E-Design Consultation & Colour Review: SW Accessible Beige
When you’ve got an open layout, it can be hard to find that PERFECT neutral to accommodate different spaces, functions AND exposures. So, when my E-design client was looking for a flexible, neutral colour for her open layout, I had three gorgeous options for her to choose from. And based on her WANTS and her home’s NEEDS, Accessible Beige was the winner winner chicken dinner.
Before, my client’s living space was a bit too golden as the south-facing light GLORIFIED her warm paint colour…
After, everything took a DEEEEP breath and relaxed…
Now, if you’d said the word beige to me a few years ago, I might’ve started twitchin’ and drinkin’ in the corner just thinking about all of the ‘builder beiges’ that flooded the market in the early 2000’s. But beige has come a LOOOONG way baby and Accessible Beige, in particular, is one of my FAVE’s.
Why? Let’s take a closer look…
What is the LRV of Accessible Beige (Light Reflectance Value)?
Accessible Beige has an LRV of 58. Not quite at my magic number of 62, but getting there.
As you’ll see in this next photo, with the southern exposure, the old paint colour picked up a warm kind of murky goldy-green undertone. This wasn’t doing ANYthing glorious for the home or its wood/furnishings.
After (below), with Accessible Beige on the walls, the room looks considerably more relaxed. Everything came to life, not just the furniture, but the wood cabinets, flooring and window trims.
At 58, you’ll find that Accessible is, generally speaking, a ‘light’ colour. In the photo above, you can see that on walls that get an average amount of light, the colour holds itself QUITE well (and this is a pretty bright room). Where it gets direct hits of light, it washes out, but that is quite natural for any colour above an LRV of 50 or so (and the sun WILL move its way along…or the earth will – whatever).
Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Paint Colours with LRV
What are the undertones of Accessible Beige?
When you look at Accessible Beige what you’re really looking at is a beige with a grayish undertone. A lot of the more old-school beige paint colours can flash quite yellow or orange – not this one. Accessible Beige is more soft, subtle and neutral as it leans a bit to the gray side. That being said, it’s not SO gray that it becomes a greige like its kissin’ cousin Agreeable Gray.
In the photo below, the old colour felt a bit suffocating and clashed with the travertine fireplace surround.
After, a more subdued palette sets everything off nicely…
In the ODD light, Accessible Beige can pick up a weeee willy wink o’ green, most often with southern exposure. It’s subtle, but if you have an aversion, sample it carefully to see how it settles for you. You can see a touch of it in a few of the above photos (ie: the tall wall above the kitchen area). You can also pick up a flash of green if you have green landscaping outside.
Which paint colours look good with Accessible Beige?
Tim can only WISH that I was as flexible as Accessible Beige. Oh honey, if you only knew me 20 years ago – toes to nose! Being a neutral with minimal undertones, Accessible Beige is pretty darned accommodating, so let’s look at the type of colours that it loves the best:
- Warm grays that are equal depth or darker than AB
- Cooler grays that are again, equal depth or darker
- It can also look awesome with creams as long as they aren’t overly yellow/orange
- Earth-toned colours (colours with a decent degree of gray or brown in them)
Click on above images for available packages…
Which colours DON’T look good with Accessible Beige?
Accessible Beige doesn’t look AS good with grays and greiges that are lighter in depth than it (so an LRV higher than 58). It also doesn’t like colours that don’t have gray/brown in them. How do I know? It told me so whenever I tried different pairings.
Accessible Beige in a south-facing room
In a south-facing room, you can expect AB to hold itself as a soft, neutral beige with just that weeee willy wink of gray in it and more rarely, a nod towards green. It won’t become suffocatingly warm as it’s not going to pick up much yellow/orange from the sun coming in the windows. BTW, I know suffocatingly isn’t really a word, I made it up).
And speaking of suffocatingly warm, this was my client’s dining area before…
After, the floor just came to LIFE as the paint colour took a bit more of a backseat.
Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…
Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…
- Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on location
- At $6.99, they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needing for traditional paint sampling
- If you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room
Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE
Accessible Beige in a north-facing room
Because of its wink o’ gray, you can expect AB to look slightly more grayed-out in a north-facing room.
When I have E-Design clients who like warm gray/greige paint colours, this one comes up quite often – even though it’s a beige. Why? Well, if my client has a north-facing room, they sometimes find that AB grays itself out just enough in this cooler exposure to hit their comfort zone – without falling cold and flat.
