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  4. Tried-and-True Paint Palettes to Bookmark for Your Home

Tried-and-True Paint Palettes to Bookmark for Your Home

By Nancy Mattia Updated March 05, 2020
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blue and white modern kitchen in houston home
Credit: Molly Winters Culver
Experts share their favorite shade combinations for each of your house's many rooms.
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blue and white modern kitchen in houston home
Credit: Molly Winters Culver

When it comes to paint options, the world is your oyster (or, in Benjamin Moore's world, it's your "Oystershell"). You can upgrade your walls, cabinets, and other furnishings with colors that range from quiet neutrals to hues that are bold and daring. Paint is transformative: In very little time, it turns the dull and drab into something that's truly spectacular—and, compared to other home projects, extremely affordable (to save even more money, make interior painting a DIY project). "Whether you want your space to feel more spacious, a bit brighter, or even more soothing, a new paint color can do the trick," says Caroline Harmon, a trend strategy manager for Lowe's.

When searching for your home's paint colors, keep an open mind: These days, gray is still going strong, but playful, friendly blue has captured many hearts, too. If you're wondering how to incorporate blue—the hottest color of the year, according to the Pantone Color Institute, which chose Classic Blue as its favorite—into a room without overtaking the space, pair it with neutral shades (beyond this blue-meets-neutral kitchen, you'll see a few more examples of how to use the shade in your home ahead). And don't be afraid of dark jewel tones—they'll be getting lots of love in 2020, explains Harmon.

For more examples of need-to-know-about colors and their best-possible shade pairings for your home, look to major paint manufacturers' websites, which offer handy guides for color matching. In the meantime, get inspired—and find the perfect paint palettes for your bedroom, living room, bathroom, kitchen, or office—with this selection, courtesy of our experts.

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Lavender and Cream

lavender and white bathroom with light pink accents
Credit: Molly Winters Culver

"Lavender is a wonderfully bright and youthful choice when designing for a teenager," says Los Angeles interior designer Sarah Barnard. The pastel hue in this bathroom feels floral, fresh, and fun, while contrasting white details, like the sleek tub and side table, add grown-up glam.

  • See More from This Colorful Home—with a Pink Dining Room

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Cool Colors

cool tones kitchen with dark blue doors
Credit: Courtesy of Benjamin Moore

Using the color wheel is a surefire way to figure out which hues work well together. In this sunny kitchen, three analogous colors—medium green (Flora on cabinets), light green (Fernwood Green on walls), and blue-black (Witching Hour on the door), plus white—create harmony, says Hannah Yeo, color marketing and development manager for Benjamin Moore. "The room looks fresh and balanced," she says.

  • How to Pull Off a Powder Blue Kitchen

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White and Blue

white and blue expansive living room with wood floors
Credit: Chad Mellon

White, ever the classic neutral, pairs with blue to create a contemporary look in an expansive living room. "Our approach was all about light and bright, using white for the walls, draperies, and rug to create a beautiful backdrop to the colorful design," says Newport Beach, California, interior designer Denise Morrison. As a result, the blue chairs and table really stand out.

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Industrial Tones

industrial tones home office with animal skin rug
Credit: Stephen Allen Photography

This contemporary office owes its cool vibe to walls painted Sherwin-Williams' Urbane Bronze, a rich brown that pairs well with gray and ivory. "We wanted the space to look industrial," says John McClain, who uses the brand's paints for his projects. "Using a dark color in a small space helps to create the feeling that it's enveloping you."

  • How to Create a Fun and Functional Home Office

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Purple Monochrome

purple and burgundy bedroom with neon sign
Credit: Steven Dewall

Deep, velvety purple bedding and a burgundy bench play off dusty purple and light purple walls in this sumptuous retreat. "We used rich colors to create a cocoon-like environment so that the bedroom would feel similar to a hug," says Barnard.

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Merlot, White, and Gray

merlot colored bathroom with white and gray accents
Credit: Courtesy of Benjamin Moore

When guests open the powder room door, they'll think they've stepped into a sparking jewelry box. Every surface—walls, ceiling, door, and window trim—is painted with Benjamin Moore's Dark Purple so there's no delineation, which unifies the look and "enlarges" the small space. A high-gloss finish makes the room glisten; the white sink and gray door provide balance.

