THE TOP 6 MUSHROOM PAINT COLORS FOR CABINETS, WALLS, & EXTERIORS
Mushroom paint colors have been a hot topic lately as grays take a HUGE backseat to softer neutrals. What’s gray being replaced by? Trendy warm neutrals like greige, taupe, beige, and, you guessed it – MUSHROOM!
But you don’t get off THAT easy. I’m not just going to throw colors at you, slap you on the butt, and send you on your way. First, you’ll learn about mushroom paint colors so you can understand how to pick the best one for you and your home.
By the way, the differences between warm gray, beige, greige, and mushroom are tricky to explain, so you better get your drinkin’ thinkin’ cap on (or both if you like).
ARE MUSHROOM PAINT COLORS GREIGE, TAUPE, OR BEIGE?
If you’ve read my blog post, Greige & Taupe: What’s the Big Difference? You’ll know the basic ins and outs. If you want the easy-peasy, here’s a quick recap…
WHAT’S A TAUPE PAINT COLOR?
Generally speaking, taupes are brown-gray blends with a slightly purple (or purple-pink) undertone, that isn’t always super noticeable.
Taupe paint colors favor violet.
These are all warm grays with violet undertones or taupes
Warmer taupes lean closer to beige/brown than gray. Taupes that cater more to gray are still taupe/warm; they just look a bit cooler than others.
WHAT’S A GREIGE PAINT COLOR?
Greiges are ALSO brown-gray blends, but unlike taupe, which tends to cater to violet – greige favors green.
Greige paint colors favor GREEN.
Greige will ALWAYS be a warm paint color. However, greiges that look warmer have more beige-brown in them. Those that look cooler are greiges with more gray in them.
GREIGE-TAUPE HYBRIDS
The less committed a greige or taupe is to its undertones, the more likely it is to pick up the other. While this offers flexibility, it’s risky as you might end up with the one undertone you DON’T want! A color like Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray is a good example of a hybrid greige-taupe.
Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray is a hybrid
So, where does mushroom fit into the greige-beige-gray-taupe world? Let’s take a peek…
WHAT IS A MUSHROOM PAINT COLOR?
Mushroom is a paint color that’s brown or beige with gray in it – either a little gray or a LOT, depending on the color you choose! The most popular mushroom shades are light-medium to medium in depth (especially for kitchen cabinets), but a few are hovering in the lighter end. These neutrals don’t read as brown or gray but usually CATER to brown-beige (warmth) over gray.
As for undertone, mushroom paint colors are likelier to wink at a green undertone vs. a purple one, making them variations of GREIGE. If you’ve chosen a mushroom color and see violet or violet-pink, your painted surface will look more taupe – not mushroom. In the IDEAL world, your mushroom paint color will pick up little to no undertone.
Mushroom paint colors are browns and beiges with some gray in them – brown-beige is USUALLY the dominant neutral in today’s most popular shades of mushroom (more so than gray).
https://www.pinterest.ca/search/pins/?q=benjamin%20moore%20guilford%20green&rs=typed&term_meta[]=benjamin%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=moore%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=guilford%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=green%7Ctyped
Now, SOME brown and beigepaint colors have a warmer, more golden look to them – we’re not talking about these shades – they’re too strong. We’re talking about muted, subdued browns and beiges; the ones that can’t aren’t totally committed to their warmth.
The TRICKY thing about mushroom…
If you get the wrong mushroom, you’ll hallucinate that Ryan Reynolds is painting your home in teal socks and a g-string (hallucinate/fantasize, whatever). If you get the RIGHT one, you’ll have a perfectly soft, neutral paint color for your walls, cabinets, trims, or exterior.
Benjamin Moore Pashmina (greige) and Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze – dark greige
However, the tricky thing is that MANY colors don’t start out OR end up looking like any mushroom shade…
- Some greige paint colors that cater to gray can look MORE mushroom-toned (warmer) in a south-facing room because the natural light will warm them up.
