The 17 Best Taupe Paint Colors, According to Design Experts (2024)

Decorating

These shades of taupe fit every home decor style

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  Best Taupe for Dark Rooms: Benjamin Moore Sparrow AF-720

  

  Brianna Thomas, the home design blogger behind Bloom in the Black, says Sparrow by Benjamin Moore is her favorite shade of taupe. "It is the perfect mix of deep gray and rich brown that changes in mood throughout the day."

  Thomas suggests using the paint color in any space that lacks natural light."The shade provides excellent warmth to a dark room while remaining the perfect neutral backdrop for literally any accent color story. Brights, pastels, and more neutrals—they all work! It is particularly beautiful in a family room or as a counterpoint to a bathroom that has a lot of crisp, white tiles."

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  See Also

  What Color Is Taupe? How to Decorate with This Classic Neutral50+ Shades of Taupe Color (Names, HEX, RGB, & CMYK Codes)Taupe Color - A Deep Dive Into the Wonderful Shades of TaupeTaupe Color - What Color Is Taupe?

  Best Cozy Shade of Taupe: Poised Taupe by Sherwin-Williams 232-C5

  

  "My favorite taupe paint color is Poised Taupe by Sherwin-Williams. It is a deep, true taupe color and it works with a variety of color palettes," says Jessica Salomone, the owner and interior designer behind Lotus and Lilac Design Studio. She adds that the shade works best in spaces where you want to create an enveloping, cozy feeling like in bedrooms, dens, or reading nooks.

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  Best Taupe for Creating Drama: Benjamin Moore Upper West Side CSP-70

  

  New York-based interior designer Alec Holland is partial to a taupe paint color called Upper West Side by Benjamin Moore—and not just because of its city-centric name. "It is the ideal color when you do not want white walls. It is rich enough to create depth and drama, yet it still has aclean brightness to it." It pairs well with whites and other creamy neutrals and serves as a great color for living rooms, bedrooms, and home offices.

  Tip

  Adding a single accent color to a neutral room keeps it from being boring. Consider pops of aqua or soft yellow, for example, in a room dominated by taupe.

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  Best Taupe With a Hint of Green: Dunn Edwards Paints Smoke & Ash DET 514

  

  A neutral paint color with a subtle green undertone can give a room a relaxing vibe, says the design team behind Utah-based interior design firm Studio McGee. One of their favorites is Smoke & Ash by Dunn Edwards Paints. The earthy paint color works beautifully with brass accents and wood details.

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• 05 of 17

  Best Taupe for Neutral Decor: Magnolia Home Antiquing

  

  "Taupe walls can make neutral furnishings pop," says New York City architect John Mochelle. One of his go-to shades when designing interiors for clients is Antiquing by Magnolia Home. It's a deeper shade of taupe, which allows brighter, lighter colored accents to really own the spotlight against walls this color.

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  Best Classic Shade of Taupe: Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray HC-173

  

  When it comes to enduring colors, certified interior decorator Liz Toombs says Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray is the perfect shade of taupe.

  Toombs, the president of PDR Interiors, says the hue is a part of the historical color collection at Benjamin Moore, so it possesses a timeless quality that is both classic and on-trend. "One of my clients loved this color so much that since I specified it in her first house, she has used it in every property she has purchased or renovated since."

  Tip

  Use wider roller covers to speed up your paint time. If you are painting many walls in your home, an 18-inch roller will speed up the process considerably.

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  Best Warm Shade of Taupe: Behr Smokestack N220-3

  

  "Taupe continues to be hugely popular and a happy medium for homeowners," says Sarah Fishburne, the Director of Trend and Design at Home Depot. She adds that taupe is ideal for those who want a fresh neutral that is not as cool as a true gray. One of her favorites for room warming appeal is Smokestack by Behr. It has a little more yellow than some of the other taupe colors by Behr without dipping into the khaki or gold zone.

