The best colors in the interior. Designer tips. Grey. White. Beige

About Grays and Neutrals from the 50 Best-Selling Paint Colors Palette

The best paint colors for walls and ceilings, according to a professional. The most purchased colors for interiors and facades in the world. The best shades of gray: from almost white to almost black. How does color change under different lighting?

When you're choosing a paint color for the interior or exterior of your home, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the palettes of the most popular and best-selling colors. Such palettes are formed based on the choice of both professional designers and owners of apartments and houses, and help not to drown in the ocean of thousands of available shades of paint and varnish products. This can often be a great starting point when finding the color that suits you best.

Below is a palette of 50 of the most popular and best-selling paints from the famous company Sherwin-Williams. Of these, we will highlight 12 of the most versatile and reliable gray ones and analyze them in more detail. There will be descriptions and tips on using this or that color, with explanations of why this color is more appropriate in certain places and conditions. The “pros” and “cons” of the selected colors will also be taken into account.

In this material we will rely on the extensive experience of US designer Cindy Alred. We give her our word:

Repose Gray

The number one color in the world in all companies involved in the production and sale of paints. Of course, this cannot be said with 100% certainty, but I would be very surprised if I found out that this is not the case. Repose Gray is a fantastic warm light gray that I highly recommend to my clients because it is absolute perfection when it comes to painting all the walls in a home a neutral light shade.

Pros : Versatility. This gray is especially nice because it not only looks beautiful during the day in natural light, but is also one of those rare colors that looks great at night in artificial light. When changing the color temperature of the lighting, unpleasant shades do not appear.

Cons : In rooms with lots of natural light, Repose can produce a very faint bluish-gray cast.

By the way, all the colors on the fan card where Repose Gray is located (card 244) made the bestseller list, which is not surprising because this set is simply gorgeous. These are stunning and versatile colors and you'll see some of them below.

How to paint your living room to make it look bigger?

Small rooms have a certain charm and can be really cozy. However, if you have a small living room, you should be especially careful because a small space, unlike large, spacious rooms, is much more difficult to arrange . However, the room can be optically enlarged by choosing the appropriate wall color.

The most effective way to paint your living room to make it appear larger is to choose a solid, light shade . Some of the most commonly chosen colors include beige, soft grey, powder pink or blue.

When choosing a wall color for a room, pay close attention to the temperature of the shade. This is especially important in small rooms because warm colors visually pull the walls closer together, making the room appear smaller.

However, different room colors can't compare to the unbeatable pure white , which is by far the most popular shade in interior design. This is an ideal color for small spaces, most often used in minimalist interiors. Although there are many shades of white available in the market, classic crisp white is the preferred choice.

Sea Salt

This color is almost as popular as the previous one. The vast majority in the survey named it their favorite Sherwin-Williams color. Feel free to go for it if you are looking for a calming and serene spa color.

Pros : Calmness and serenity. In the right light, Sea Salt is one of the most beautiful shades of blue-green-gray.

Cons : Has a chameleon effect and can be finicky in certain lighting (usually in areas with a lot of natural light). It is very important to do test colors first. This color looks best in rooms with little or no natural light (bathrooms, bedrooms, etc.).

How to choose a paint color according to the international shade scale

Colors for painting walls are combined on an international scale. 210 types are collected here, they are assigned numbers, this is done to facilitate the promotion of products in different countries. These shades are considered a classic palette; manufacturers are developing new options based on this scale.

The shades are considered a classic palette; manufacturers are developing new options based on this scale.

Worldly Gray

This is another trustworthy warm light gray color that is quite close to Repose Gray but is a little warmer and darker. I often recommend it to clients over Repose Gray as an overall color for the entire interior if there is a lot of natural light in the room, as the former can look too white in such conditions.

Pros : In rooms with lots of natural light, Worldly Gray is ideal and versatile.

Cons : This color will appear darker in areas with little natural light, and may look a little heavier than a traditional warm light gray.