Read more: Colour Review: A Farmhouse Dining Room in Agreeable Gray
Before, that slightly creepy golden warmth was flashing through…
After, in this slightly more shaded area, see how AB picks up a subtle gray cast, without becoming totally greige or flattening out.
Accessible Beige in a room with NO (or little) natural light
While I don’t have the perfect example from the above client’s home, I have some photos to give you the idea from a different E-Design project.
This time, my client was looking for a soft neutral for her bathroom (which had no windows), and amongst her options were Accessible Beige and Natural Tan.
BTW -you should never lean samples, they should always be totally vertical
Natural Tan is on the left, Accessible Beige is on the right. See how AB gains some visual depth and has a bit more of an ALMOST greige look to it – no yellow/orange to be found here!
The best white trim colour with Accessible Beige
When it comes to partnering Accessible Beige up with a white, I usually hit SW Pure White which is a soft, slightly warm white that isn’t overly cream NOR stark.
Not sure if Accessible Beige is right for you? I have a few more to check out!
- Paint Colour Review, Sherwin Williams Wool Skein
- Paint Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Ballet White
- The 5 Best Benjamin Moore Beige Paint Colours
Want 3 colours CUSTOM-PICKED for your room?
Check out my E-Design and Online Colour Consulting packages!
Chat soon,
Read more
Colour Review: Sherwin Williams Repose Gray
Colour Review: E-Design Consultation with Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray
The Best Paint Colours for a South Facing Room
Kylie M Interiors E-design, Virtual and Online Decorating and Paint Colour Consultant Canada, USA, UK and More
Originally written in October 2017, updated December 2019
Another great colour review and timely considering I just painted a sample of AB on my kitchen wall to see if it would work. It did NOT!
You write “It can also look awesome with creamy tones as long as they aren’t overly yellow/orange”…. so what direction should I go if this is my situation? My cabinets are off-white with a butter yellow hue in a cool north-facing room.
I was thinking of checking out BM Gentle Cream and SW Creamy based on other stuff you’ve written. Any other colours jump out as options?
Hi Laura! yes, if you’re having trouble with those creamy cabinets you might need more warm beige, heavy cream OR gray! Gentle Cream is a long time fave of mine. If you want me to take a look at your space, I do have E-design which is affordable and fun, this way I can see your countertops/flooring/and the actual colour of your cabinets, otherwise I’m totally just guessing! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
Hope that helps!
~Kylie
Thanks for the reply Kylie!
I’m off to get a sample of Gentle Cream today and also one of Navajo White….if both end up being epic fails I’ll be in touch. I’m also taking a look at Indian White and Palace White. Wish me luck!!!
Cheers!
“Suffocatingly” is totally a word!
Really! I went into Microsoft Word grammer check and they had nothing for me – well isn’t that something!
We love the Accessible Beige choice every day…thanks for featuring our home! I am so appreciative of your consultation services and confidence boost – especially when considering such a large commitment!. We had to say goodbye to our sweet Shellie a couple of weeks ago, who lost her 16 month battle with kidney failure. So sweet of you to have her in this article.
Oh Ginger, I’m so sorry to hear about your pup – damn that stuff is hard, isn’t it! Well, I’m glad you get to see her sweet little face pop up, I hope it made you smile!
AB turned out PURRRRFECT in your client’s home. Nice work. I chose AB in my new build and it came off a little pink with my darker hardwood floors 🙁 So we switched to Agreeable Grey which I love. I still don’t get why AB would look pink, though.
Hi Susie! Sometimes it’s about the exposure and other factors that can do this – and paint colours are also quite subject to who is looking at them – I had a lady write me recently who found it green! Neutrals are always tricky 🙂
I really dislike AB, I am an interior decorator and I have never liked it in anyone’s home. Same with Revere Pewter, sorry!
Fair enough! There’s some popular colours that I’m not a big fan of either 😉
Hi Kylie, AB looks great! Especially in the bedroom photo above. Would love to hear your thoughts on Divine white and Dover white? I bought so many paint samples for my guest bedroom (before I discovered your blog) and had a hard time choosing an off white. Accessible Beige was one and I liked it but wanted to go lighter.
