Kylie M’s 10 Most Recommended Paint Colors (Benjamin Moore & Sherwin Williams)

With thousands of color options, are you surprised I can narrow it down to Kylie M’s 15 best, most recommended paint colors? Don’t be – I play favorites, with paint colors and husbands. And as you can see, I also occasionally talk in third person.

I love paint colors and real homes. To say I’m obsessed is an understatement (thank goodness I have OCD to support me through my obsession…wait…is that how it works?) Anyway. With over 12,000 in-home and virtual paint color consultations completed, there are a handful of colors I suggest time and again.

Do I step outside the color box? All the time, every single day, but I’ve still got my ‘tried, true, and trusted’ shades. Okay, maybe not trusted – you can’t bet on any paint color being fool-proof, but you know what I mean.

But first, let’s talk about what makes a ‘most recommended paint color’ according to Kylie M. Interiors.

• It has to suit at least 2 finishes in the average home: walls, cabinets, accent walls, trim, exterior, and doors.
• It doesn’t need to speak to everyone (no color would); it needs to have a fighting chance in today’s average home. That said, if paint colors are really speaking to you, keep drinking.
• It’s gotten rave reviews from my clients. We don’t want any one-hit-wonders here.

My focus is on YOU and what might inspire you to get out your paintbrush!

And while you might be nervous to see BEIGE back on the horizon, I promise you, this first color is a gooder.

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS AESTHETIC WHITE 7035

While it didn’t hit my radar until about 2 years ago, Aesthetic White has been near the top of my list since then.

With warm paint color trends, many of my clients are ready to embrace the beige end of things. However, the builder basic beiges from the 1990s and RICH beiges from the early 2000s scare the pants off them – and I don’t blame them. Thankfully, Aesthetic White is a polite ‘pants on’ introduction to the warmer end of things (which I can’t say about my first date with Tim – JUST JOKING, MOM!).

Aesthetic White is an off-white, warm neutral paint color. While I hesitate to call it beige, it sure as heck winks that way with a super passive warmth. As for depth, its LRV of 73 parks it in the off-white world.

Here it is in a living room with north-facing light…

Is Aesthetic White an EXCITING color?

Ermmmm, noooo.

Does Aesthetic White have a strong personality or the type of vibe you could get emotional about?

Not really, you probably won’t get in your feels about this one.

Let’s be honest, it’s easier to get excited by photos of Ryan Reynolds in a Speedo with a buttload of wine in his arms, the more COLORFUL options (btw, I encourage you to look up the word buttload). But just because a color doesn’t tussle your tatas doesn’t mean it’s not a great option for you and your home.

Here it is on my client’s updated kitchen cabinets (with their original, outdated granite)…

WHY I RECOMMEND AESTHETIC WHITE

Let’s see why Aesthetic White is one of my most recommended paint colors…

• Is Aesthetic White a good option for more than one type of surface? YOU BET YOUR BOOTY IT IS! Single rooms, open-concept spaces, and it’s even a great neutral for your whole home.
• Does it get people excited to get PAINTING? I sure hope so!
• Does Aesthetic White speak to current trends or help update older finishes? Yes.

And while Aesthetic White won’t appeal to everyone (find me a color that does…), it definitely has a fighting chance in today’s average home.

Get your PEEL & STICK sample HERE

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White

2. BENJAMIN MOORE EDGECOMB GRAY HC-173

I have mad love for Edgecomb Gray, and for those who follow me on Instagram, it should be no surprise to find it in my TOP 2.

Edgecomb Gray is a light taupe-greige. It doesn’t commit hard to a green or pink-purple undertone and is pretty flexible – it’s a color ninja. As for depth, its LRV of 63.09 places it in the light range – smack dab in its ample bosom. This LRV means it offers a noticeable, but not overwhelming contrast with the right white trim color.

Where you want to be careful is that if you have a dark room, Edgecomb Gray can look a bit flat. Just remember…

There is no LIFE where there is no LIGHT

Give your dark room adequate lighting, and Edgecomb Gray can be an awesome choice.

