The 8 Best LIGHT Paint Colors for Home Staging (Selling)
Popular Neutral Paint Colors with MASS APPEAL
Besides decluttering and cleaning, painting is the least expensive way to add value to your home. Not only does it add monetary value (a well-maintained home is far more appealing than one with scuffed walls), but it also adds emotional value as the buyer walks through your home, envisions living in it, loves it, and has to HAVE it!
In my article, The Best Paint ‘COLORS’ for Home Staging & Selling, I talked about actual ‘colors’ because some slightly stronger colors are suitable for resale, depending on the room, exposure, and style of the home. This approach is more on a ‘per room‘ basis rather than a ‘paint your whole home this color’ one.
This article is for those who want to paint one room or their WHOLE HOME a soft, neutral color with massive mass appeal.
However, let me preface this with the following…
While gray paint colors are still used in today’s homes, trends are shifting warmer. Talk to your Realtor to find out what your demographic and local market is looking for in an ‘updated’ home. Generally, most grays aren’t the best choice for a ‘whole home’ application.
1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SHOJI WHITE SW 7042
Trends are leaning warmer, but not every homeowner or home is ready to hit the beige world. This is where a color like Shoji White comes in handy.
Shoji White is a warm neutral, sitting in the off-white world (in the lower end of it). It has a nice creamy-gray blend with only a fraction of a pink undertone. This undertone might sound scary, but MANY popular interior finishes cater to this hue, so don’t let that scare you off!
If the pink is a dealbreaker (remember, it’s subtle and often suitable!), check out Sherwin Williams White Duck for the fix!
2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS CREAMY SW 7012
If you’re looking for a gorgeous cream without too much yellow in it, this is a gooder. Creamy is a yellow paint color with a neutral base to calm it down, and it has just the right amount of both. If you look at the baseboard in the photo below, you’ll see the difference between Creamy and Benjamin Moore Cloud White…
WHY IS CREAMY SUCH A POPULAR CREAM PAINT COLOUR?
- Creamy is a warm color without being overly yellow.
- Creamy can appeal to a younger and older crowd as it’s versatile enough to accommodate both warm and cool tones in decor.
- It has more depth to it than White Dove and Cloud White for those who don’t want white walls.
- I also love the slightly more subtle Benjamin Moore White Down.
- It works well in north or east-facing rooms as the warmth helps to balance out the cooler light.
- It’s a great color for hallways and darker areas.
ROOMS WHERE YOU SHOULD AVOID CREAMY
- If you have an intense, bright southern sun – it will disappear unless you want a super soft, subtle look. Check out a different cream instead.
- If your finishes can’t handle a yellow undertone, Creamy won’t work.
I am also a fan of Sherwin Williams Alabaster, which is more of a warm white, not quite an off-white…
The waiting room of Eddins Counselling
The 5 Best Cream Paint Colours
Color Review of Sherwin Williams Creamy
3. BENJAMIN MOORE CLASSIC GRAY OC-23
Classic Gray is not exactly what it says, as while it IS classic, it’s not always gray! As far as light, soft grays go, this is one of my favorites. Many of today’s popular light gray colors can go slightly blue or green—not this one. Classic Gray favors a wee purple undertone that softens this color and gives it interest.
The other great thing about Classic Gray is that it can flex between warm gray and taupe, depending on your room, exposure, and the surrounding finishes. As a whole home color, it will flex how it looks as the lighting changes between your rooms. Its subtle warmth can also appeal to those who prefer warmer shades and dislike grays while appeasing those who still love the wild world of gray!
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WHY IS CLASSIC GRAY SUCH A POPULAR PAINT COLOR?
- It gives the illusion of gray without being cold or icy.
- The depth (LRV) suits a variety of rooms and conditions.
- It works well in rooms with any type of exposure.
- It’s flexible to accommodate a variety of tastes.
- It adds a bit more depth, and you’ll get Balboa Mist or Collingwood.
ROOMS WHERE YOU SHOULD AVOID CLASSIC GRAY
- If you have products with a green undertone (look at Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter)
- Rooms with a LOT of natural light will make Classic Gray washout.
Paint Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Classic Gray
4. BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE OC-17
White Dove is a great choice for a soft white look. Unlike Cloud White, which has a bit more warmth-yellow, White Dove has a more neutral base while still having the underlying warmth that stops it from becoming flat or gray.
If White Dove is too warm for your home’s finishes and exposure, take a peek at Sherwin Williams Pure White, which is equally amazing.
WHY IS WHITE DOVE SUCH A POPULAR WHITE PAINT COLOUR?
- White Dove is warm without having a definitive ‘color.’
- It can be used on trim, walls, and cabinets for a seamless look (read more HERE).
- North and south-facing rooms look great in White Dove’s subtle warmth.
- It suits most rooms, as long as you’re going for a soft, warm white look.
Sherwin Williams Pearly White walls, White Dove cabinets
ROOMS WHERE YOU SHOULD AVOID WHITE DOVE
- Dark rooms—or, more to the point, White Dove is fine in a dark room, but it won’t save the day (improve your lighting).
- If you have clean white in your surrounding finishes (i.e., white appliances).
Benjamin Moore 8 Best White Paint Colours
Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove
5. BENJAMIN MOORE EDGECOMB GRAY HC-173
Edgecomb Gray is hands-down one of the most popular warm, neutral paint colors, not just for home staging but for new construction, remodels, and more!
