The 12 Best LIGHT Taupe & Greige Paint Colors (Benjamin/Sherwin)

THE MOST POPULAR OFF-WHITE & LIGHT GREIGE/TAUPE COLORS

With design trends leaning warmer by the day, I’m getting more and more requests for warm paint colors, ESPECIALLY greige and taupe.

Does this mean that beige and cream are popular again? YOU BET YOUR BOOTY THEY ARE, but I’ve got other blog posts for those bad boys. Today, we’re looking at the top greige and taupe paint colors for you and your home.

But first…

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GREIGE & TAUPE

Many of my clients and readers ask if greige is the same as taupe, and the answer is NO. There are many ways of defining these two colors, and not everyone agrees (and that’s cool beans with me). In my crazy little color world, greige and taupe are separated by one main difference.

UNDERTONE

What is an undertone? Have you ever picked a ‘neutral’ paint color, only to find your walls look blue, green, purple, or some other surprising hue? That’s an undertone. This is why so many grays look blue, beiges look orange, and creams look yellow – they ALL HAVE UNDERTONES. And so do greige and taupe.

GREIGE HAS A GREEN UNDERTONE (green-yellow)

TAUPE HAS A PURPLE UNDERTONE (purple-pink)

Some people lump them all together using one of the above terms – either greige or taupe. Others switch them around as they think taupe has a green undertone and greige has a violet undertone. LONG STORY SHORT, you do you, boo. The main goal is to choose the UNDERTONE you want and worry about the name of the color later (or never).

By the way, some of the colors recommended below border the warm gray and beige worlds.

Why?

Our perception of paint colors changes based on the room they’re in. A warm gray that looks too chilly for a north-facing room can warm up and look like the perfect taupe in a south-facing room. A beige that looks too warm for a south-facing room can look perfectly grayed out and TAUPE-ISH in a north-facing space.

LEFT: Benjamin Moore Classic Gray / RIGHT: Benjamin Moore Pale Oak

Perception also applies regardless of a room’s exposure. What I see as a taupe, you might see as a warm gray. A color that seems pretty darn taupe to me could look pretty darn greige to you.

ARE GREIGE & TAUPE STILL TRENDY?

Taupe and greige paint colors are definitely still in style. Many have shifted well out of the gray world and are craving something warmer, but today’s modern beiges go too far. This is where greige and taupe come in handy.

This is also why it’s good to cover a range of colors to see which one hits your happy place.

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS MODERN GRAY 7632

Modern Gray is a taupe paint color that’s slowly growing in popularity—largely due to the shift in trends. While its undertone is super passive, its soft taupe approach can be a great happy medium between interior finishes that lean into the gray-purple world and homeowners who prefer the warmer end of things.

However, because of the subtlety of its undertone, don’t be surprised if Modern Gray picks up a vague flash of green in the right situation! The less committed a neutral is to its undertone, the more likely it is to respond to its environment and pick up others.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Modern Gray! 

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray: IMAGES, Info, & More!

2. BENJAMIN MOORE PALE OAK OC-20

Many of my clients mention Benjamin Moore Pale Oak as an option when they want a relatively neutral gray. Trust me, Pale Oak ain’t gray, and it SURE as heck ain’t neutral!

That’s right. While Pale Oak’s undertones can be pretty passive, in some rooms, they lean reasonably well toward a warm pink hue (as shown below).

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Pale Oak!

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Pale Oak

Regardless, Pale Oak is one of the top selling paint colors thanks to its gentle warmth and versatile undertones, so don’t let the ‘p’ word (pink) scare you off!

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS AGREEABLE GRAY 7029

While Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray passes as a warm gray in some rooms, it’s a greige paint color at heart. But while some greiges lean harder into their warm base, Agreeable Gray is a more subtle nod to warmth with super subtle and flexible undertones.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray

This means that while Agreeable Gray can pick up the smallest wink of green, in some lights, it comes across perfectly neutral (and the odd time, slightly taupe).

4. BENJAMIN MOORE EDGECOMB GRAY HC-173

Hands-down, Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray has the least undertone as it relates to the most popular greige and taupe paint colors, to the point where it’s hard to really say whether it is a greige or taupe.

Edgecomb Gray is a popular color as it bridges the gap between beige and gray. And while it looks gorgeous as-is, it looks just as pretty lightened by 25% and 50%, so play around with it!

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

Take a look at this exterior, which looked heavy and sad in its previous green-gray paint color…

Now, check it out with a few fresh coats of Edgecomb Gray…

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Edgecomb Gray…

5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS WORLDLY GRAY 7043

While Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray is like the redheaded stepchild compared to the popularity of Agreeable Gray, it can be a beautiful choice for those wanting a wink more warmth and depth in their greige.

Benjamin Moore Ballet White is in the foyer beside the dining room

Worldly Gray has an LRV of 57, which puts it closer to the light-medium range. However, if you have a north-facing room and find Agreeable Gray a tit bit nipply, Worldly Gray will give you a bit more passive warmth.

Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray: IMAGES, Info, & More

6. SHERWIN WILLIAMS POPULAR GRAY 6071

Popular Gray is at the top of my list when it comes to badass and beautiful taupe paint colors. With its ‘slightly more noticeable than average’ purple undertone, Popular Gray is a great way to add warmth to your walls while still nodding at finishes that prefer the grayer end of things.