WHY I RECOMMEND EDGECOMB GRAY

Why is Edgecomb Gray one of my recommended paint colors? Let me count the ways…or really, I’m just going to bullet-point them.

• It’s awesome for a single room or open-concept space.
• It works well as a whole-home paint color, assuming the rooms are reasonably well lit.
• It’s a beautiful color for painted kitchen cabinets, especially for those who love off-white and light depth cabinet colors.
• Some even use it on their exterior (mostly siding, not trim).
• It goes with a wide range of wood tones

Get your PEEL & STICK sample HERE

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

When it comes to paint colors, whether they’re neutral or colorful, there’s no foolproof color – a color that suits ALL homes and ALL purposes. All I can do is get you going in the right direction with options that have POTENTIAL!

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS AUSTERE GRAY SW 6184

Are you looking for a gray paint color that’s been kissed by green? And I’m not talking about a little peck on the cheek, we’re going full Francais on this one.

Here it is in east-facing morning light.

I fell in love after helping my good friend choose it for her home. She loves green, but didn’t want to be smacked upside the head by Kermit the Frog. This is where Austere Gray (and a few others) came to play.

Here it is in west-facing, later afternoon light. You can see it TRYING to lean warm! 

Austere Gray is a beautiful green-gray (or gray-green, depending on how you see it) paint color. With its LRV of 51, it’s in the light-medium range. While it’s a warm green (according to my color science studies), you know I like to keep things a little more ‘real home’ friendly around here. Instead, I like to share with you how it’s most likely to appear on your walls – and that is, as a green-gray that caaaan swing a bit green-blue.

My next client chose it for her staircase and hallway as it’s a pretty complement to her taupe carpet…

WHY I RECOMMEND AUSTERE GRAY

• It’s fine to pick a neutral, but a bit of easy-to-love color is fun, too!
• It’s gorgeous in a single room, but it works well in open-concept spaces, too. Whereas some colors can be overwhelming, this softer commitment suits many people.
• You could also sample it for your exterior siding or stucco.
• It offers a coastal or beachy look without being kitschy.

The Best Green Gray Paint Colors

4. BENJAMIN MOORE MARITIME WHITE 963

I’ve been spouting off about Maritime White for years, and it’s time it got more love and attention – this color is amazeballs.

Look at how it suits this old, historic wood trim, door, and floor! 

Maritime White is a light beige paint color. Not 2000s Tuscan beige, not 1990s builder’s beige, but beautiful, balanced, badass beige. While its LRV of 71.6 puts it at the high end of the light range, it behaves like an off-white with its feather-light touch.

WHY IS IT ONE OF MY RECOMMENDED PAINT COLORS?

• I often have clients with older homes or those from the early 2000s (Tuscan-era). They want to update their home, but their finishes are finicky – Maritime White often hits the spot.
• It’s fab in a single-room, open-concept space, or whole home
• Kitchen cabinets can look beautiful painted in Maritime White, as can exteriors.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Maritime White

5. BENJAMIN MOORE PASHMINA AF-100

This color had me at hello. With its murky, muddy blend and organic vibe, I love recommending this color to my clients (I know, those keywords make it sound SO lovely, right?).

Pashmina isn’t just lovely wrapped around your neck; it’s a fabulous color to wrap around the walls of your room. Stuck between gray and beige (but winking WAY more at beige), Pashmina is a greige-taupe paint color.

While its scientific roots suggest it’s in the yellow-red family, in real homes with real lighting (the anti-science of it all), it can appear with a mild green undertone, but more often settles as a subtly warm, nature-inspired neutral.

WHY PASHMINA IS A MOST RECOMMENDED PAINT COLOR

• Not everyone wants light neutrals – some people crave moodier, meatier shades, and Pashmina often hits the spot.
• It’s gorgeous in a single room (but a bit heavy for most open-concept spaces or whole homes).
• Cabinets look stunning painted Pashmina, and its depth accommodates a wider range of wall color pairings compared to the off-white/light world.
• I’d absolutely sample it for an exterior, either as the main color, trim, garage door, etc.
• Great for accent doors or accent walls.