Barbara
Hi,
I love your YouTube reviews on AB, and agreeable gray. I have a dilemma and hope that you can give me some suggestions. Our house has lots of mouldings and trim in creamy light almond color. We just repainted our ceiling in a flat white color and now we are looking at paint color for the walls. We’re debating between agreeable gray, accessible beige or Edgecomb gray . Which one you think is a better choice that would not make the trims and moulding too yellow ? Would the same color works for my kitchen walls with white washed kitchen cabinets and mouldings? TIA
Hi Trang! It DOES depend on how creamy/almond your trim is re: the best wall choice. Off the top of my head, Accessible Beige, but that is a 100% guess as I’d have to see your space. If you’re interested in an E-design consultation, it’s affordable and fun! If that interests you, the link is here https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
Chat soon!
~Kylie
Hello Kylie,
I am considering using AB in my home. I just purchased it and we are completely rennovating the home. New cabinets, flooring, and paint throughout! This home is east facing in the front and west in the back. Uh oh! Hard one, I know! My previous home was exactly opposite, front west and back east. Soooooo, almost all the living spaces are in the front and back. I used SW cottage cream in my previous home. I had dark wood floors and lots of brown, black and red accents. I thought it was beautiful. I was hoping to change it up a bit in the new house, but still be able to use all my rugs, furnishings and art. I am thinking AB in the main part of the home, which includes entry, dining, family room, kitchen and breakfast. In the entry, I would like to paint inside the tray ceiling the color Baguette to add a bit of warmth. And…I loove gold:) but don’t want it on all the walls. I’m thinking of painting the walls in my study off the entry in SW Retreat and the ceiling in AB to tie in the color. Trim for whole house would be Dover white.
I would love to know your thoughts! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I want to update my style without changing my whole decor!
Thank you in advance!
~Dee
Hello hello! So, when it comes to personal questions, particularly ones with a lot of details, I do need to refer to my E-design, otherwise I’m just guessing! If that interests you, I do have an affordable E-design service! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
~Kylie
I love your threads! I have east and west facing windows for living room and dinning room/kitchen. I’m looking for something more on greige side which is hard with east/west windows but you stated AB can lean more gray depending on lighting. How would Accessible Beige look with east and west light?
Thank you in advance!
Hi Sarah, Accessible Beige would be alright – but I say that without knowing the products in your home! It will gray out more with the eastern light and then slide back to itself with the west light. Overall, I would ‘expect’ it to look a wink more greige than it normally would, while still holding some beige for sure.
Hi Kylie,
What is your opinion of a stucco exterior (body) painted with Sherwin Williams Pure White with Accessible Beige for the trim? Which SW white exterior paint works best with the Accessible Beige exterior paint?
Thank you!
Hi! I do try to give us much info as I can complimentary on my site, but when it comes to personal questions there is usually a lot more to consider, like roof, exposure, any stonework. If you’d like some on-point ideas, I do have an affordable E-design service you can check out, it’s fun! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
~Kylie
Hi Kylie! What trim color do you typically use with AB?
Hi Amanda! I would lean the most toward Alabaster…I have seen Aesthetic White lightened by 50% though and it’s beautiful as well!
Hi Kylie.! This home looks beautiful with AB. I’m wondering if you know the color and type of wood flooring featured in the home pictured in this post? My home has similar oak cabinetry and wood trim colors. We are trying to decide on wood flooring that would compliment them both. I’m also planning to use AB because of how lovely it looks here. Thank you!
Brenda
Hi Brenda, I’m sorry I don’t! If I had to guess, it looks a bit like a hickory to me with a natural finish on it…
Hi Brenda and Kylie, I am way late on this but the floors are nickory and the doors are alder. Still loving AB in all kinds of light…thank you!
I’m using AB in a spec house. White cabinets so I followed your advice and matched the ceiling to them. Should I do the same with the trim or use something softer?
Hi Diedre, I would do the trim the same, so that they don’t look dirty/cream/etc… in comparison to the ceiling/cabinets!
Would accessible beige work with yellow toned OAK kitchen cupboards…..having a problem finding a greige with all the undertones
AS I DO NOT WANT TO HIGHLIGHT JUST SOFTEN OR BLEND.
THANKS…APPRECIATE IT
Hi Mary, from the sounds of it, Accessible Beige might work well for you on that!