Style solutions: color choice

There is a wide range of paint and varnish products that help create any design project. Many style options have been invented; they can be repeated correctly, but careful preparation will be required.

Many style options have been invented; they can be repeated correctly, but careful preparation will be required.

Calm shades: beige, light gray, peach, milky, ivory

These options are good when residents love peace. To prevent the design from being bland for medium-sized products, brighter colors are selected. Such use of shades will help to obtain an updated renovation where you can stay for a long time.

These options are good when residents love peace.

Elegant colors: turquoise, matte black, grey, café au lait, chocolate

To complement the interior elements, other options from this list are selected. Then accents will be placed, but the comfort will not be lost. Variations were not so popular before, but now they are being chosen more and more often. Wall paint colors help to obtain this coloring.

To complement the interior elements, other options from this list are selected.

Bright style in the apartment: blue, green, light blue, pink, purple paint

People who love bright accents can use a combination of two types of colors. They will complement and dampen each other a little. For ease of selection, opposite colors are selected from a circular palette with color options. It should be borne in mind that not everyone can stay in such conditions for a long time; if a person likes richness, then this update will be acceptable for him, and guests will be amazed by the uniqueness.

People who love bright accents can use a combination of two types of colors.

Crushed Ice

I met Crushed Ice for the first time recently when I was redecorating my living room. I chose this as a replacement for Repose Gray (our number one), which looked a little lighter than I would have liked in this space. And in the end, I just fell in love with it, so I can confidently recommend that you try this color too. It's a little lighter, a little cooler, and has a little more pigment than Repose Gray.

Pros : Crushed Ice is a stunning warm light gray that falls between light (with subtle color) and mid tone. A rare gem in the range of intermediate neutral colors.

Cons : Crushed Ice looks better in areas with moderate natural light. Not the best choice for rooms without windows.

Variety of palettes

Wall paint palettes are always created by manufacturers to make it easier to select a combination. If the required type is not available, then they resort to adding pigment. In many types of paints, it is possible to add color, for example, for water-based paints and varnishes.

When choosing colors, take into account that for a certain reason it can become darker or lighter. If the base is rough, the tone will become 6-8 times darker, a smooth surface does not darken the shade much, about 2 tones.

If the required type is not available, then they resort to adding pigment.

Cool colors

This type is suitable for large spaces located on the south side. In hot weather, this design will help keep you cool. It is not recommended to paint all the walls with one cold color; the reason is that the perception of the light level in different zones is different. The larger the room, the darker the tone you can choose.

The larger the room, the darker the tone you can choose.

Warm colors

These types are not suitable for small rooms due to the ability to reduce space. This is the best option when the sun rarely comes into the room.

This is the best option when the sun rarely comes into the room.

Calm color palette

For this effect, cold types of paintwork materials are usually chosen. They are successfully combined with grayish elements. The lighter the color scheme, the calmer the interior will be, and vice versa. Warm colors include beige, light brown and similar shades from the palette. This combination suits the style called Scandinavian.

The lighter the color scheme, the calmer the interior will be, and vice versa.

Bright color palette

It is advisable to paint only the details with intense colors; an example is the creation of patterned elements on the base, say turquoise. For a more original effect, it is possible to apply a paint layer of different very different shades to two adjacent walls. Ceiling and floor painting is done in non-distinctive tones, otherwise intense colors will oversaturate the effect.

For a more original effect, it is possible to apply a paint layer of different very different shades to two adjacent walls.

Dorian Gray

This is another fantastic neutral warm gray from the mid-tone range. I used it on my client's kitchen hood hood and it looks beautiful. Dorian Gray also works great as a neutral color for furniture.

Pros : Found on the same card (244) of the color fan as Repose Gray, but only two shades darker. A very versatile color for walls and cabinets.

Cons : Too much natural light can cause Dorian Gray to become cooler and no longer look like a warm gray.

What design styles use painted walls?