- Some super muted beige paint colors can look more mushroom-inspired in a north-facing room, as the cool light can gray them out.
- The best shades of mushroom really only look mushroom when they’re light-medium or medium-toned. Any lighter, and they read more like greige, or even tan. Any darker, and they can look more like brown or warm gray.
Confusing, I know – but that’s why you’ve got me in your back pocket (and I do pinch, upon request…). Now, let’s expand on those thoughts just a bit…
MUSHROOM PAINT COLORS IN SOUTH-FACING ROOMS
South-facing rooms have a warmer light coming in, and mushroom paint colors generally do well in these spaces. Yes, they will warm up visually, but many will hold their ‘shroominess, particularly if you choose a mushroom with a wink more gray in it.
However, some greige paint colors can LOOK like a mushroom color in a south-facing room (or west-facing in the afternoon). South-facing light is warm, so if your greige has a moderate amount of beige in it, and you put it in a south-facing room, that warm sunlight can have your greige looking more mushroom than intended (unless that’s what you’re going for).
JUST REMEMBER, once the sun goes down in the evening, you won’t have that natural light to moderate things, so make sure you like your paint colour all day!
The Best Paint Colors for a South-Facing Room
MUSHROOM PAINT COLORS IN NORTH-FACING ROOMS
This can be a tough sell. Because north-facing light is slightly gray-blue, it will ADD gray to a mushroom paint colour – pulling it closer to warm gray/greige. And this can be okay if you like greige; however, if you prefer the slightly warmer side of things, you might find that a mushroom paint colour in a north-facing room loses the warmth you were hoping for. One way to remedy this is to choose a mushroom that caters more noticeably to beige.
Many people see Sherwin Williams Anew Gray as a versatile shade of mushroom. Personally, it’s just a WINK too gray. My case is proven in this north-facing foyer below. Anew Gray loses some of its lovely warmth and falls to the more gray end of things…
Again, this is okay if you like gray, but if you want the subtle warmth that mushroom offers, you’ll want to avoid this type of mushroom in a room with northern exposure.
If you’re struggling to find a mushroom that stays warm enough in your north-facing room, you may need to bump things up more to the subdued beige range, along the lines of Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige. Just remember, it will return to its regular warmth once the sun goes down.
North, South, East, West – Which Paint Colour is the Best?
MUSHROOM PAINT COLORS IN EAST & WEST-FACING ROOMS
East and west-facing rooms are a bit trickier as the light changes drastically throughout the day.
In a room with eastern exposure, a mushroom paint color will look lovely and ‘as expected’ in the morning light. However, the same shade could look a bit flat and drab in the afternoon. Often, choosing a slightly warmer version of mushroom is the best choice.
As for rooms with western exposure, it’s the opposite – mushroom can look flat in the morning hours but will WARM RIGHT UP in the afternoon sun. In fact, due to the golden look of the late afternoon sun, many mushroom tones pick up a TON of unexpected warmth. It’s best to find the color you love for most of the day and/or the time of day you’re in the room the most (aside from choosing the one that best suits your finishes, which is the TOP priority – always).
The Best Paint Colors for East & West-Facing Rooms
Now, I bet you’re ready to see some beautiful mushroom-inspired paint colors, so let’s get this party started! And let me say that many parties have started with mushrooms and ended up with a whole bunch of people talking to dogs and running naked down the street (story of my life, and I don’t do mushrooms), so let’s keep it PG here, people.
THE TOP 6 MUSHROOM PAINT COLORS
In this list below, you’re going to see some lovely mushroom colors, as well as a few mushroom-INSPIRED colors. This way, if your room has a tricky exposure or finicky finish, you can flex slightly outside of the traditional mushroom world to find your home’s best color.
1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS BALANCED BEIGE 7037
Balanced Beige is a beautiful example of a mushroom-inspired paint color. However, as we discussed earlier, putting a mushroom color in a south-facing (warm) room could make it look too brown-warm. However, put it in a north or east-facing room, and BAM, you might have your perfect mushroom paint colour!