REVIEWS: SW Alpaca | SW Heron Plume

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Popular Gray

Popular Gray is a light-depth paint color, which we know thanks to its LRV of 61. Here it is (top sample) compared to the comparable, Benjamin Moore Collingwood (bottom)…

Not sure what LRV is? It will change your paint-lovin’ life! 

Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF POPULAR GRAY…

7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS USEFUL GRAY 7050

If you want a greige with a bit more commitment to undertone, Useful Gray could be mighty…useful.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Useful Gray…

Useful Gray is a light shade of greige that’s a close cousin to Worldly Gray. In comparing the two, you’ll see Useful Gray’s more purposeful commitment, which makes Worldly Gray look DARN neutral in comparison!

99.9% of the photos in my blog are from my Online Color Consulting clients, readers, talented photographers, & friends— because real homes deserve to be celebrated (dirty laundry & all!) While not magazine-perfect, they’re packed with ideas & proven color choices to help you create a home you’ll love.

8. SHERWIN WILLIAMS EGRET WHITE 7570

While I have mad love for City Loft, Egret White has my heart as far as the best taupe paint colors go.

While in some rooms it passes as a ‘barely’ warm gray, this shade of taupe is one of the most subtle, sexy shades of taupe on the block.

With incredibly passive undertones (as far as taupes go, it’s one of the most subtle) and an almost off-white LRV of 70, Egret White is a beautiful choice for almost any room.

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Egret White

9. BENJAMIN MOORE CLASSIC GRAY OC-23

Just like Egret White, Classic Gray is a taupe that moonlights as a warm gray in the right exposure and interior lighting.

You’ll notice that Classic Gray is lighter than Egret White. So, whereas Egret White has an LRV of 70, which puts it on the lighter end of the light range, Classic Gray’s LRV of almost 74 parks its pretty lil’ self in the off-white world.

Here are some awesome alternatives to compare with Classic Gray…

REVIEWS: BM Collingwood | SW City Loft | BM Balboa Mist

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Classic Gray!

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Classic Gray

10. BENJAMIN MOORE LONDON FOG 1541

London Fog is a great shade if you like a neutral with a bit more meat on its bones. With an LRV of 56, London Fog sits on the dark side of the light range. Along with this slightly lower LRV, it’s known to play a few Jedi mind tricks related to undertones.

I mean, sure, it’s more inclined towards taupe (purple), but in the odd light you have to watch for a wink of green (especially if your pair it with finishes with a dominant taupe/purple-pink undertone).

However, in this next home, look at how well it partners with the dark greige paint color (green undertone) of the stair base and railing. Even the carpet has a green undertone, and London Fog holds itself pretty well…

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore London Fog

11. SHERWIN WILLIAMS INCREDIBLE WHITE 7028

While Incredible White is popular in some crowds, it’s not my favorite.

Why?

While Incredible White has beautiful taupe undertones of purple and pink, it has a lot of them. While some are looking for this commitment to color, I find that most of my clients prefer a more subtle approach to these particular hues, honing in on the likes of the previously mentioned Benjamin Moore Classic Gray, Egret White, and City Loft.

Of course, this doesn’t mean it’s not the right color for YOU; make sure you compare it with other colors and are okay with how its undertones sit in your space.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Incredible White

12. SHERWIN WILLIAMS VERSATILE GRAY 6072

With its LRV of 48, Versatile Gray is a popular but slightly darker taupe paint color. With this LRV, Versatile Gray sits in the light-medium range, popular for bright rooms and those wanting to see a bit more contrast with their white trim.

I love Versatile Gray’s approach to taupe, as while it’s committed and purposeful, it’s not remotely overwhelming. This makes it a great option for walls, cabinets, and exteriors.

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray

Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF VERSATILE GRAY!

13. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ANEW GRAY 7030

While Sherwin Williams Anew Gray is listed as a slightly darker version of Agreeable Gray, its undertones are even more passive and less committed. This means that while it can grab a touch of green or purple, it doesn’t really love to grab either unless encouraged to do so (based on surroundings, exposures, and the Kelvins of light bulbs).

Like Versatile Gray, Anew Gray has become super popular for the walls in a room, but also for kitchen cabinets, exteriors, and even interior doors!

The Best Warm Quartz Countertops | Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige Paint Color Review

As for depth, Anew Gray has an LRV of 47, making it a well-balanced light-medium depth neutral.

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Anew Gray

14. BENJAMIN MOORE CEDAR KEY OC-16

Benjamin Moore Cedar Key is a super ninja. While it favors the beige end of things, put it in the right room (i.e., a space with north-facing light), and it can look surprisingly taupe.

Cedar Key can also be a great option if you have finishes that cater to beige, but you a) don’t want legit beige walls and b) you want to add a new color to your room while still coordinating with your beige finishes.

REVIEWS: SW Aesthetic White | SW Egret White | BM Classic Gray | SW Natural Linen

However, as shown above, while it tends to lean a bit into taupe, compared to legit taupes, it can seem a wink green, so sample it carefully!

Paint Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Cedar Key

Did these colors hit the spot? Are you looking for greige and taupe paint colors with more DEPTH? KEEP READING!

READ MORE

The Best Light to Medium Taupes from Sherwin Williams

Sherwin Williams 10 Best WARM Gray Paint Colors

How to Pick Paint Colours When You’re An OVERTHINKER (OR HAVE ANXIETY)

The 6 Best DARKER Greige & Taupe Paint Colours – Sherwin Williams

Benjamin Moore’s 8 Best DARKER Greige & Taupe Paint Colours

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ORIGINALLY WRITTEN AROUND 2020, UPDATED IN 2025