pink. Sorry about the generic color terms for the carpet. There are too many brands and choices to be specific. SOMEDAY I will have Devine Color carpet :)
— gretchen Schauffler 03/17/2009 09:35 AM #
I am looling for a soft color for a small hallway, it connects to all the bedrooms and is adjacent to the livin/dining room. I painted the living room asoft green. Its a samll home and all the rooms are connected, I don’t want too many colors. Would you use a Soft Tan in the hallway to neutralized the colors in the other rooms.
— Magaly 03/17/2009 09:41 AM #
Magaly:
YOu could use a beautiful soft brown, but remember brown is not brown, it can look golden, greenish, reddish. So to best know which neutral “brown” is best use our Trend-Proof Color Palette the way I suggest, you will find many rich and warm colors that will be smashing your walls. See colors like Devine Macadamia, Devine Muslin, Devine Mocha and so many more! The Trend-Proof Color Palette will show you several color directions you will feel confident to follow.
— gretchen Schauffler 03/19/2009 10:39 AM #
Devine paints are sold at McLendons
— kathleen 03/27/2009 11:15 AM #
Back in Januay, and in one of these blogs, I was talking about using Bavarian and 75% Bavarian in my house. I was concerned about the intensity of the color in my small areas. I started in an loved it, and then went a purchased a gallon of Capaccino for some of the walls. These two colors are fabulous together. I have noticed that I have to actually point out the differences to people – it seems that untrained eyes don’t notice, they just know that it feels good. The flow is fabulous.
As much as my husband wasn’t convinced that we needed to paint, he loves it. When his twin brother’s home was vandalized and needed a makeover he offered for US to come and paint it for him. When I started to put colors together for him, he was AMAZED and what could be done with a little 750 sq ft house which has been painted all white since he has lived there.
— Cheryl 04/15/2009 12:46 PM #
i did as you suggested and ordered the paint palette. i have decided to paint our bedroom devine custard, the guest bath devine glass. have the last bedroom which is very dark only one small window so i am leaning toward macadamia for it. have not decided on the hall but am leaning toward mocha. it is long hall with bedrooms and bath. am trying to decide what color to do the guest bedroom that is adjacent to the bath that i am doing in devine glass. it is unfurnished at this time and having hard time deciding on which direction to go. but i am making much headway since i ordered the pallete. i really want to paint all the ceiling which are ugh popcorn. do you have any suggestions as to ceiling color that would work with the above mentioned paint choices.
— louise 04/22/2009 09:04 PM #
Louise:
Sounds like you have a wonderful, personal paint palette started. So with colors like Devine Custard, Macadamia, Mocha, and Glass you can use Custard, Macadamia, or Shell as your overall ceiling color. To finish the rest of the palette and have as many beautiful options to choose from as you can, pick 2 color from each palette page. You will find that colors like Devine Moss, Rain, Blush, Dust, and so on might be perfectly cozy for a cozy dark room lined up next to the colors you already have chosen! Glad you got that Trend-Proof Paint Palette!
— gretchen Schauffler 04/23/2009 06:05 PM #
ordered my paint tonight. cannot wait to get started.
the paint palette really helped me. thanks again for your advice.
— louise 04/23/2009 09:04 PM #
I am looking to paint the entire main area of a new house. It has white trim and medium oak cabinets and medium oak furniture with black accents. Thanks
— Marie 05/02/2009 05:14 PM #
Marie:
Our color palettes make it so you can have personal color combinations that make you love everything in your home. The question is which direction to go. You just read about how our neutrals can be essential to create beautiful unity. Get our Trend-Proof Palette, follow our PROCESS, and then lets narrow down choices. I can suggest tons of great color combinations but its a little like taking a stab in the dark. I rather you try our approach and see what you love appear before your eyes and I can make suggestions based on what you love!
— gretchen Schauffler 05/05/2009 10:20 AM #
I am looking to paint the entire main area of a new house and would like to do a beige/lt brown color. I am afraid of picking a color that too much yellow/orange or pink will show through. It is almost all yellow now and don’t like it. It has white trim and medium oak cabinets and medium oak furniture with black accents and alot of natural light. Thanks
— Marie 05/05/2009 11:28 AM #
Marie:
Colors like Devine Macadamia, Filbert, Muslin, or Ash are great as overall neutrals, but order the Trend-proof Palette and follow the process an you will see the perfect color choices. This paint palette will “light up” like a pinball machine next to your wood, surfaces and fabrics and let you see possibilities you didn’t even know existed. Trust me it’s a totally different way of looking at color!
