Sherwin Williams 8 Best Beige & Tan Paint Colors (slightly darker)

The Top 8, Modestly Warm Neutrals For Your Home

Gone are the days of boring old builder’s beige! Beige and tan paint colors have reached new heights in the last few years as designers, painters, and homeowners have embraced the versatility of what was once considered a basic ‘builders’ color.

One of the front-runners in the Battle of the Beige is Sherwin Williams. They’ve created a range of slightly darker, warm neutral colors that will satisfy even the pickiest color connoisseur (like me…). 

But how do you know which beige or tan is best for you and your home?

• Look at your finishes – do they have an orange undertone that’s orange-yellow or orange-pink? Or maybe your home suits TAN with a yellow-orange or yellow-green hue! If you’re unsure, get samples and see which one flows best.
• What LRV range are you looking for? The average home suits an LRV between 60-70. Do you prefer colors that are lighter or darker than this? Most of the colors listed here are a bit darker (-60)!
• If your tastes lean more rich and golden, you might like this: The Best Rich, Golden Beige & Tan Paint Colors. However, I’d start here first, as these shades can be a bit more livable and flexible.

QUICK REFRESHER ON LRV

Here are the approximate ranges of the suggested colors…

• Light-depth paint color: 55-72.
• Light-medium depth colors: 40-54.
• Medium-depth colors: 20-40

While lighter shades of beige are trending, if you want more depth and warmth, I’ve got you covered – literally and figuratively…in paint!

Most of the colors we’re looking at today fall in the light-medium range (40-55), but we’ll dabble loosely in the other two.

If you don’t know about LRV, it could save your color-lovin’ life…and your marriage. 

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS BALANCED BEIGE 7037

Balanced Beige is pants hands-down (it’s not that kind of party), one of the most popular, slightly darker beige paint colors. It has a nice, passive warmth that’s subdued by a subtle gray base, making it one of the more MODERN beige paint colors in this range.

As for depth, Balanced Beige has an LRV of 46, which plunks it firmly in the light-medium range – not too light, not too dark – juuuuust right.

As for beige vs. tan, Balanced Beige is definitely more of a beige, not just a traditionally golden warm one. While it can humor some finishes that need an orange-pink undertone, it doesn’t lean too far.

TIPS FOR USING BALANCED BEIGE IN YOUR HOME

• Make sure it’s warm enough if you have traditional beige finishes, especially those from the early to mid 2000s. Balanced Beige doesn’t always have the warmth (orange-pink) these finishes crave.
• If you want more depth, check out Tony Taupe (#7), which can pick up a wee willy wink of green in its travels, but has a similarly muted warmth.
• Balanced Beige can be a stunner on kitchen cabinets, nodding to current off-white and light-depth cabinet trends. Personally, I find this depth a bit easier to coordinate with compared to lighter shades.
• Balanced Beige is hawwwwt on exteriors as it suits a ton of stone and brick finishes, as well as asphalt roofs.

While it settles as a light-medium inside, look at how much it can lighten on an exterior! 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Balanced Beige…

Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige: IMAGES, Info, & More

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SANDBAR 7547

If you’re looking for the perfect shade of tan, look no further than Sandbar.

Whereas some shades of tan come in hot n’ heavy with their yellow-green undertones, Sandbar is a modest shade of tan that doesn’t commit hard to yellow-green. It’s pretty subtle and relatively toned-down (grayer/muted), making it an option for rooms, exteriors, and even the odd kitchen cabinet.

Sandbar has an LRV of 53, which means it falls in the light-medium range, but on the higher end, winking seductively at the light world.

Sherwin Williams Sandbar: FULL Paint Color Review

By the way, if you’re unsure which type of warm neutral suits your space, compare Sandbar (tan) with Bungalow Beige (#6). This will help you see the shift between types – your finishes should CLEARLY prefer one over the other.

The Best Paint Colors for Kitchen Islands & Bathroom Vanities

TIPS FOR USING SANDBAR

• Sandbar is a great moderate depth for a room with reasonable natural light.
• Sandbar is a contender for cabinets, based on kitchen cabinet trends, although it’s darker than the most popular cabinet paint colors.
• If your finishes lean more towards beige, rather than tan, be cautious with Sandbar.
• Sandbar looks great when partnered with some darker shades of greige.

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ACCESSIBLE BEIGE 7036

Accessible Beige is gorgeous with its soft and subtle gray undertone, making it look the least like a typical beige paint color.

FUN FACT: Accessible Beige is Sherwin Williams most popular beige paint color and the lightest on this page.

Many people get twitchy about their beige looking reminiscent of the early 2000s—and some do. If you’re in this group, you can unclench those bum cheeks, as Accessible Beige is a great way to get the warmth of beige without a heavy or dated look.