Painted walls are used in almost all design styles. They look especially harmonious in the following interiors:

Scandinavian;
Loft;
Provence;
Eco;
Minimalism;
High tech;
Classical;
Country.

In each of these interiors, a combination of painted walls and other cladding material is possible.

Painted walls are used in almost all design styles.

Dovetail

If you want something darker than a neutral mid-tone warm gray, Dovetail is a great choice. It is well suited for interior doors and cabinets. It is unlikely to be suitable for painting all the walls in the room, but an accent wall of this color will look beautiful.

Pros : Dovetail is a win-win option when you want to add contrast to a room, but don't want to use very dark tones so as not to lose the overall lightness.

Cons : Dovetail may take on a warmer tone in rooms with artificial lighting. Although this does not harm him too much, he remains beautiful.

Advantages and disadvantages of painted walls

It seems that painted walls are the simplest finishing option. However, they have their own positive and negative features that are worth remembering. The main advantages of painted surfaces are:

The modern building materials market offers a huge range of paint and varnish coatings for walls, differing in quality characteristics, purpose and shades;
When the paint dries, it does not emit toxic chemical gases and does not harm human health in any way;
You can do the painting yourself;
It is possible to decorate painted surfaces with special patterns or using a special roller with a convex pattern.

Among the disadvantages of painted walls are:

Before starting work, the master must prepare the walls well;
The paintwork on the walls highlights differences and other imperfections;
If fresh painting is planned, the old layer will need to be cleaned off.

It is possible to decorate painted surfaces with special patterns or using a special roller with a convex pattern.

Drift of Mist

If you want a neutral shade with just a hint of color, I suggest using Drift of Mist. It's a very subtle color that I think is almost the perfect neutral.

Pros : Drift of Mist is one of those rare colors that solves the problem when neither white nor more saturated colors will do.

Cons : There is a very slight hint of muted yellow (very faint). This is what distinguishes it from white, softening it to neutral. And, although I don’t like the presence of yellow, I could use this color in my home.

Alkyd paint

The material is resistant to mechanical damage and is not afraid of moisture. It is popular among consumers.

To obtain the dye, manufacturers use alkyd varnishes, solvents and fillers. The required pigment is added to the composition. The manufacturer also introduces additives into some types of colors that protect the resulting layer from fungus and mold.

Peppercorn

It's no surprise that Peppercorn from Sherwin-Williams made the bestseller list because this color is unheard of good! This cloudy taupe has tremendous depth and is perfect for an accent wall, closets, and some very small spaces.

Pros : Peppercorn is one of the most trustworthy taupes. It always looks good on walls, cabinets and accent pieces.

Cons : I can't think of a single problem with this color. He always looks great.

Incredible wall texture with a simple sponge

An old, wrinkled bathing sponge with voluminous holes is suitable for creating the texture of a paint finish. Apply a few pressure strokes with the paint-filled sponge to the dry wall. You will get an interesting effect or even a pattern.

A sponge is another tool for creating fancy patterns Source pinterest.com

Using a sponge you can decorate the entire wall. Short pressure over the entire area can be done in different colors. The main thing is to wait until the first layer dries, otherwise mixing will occur.

Decorative wall decoration using a shower sponge Source decorator-don.ru

A large sponge or water-repellent cloth can be wrapped around the roller. With the help of such a tool, unusual designs are created that resemble marble stone.

Foam rubber with large holes creates interesting textures in the form of bubbles on the wall. In this way you can paint all the partitions in the room. Use different shades.

A rag wrapped around a roller creates an unusual pattern Source freegameinfo.ru

Plain turquoise wall in the kitchen with decorative elements Source dizainkuhnibest.ru

Iron Ore

The next example is a beautiful very dark gray with a brown undertone that has become a popular choice for finishing interior doors, cabinets and façade features. Really amazing color!

Pros : Iron Ore is a stunning deep and heavy color. It adds instant contrast to a space when used sparingly.