- GOOD FOR: North and east-facing rooms
- NOT AS GOOD FOR: south and west-facing rooms (it could look more beige than mushroom)
Just LOOK at the fungi-inspired colour of these walls – the EPITOME of mushroom; I’m bustin’ out the garlic butter and pepper!
If we move up to Accessible Beige, Balanced Beige’s lighter version, it’s too light to give a REAL mushroom look, regardless of your exposure.
FULL Paint Color Review: Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige
2. BENJAMIN MOORE NATURAL CREAM OC 14
Natural Cream is an interesting one. It can look like a very light shade of mushroom – if you consider light shades CAPABLE of looking mushroom-toned. Check it out in this kitchen below; looking like quite a fungi…
The slightly darker walls and brown quartz countertops encourage Natural Cream to look a bit mushroomy. HOWEVER, Natural Cream will look mushroom-inspired on a case-by-case basis. If you put it with white quartz countertops, it’s a bit less likely to lean mushroom. Check out Julie Blanner’s kitchen here (which is WICKED pretty). In this kitchen, the cabinets look more like a greige-cream blend.
At the heart of it, Natural Cream is like a greige and cream hybrid. So, while there are muted gray elements, this color is warm at heart. As for undertones, it’s a ninja, for sure. While it doesn’t CATER hard to one undertone or another, it can shift based on its environment between a green or pink. KEEP IN MIND, these undertones are so subtle that they’re hardly worth considering unless you’re super particular or have a fussy finish you’re partnering it with.
The Best Off-White & Light Depth Kitchen Cabinet Colors
3. BENJAMIN MOORE PASHMINA
Pashmina is gorgeous. No matter your exposure, Pashmina is a great color to explore. This soft, medium-toned neutral WILL lean a bit more gray in a north-facing room. It will also look MUCH WARMER in warm afternoon western sunshine (nature o’ the beast), but overall, this is one gorgeous fungus.
While Pashmina CAN pick up a very (very) vague green undertone, it’s a great mediator between the beige and gray world.
- GOOD FOR: North, south, west, and east-facing rooms – she’s a beauty!
FULL Paint Color Review: Benjamin Moore Pashmina
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4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS LOGGIA 7506
Loggia is similar to Balanced Beige, losing the typical ‘golden beige’ look and becoming more muted and neutral – ESPECIALLY in a north or east-facing room!
In my IDEAL WORLD, both of these colors would be about 25% darker. However, the ‘darker versions’ of these colors (in the fan deck), pick up too much brown for this fussy girl. I would be more tempted to ask the paint store to darken Balanced Beige or Loggia by 25% if I want a wink more depth.
3 Steps to Your Perfect Paint Color: Lighten & Darken
- GOOD FOR: North and east-facing rooms
- NOT AS GOOD FOR: South and west-facing rooms (it could look more beige than mushroom)
5. BENJAMIN MOORE GALLERY BUFF CSP-225
Gallery Buff is a beautiful take on mushroom and is comparable to Pashmina’s intentions. This gorgeous shade comes from Benjamin Moore’s Color Stories Collection, meaning you can’t use it on the exterior, but oh boy, is it a stunner for cabinets and walls!
Get your PEEL & STICK sample of Gallery Buff
- GOOD FOR: North, east, south, west – this paint color is the BEST! Or it could be!
I rely 100% on photos from my E-Design clients, so while I don’t always have JUST the photo I need, I do the best I can with what I have while still getting you the info you need!
6. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ANEW GRAY 7030
If you’re looking for a LIGHTER approach to mushroom and one that’s not as traditionally warm, check out Anew Gray. Anew Gray is a light-medium greige that IS a shade of greige – not mushroom. However, in a south-facing room or a west-facing room in the afternoon, it does lean that bit warmer and starts nodding towards a mushroom-inspired look! I also love the slightly darker, Mega Greige, coming up next.