Hi Kylie!
Does accesible beige go well with honey oak doors and trim?
Unfortunately painting the doors and the trim is not an option. Do you have an article about what color goes with honey oak? Thank you! I love your YouTube videos and website
Hi Julieta, I do have a few posts re: the best paint colours with oak, if you go into my search bar on the right hand side, type in ‘wood’. And yes, Accessible Beige is okay, but might not have enough yellow in it for some honey oaks…
Thank you so much!!!
I have accessibe beige wall in kitchen with yellow toned oak cupboards. The counter top is black with neutral flicks throughout…..stainless steel appliances.
My island is also oak with a butcher block counter. My question is what color can i paint the island to break up all the oak color. Where do I pull a colr from to paint the island.
Thanks
Hi Mary, I might look at a darker charcoal or warm gray!
What charcoal do u recommend…or warm gray that goes with accessible beige. I WAS THINKING thinking about dark because my counter top is black with neutral flicks throughout. Or a warm gray that is in the counter top.
Tony taupe is on the same paint chip as accessible beige is that z warm gray…….or what charcoal do u recommend that I can start with.
Thanks
What are your thoughts on AB with a blue-gray? My kitchen is SW North Star and I’m looking for a coordinating color for my living room.
Hi Emily! I might look at Agreeable Gray, which could sit a bit nicer with North Star, that being said, it can depend on each room, it’s furnishings and exposures! I also might lighten Agreeable by 25%, but keep in mind that can make its undertones shift slightly…
I have east/west facing rooms. I have tried probably 12 samples of greige and they all seem to look blue- could be that my walls are currently a nice deep gold so it’s skewing the samples. I’m just worried about painting my walls the ever popular greige to end up with blue walls so I’m looking at accessible beige. Does this color tend to look beige? It also seemed to appear a little dark. If I lighten it 50%, will it change the color too much of can I expect to be the same color just lighter?
Hi Marie! Yes, the gold underneath can ABSOLUTELY skew your samples – for sure. YOu want to have a nice big poster board and leave a 2″ white trim around so you can separate things at least a bit! And eastern light CAN influence many greiges to look gray/blue (or morning western light), so greige can be tricky! As for 50% lighter, undertones definitely can shift at that point, so you’ll want to double-check that you still have the main look that you wanted at the start. 50% can raise undertones slighlty or cause them to recede…
HOpe that helps! If you would like some colours to try, I do have a fun E-design service! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
~Kylie
Hello,
I have East and West facing windows and am considering Accessible Beige as an update to my current warm yellowish colors. I would also like a green for my dining room which gets a lot of light. What do you think? I’d like sea salt for bedrooms and maybe svelte sage #6164 for the dining room.
Hi Tina, without seeing your home it’s hard for me to say based on not knowing your hard surfaces/countertops/furnishings, etc…I mean, they are all in a good family to work together!
Wow, I feel like I hit the lottery when I stumbled on your blog! THANK YOU! I just painted my hallway Accessible Beige, recommended by a SW consultant, and I LOVE it! My kitchen is softened green with maple cabinets and believe it or not, this works! I plan to take the Accessible Beige upstairs and into the hallway. My bedrooms are SW Wool Skein, SW North Star, and PPG Toasted Almond (I know, it’s not quite in the family but my son’s bedroom.). Anyway, I am thinking of painting my bedroom Repose Gray. My bedroom can be seen from the hallway – shotgun entrance. Do you think Repose Gray will look okay against the Accessible Beige hallway? If not, can you recommend another grey color that would work?
Thanks much!
Sharon from Ohio
Oh I believe it girl, that’s a great combo! I’m a big Softened Green fan myself. And I have no problem with Repose Gray running off of Accessible (I mean, without seeing your home), just keep in mind that it’s a SUPER ninja. Generally, it’s a soft, slighlty warm gray that has a main (but vague) undertone of purple. However, i’ve seen it flash green and blue. I’ve written a blog post on it, if you haven’t seen it yet. https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/all-about-sherwin-williams-repose-gray/ And I don’t know what look you’re going for, but I’m a bit Agreeable Gray fan, which is more of a greige that leans into gray (and can sometimes look even gray-blue). https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/all-about-sherwin-williams-repose-gray/
And I’m so glad you found me, I love when comments start out that way!
I hope that helps!
