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

Posted on July 12, 2022 by KylieMawdsley

THE MOST POPULAR OFF-WHITE & LIGHT GREIGE & TAUPE COLOURS

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

Does this mean that beige and cream are becoming more popular too? YOU BET YOUR BOOTY THEY ARE, but I’ve got other blog posts for those bad boys. Today, we’re taking a look at the TOP greige and taupe paint colours for you and your home.

But first…

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GREIGE & TAUPE

There are MANY ways of defining these two colours, and not everyone agrees (and that’s cool beans with me). In my crazy lil colour world, greige and taupe are separated by one main difference…

UNDERTONE

What is undertone? Have you ever picked a ‘neutral’ paint colour, only to find your walls look blue, green, violet or some other surprising hue? That’s 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.

Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray, best warm gray, greige taupe paint colour. Kylie M

GREIGE HAS A GREEN UNDERTONE (green-yellow)

TAUPE HAS A VIOLET UNDERTONE (violet-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 colour later (or never).

Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray best paint colour for off-white greige taupe warm kitchen cabinets, White Macaubus quartz countertops, black hardware. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, diy update idewas

Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray (which you’ll read about below)

BTW, a few of the colours recommended below BORDER the warm gray worlds AS WELL AS the beige worlds.

Why?

Our perception of paint colours CHANGES based on the room they’re in. A warm gray that looks a bit 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.

Update beige tile or carpet ideas. COLLINGWOOD WALL, Classic Gray, Pale Oak, Benjamin Moore warm grays and taupe. Kylie M Interiors Edesign.

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 colour that seems AWFULLY TAUPE TO ME, could look pretty darn greige to you.

This is why it’s good to cover a RANGE of colours to see which one hits YOUR happy place.

The best greige and taupe paint colours, light depth for walls, cabinets, exteriors. Kylie M

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS MODERN GRAY 7632

Modern Gray is a taupe paint colour that’s slowly growing in popularity – largely due to the shift in trends. And while its undertone is super passive, its soft taupe approach can be a great happy medium between finishes that lean into the gray-violet world and a homeowner who prefers the warmer end of things.

Benjamin Moore Winds Breath, Ballet White, Sherwin Williams Modern Gray and White Duck, comparing popular warm off white paint colours. SAMPLIZE and Kylie M.

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.

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Modern Gray

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray. Samplize peel and stick

Get your peel and stick sample of Modern Gray HERE

2. BENJAMIN MOORE PALE OAK OC-20

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

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak, update idea for bathroom with beige floor tile. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color consulting

That’s right, while Pale Oak’s undertones can be quite passive (as shown above), they can also lean reasonably well into a warm pink-violet hue (as shown below)…

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak in bathrom with pink tub and tile with pink unhdeertones, maple warm hue cabinets. Kylie M Interiors Edesign CLIENT PHOTO before painted vanity

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Pale Oak

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak. Samplize peel and stick

Get your peel and stick sample of Pale Oak HERE

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS AGREEABLE GRAY 7029

While in some rooms, Agreeable Gray passes as a warm gray, it’s really a greige 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.

Large tall stone fireplace, Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray on walls in family room or living room, vaulted ceiling. Kylie M. Oak wood floor, best greige paint colour

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray

Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray. Samplize peel and stick

Get your peel and stick sample of Agreeable Gray HERE

4. BENJAMIN MOORE EDGECOMB GRAY HC-173

If you’re looking for the most NEUTRAL, flexible greige/taupe on the market, this could be it. Hands-down, Edgecomb Gray has the LEAST undertone as it relates to the most popular greige and taupe paint colours, to the point where it’s hard to really say whether it IS a greige or taupe.

Rustic mountain style home with wood trim and floors, Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray walls paint colour, Kylie M Interiors Edesign, diy

PHOTO V1 PHOTOGRAPHY

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray. Samplize peel and stick

Get your peel and stick sample of Edgecomb Gray HERE

5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS WORLDLY GRAY 7043

While 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 green in their greige. And I say this lightly as the green is still SUPER subtle.

Worldly Gray, mountain lake cabinet, best greige paint color. Kylie M Interiors Edesign. Diy decor and paint color blog.jpg

You’ll also see that Worldly Gray is a touch WARMER than Agreeable Gray. This means that if you have a north-facing room and find AG a touch nipply, Worldly Gray will give you a wink more passive warmth.

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray

Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray. Samplize peel and stick

Get your peel and stick sample of Worldly Gray HERE

6. SHERWIN WILLIAMS POPULAR GRAY 6071

When it comes to taupe paint colours, Popular Gray is at the top of MY list. With its ‘slightly more noticeable than average’ violet 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.