- GOOD FOR: South and west-facing rooms
- NOT AS GOOD FOR: It could look more like a warm gray in north and east-facing rooms
SAMPLIZE offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots.
- Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1 DAY!
- They’re more affordable than the sample pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling.
Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE
7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS MEGA GREIGE 7031
Just like Anew Gray, Mega Greige is ‘open to perception’ based on how YOU see mushroom. If you have a north-facing room or one with flat afternoon eastern light, Mega Greige is more likely to look like a slightly flat greige-taupe. However, in south-facing or warm afternoon sunshine, it warms up a bit!
Check out Mega Greige on these built-in cabinets – BEAUTIFUL!
WHAT COLORS GO WELL WITH MUSHROOM?
Mushroom paint colors are reasonably flexible, with a range of colors that look good in a palette with them…
- very subtle, muted cream paint colors
- a wide range of warm, off-white paint colors
- NO grays that are lighter than them
- Grays that are darker than them, preferably with a green or blue undertone
- dark shades of greige
- a wide range of dark and navy blue paint colors, including darker gray-blue-greens
- most white paint colors, excluding cool ones
Now, I was surprised that Farrow & Ball didn’t a ‘typical’ shade of mushroom, seeing as these types of colors are definitely in their wheelhouse. What I did land on was something even a bit better…
8. FARROW & BALL LIGHT GRAY No. 17
You might be surprised to learn that Light Gray…isn’t light gray. Instead, Light Gray is a GORGEOUS mushroom-inspired color, with strong greige roots. While I have mild concerns about the degree of green in it, the overall look could definitely give you that muted, dusky approach that’s trendy on today’s cabinets!
Could it give a mushroom look on your cabinets or walls? You bet; just make sure your surroundings finishes suit the more noticeable green hue. You’ll also want to note that it’s a bit darker than the more modern approach to mushroom cabinets, but if you ask me, this makes it almost prettier!
Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF LIGHT GRAY
If you’d like to see Light Gray in action, check it out HERE by Oak Stone Homes (absolutely stunning).
9. FARROW & BALL STONY GROUND No. 211
Stony Ground is a stunner. This lighter mushroom shade has more depth than Natural Cream but isn’t as dark and moody as Light Gray.
I haven’t done much work with Farrow & Ball and don’t get many clients asking for it. This means I don’t have photos to show you (as I don’t take from other Designers and only use my own photos). However, I DO have some good info for you!
Stony Ground has an LRV of almost 55, putting it on the border of the light and light-medium depths. If you’re painting cabinets, the satin or pearl finish of the paint can make Stony Ground look a bit lighter. If you paint your walls in a matte or eggshell, Stony Ground reads more like a light-medium depth.
Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF STONY GROUND
READ MORE
Taupe & Greige: What’s the Difference?
The 10 Best Gray and Greige Paint Colours
The Best LRV for Almost Any Room!
Paint Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
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Chat soon,
Kylie M Interiors Virtual Online Paint Color Consultant, E-Design Benjamin Moore & Sherwin Williams color expert
Hi Kylie,
I love your posts! In fact you helped me decide on Ballet White for some of the rooms in my home. Thank you : )
I have Ben Moore Stone Hearth in my open kitchen/dining/living rooms with east, south and north windows. I’m just curious how you would describe stone hearth? I think it is probably a taupe but not 100% sure. Hope you have a great weekend!
Author
Oh you have got it – it’s SO a taupe, but one that leans a wink more gray than others 🙂
We just chose anew gray for the kitchen, dining and great room and morning room of our upcoming home due to the cabinets being a taupeish gray or grayish taupe…gray in the name but definitely warm gray with taupe undertones. They might even be closer to mushroom than I thought. There are no north windows but there are west windows and a morning room by the kitchen with south and west windows.. I’m worried now it will lean too brown. I have revere pewter at my current home and I am all about the warm grays with green undertones. Do you think we were right to choose based on the cabinets in the open concept area, or could I get away with collonade gray and soft gray with taupe undertone cabinets. This builder uses sw only and i got collonade gray from your article that compares it to bm revere pewter. Am I going too earthy?