— gretchen Schauffler 05/08/2009 12:12 PM #
Ms. Gretchen,
We love Devine Macadamia (covering most of our interior walls). Can you suggest some shades of Devine GREY that will coordinate well with the Macadamia?
— MMW 06/25/2009 02:10 PM #
MMW:
As you already know, Devine Macadamia is a fantastic neutral. It goes beautifully with Devine Buffalo, Fog, Piping, Comtesse, Cest La Vie!
— gretchen Schauffler 06/26/2009 04:02 PM #
Wonderful paint!!
We will be combining two apartments (second and third floors) in a narrow Victorian house. The main floor is commercial.
Our hall is very dark but has beautiful black,grey,maroon and white wallpaper (1910). The second floor will be our formal space burgandy leather chairs, dark wood floors. The stairs are open to the third floor-lots of light and red orange cedar.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
JoAnne
— JoAnne 08/04/2009 04:41 AM #
Joanne:
Get our Trend-Proof Color Collection, follow our Process with our Trend-Proof Collection. You will see an overview of all the colors, have the colors at home with you, and understand how all the pieces fit with colors you already have at home. Each Trend-Proof page has colors in sequences that let your eyes immediately sift through and detect the colors that make your things perfect (wall paper, hardwood floors) and ignore the ones that don’t (they will practically jump of the page) The process takes you down a path of possibilities you may have never considered so you can be free to make color choices that are perfect while being able to imagine them. See what possibilities you end up with and I can help you narrow down your choices…:) The colors you describe go with soooooo many things, I would love to help.
Devine Mocha, Bordeaux, Ginger, Bufallo…the list goes on!
— Gretchen Schauffler 08/04/2009 10:34 AM #
I love Devine Paints. I have moved to California, new home. I have used Devine fescue in my Living Rooms, I want to do it again, What neutral colors from the Devine collection can I choose from. The home is open and needs to flow. I really like the taupe colors, and soft yellows.
What colors would go well with the Fescue I guess is my question. I will need to order online. So I do want to be sure.
Thanks for you help
— Beverlee Bird 08/05/2009 01:48 PM #
Beverlee:
Devine Fescue looks amazing with Devine Custard, Macadamia, Shell, Siamese, and Crunch. Thanks so much for your personal endorsement of our beautiful colors and paint that goes on like yogurt!
— Gretchen Schauffler 08/05/2009 02:15 PM #
I AM A BUILDER AND AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY DESINGER WITH COLORS. HOMOWNER SEEMS CONFUSED I AM IN THE MIDDLE
THANKS
— JIM BRADY 08/10/2009 08:52 AM #
Jim:
We have a variety of ways to help builders and designers. We can answer color questions, produce virtual room colorizations, and assist with in-home color consultations. Please call our office 1.888.81devine and talk to Ashley. Devine Color offers you a completely different paint and color experience. We have a paint palette, a process, and paint products that lead you to a perfect personal rainbow. Follow the wisdom, trust the color! Our paint sheens will give the colors different levels of dimension so make sure you read about our sheens and choose the right one for the room and your style.
— Gretchen Schauffler 08/10/2009 10:38 AM #
Do you have exterior paint yet? My home is currently a very dark brown over cedar, with tan trim and an off white door. I would like to lighten it up with a taupe-ish color (maybe mocha or filbert?), vanilla trim and a dark green door. The caveat is that it has to complement the pinkish brick that constitutes several walls
— Holly 09/05/2009 02:24 PM #
I noticed you answered the other folks questions within 24 hours but it has been 4 days and no response from you- vacation? Or because you don’t have exterior paint yet? If not, I would at least like advice on the door color- I would like to choose a dark green that will go with my pinkish brick exterior (and some as yet to determined tan/brown paint on the wood). Time is of the essence because I live in WA state and we have a sunny day in the forecast
— Holly 09/09/2009 11:45 PM #
Just bought a shower curtain and towels for my sons bathroom, the colors are yellow gold, rust, black and a color close to ginsing, I am thinking about Painting the bath Piping? the hallway oat and his bedroom, hazelnut do these colors go well together? What do u think. Thanks, kris
— Kris Schumacher 01/03/2010 09:45 AM #
YES!!!! sounds beautiful and striking…send us pictures please…would to post on Facebook!!!!