  • How to Pick the Perfect Paint Finish

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Beachy Tones

beachy tones minimalist room with ocean view
Credit: Steven Dewall

By using a sandy color palette, says Barnard, this airy space feels fully integrated with the room's focal point: the bright blue ocean framed by the windows. Green accents (pillows, plants) echo nature for a calming and inspiring space. Artwork by Renae Barnard adds pops of color.

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Neutrals with a Side of Mustard

mustard accent wall in neutral tones dining area
Credit: Courtesy of Benjamin Moore

To underscore the dining room's special architectural feature, Yeo says the walls were painted white (Benjamin Moore's Baby's Breath) and the trim beige (Balboa Mist) so the alcove could shine. Painted with the mustardy gold hue Marblehead Gold, the nook pops without being too simulating or distracting during dinner.

  • The Best Neutral Color Combinations for Each Room in Your House

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Blues and Greens

kids bedroom with green and blue drawers and surf board
Credit: Courtesy of Benjamin Moore

"This is a great way to use color in a teen's room," says Yeo. The walls are a soft blue by Benjamin Moore (Bird's Egg) with white trim and the charming set of drawers; their fronts are reminiscent of the colors of the ocean, and range from powder (Serenity) to dark blue (Clearest Ocean Blue). The painted white floor offers clean contrast—and mimics the palest-possible sand.

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Green and White

dark green bathroom wall with white flooring and ceiling
Credit: Courtesy of Lowe's

Want your bathroom to make an of-the-moment, but organic statement? Paint beadboard and batten in a bold green such as Valspar's Wilderness and add gold accents (look to the towel hooks and frames seen here). "Keep the rest of the room light and neutral and the green will really shine," says Harmon.

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Tonal Blues and Red

tonal blues and red library with dog
Credit: Courtesy of Benjamin Moore

Rich, vibrant colors can work in a room that's in an otherwise neutral home, especially if the room is secluded. The library seen here uses three different shades from one color family: Benjamin Moore's blue (Lucerne) for the built-in bookshelves, a lighter iteration (Exhale) for the shelves' interiors, and a darker one (Soot) for the door. "Red accents bring the room together," says Yeo, "so it's not overly blue."

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Pale Pastels

pale pastel bedroom with light pink accents
Credit: Stephen Allen Photography

Layering color gives a room richness and depth. This bedroom, painted in Misty, a pale blue, offers the perfect base for more color, since it's so versatile. "Misty looks different in every environment we place it in," says McClain of the Sherwin-Williams hue. "Sometimes it has a green undertone, sometimes it's blue." Here, the shade is paired with bedding that's peachy-pink and gray, creating a pastel oasis.

  • The Bedroom Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2020

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Blue-Green and Earth Hues

blue-green and earth hues kitchen with tiled backsplash
Credit: Katherine Schwingel

Cabinets painted blue-green are this kitchen's lively focal point. The wood-and-gray hues ground the room keep the jewel tone from overwhelming the space. "When incorporating a lot of color, it's important to combine your designs with earthier tones to keep a space from looking too bright," says Morrison.

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Gray and Honey

gray and honey colored entry way with cow skin ottomans
Credit: Rod Foster

A gray-and-honey palette creates a warm, welcoming mood in this cozy bungalow's entryway. "The neutrals are an evolution from the all-gray palettes of recent years," explains Morrison. A rustic wood table and vase full of flowers add texture and keep this simple palette from falling flat.

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Mixed Greens

yellow-green toned bedroom with french doors opening to sunny patio
Credit: Scott Van Dyke

This earthy bedroom is like an extension of the bountiful garden just beyond the French doors. Barnard used lighter and darker shades of green from the same color family on the walls, bedding, and draperies, which layers the look. A dark brown wood headboard and side table add warmth.

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    1 of 16
    2 of 16 Lavender and Cream
    3 of 16 Cool Colors
    4 of 16 White and Blue
    5 of 16 Industrial Tones
    6 of 16 Purple Monochrome
    7 of 16 Merlot, White, and Gray
    8 of 16 Beachy Tones
    9 of 16 Neutrals with a Side of Mustard
    10 of 16 Blues and Greens
    11 of 16 Green and White
    12 of 16 Tonal Blues and Red
    13 of 16 Pale Pastels
    14 of 16 Blue-Green and Earth Hues
    15 of 16 Gray and Honey
    16 of 16 Mixed Greens

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    Tried-and-True Paint Palettes to Bookmark for Your Home
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