Hi Kylie
Your knowledge of color is amazing, so insightful! I have been mulling over the greens such as grey mirage, pashima, floristine plaster where I started and now I have discovered mountain air!, this is for a southwest large room with a pine ceiling. I love the gray tones but feel a hue of green is becoming in this room facing the river and greenery outdoors! looking for a timeless hue in this space! What are the undertones and LRV in mountain air?, would this be considered a cooler green in this space? Is this color still popular and considered timeless? Decisions, decisions??? I love your blog!!!
Thanks, Carole B
Hi Kylie,
Your blogs have been so helpful for me for these last few weeks as I’m having my entire house repainted in a few weeks. I would like the dominant color to be a medium greige. After going back & forth and reading several of your blogs on grays and undertones, I believe we have decided on SW Requisite Gray for much of the main living areas. We thought we wanted Repose initially but it was too white and we also tried Dorian but that was too gray. I wanted to add a little more color to my master bedroom, however, and trying to decide between purple undertones or blue/green undertones. I found SW Silvermist which is a contender but I’m having trouble finding an option for the purple undertones. Would you be able to suggest a few? I’ve already looked at BM Elephant Gray & Sidewalk Gray but they look too gray and not purple enough. I dont want anything too dark. The room faces south and gets decent natural light.
Thanks so much for all the info in your blogs!
Author
Hi Crystal, I love Requisite Gray, but will admit I’ve had more success with Anew Gray as it is a bit more flexible (if you’re so inclined…) Have you tried Proper Gray or Essential Gray for the bedroom?
Kylie,
Love your site. It has been so helpful and answers the questions I’ve had through the years of why something works or not and for explaining the theory behind the colors and their undertones.
I’m a baby boomer and getting ready to do some remodeling. I have to admit, I don’t want to stick with the old yellow color pallets, but the new colors feel lifeless and uninviting to me though I like the clean look. I have artwork I’ve collected through the years–some have a gold frame and the art in it looks best with a gold frame. Please suggest a paint color so I can display some of my art work and treasures through the years. I have 8 foot ceilings and my house sits northeast to southwest.
First project is my facing southwest. I’ve picked a tile for my shower that is a warmer gray with cream. Now I need some color suggestions to go with it and how to blend it into the rest of my house. I’ve come up with Revere Pewter, but I’m not totally in love with it.
Thank you so much.
Author
Hi Laurie, thank you for your note! When it comes to personal questions like this, I really do need to refer to my E-design business! I try to give as much complimentary info as I can on my blog, and if that doesn’t help it might be time for a closer look, this way I can look at how much light you have, flooring, furnishings, etc…otherwise it’s a 100% educated guess…if that interests you, the link is here… https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
Hope to hear from you!
~Kylie
I am so excited about this post! I have been going round & round forever trying to figure out paint color with our crazy trim and having not a single room that gets a light of light. I want an updated fresher look, but with our trim & furnishings, grays just aren’t quite right. I LOVE Mega Greige, but felt it was too dark, so I tried Agreeable Gray (in a small room, in case it didn’t work) Yep, that was a fail. Not enough color & too pale. Mushroom is exactly what I need & I’m glad to hear it’s popular. I love the clean look of grays, but not enough warmth & life in them for me. Now I feel like I can really stop stressing & get painting – can’t wait to grab some Anew Gray & Mega Greige! Thank you so much!!
Kylie,thanks for this post. I think mushroom is definitely the colour I’m looking for as I’m trying to tie together brown and grey in the furnishings and kitchen cabinets. Just wondering however what a colour like Balanced Beige looks like if there is both a south and east exposure in the same room., with the southern exposure being the largest of the two windows? Does it still look too brown or does it retain a good mushroom tone and a bit of warmth?
Thanks so much.
My living room faces southeast and I am having a hard time finding the right color for it. What color did you decide to go with?