Benjamin Moore Pashmina Paint Color Review

6. SHERWIN WILLIAMS FOGGY DAY SW 6235

I love Foggy Day so much, I have it in my own home. Once I spent more than a minute researching this color, I knew I had to have it. Here it is in our upstairs hallway, leading into our family room…

I’ve paired it with Benjamin Moore White Dove walls

Not only is Foggy Day one of my recommended paint colors for you, but it also comes with a personal opinion based on having it in my own home. 

Foggy Day is a wickedly gorgeous blue-green paint color. While it focuses heavier on blue, it’s allllll balanced out by a solid dose of gray. As for depth, its LRV of 20 means it has some serious meat on its bones.

WHY I RECOMMEND FOGGY DAY…ALL THE TIME

• This color is so pretty in a single room, as long as the room isn’t too dark or drab.
• It’s beautiful as an accent wall, or as shown above, on a feature like board and batten.
• If you need a beautiful color for your front door (inside or outside), but are nervous about too much color, it’s a great option.
• It’s also beautiful for the main exterior house color.
• It’s a gorgeous paint color for a kitchen island, bathroom vanity, or even all of your cabinets.

Sherwin Williams Foggy Day Paint Color Review

7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS NATURAL LINEN SW 9109

If you asked me this same question a few years ago, I would’ve said Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray. However, the tides have turned, the earth has shifted, and trends have shifted warmer. While I still hit on Agreeable Gray all the time, it’s not nearly as popular as it was.

Instead, Natural Linen has taken Agreeable Gray’s place on my ‘most recommended’ list. 

Natural Linen is a light shade of beige. It’s darker than the previously mentioned Maritime White, but it’s still tucked nicely in the light range, with an LRV of 66. It’s also a super well-balanced beige that doesn’t cater hard to orange-yellow or orange-pink. It’s more likely to settle as a soft, subtle beige with a gentle orange undertone.

WHY I RECOMMEND NATURAL LINEN

• It’s one of my most recommended paint colors for those ready to enter the world of beige – it just suits so many homes!
• It’s a great color for a single room or open-concept
• Many of my online color consulting clients find the ever-popular Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige a bit too heavy for their whole home. Natural Linen offers a great adjustment.
• You can also sample it for your exterior (main house color – it’s not as common for trims).
• It’s a great color for those homes that demand beige, but have homeowners who are nervous.

Don’t worry, that sponge-paint in the hallway is now long gone – as are the plastic-bag filled valances that came with it. 

Sherwin Williams Natural Linen Color Review

8. SHERWIN WILLIAMS URBANE BRONZE SW 7048

Sue-prize, sue-prize. If you’ve known me for a while, you know I have a lady boner for Urbane Bronze.

Urbane Bronze is a dark greige, meaning it’s a warm neutral. While it’s not always obvious, it very easily appears with a green undertone across a range of lighting situations, so watch for it (if you want it, great; if not, you might want to change colors).

Urbane Bronze has an LRV of 8, so it ain’t messing around when it comes to depth – she be dark. Here it is on my staircase railing – it’s on my kitchen island, too…

WHY I RECOMMEND URBANE BRONZE ON AN ALMOST DAILY BASIS

It’s warm, it’s organic, and it’s a great replacement when black is too harsh, gray is too cold, and brown is too warm. It’s one of my ABSOLUTE MOST recommended paint colors – hands-down.

It’s like Frank’s Hot Sauce – I put that #$%&*$# on anything.

• While some people might paint it in a single room, it’s a bit dark for most (except heathens like me – I love dark colors).
• It’s great as an accent wall and goes with a wide range of neutral paint colors.
• If you want to paint your interior doors a neat color, it’s a gorgeous option.
• Beautiful on exteriors, either as the main color, trim, garage doors, or front door.
• Absolutely solid gold as a cabinet or kitchen island paint color.

