The 12 Best Paint Colors to Hide Dirt

WHAT PAINT COLORS HELP HIDE DIRTY WALLS?

Are you tired of your walls getting beat up by messy kids and dirty dogs (or husbands)? Or maybe you’re like me and constantly scuff and mark your walls and don’t even know how you do it!

Either way, you might be looking for paint colors that hide dirt and stains so you won’t have to repaint every few years (or months).

And I’ve got these colors for you, for sure. However, this blog post covers two equally important topics.

• Neutral paint colors that hide dirt and stains
• Lines of paint that are ACTUALLY legit washable. 

Why does this second topic get me excited?

a) Being ADHD, I’m easily excited

b) Being OCD, I’m easily irritated. I always want my walls to look clean, and nothing drives me squirrelly(er) more than dirty, scuffed walls (and an empty wine glass).

And yes, I’m a whole lot of fun to live with, obviously (wink wink).

So, before we get into glorious, goo-hiding, mark-masking, dirt-disappearing paint colors, we’re talking about paint.

BENJAMIN MOORE SCUFF-X vs. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SCUFF TUFF

We had a lake home (which we’ve just sold) that we used as an Airbnb. For the sake of guests and my sanity, I wanted hardy paint—repainting every few months is not my idea of a good time. Wait, it actually is. Anyway.

I chose Benjamin Moore’s Scuff-X because I heard it was rocking the paint world. Not only is it washable, but it actually resists oil and dirt.

Of course, no paint is bulletproof—it’s paint, not Kevlar, but this might be as close as we get.  

Three years later, the walls are virtually spotless. I easily washed off any small mark that happened—I didn’t even need to scrub it.

Having used Benjamin Moore Regal in our regular home and not loving its washability, I was super pumped at this turn of events.

As for Sherwin Williams Scuff Tuff, I’m using it in my laundry room in a matte finish. I’m currently one coat, four wine glasses, and one meltdown in (true, but long story), and I find it too shiny. Word on the street (from some painters) is that Scuff Tuff is GOOD, for sure, but not as good as ScuffX. This means that if you’re using Sherwin Williams colors, Scuff Tuff is worth trying. If you’re using Benjamin Moore colors, Scuff-X is amazeballs.

I personally prefer the sheen of ScuffX matte for my ‘everyday walls’ compared to Scuff Tuff’s matte finish. 

And no, I don’t get paid to promote these products #sadlynoperksatall. I do it because I’m obsessed. I have to pay myself with personal high-fives and butt slaps.

BENJAMIN MOORE SCUFF-X PROS & CONS

• PRO: Designed for commercial settings (e.g., schools, hospitals, retail), ScuffX is created for some of the most well-used and abused environments. This makes it great for a high-use home or rental.
• CON (but fixable): It’s not as self-leveling as the Advance line of paints. Adding Floetrol will help, as it gives your paint more time to settle.
• PRO: It’s scuff-resistant. So, whereas regular paints could easily accept your greasy fingerprints, ScuffX is less likely to hold onto them.
• PRO: Available in matte, eggshell, pearl, and semi-gloss
• NEUTRAL: The sheens are different from what you might expect from ‘regular’ paint. The matte finish has a slightly more eggshell-like finish. The eggshell offers a slight pearl/satin finish, and so on. This is a good thing for some, not for others.
• PRO: Great for homeowners, rental companies, landlords, and commercial settings.
• PRO: It can be used on walls, trims, and cabinets.
• NEUTRAL: Some say it doesn’t work well when sprayed, but brush and roller applications are great. Others say it sprays like a dream.
• CON: Some say it’s thin to work with, but it covers reasonably well.

Scuff-X Matte finish on Benjamin Moore White Dove walls

WHAT ARE SHERWIN WILLIAMS’S SCUFF TUFF PROS & CONS

• PRO: Scuff Tuff is formulated for commercial settings (e.g., schools, retail, hospitals) as it’s a hardy paint for spaces that need more durability.
• PRO: It has incredible hide (how it covers the original paint color), which I can attest to based on the first coat in my laundry room—it’s awesome.
• PRO: It’s highly washable, abrasion-resistant, and burnish-resistant (when you wash it, you’re less likely to have a mark left on your wall than with regular paint).
• PRO: Available in flat, matte, eggshell, and semi-gloss. The flat finish is one step ahead of Benjamin Moore, whose sheens start at matte.
• NEUTRAL: I asked if the sheens were slightly off/higher than usual, like Benjamin Moore’s. The dude at the counter said no, but I don’t always take their word as gospel, as proven by my ‘slightly too shiny’ matte walls.
• PRO: Excellent for homeowners, rental companies, and landlords, and as an option for commercial settings.
• PRO: It can be used on walls, trims, and cabinets.
• CONS: I haven’t heard of any yet, but it’s relatively new to the market compared to Scuff-X – give it time.

