Enduring Shades of Paint: 15 Hues That Never Grow Old

Fifteen Enduring Shade Choices That Continually Hold Appeal

Regardless of how many paint swatches you apply, choosing the perfect color for your walls can be a challenge. That's why we ask designers to share their go-to hues when we showcase homes in our magazine. From calm creamy whites that add a brightness to a room to vibrant blues and earthy pinks that function asneutral colors, we've compiled a list of 15 timeless paint colors that have gained the approval of designers.

Welcoming Whites

Fresh options to brighten any space

topic: fifteen enduring paint hues that will continually evade weariness

Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee (OC-45)

Selecting the perfect white shade can be tricky, but avoiding a sterile look is achieved with shades like this one, which designer Caroline Brackett used to revamp the wide entrance hall of her 19th-century farmhouse in Pickens, South Carolina.

Fifteen Enduring Shade Options That Eternally Escape Monotony

Sherwin-Williams’ Greek Villa (SW 7551)

"It's a lovely white with a touch of yellow undertone," says designer Amy Studebaker of the color she chose for her St. Louis, Missouri, home's exterior. The shade is welcoming and versatile, making it ideal for traditional homes.

Enduring Shades of Paint: 15 Hues That Escape Monotony

Benjamin Moore’s White Dove (OC-17)

For a fresh, airy pick that instantly brightens a space, consider this old-favorite color used throughout designer Catherine Branstetter's historic Nashville Tudor.

Sherwin-Williams' Alabaster (SW 7008)

Designer Heather Chadduck Hillegas coated the walls and ceiling of her WaterColor, Florida, bedroom in this sun-bleached shade to create a beachy atmosphere.

fifteen enduring paint shades that perpetually avoid monotony

Farrow & Ball’s Wimborne White (No. 239)

In this Highlands, North Carolina, mountain cabin designed by Whitney McGregor, a soft coat of this classic white reflects natural light, giving the pine-paneled dining room a gentle glow.

Fifteen Enduring Paint Shades that Continually Escape Monotony

Neutrals

Versatile options that work well in just about any space

enduring hue selections in paint, continually captivating for fifteen years

Farrow & Ball's Skylight (No. 205)

Designer Mark D. Sikes used three shades of soothing blue in this Sea Island, Georgia, retreat: Skylight on the walls, Borrowed Light (No. 235) on the ceiling, and Light Blue (No. 22) on the trim.

Enduring Shades of Paint: 15 Hues That Never Grow Old

Sherwin-Williams’ Liveable Green (SW 6176)

In this Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, cottage's family room, designer Hannon Doody added character with this bright verdant shade.

Fifteen Enduring Paint Shades that Escape Growing Boredom

Farrow & Ball’s Pink Ground (No. 202)

Designer Ashley Hanley selected this muddy pink for her daughter's Richmond, Virginia, bedroom to create a color that would age well as she grows.

Fifteen Enduring Shades of Paint that Continually Escape Monotony

Sherwin-Williams' Natural Tan (SW 7567)

This sunny yellow-toned color is perfect for spaces that require a slightly deeper shade than a true white. Its bright undertones are perfectly suited for this beach house kitchen by designer Heather Chadduck Hillegas.

fifteen enduring paint shades that consistently escape weariness

Sherwin-Williams’ Mountain Air (SW 6224)

In this Fairhope, Alabama, primary bedroom, the painted wood-paneled ceilings mimic the “haint blue” ceilings of historic Southern verandas. “There are a lot of older homes like this on the bay,” says designer Natalie Roe of March + May Design. “So many enclose their porches, and when they do that, they’re left with wood on the walls and ceiling.”

Moody Hues

Deep shades that deliver lasting style

Fifteen Enduring Shade Options that Continually Escape Monotony

Sherwin-Williams’ Black Fox (SW 7020)

For cabinetry that harmonizes with an older home's dark trim, consider this greige-toned color, used by designer Hannah Maple in her historic Kentucky home.

Fifteen Enduring Shades of Paint That Continually Captivate Your Eye

Farrow & Ball’s Brinjal (No. 222)

To create a cozy atmosphere in smaller spaces like wet bars and powder rooms, consider saturated tones like this berry hue used by designer Elly Poston Cooper on the cabinets of her Richmond, Virginia, pantry.

fifteen enduring paint shades that consistently evade weariness

Sherwin Williams’ Forged Steel (SW 9565)

Gray is often overlooked, but this shade proves that it can bring unexpected drama, as demonstrated by designer Laura Hodges at our 2023 Southern Living Idea House.

Benjamin Moore’s Garden Cucumber (644)

Elevate utilitarian areas like mudrooms and laundry rooms by painting the millwork with rich, look-at-me hues, such as this blue-tinged green in designer Ellen Kavanaugh's Wellington, Florida, home's back entry.

Sherwin-Williams’ Tricorn Black (SW 6258)

Dark shades can add depth and drama to a space, as demonstrated by this inviting black color used to paint the millwork in designer Emily Summers's San Juan, Puerto Rico, vacation home.

"The hue has a gentler black tint that radiates warmth rather than being disagreeable," mentions Studebaker. This shade gave a contemporary twist to the comfortable saltbox-style cottage in Florence, Alabama, which the homeowners EJ and Whit Brown undertook to renovate personally.

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SouthernLiving often features homes with unique color palettes painted by designers, providing inspiration for homeowners looking to revamp their spaces.
If you're a fan of the 'Welcoming Whites' section in SouthernLiving, you might enjoy the timeless color 'Swiss Coffee' (OC-45) from Benjamin Moore, as it's a popular choice among designers for revamping wide entrance halls.

Fifteen Enduring Shade Choices That Continually Hold Appeal

Fifteen Enduring Shade Choices That Continually Hold Appeal