I too am glad I found your blog. I hadn’t even thought about the lighting and the direction of the windows. I’m confused enough, oh my. We are painting a house for rent. I am leaning toward accessible beige. The house has tan tile, medium woods, and an orangy patterned tile in one bathroom. It has granite with different browns in the kitchen. My question is how does accessible beige go with swiss coffee trims and doors?
Hi Kylie,
Does Accessible Beige work with honey oak kitchen cabinetry, bathroom vanities, fireplace mantle, handrail in stairway, and/or with honey maple antique bedroom furniture?
Sincerely,
Marcia
Just painted my kitchen AB and it’s almost perfect! Every greige paint I tried had a purple undertone or blue. AB didn’t do that! I am happy with the color, but I wish it was a little darker! It looks good when there isn’t any light, but near a window it was a little lighter. I’ve tried Sherwin Williams balanced beige and bungalow beige I even had them darker AB 25 percent more. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong I want it just a hint darker. I’m looking at all RGB that are close to AB. I might try York Gray from Ben Moore. I would love to hear suggestions though. AB is the perfect greige In the no lit rooms, but when light hits it, it looses some of its color.
Hi
What is the best trim color to use with accessible beige?
Laura
I like the looks of SW Alabaster, for a softer approach or SW Pure White for a cleaner touch 😉
How would AB work in a basement with a black ceiling and white crown and base. Not much natural light but loaded with can lights
Hi Joyce, I haven’t seen your space in photos, but it ‘sounds’ okay to me!
I just painted my family room AB (I’ve done one coat and it’s a south facing room). Against it I also just white washed my stone fireplace with SW Pure White which I’m planning on using for all my trim. So why is AB looking a bit PURPLE on my walls? I’m wondering if I will like agreeable gray better.
I cannot thank you enough for your post and videos on paint color! My father asked for white paint in his home. After reading and watching several times I decided to go with Accessible Beige at 50% for the interior of my fathers home. It looks fantastic! Looks great with the wood floors and maple kitchen. Thank you!
Jennie, that is fantastic, thank you for letting me know – i LOVE getting feedback that my info has helped!
Eoukd Accessible grey go with light maple cabinets and a dark green countertop that has a blue undertone.
Help! Cabinets look pinkish! Used SW Simple White (by mistake🙄) with AB walls. Can not change cabinet color. Ceiling is SW Pure White. Countertops Nuevo Azul granite. What is causing pink undertones in cabinets? Not sure what color white the trim should be now? Should I change the AB walls?
Hi Joan! Ooo, there is a big difference between BM Simply White and SW Simple White. And it’s no surprise you’re seeing pink coming up as Simple White is a soft white/off-white with a purple/pink undertone to it. I do know that Accessible Beige WON’T be helping your situation and you’ll want to look at some neutrals that embrace more of the undertones that are in your cabinets. I would keep going with Pure White on the trim for simplicity and consistency, unless you’re okay with picking up a bit of the purple/pink on the trim as well. It’s a tough spot you’re in! If you want me to take some time to look at things, I do have an Edesign where I can pick out some wall colours for you once I see photos of your room/countertop/etc… 🙂
~Kylie
How does AB work with travertine ? I have a master bathroom full of Travertine and trying to freshen it up. Gets tons of light (eastern). Will the gray show too much for the yellow – peachy travertine tones?
Hi Kylie, I’m trying to find a whole home color and have swatches all over my walls. I’m wondering what you think of Accessible Beige with red oak floors?
Hi Kylie,
Thank you for your blog and videos – so helpful as a new homeowner repainting room by room (throughout the whole house the original trim was a dark taupe with pinkish-white walls 😶).
Weve decided to repaint all the trim in the house in Pure White and went with Accessible Beige in the living room, which we love! Now working on a color choice for the adjoining dining room.
Would White Duck work as a complement to Accessible Beige? Or would Aesthic White or Creamy be better options?
Thank you for fun and informative posts!
Hi Laura, I much prefer the idea of Aesthetic White with Accessible Beige, they make sense together!
Thanks for this post! We are building and I just searched AB and shiitake from SW. north facing great room with lots of windows. Shiitake is too dark, I like the depth of AB but there seems to be a “wee Willy wink” (I stole that from you and use it often) of purple in it…am I imagining things? 🤦🏻♀️