If I haven’t convinced you yet – you do you, boo. But you could be doing yourself a huge favor by trying it.

Remember, it’s still only paint – it’s not bulletproof.

Now, before we discuss the actual colors, let’s chat about some important points to consider when choosing a ‘dirt-resistant’ paint color.

• Not all dirt is created equal. Some homes have more red-tinged dirt, while others have brown. And then there are those with more oil-based challenges, such as greasy fingers and bodies. The colors listed below are a ‘general’ approach to hiding wear and tear on your walls.
• Avoid cheap paint. The lower the quality of your paint, the more it will show where you inevitably wash your walls – burnishes and scuffs can look worse than dirt. Cheap paint can scuff even when you lightly brush by it.
• If you use high-quality, washable paint (as discussed above), you can EASILY paint your walls a popular shade of white or soft, subtle off-white paint color. You’ll still need to wash your walls, but the point is—they’ll wash up WAY better than cheap paint and might even resist some of that dirt in the first place!
• Warm colors are better than cool colors, for sure. This applies to warm neutrals, such as beige, brown, and tan, as well as actual warm colors, including some shades of red and orange.
• As for LRV (which relates to the actual DEPTH of a paint color), you’re less likely to see dirt on darker shades. However, nothing is foolproof, and these colors can still look dingy in the medium depths.
  • The average room suits paint colors with LRVs between 60-70 (give or take)
  • Paint colors with LRVs lower than 30 are the best for showing no dirt.
  • Between the 30-60 range (or so), you might hide more dirt, but your walls can still look dingy.

This goes back to my point about focusing on the best paint colors for your room (even if they’re light colors) and investing in quality, washable paint. 

Remember…

These colors won’t hide all of your dirt. To hide all the dirt, you need to match your dirt in depth and color. These colors are rarely fun to live in, and definitely not on a large scale.

This is why finding a happy medium between dirt-friendly colors and high-quality, washable paint can be a good idea. 

So, without further ado, let’s look at these bad boys…

WHAT LIVEABLE NEUTRAL COLORS HIDE DIRT & STAINS ON WALLS?

Notice the word ‘liveable’ in the above line. Sure, you can choose a darker color with the hopes of hiding all of your sins (well, maybe not ALL of them, you dirty birdy). Liveable colors can create a happy balance between low-maintenance walls and trendy colors that are ‘reasonably’ suited to the average room.

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS NATURAL TAN 7567

Natural Tan is a light-depth, warm neutral. With warmer paint color trends, shades like Natural Tan are hitting the paint scene hard.

However, regardless of trends or degree of dirt, your chosen paint color should suit your interior finishes. Luckily, Natural Tan is reasonably flexible and passive in its approach.

Paint Color Review: Sherwin Williams Natural Tan

Natural Tan’s LRV is 65. This will push your luck regarding dirt coverage. This said, it’s much better at hiding dirt than whites and off-whites and keeps you from hitting the light-medium depths, which could look a bit dingier when combined with your home’s dirt.

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ACCESSIBLE BEIGE 7036

Accessible Beige has been one of the more popular warm neutrals in recent years. And while its popularity has faded a bit, for the sake of hiding dirt, Accessible Beige offers a lot of hope.

However, while Accessible Beige is gorgeous, its depth (LRV 58) makes it touch-and-go for complete dirt coverage. 

If you choose a color much lighter than this, you’re more likely to see dirt.

That said, this is about blending looks and function (kind of like when I chose Tim, my husband), as colors like Accessible Beige and Natural Tan can be great team players. However, darker shades might be better if you value function and maintenance over looks.

Unlike traditional shades of beige, Accessible Beige is dusted with a feather-light coating of gray, which cuts back on its warmth. It’s not enough to make it gray, but it takes a decent edge off. As for depth, its LRV of 58 gives it more dirt-covering power than lighter, brighter colors.

My FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige

3. BENJAMIN MOORE REVERE PEWTER HC-172,

I bet you hoped this color made the list! And while it does, it comes with a few big ‘buts’ (Kardashian-sized).

Revere Pewter is a gorgeous warm gray that winks at the greige world with its muddy goodness. It also has a great LRV of 55. But…like the above two colors, it won’t cover dirt and stains as well as the following shades simply because it’s not dark enough. This said, even the following colors aren’t 100% safe; they’re a good combination of dirt-friendly and LIVEABLE. If you don’t want liveable, you might need a personal consultation (or read the links at the end of this blog post for darker shades).

Combine Revere Pewter with a washable paint and you’re in hog-heaven—oink oink. 

My FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter

Realistically, the previous three shades are touch-and-go, catering a bit more to style over function – while nodding politely at the dirt. If you want more depth and dirt-covering potential, you must go to the dark side…

4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ANEW GRAY 7030

Anew Gray is a beauty. Popular on walls, cabinets, doors, and even trims, Anew Gray is pretty to look at and great for camouflaging dirty fingerprints!

My FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Anew Gray

Would I paint my ENTIRE HOME Anew Gray? Heck no, it’s too dark for me and the average home with average lighting. This is thanks to its LRV of 47, which puts it well into the light-medium range. However, I wouldn’t hesitate to paint some high-use rooms this color as long as it suits the surrounding finishes. Then, I’d opt for a lighter, softer shade in rooms that get less wear and tear (if those even exist in your home).

No color will hide ALL of your dirt; well, maybe a darker shade of brown will, but… #dontpaintyourwholehomedarkbrown

5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS BALANCED BEIGE

If you want even more dirt-hiding power, you might want to check out the darker look of Balanced Beige or Tony Taupe. These colors have lower LRVs – Balanced Beige is 46, and Tony Taupe is 37. At these depths, their dirt-hiding abilities are increased.

Both of these beiges have a soft grayish backdrop that calms them down, making them more modern than the Tuscan beiges of the early 2000s (phew).

Full Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige

6. SHERWIN WILLIAMS MEGA GREIGE 7031

Mega Greige is mega-awesome as far as dirt-hiding powers go. It’s one of the darker shades on this page, with an LRV of 37, putting it at the light end of the medium-depth world.

My FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Mega Greige

As for color, Mega Greige is a greige-taupe, which means it’s in between gray and beige and doesn’t usually overly commit to green or purple undertones (making it pretty flexible).

Paint sampling just got a whole lot easier (and more affordable)…

Get your Peel & Stick paint samples HERE!

7. BENJAMIN MOORE PLYMOUTH ROCK 1543, AC-35

Plymouth Rock, also known as Valley Forge Tan, is a gorgeous approach to taupe. With its LRV of 42.66, it winks at the medium world without the visual weight. However, it’s more effective at hiding dirt than lighter shades.

8. BENJAMIN MOORE PASHMINA AF-100

Pashmina isn’t just beautiful around your neck; it’s also a stunner for cabinets and walls. And as far as hiding dirt goes, it’s a great option.

This shade of greige contains gray but tends to favor beige-brown. It also has a wink of green hiding deep inside, keeping things interesting. Here’s Pashmina beneath Waynesboro Taupe (also known as Ashley Gray) and above River Reflections…

I’ve painted my home office Pashmina (walls and trims) and am obsessed – it’s wicked pretty. I didn’t do it to hide dirt; I did it because I’ve been craving this color and wanted to see it in action! Pictures are TBA.

The Best Medium-Depth Greige, Taupe, & Beige Paint Colors

My FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Pashmina

9. SHERWIN WILLIAMS PERFECT GREIGE 6073

If you like Plymouth Rock but want more warmth, check out Perfect Greige. While its name is deceiving, as it’s a perfect taupe (because of its violet-pink undertones—greige has green undertones), it’s perfectly gorgeous.

Again, Perfect Greige has an LRV of 42 to offer as much dirt-hiding power as possible without weighing down your room. It’s also famously pretty in many homes from the early 2000s as it coordinates with some of the finishes from this decade.

Full Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray & Perfect Greige

10. SHERWIN WILLIAMS MINDFUL GRAY 7016

Mindful Gray is a popular shade for those who love more depth on their walls. With a moody, warm gray look and a super passive green undercurrent, Mindful Gray is an interesting option to sample. However, #10 has even more dirt-hiding power.

Just remember, darker colors aren’t always as liveable on a large scale.

The Best Paint Colors with Wood Trim & Cabinets

11. SHERWIN WILLIAMS DORIAN GRAY 7017

Dorian Gray is one of the best shades in this blog post for hiding dirt without sacrificing too much style. Of course, this is open to perception, and while I might not paint TONS of rooms this color, if I have a few rooms needing dirt-hiding power, this is where I’m looking.

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray

12. SHERWIN WILLIAMS FAWN BRINDLE 7640

Fawn Brindle is the most greige paint color listed. I love this shade because it has warmth without looking beige and a gray backdrop without falling too flat.

With a skookum dark LRV of 36, Fawn Brindle isn’t messing around. This medium-depth paint color is gorgeous for walls when you want more depth and more dirt-hiding power.

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Fawn Brindle

If you want to explore darker colors, I’ve got them. While this blog post isn’t geared toward dirt, it might have the darker colors you want.

READ MORE

The Best Dark Gray-Blue Paint Colors

The Best Medium-Depth Beige, Greige, & Taupe Paint Colors

Sherwin Williams 6 Best Dark Greige & Taupe Paint Colors

Benjamin Moore’s Best Darker Gray Paint Colors

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