However, if you’re a traditional beige lover and want some serious warmth, Accessible Beige could be too gray and muted.

Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home

Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige: IMAGES, Info, & More

TIPS FOR USING ACCESSIBLE BEIGE

• Accessible Beige can be a bit fussy with wood stains that have a lot of red/pink in them, but humors many others.
• It’s a great color for a north or south-facing room; neither too warm nor too cold. Keep in mind that it can look a bit less warm in a northern room.
• Accessible Beige’s LRV is 58, so while it’s lighter, it’s not for the faint of heart.
• Being a bit grayer, it might feel a bit flat and drab if you have a dark room.
• Of the colors on this page, Accessible Beige and Balanced Beige are the most popular.
• Want something a bit lighter? Sherwin Williams Natural Tan has a ‘similar’ look but is more gentle with its higher LRV.

Never judge a color by its name. Just because it has the word ‘beige’ or ‘tan’ or ‘gray’ in it, doesn’t mean that’s what it is! Judge it by how it LOOKS with your finishes. 

Are Beige & Tan the Same?

4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS LOGGIA 7506

Loggia is definitely an up-and-comer in the beige world. With a muted, slightly grayish backdrop (kind of like Balanced Beige), Loggia offers a more muted approach to warmth.

Loggia has an LRV of 48, which parks it smack dab in the middle of the light-medium range. While it’s a bit darker than most people are looking for on their kitchen cabinets, it’s a great option for rooms and exteriors. This said, if you want a cabinet color with a little cushion for the pushin’, it can be pretty!

In this next kitchen, my clients are installing a more modern quartz countertop and want a new paint color to update their oak cabinets. These are the cabinet colors we sampled…

BM White Dove | SW Accessible Beige | SW Anew Gray | SW Balanced Beige | SW Amazing Gray

Notice how Loggia comes up a touch more tan looking compared to the bit of taupe in Balanced Beige – cool, eh?

This is why you should ALWAYS sample and compare several similar colors – you never know what you’ll fall in love with.

TIPS FOR USING LOGGIA

• While it can look a bit drab in low-light areas like dark rooms or hallways, it’s gorgeous in a room with moderate (or more) light.
• Loggia is a great alternative to Balanced Beige if you want a tiny touch more golden warmth (compared to the almost taupe in Balanced Beige).
• If you love beiges for any exposure, I love how Loggia’s slightly grayish backdrop makes it a bit more useful for warm, south-facing rooms (but it can look toasty!)

Sherwin Williams Loggia: IMAGES, Info, & More

5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS STONE LION 7507

Stone Lion is a beast of a beige. Darker than many of the other options on this page, Stone Lion grounds a room with a passive warmth, not a rich one. This gives it a more organic, natural vibe (this lion does NOT shave his armpits).

With an LRV of 38, Stone Lion falls in the lighter end of the medium range. This means it offers more depth than your traditional, muted beige paint colors without venturing into the wild world of brown.

TIPS FOR USING STONE LION

• Unlike some beiges and tans that can be iffy with cream cabinets and trims, Stone Lion can look gorgeous, as shown above.
• If you have a dark room, Stone Lion can definitely close it in. While this can make it look cozier, it can also look HEAVY.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Stone Lion…

SW Accessible Beige | SW Mindful Gray | SW Amazing Gray | SW Tony Taupe | BM Pashmina | SW Network Gray

6. SHERWIN WILLIAMS BUNGALOW BEIGE 7511

If your home’s finishes suit beige with a commitment to dusky orange-pink, Bungalow Beige could hit the spot without going too far.

What is too far?

I wouldn’t know, I go too far all the time #nofilternoboundaries. Oh, we’re talking colors, right. Well, most people don’t want too much pink on their walls. So, while an undercurrent is okay, a commitment often isn’t.

Similar to Sherwin Williams Bungalow Beige, Dhurrie Beige, or Pavilion Beige

Bungalow Beige has an LRV of 53, making it a light-medium depth shade of beige. And while its approach can be SO well-suited to many interior finishes, make sure you’re okay with its blend.

TIPS FOR USING BUNGALOW BEIGE

• Bungalow Beige has an LRV of 53, parking its cute little toosh nicely in the higher end of the light-medium range.
• Pavilion Beige, which is very similar, has a lower LRV of 48 and is a great color to directly compare with Bungalow Beige. Heck, may as well check out Dhurrie Beige while you’re at it.
• For a lighter approach, check out Sherwin Williams River’s Edge.
• More so than many other popular beiges and tans, Bungalow Beige suits a whackload of finishes from the early to mid-2000s.

The Ultimate Guide to Update Your 2000s Home

7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS TONY TAUPE 7038

Who’s the boss? Like Tony Danza, Tony Taupe is when it comes to darker shades of beige and tan (I tooootally dated myself there. This said, I would never date myself, I’m way too weird).