This isn’t my kitchen, I just wanted to show you how it’s a great option with cream cabinets and older granite countertops…

Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze Color Review

9. SHERWIN WILLIAMS EGRET WHITE

Ahhhhh, Egret White. This one hit me about 2-3 years ago, when I noticed the shift away from gray toward warmer shades. When transitioning a home (especially updating those from the previous gray trend), we sometimes need colors that bridge the gap – Egret White is one of those colors.

OTHER REVIEWS: BM Classic Gray, SW Shoji White, BM Pale Oak, SW City Loft

Egret White is a light-depth shade of taupe. Its LRV is 70, so it sits lighter in that range, nodding at the off-white world. It also has gentle taupe undertones, so it rarely shows up as an overbearing taupe with purple-pink.

Before, this bathroom was overwhelming, and the pink tile took over…

After, it looks fresh and updated on a BUDGET with Sherwin Williams Egret White on the walls and a painted vanity…

WHY ITS A RECOMMENDED PAINT COLOR

I recommend this color on a daily basis for a ton of good reasons – here are a few…

• It’s a great transitional color between the gray and beige worlds.
• It suits a wide range of interior finishes.
• It’s fabulous for single rooms, open-concept spaces, and whole homes.
• Exteriors look great in this color as it’s not as stark as white, but offers a bright look.

Sherwin Williams Egret White Paint Color Review

10. BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE

You know I couldn’t write this blog post without mentioning my one true love…RYAN REYNOLDS! Oh, and Tim…and White Dove.

White Dove is one of the best paint colors and, absolutely, one of my favorites.

White Dove is a soft, warm white paint color. A bit creamy without being too yellow, a bit muted without being too gray, White Dove is often the perfect happy medium in the world of white.

WHY WHITE DOVE IS THE MOST RECOMMENDED PAINT COLOR

Notice I said THE most recommended paint color. That’s right – nothing beats this bad boy – let’s find out why…

• It’s great for trims, doors, and ceilings
• It suits a super wide range of wall colors and finishes
• While the trend has softened, it’s still being used a TON in single rooms, open-concept spaces, and whole homes.
• The modern farmhouse exterior trend has fallen like a brick, but White Dove is still a hit when a home authentically suits white. It’s also great for exterior trim and what not.
• It’s a great cabinet color – timeless and easy.

Benjamin Moore White Dove Paint Color Review

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

In case you have any wandering queries or quandaries…

WHAT’S THE MOST POPULAR PAINT COLOR FOR A WHOLE HOUSE?

Ooooo, for popularity, I might still give a bit of it to Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige. However, in my experience, I find Sherwin Williams Natural Linen way more suitable to the average home, same with Benjamin Moore Maritime White.

WHAT PAINT COLORS NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE?

Ermmm, it depends on your home. Historic, character, and era-specific homes (pre-1970s) often retain their colors for much longer in a more timeless way. However, those some colors can look dated in newer homes, given the right decade.

The Most Timeless Paint Colors

Very generally speaking, Benjamin Moore Maritime White is great, as is Navajo White. Funny enough, Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter has been kickin’ it since about 2005 and STILL HASN’T STOPPED! It’s just not being used on a ‘whole home’ scale anymore.

SUMMARY OF MY MOST RECOMMENDED PAINT COLORS

1. Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White – great for everything from single rooms to whole homes
2. Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray – a great transition color between gray and beige
3. Sherwin Williams Austere Gray – when you want to entertain a bit of color without going too far
4. Benjamin Moore Maritime White for a soft, easy, warm look
5. Benjamin Moore Pashmina – for a muddy, earthy, organic look witih a grounded vibe
6. Sherwin Williams Foggy Day – one of my favorite gray-blue-green blends
7. Sherwin Williams Natural Linen – perfect for those dabbling in the wild world of beige
8. And, of course, Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze – the Frank’s Hot Sauce of the paint color world

READ MORE

The 3 Best, Most Timeless Neutral Paint Colors

The 8 Best WHOLE HOME Warm Neutral Paint Colors

Get the best paint color advice with Kylie M’s Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!