• 08 of 17

  See Also

  The 8 Best DARK Taupe & Greige Paint Colours (Benjamin Moore)

  Best Light Shade of Taupe: Clare No Filter

  

  Nicole Gibbons, an Oprah-vetted interior designer and a co-founder of paint label Clare, suggests one of the paint shades from her collection: No Filter. It is a beautiful light neutral with a gorgeous warm undertone. It's lighter in color, so it can be used in smaller spaces without making them look cramped or dingy.

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• 09 of 17

  Best Grayish Shade of Taupe: Sherwin-Williams Moth Wing SW 9174

  

  Sue Wadden, the color trend expert at Sherwin-Williams, suggests a taupe color called Moth Wing. "The paint is a warm and grayish taupe that fits right in with the emerging desert modern aesthetic. It is the perfect neutral backdrop for natural accents like leather, wool, and wood." Quite a few colors will look nice against Moth Wing, so try experimenting with everything from earth tones to light neutrals when decorating.

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  Best Purple Shade of Taupe: Sherwin-Williams Truly Taupe

  For a taupe that leans purple, try out Sherwin-Williams Truly Taupe. This rich, complex take on taupe has a serene, warm feel that's perfect in a bedroom where you can layer it with various shades of purple, taupe, and cream. Pair it with black accents for a moodier feel.

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  Best Taupe for Monochromatic: Behr Tranquil Gray

  Just like its name would indicate, Behr Tranquil Gray leans more gray than brown. But this warm shade of taupe-gray is serene and neutral. This is the color of taupe you choose when you're torn between shades. It's perfectly versatile, blending perfectly with any decor. Try it layered with other shades of taupe, gray, brown, and ivory for a stunning monochromatic look.

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  Best Taupe for Warm, Layered Spaces: Benjamin Moore Pashmina

  Grab your chunky, knit blankets, ivory throw pillows, and faux fur accents, because Benjamin Moore Pashmina is the perfect taupe for those warm, layered rooms. It's a taupe that feels warm and has notes of rich brown. It's not too light or too dark, but just cozy enough to add depth to your space.

  How to Paint a Room Like a Professional

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• 13 of 17

  Best Earthy Taupe: Behr Creamy Mushroom

  Creamy Mushroom is the perfect name for this earthy taupe from Behr. This warm, calming color looks like the exact brown you'd see while foraging through the woods, taking in the colors of nature. It's instantly relaxing thanks to its ability to evoke Mother Nature. Imagine it in a serene living room with sage green and smoky blue complementing its subdued look.

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  Best Taupe for an Alternative to White: Benjamin Moore Pale Oak

  White or off-white aren't the only neutrals that work when you're looking for a light and bright paint color. Benjamin Moore Pale Oak is a light, warm gray that can read nearly white, particularly when it's in a space that gets abundant natural light. Try it on kitchen cabinets or layer it with saturated yet muted colors for a rich look.

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  Best Versatile Taupe: Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray

  Sherwin-Williams' best-selling paint color is the perfectly versatile Agreeable Gray. This shade of taupe sits right in between brown, greige, and gray. It's warm enough to hold its own with red, orange, and brown, but cool enough to look lovely with blues and greens. Designers agree this shade of taupe is agreeable with any decor and any color.

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  Best for South-Facing Rooms: Sherwin-Williams Modern Gray

  With a hint of sandy beige, Sherwin-Williams' Modern Gray is a taupe that reads more brown-tan than gray. It's a lighthearted, warm shade with light blush pink undertones and looks bright in a south-facing room full of sun. Try it in a neutral sunroom or living space.

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  Best Moody Shade of Taupe: Benjamin Moore Driftwood

  This rich shade of taupe from Benjamin Moore is the type of moody neutral that would look perfect in a library or study. Driftwood brings together brown, tan, taupe, and gray in a color that's full of warmth and depth. Try it with accents of blush pink or muted seaglass blue.