Cons : When using this color to decorate exterior elements, be careful: make sure that it harmonizes with the overall color of the facade, even if it is almost white. This is less true indoors, but bright sunlight outside really brings out the Iron Ore tones.

Black Fox

Another fantastic dark color from the best seller list, very similar to the previous one is Black Fox. But while Iron Ore tends to lean towards dark grey, Black Fox is more of a very dark brown.

Pros : Very rich dark, ideal accent color for walls, interior elements and facade decoration. Very versatile.

Cons : In windowless rooms under artificial light, Black Fox can have a rather warm tone but still be beautiful.

How cool and warm colors work

Knowing the effects that warm and cool color schemes can create will help change the visual perception of a room space. Thus, warm orange and yellow shades can visually bring the walls of the bedroom closer, which is required when the bedroom is elongated and narrow, the room becomes smaller due to this effect. Painting the ends in reddish and yellowish tones will help balance the room visually.

Blue and purple colors, on the contrary, visually enlarge the room. If you paint the end areas in these options, the space will become wider; if it was narrow, the sleeping area will increase.

Knowing the effects that warm and cool color schemes can create will help change the visual perception of a room space.

Tricorn Black

Of the black colors, I most often prefer Tricorn black in my projects. First of all, because it really looks like black. And small brown-gray undertones relieve it of excessive roughness and harshness.

Pros : This is a very versatile and reliable color for both interior and exterior use. If you are in search of the best black color, you can go for this one as it is really beautiful.

Cons : I've never had a problem with this color. He won't let you down. The taupe shade complements almost any color when used as an exterior trim or accent color.

Decor

Decorating a living room gives you a wide range of possibilities to express what you see fit.

If you want to show your unity with nature and solidity, use stone and wood to decorate the living room walls.

Do you want comfort and warmth? At all times, such a detail in the decor of the living room walls as a fireplace symbolized all this. Is it not possible or does the layout of the house not allow it? Drywall will help install an artificial fireplace.

In addition to all this, plasterboard can also be used simply to make some beautiful and functional shelf for souvenirs or a niche with lighting.

Mindful

I have been using Mindful Gray for many years, both on client projects and for myself. I think Mindful Gray is one of the nicest and safest warm gray colors out there and is great specifically for furniture.

Pros : An extremely versatile warm gray that looks best on cabinets and other furniture, as well as fronts. It's a little heavy to get a warm gray on your walls, but it's fine if you're looking for a warmer, mid-tone gray.

Cons : In rooms with plenty of natural light, Mindful Gray can look cold without losing its brilliance. However, if you want a warm gray that stays warm in these lighting conditions, then Mindful Gray is not the best color here.

Most of the Sherwin Williams colors featured on the most popular list are simply gorgeous. I haven't worked with many yellow/beige tones so I haven't given them any rating in this review.

And further. Before using any of the colors that I have given excellent ratings, be sure to test them in the room and lighting where they are intended. Lighting can change color dramatically and I really want you not to be disappointed!

You can learn about how light changes color in the article Warm and cool lighting in the interior. Color temperature of light.

To learn how to choose a light bulb with good color rendering, read the material Quality of lighting in the interior. Choosing the best lamps.

You can order paints in the colors you like right now on this website.

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Features of the type of finish

Each material has its own paint application technology. Regardless of the type of surface, it is recommended to first clean it of dust, dirt and flaking old coatings. A mandatory stage of work is applying two layers of primer and drying.

Paint and varnish compositions are used to cover dry walls at a temperature of +5-25 degrees and normal humidity of 65-75%.

Application of compositions for different base materials:

wood and brick - alkyd, acrylic and oil paint are used;
concrete - epoxy and latex compounds are used;
drywall - silicone and acrylic paint are suitable;
wallpaper - water-based compounds are used;
plaster - any composition is suitable, regardless of the basis of manufacture.

Under normal conditions, the painted surface will serve for a long time, will not lose color saturation and will retain its protective functions for 10-15 years.