Hey,
I have been reading your blogs they are great. Although, I am having a hard time with my living room color. I am wanting a warm mushroom/ beige/ Greige color that will tie in together well with relaxed kaki from Sherwin Williams . My entry way and dinning room is the tan color but I need a more grey color in the living room. I hate the blue tones and it’s a north facing room. I have requisite grey in the room now and it’s just too blue and doesn’t go well with the other rooms. Any suggestions?
Author
Hi Alicia, thank you so much for your note! When it comes to personal questions I do refer to my E-design, which is my main business. I try to give as much complimentary info on my blog and if that doesn’t work it might be time for me to take a closer look! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
~Kylie
Love your content! I am considering a mushroom color for my West facing kitchen which sits between our living room that is SW Accessible Beige (lightened by 25%) and our dining room which is SW Poolhouse Blue. We have medium cherry colored cabinetry and black (with a bit of grey and brown) granite countertops. The kicker of this room is that it runs up our stairway which gets light from the north east. I am curious if you think a mushroom might work in this case considering anew grey and mega greige?
What taupe color would look good in a east facing room?
Have read a number of your blogs and have settled on Pashmina for kitchen walls but am having a hard time figuring out what to use for trim – as important a decision if not more so! Am currently considering BM Mascarpone, White Cloud, Cotton Balls, White Dove… trying to stay on the warm, cream side. Suggestions? Thank you!
Author
Hi Barbara, I would lean the most into White Dove for its simplicity :).
Hi Kylie! I follow you IG and love you listening and reading up on your knowledge of color. So I am about to have my north facing kitchen cabinets painted Edgecomb Gray 50% darker. Do you think by darkening them it will put them more in the Mushroom category? Also, I read a few people complain that EG has pink undertones. Do you think by darkening it 50% this should combat this?
Thanks! Elizabeth
Author
Hi Elizabeth, thank you for following me, I love to hear that! So, I haven’t darkened EG by 50%, but I would venture that it WOULD get more mushroom looking, but keep in mind that the SHEEN on cabinets can lighten the look up again. And it’s totally a guess, but yes, I would think 50% would help this. I found that when I LIGHTENED EG by 50% in my own home a wink more pink came up,so I would ‘think’ that it could actually dissipate as it darkens – but again, i don’t KNOW for sure :).
Hi Kylie,
I love your website and have been spending hours reading every little thing about grays, beiges, greiges, mushrooms, etc. for my kitchen remodel. I ordered a ton of samples from samplize and I was so excited when they arrived 10 days later (they have delays from covid). I found the PERFECT color – SW Keystone Gray! It goes perfectly with my backsplash and countertops. But then the company painting my cabinets informed me they will only use Benjamin Moore colors and now I am beside myself! Do you have a couple recommendations for BM colors that are similar to SW Keystone Gray that are mushroomy and can lean brown in a well lit south-facing kitchen? My walls will be classic gray. Much thanks!
Author
Oh man. Is there no other company you can talk to??? I mean, I don’t usually love colour matching, but the FIRST thing you could try is to have BM colour match Keystone Gray for you – see how it turns out. This could be closer than us trying to find a colour that’s similar, you know? BM Kingsport Gray is browner and won’t be great with Classic Gray. Waynesboro Taupe is closer, but still no screamin’ glory as Classic Gray does want your colour to lean that bit more gray vs brown. BM Briarwood? Nope.
Sorry, that’s all I’ve got!
i’m wanting to do my cabinets BM natural cream. the kitchen is vaulted and an open floor plan with the great room, all one continuous vault… that being said: would you paint ceiling, walls, trim, and cabinets natural cream? or is that too much? is it better to do the ceiling, walls, trim a lighter off white like white dove and do only the cabinets in natural cream?
Author
Ooo, it’s hard to say without seeing the space and surrounding finishes. My GUT says that that’s a LOT of Natural Cream. You might try adjusting it lighter for the other surfaces.