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Popular Gray

Sherwin Williams Popular Gray. Samplize peel and stick

Get your peel and stick sample of Popular Gray HERE

7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS EGRET WHITE 7570

Admittedly, Egret White is DARN CLOSE to being a warm gray, not a taupe, but given the right environment, it acts like the PRETTIEST TAUPE on the market. With INCREDIBLY passive undertones and an almost off-white LRV of 70, Egret White is a beautiful choice for almost any room.

Blue vanity similar Benjamin Moore Hale Navy. Bathroom, freestanding white tub, , beige, blue white hexagon tile vanity backsplash, Sherwin Williams Egret White paint on walls.

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Egret White

Sherwin Williams Egret White. Samplize peel and stick

Get your peel and stick sample of Egret White HERE

8. BENJAMIN MOORE CLASSIC GRAY OC-23

Just like Egret White, Classic Gray is MORE of a warm gray than anything, but holy heck, can it look perfectly taupe in the right space.

Benjamin Moore Classic Gray. Popular warm gray and off-white paint colour. Gray wash laminate wood flooring and white trim. Kylie M Interiors E-Design, online paint colour advice and blogger

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Classic Gray

Benjamin Moore Classic Gray. Samplize peel and stick

Get your peel and stick sample of Classic Gray HERE

9. BENJAMIN MOORE LONDON FOG 1541

If you like a neutral with a bit more meat on its bones, London Fog is a great shade. With an LRV of 56, London Fog sits on the DARK SIDE of the light range. And along with this slightly lower LRV, it’s known to play a few Jedi mind tricks as it relates to undertones.

Stone fireplace, two-storey tall with Benjamin Moore London Fog, greige or taupe. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color consulting

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore London Fog

Benjamin MOore London Fog. Samplize peel and stick.

Get your peel and stick sample of London Fog HERE

10. SHERWIN WILLIAMS INCREDIBLE WHITE 7028

While Incredible White is popular in some crowds, it’s not MY personal favourite.

Why?

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

Sherwin Williams Incredible White off white taupe,Client before photo, Kylie M Interiors Edesign

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

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Incredible White

Sherwin Williams Incredible White. Samplize peel and stick.

Get your peel and stick sample of Incredible White HERE

10. SHERWIN WILLIAMS VERSATILE GRAY 6072

With its LRV of 48, Versatile Gray is a popular, but slightly darker taupe paint colour. 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.

Sherwin Williams best warm gray taupe paint colours, Anew Gray, Balanced Beige, Versatile Gray, Requisite Gray, difference between paint colors for walls. Kylie M Interiors Edesign

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray

Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray. Samplize peel and stick. Paint colour review

Get your peel and stick sample of Versatile Gray HERE

11. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ANEW GRAY 7030

While 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 violet – it doesn’t really love to grab either unless encouraged to do so (based on surroundings, exposures, and light bulbs).

Sherwin Williams Anew Gray, foyer with warm gray taupe greige tile. White trim, best greige paint colour

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Anew Gray

Sherwin Williams Anew Gray. Samplize peel and stick. Paint colour review

Get your peel and stick sample of Anew Gray HERE

12. BENJAMIN MOORE CEDAR KEY OC-16

Cedar Key is a SUPER ninja. While it favours the beige end of things, put it in the right room (ie. north-facing) and it can look surprisingly TAUPE. Cedar Key can be a great option if you have finishes that CATER to beige, but you’re wanting your walls to add a new layer while still COORDINATING with your finishes.

Paint Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Cedar Key

Benjamin Moore Cedar Key. Samplize peel and stick. Paint colour review

Get your peel and stick sample of Cedar Key HERE

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

READ MORE

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

The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colours

The 11 Best Warm Neutrals That AREN’T BEIGE!

Ultimate Guide to White Paint Colours

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The best paint colors to update your home with E-Design and online paint colour consultant, Kylie M Interiors. Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams colours. Market

Chat soon,

Kylie M Interiors Edesign, signature, online paint colour consultant using Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams paint colours. DIY update advice ideas



Comments

  1. This is a great post! I’m one of those who has been eyeing Pale Oak. Searching for that “perfect” taupe for an accent wall that coordinates with lighter grays (couch), but leans into beige and isn’t too dark…! Picturing the perfect light linen color…In a room with East, South and West facing windows, vaulted ceilings and lots of LED can lights. Other walls are Alabaster, trim is pure white, floors are acacia, staircase has black spindles…

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