WHY IS EDGECOMB GRAY SUCH A POPULAR PAINT COLOR?
- It’s a happy medium for those who love gray and those who prefer beige.
- Its depth suits a variety of rooms and conditions.
- It works well in rooms with any type of exposure so long as the lighting is adequate.
- Edgecomb Gray is flexible to accommodate a variety of tastes.
ROOMS WHERE YOU SHOULD AVOID USING EDGECOMB GRAY
- If you have products with a green undertone, be careful, as it can look a bit pink in comparison.
- In super low light rooms it can look dingy, make sure you have enough interior lighting.
WHAT ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES TO EDGECOMB GRAY?
If you want your walls a bit lighter and warmer than Agreeable Gray, check out Benjamin Moore Ballet White or Sherwin Williams White Duck.
Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
6. BENJAMIN MOORE MARITIME WHITE 963/OC-5
Maritime White has been layin’ low for the last few years, but with an uptick in warm colors, we’re bound to see more of it in our Instagram feeds!
Maritime White is an off-white shade of beige, meaning it’s a warm paint color. One of the things that makes it so popular is that while it centers on beige, it can flex towards many finishes that need a bit of orange-yellow or orange-pink.
WHY IS MARITIME WHITE A POPULAR WARM NEUTRAL?
- Whereas some of the old-school beiges (early 2000s) are heavy and golden, Maritime White is bright and soft.
- It suits a wide range of beige-tan interior finishes.
- Its temperature and degree of color (chroma) suits many exposures without beige too cold or leaning overly warm.
WHAT ARE ALTERNATIVES TO MARITIME WHITE?
Ooo, there are a bunch! And while none are a perfect match to Maritime White—that’s the point—we need to sample and compare similar shades to see which one best suits our home! Take a look at Sherwin Williams Moderate White and Divine White for a very comparable look. For a bit more depth, Benjamin Moore Muslin and Sherwin Williams Natural Linen are amazeballs.
FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Maritime White
7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS EGRET WHITE SW 7570
While Agreeable Gray has held the title in previous years, with trends shifting warmer and softer, Egret White is nipping at its heels.
Egret White is a soft, warm neutral on the high end of the light range. With an overall ‘taupe’ approach, it doesn’t commit hard to gray or beige and offers a ton of flexibility.
Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray Paint Color Review
WHY IS EGRET WHITE SUCH A POPULAR NEUTRAL PAINT COLOR?
- It has huge mass appeal; home buyers love it, and it’s also a popular color in new construction.
- It goes with various surfaces, as the undertones are pretty flexible.
- If you have a room with south-facing or west-facing afternoon rooms, Egret White offers warmth without being as overblown as beige or tan.
- North-facing rooms love Egret White’s passive warmth, which balances the cool, flat light. Just make sure this room has enough natural light.
Egret White even works in some 90s and 2000s bathrooms!
ROOMS WHERE YOU SHOULD AVOID USING EGRET WHITE
- If your room is dark, Egret White could look dingy or drab, but so will most colors. Try to improve your interior lighting and decor situation!
WHAT ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES TO EGRET WHITE?
The previously mentioned Benjamin Moore Classic Gray is a great comparison to Egret White. Sherwin Williams City Loft is another to explore. Even better, make your sampling easier with this CURATED COLOR BUNDLE, including Egret White!
Sherwin Williams Egret White Paint Color Review
Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray
8. SHERWIN WILLIAMS NATURAL LINEN SW 9109
Natural Linen could be a great color for your home if your demographic or region leans into warmer trends.
Natural Linen is a light-depth shade of beige with a bit more depth and body than Maritime White. It’s a popular choice for homes with a lot of beige-tan finishes but need a color lighter and brighter than those shades from the early 2000s.
FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Natural Linen
WHY IS NATURAL LINEN A POPULAR WARM NEUTRAL?
- While it has an obvious warmth compared to beiges with more body and depth, it’s incredibly muted and soft.
- Natural Linen is light enough to suit a whole home and various conditions while contrasting with white trim.
- It offers a warm balance to cool, north-facing rooms or those with flat eastern afternoon or morning western light.
ROOMS WHERE YOU MIGHT AVOID USING NATURAL LINEN
- Rooms with a lot of gray finishes. It can be tricky (but not impossible) to merge gray and beige in your interior finishes and paint colors.
- Homes with south-facing light. Depending on how warm your room looks, make sure Natural Linen doesn’t look OVERLY warm in this light.
ALTERNATIVES TO NATURAL LINEN
If you like Natural Linen and want to explore similar shades, check out Sherwin Williams Moderate White and Divine White for a lighter look. Benjamin Moore Muslin is a popular shade of beige with a similar depth and just a tweak in undertones.
READ MORE
The 10 Best Off-White, Neutral Paint Colors
My Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Pearly White
The Best Paint COLOURS for Home Staging
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Originally written 2017, updated in 2024
I also have mad love for Stonington. I’d love to use it in my kitchen with SW retreat accents, but that darn gold granite counter and travertine backsplash! Have you ever seen Stonington work in that situation or best to just stay away?
Oooo, I wouldn’t – Stonington IS so pretty, but if it’s the granite I’m thinking of it just is toooo cool! You might have more luck with BM Cumulus Cloud as a transition between your kitchen and other rooms in Stonington Gray 🙂
Hi,
Is classic Grey and C. Lace a good combination with Red/Brazilian cherry floor ?
Yes, it could look lovely!