Tony Taupe has some serious junk in its trunk. With an LRV of 37, this badass beige sits firmly in the medium depths.

With this kind of depth, not many would use it as a whole home paint color. Instead, it’s well-suited to single or multiple rooms, or an accent wall with a warm, soft shade of off-white.

Here’s your Samplize Peel & Stick sample of Tony Taupe…

BM Stone Hearth (mad love) | SW Tony Taupe | BM Indian River (Ranchwood)

TIPS FOR USING TONY TAUPE

• While Tony Taupe can be gorgeous on lower cabinets, kitchen islands, or bathroom vanities, it’s a bit too dark for the typical beige cabinet lover.
• If Tony’s muted warmth has you swiping left instead of right, shift to Stone Lion (#5) for a subtle tweak in personality.
• If you find it a bit too dark for your room, bump back to Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige (#1).

Sherwin Williams Tony Taupe: IMAGES, Info, & More

8. BARCELONA BEIGE 7530

Barcelona Beige is often overlooked in favor of lighter, more gentle shades of tan. But for those who want a commitment, hot damn, is it ever pretty.

Barcelona Beige isn’t, in fact, a beige. With its yellow-green undertone, it’s a tan paint color.

Benjamin Moore’s 12 Best Beige & Tan (Slightly Darker) Paint Colors

This said, not everyone breaks down beige and tan the way I do. Call me anal (or maybe don’t), but I find it helpful to define warm colors by their undertones.

Ideas to Update Older Granite Countertops

TIPS FOR USING BARCELONA BEIGE

• Don’t expect this beige to go with travertine, as, like most tan-inspired colors, it doesn’t have the right undertones. Instead, try a beige with a hint of orange.
• Barcelona Beige pairs well with wood stains that have a slight yellow undertone.
• If it’s a touch too dark, bump up to Sherwin Williams Urban Putty or the ever-popular Canvas Tan.
• If you want more depth and more of a khaki-type of paint color, check out Sherwin Williams Universal Khaki.

WHAT COLORS GO BEST WITH BEIGE & TAN?

While it can depend on the depth and exact undertones of your warm neutral, here are some color combos to consider…

BEIGE, TAN & GREIGE: Some of the popular greige paint colors (green undertone) that are ideally darker than your beige/tan (a bit or a lot). For example, Sherwin Williams Porpoise can be a gorgeous accent wall color for a ton of warm neutrals.

These kitchen cabinets (Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige) look gorgeous with Sherwin Williams Thunder Gray on the island…

BEIGE, TAN & GRAY: If you want to pair a warm neutral with gray, it’s best if the gray is a bit (or a lot) darker than your chosen beige/tan. In particular, some medium-toned or darker gray-blues can be interesting (check out Grays Harbor, it’s STUNNING).

BEIGE & BEIGE or TAN & TAN: Choose a lighter version of your warm neutral for a tone-on-tone look. Some of the popular off-white beiges and tan-inspired colors include Sherwin Williams Moderate White, Sherwin Williams Natural Choice, and Aesthetic White.

Balanced Beige with Aesthetic White

BEIGE, TAN & BLACK: Black paint colors on kitchen islands, stair railings, the inside of front doors, or home decor are a great way to add interest to neutral space. In particular, I love the softness and undertones of Sherwin Williams Iron Ore.

BEIGE, TAN, & BLUE: While beige and tan can be fussy about some of their blue partners, many darker shades of blue can look classic.

Check out how blue accents contrast and complement this beautiful beige bedroom…

BEIGE, TAN & GREEN: When it comes to actual ‘colors’, beige and tan are often happiest with shades of green, including….

• • Light-medium to medium-depth green paint colors (that are the same depth or darker than your warm neutral.
  • Darker green paint colors are great for accent walls, islands, and more.
  • Green-grays can also be gorgeous with beiges and tans. I’m in love with Sherwin Williams Thunderous.

By the way, this doesn’t mean you need to PAINT anything green; just accenting with toss cushions, home decor, and plants can be a nice way to add some balance.

BEIGE, TAN, & PURPLE: While tan can be a bit fussy, many beige paint colors pair well with darker, muted purple paint colors and accents.

BEIGE, TAN, & RUST/RED/ORANGE: Beiges and some tans can look gorgeous accented with rustic, warm paint colors like rusty red and dark orange. Check out shades like Sherwin Williams Roycroft Copper Red as a place to start.

READ MORE

Benjamin Moore’s 12 Best Beige & Tan (Slightly Darker) Paint Colors

The Best Rich, Golden Beige & Tan Paint Colors (slightly darker)

Benjamin Moore Natural Wicker Paint Color Review

The Best WHOLE HOME Warm Neutral Paint Colors

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ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2019, FULLY UPDATED FOR YOU IN 2025!