— Gretchen Schauffler 01/04/2010 03:36 PM #
Painting my home gym. Want an engerizing rust orange…something none neon! and perhaps a nice turquoise color for a contrast wall. Color suggestions??
— Kim Wilcox 01/07/2010 01:10 PM #
Kim:
Color suggestions is what we are all about…
See:
Devine Blush
Devine Ginger
Devine Sarsaparilla
Devine Clover
Devine Lobster
with:
Devine Almond
Devine Breeze
Devine Koala
Devine Foam
Enjoy!
— Gretchen Schauffler 01/09/2010 12:46 PM #
painting the living room and its a small room what color can I use to make it look bigger
— Judy Wright 01/10/2010 11:28 AM #
Judy, here is a great article about this very subject…..
MAKING A SMALL ROOM LARGER WITH PAINT. It will be very helpful.
— Gretchen Schauffler 01/14/2010 03:08 PM #
We’re repainting our entire home. Wanted everything neutral. Kitchen has light floor, dark oak cabinets. Wanted the bedrooms to be neutral, but different than the downstairs. Each bedroom has its own full bath. Wanted to use a color complimentary to the bedrooms. Thank you!
— Gail 02/06/2010 04:48 PM #
Gail:
Sounds ot me like you need to pull the whole house together..make it harmonize! I can certainly give you a ton of suggestions that may, or may not, strike your fancy. We are known for amazing beautiful neutrals that do just that!
Get our Trend-Proof Color Collection. When you go through our PROCESS, with our Trend-Proof Color Collection at home, you work with all the colors “at home”, and can follow them like a roadmap. Seeing the entire Trend-proof Color Collection among your own things, in your space, and interacting with each other will allow you to see colors that are perfect with your natural surfaces, such as wood stains, granite, fabrics, and art. The Process guides you there. You will understand how many color combinations are possible and pick the direction you love the most. I can then help you narrow down the many great choices you have at your finger tips. If you need further assistance, (SO WORTH IT!) we have Virtual Colorization’s. We take over and give you visual color advice (See examples). Either way, we are here to HELP! But first, empower yourself with Devine Color’s smart Trend-proof Color Collection, and go through our wise Process.
— Gretchen Schauffler 02/08/2010 09:48 AM #
I painted my bathroom in a dark peach color and don’t know what colors to buy towels and rugs to tone down the color.
— nora peeples 02/09/2010 12:09 PM #
I want to know what color to paint my doors i have white and terracotta o walls
— k powell 02/12/2010 04:19 AM #
K Powell, if your trim is a color, paint your doors the same color. If your trim is natural wood, choose a color that would compliment the white and terracotta color in your home. Whip may be a good example of a white. This color is on the Pebbles and Creams palette.
— Gretchen Schauffler 02/15/2010 12:34 PM #
I am trying to come up
with a color for my bedroom which is small, my sister told me to try painting the room a taupe color and trim black. Please give me some help. I have one room a baby blue and the other room a green
— barbara 03/02/2010 09:44 AM #
Barbara:
Try Devine Stone, Latte, Filbert, Muslin, Siamese, or Ginseng with Devine Piping, Grizzly, Penguin!
— Gretchen Schauffler 03/05/2010 02:20 PM #
Our bathroom is wintergreen ash, what color should I paint our bedroom to flow with that?
— sandi 03/12/2010 06:19 AM #
We have a small 1920’s cottage home in which all the main rooms are small and connected. Devine Sasparilla is in our entry way and Devine Almond in our living room and we love them! The living room and kitchen are connected by our small dining room. Our kitchen has white cabinets and dark grey/concrete countertops. What colors would you suggest for the dining room?
— Jennifer R 03/14/2010 02:54 PM #
Oops I made a mistake in my post. We have Oragutan in our entry, not Sasparilla. Thanks for the help.
— Jennifer R 03/14/2010 03:04 PM #