Summer is a popular time to tackle interior paint jobs. Long daylight gives us extra time to work with good lighting and warm weather makes for faster drying times and the ability to open windows for fresh air and ventilation. Deciding it’s time to paint is the first step. It’s the second step, choosing the exact color, where many homeowners get hung up. To help you along in the decision making process, I’ve put together a list of ten of my favorite interior paint colors. I’ve seen these colors in person and can vouch that they are winners time and time again.

Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray 6205 – In my opinion, “gray” is a bit misleading of a word to use in this color’s name because it is truly a very soothing and beautiful muted green. It’s essentially the palest mint possible, and contains no unpleasant red or purple undertones. I absolutely love it for bedroom walls as an alternative to more standard grays or beiges. For coordination, I love to pair this color with décor accents in pewter, mercury glass, and lots of greenery.

Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray SW 7029 – This lovely neutral is one of Sherwin Williams’ best selling colors with good reason. It gives just enough presence to warm up a room without overpowering it, and has very balanced undertones that don’t lean purple or red. This color works in bedrooms and main living spaces. It looks great with gold décor accents, black furniture and eucalyptus toned greenery. Also try Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Gray HC-173 for a very similar look.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood OC-28 – This color wins my award for “best griege” (combination of gray and beige). I’ve used it in both traditional homes that are being updated as well as contemporary homes. It’s a great backdrop for just about anything, from art with colors that pop to more muted and neutral décor. It’s a great color for main floor living spaces that flow from one to another and can really help pull those spaces together and make them feel cohesive.

Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17 – This is hands down my #1 recommendation for a white that looks good in homes in Bridle Trails. It’s also in the top five of Benjamin Moore’s best-selling whites. This white is perfect for homes in Bridle Trails in particular because it counters the effects of our abundance of evergreens and indirect light. With other whites, the evergreens and indirect light bring out the green or blue undertones in those paints, which can make them appear “off” or “cold”. White Dove is perfect for trim, casework (including doors) and ceilings.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl 2137-60 – This is a light gray that is different than other grays in that it has a very subtle mineral undertone (essentially a tiny hint of spa blue/green). I absolutely love it in bathrooms with white fixtures and cabinetry as a way of balancing all that white without truly introducing a new “color” into the space. It pairs beautifully with polished nickel lighting and plumbing fixtures. A Benjamin Moore top seller.

Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black 6258 and Benjamin Moore Jet Black 2120-10 – Who knew that even black could be a complicated color to select? Even at this end of the spectrum, the choices are myriad. These two colors are both solidly black without hints of blue and are fully saturated, which means they won’t read as charcoal gray. Both are perfect for interior casework, front doors, and shutters.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy HC-154 – This navy blue is truly rich and regal. Far from a “fad” color, it will stand the test of time and still look fantastic twenty years from now. Use it on a bathroom vanity, kitchen island, or in a den. Pairs well with both silver and soft gold accents and hardware.

Benjamin Moore Aegean Teal 2136-40 – This color was Benjamin Moore’s 2021 color of the year for good reason. It has a lot of presence without being overwhelming. It is a truly versatile color and looks beautiful on cabinetry, in a mud room, or even a bedroom. Pairs well with rattan or seagrass accents.

Benjamin Moore Pink Swear CSP-340 – When I’m asked by clients for a recommendation for a pink wall color, this is the one I start with. It’s such a gentle pink that Benjamin Moore doesn’t even categorize it with the reds in their Color Stories collection – they count it as a neutral. To me, it reads as the color of a ballet slipper that has some patina to it. Looks lovely in a bedroom, sitting room or even a bathroom. It’s sure to create cheer and warmth!

Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray HC-168 – This rich gray is truly balanced. It’s dark enough to have a lot of presence without feeling overwhelming. It has the perfect formula which prevents it from leaning towards purple or green. I love it in a formal dining room with pewter accents or in a powder bath for a little drama.

Benjamin Moore OC-10 White Sand – Much like Agreeable Gray, White Sand is a lovely warm neutral wall color. It leans slightly warmer than Agreeable Gray and looks wonderful with red oak flooring. Its warmth holds up well against the green undertones that Bridle Trails light gives off. Pairs well with polished or brushed nickel accents as well as bronze and gold.

Remember, it’s always best to put up samples of paint colors before trying them. The most important thing about putting up a sample is to first paint a large section of a wall white, then paint your smaller size sample within that white area. Applying a new color swatch over an existing true color (other than a wall that was already white) will cause your perception of the new color to be off. Lastly, whenever possible, choose low or no VOC paint formulas. Happy painting!