The Best Beiges & Tans for a Modern & Timeless Home
Guess who’s back? That’s right – BEIGE, BABY! While it’s taken a few years to see the pendulum swing, beige and tan are, once again, popular colors. However, not every shade hits the top of the list. Some are still very dated-looking, harkening back to the heavy, Tuscan-inspired beiges of the early 2000s.
While those heavier beiges can be pretty, they aren’t timeless. How do I know? I’ve spent the last ten years helping my Online Color Consulting clients paint over them with more modern shades.
But for the sake of this blog post, we’re not looking for modern – we’re looking for timeless. Okay, maybe we want a little of both, but here’s the deal…
There is no foolproof, timeless paint color. There are only colors that have a ‘better chance than others’ of transitioning through the varying trends.
This dog has waited patiently for beige to come back.
This is why I’ve pulled together the beige and tan paint colors from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore—ones that have a better chance of standing the test of time. I refer to these colors in my Online Paint Color Consulting as they go above and beyond boring old builder’s beige.
Because let’s face it, not everyone loves greige, taupe, or white; sometimes beige is just what a home and homeowner need – it’s just about picking the best Ginger beige for the job (or both, really).
Before we jump in, there’s one more thing we need to chat about…
YOU CAN’T USE THESE BEIGES EVERYWHERE
Current cabinet trends include shades of dark green and a wide range of off-white and light-depth (non-white) cabinet colors. While you might be tempted to slap one of these beiges on your cabinets, I suggest you think twice.
Don’t get me wrong, I love non-white cabinets (and have some in my own home), but as far as ‘timeless choices go,’ white is the most timeless cabinet color. Sure, peruse these colors for your cabinets, but think carefully before committing, as you could hold yourself back in the long run!
Long story short…
These colors are best for WALLS.
1. BENJAMIN MOORE MARITIME WHITE OC-5
Maritime White is a stunner (I might even love it more than Aesthetic White). Whereas some beiges come in more hot n’ heavy than me in my early 20s, this beige comes in with a polite nod and kiss on the cheek. As for depth, Maritime White’s LRV of 71.6 puts it closer to the OFF-WHITE world, which means it’s lighter and brighter.
As trends change, the lighter a main wall color is, the more likely it is to last through the trends.
This is one reason why some light, warm grays are still in style while other, slightly darker shades are out of style (as gray is more or less outdated based on ‘current trends’).
Here’s your Samplize PEEL & STICK sample of Maritime White!
As for undertones, being a beige, Maritime White has a lovely but subtle orange hue. It’s also flexible towards finishes that need a bit of orange-pink or orange-yellow, as long as they don’t swing HARD one way or the other.
If you like Benjamin Moore’s Maritime White and Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White, sample and compare them to similar shades with your own CURATED BEIGE COLOR BUNDLE.
My FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Maritime White
2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS NATURAL LINEN SW 9109
Natural Linen is kissin’ cousins with Muslin (listed below). While this is illegal in some states (as it should be), when it comes to paint colors, these two are definitely worth checking out.
With its LRV of 66, Natural Linen has a moderate depth, sitting in the middle of the ‘light range.’ As for undertones, it has that beautiful orange backdrop, as beiges do, but compared to Muslin, it’s more subtle in its approach.
READ THE REVIEWS OF: Sherwin Williams River’s Edge, Kilim Beige, Accessible Beige
My FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Natural Linen
3. BENJAMIN MOORE MUSLIN OC-12 / CC-110
I’ve long loved Muslin, not just because it’s a great fabric for burp cloths but because of its soft, subtle approach on walls.
Some beiges hit their orange undertone HARD and can swing wildly into yellow, green, and pink – not Muslin. Muslin has that ‘beige-centric’ orange undertone, but a) it’s muted, and b) it’s reasonably flexible towards yellow and pink. This matters a lot when coordinating a paint color with beige tile, as you often need a versatile shade to hit the right spot.
Muslin is hands down, one of THE most timeless beige paint colors.
How to Update Outdated Granite Countertops
My FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Muslin
Muslin is a light beige with an LRV of 66.54. This depth means it’s nestled snugly in the buxom bosom of my ideal LRV range.
Muslin was popular in the early 2000s as it suits many Tuscan-style, beige-on-beige homes. While it fell in popularity in the ‘gray years’ (2010-2020), it never disappeared. This tells me that, more so than many other beige and tan paint colors, it’s more timeless and flexible.
Here’s your Samplize Peel & Stick sample of Muslin!
If you like the slightly darker nature of Benjamin Moore’s Muslin and Sherwin Williams Natural Linen, sample and compare them to similar shades with this CURATED LIGHT BEIGE COLOR BUNDLE.
4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS NATURAL TAN SW 7567
Natural Tan is something I’ll never know about, given my pasty white Ginger arse. Oh, not THAT type of natural tan…silly me. Natural Tan is the epitome of tan as it’s muted, subtle, and, in the right light (i.e., north-facing), seems to lean a wee willy wink into gray. This gray backdrop reduces the degree of color and undertones you see, making it a bit easier to coordinate with.
My Paint Color Review: Sherwin Williams Natural Tan
However, whereas Accessible Beige’s depth holds it back a bit, with Natural Tan, it’s its undertones. While it usually reads pretty neutral, it can pick up a slight green undertone. Sure, it’s pretty, but this green undertone is much more challenging to coordinate with, as most warm interior finishes cater to beige (orange), not tan.
Take a look at this next image…
First, I want to make a few points…
- Never lean your paint samples; they should always be 100% vertical on the wall. Light reflects differently off an angled or horizontal surface.
- Use Samplize Peel & Stick rather than sample pots – save time and money.
- Natural Tan is next to a SUPER strong beige, Kilim Beige, so it looks much grayer in comparison. Kilim Beige is a beautiful, popular, but more old-school shade of beige.
Now, if you ask me, those are the top contenders for the most TIMELESS colors. Again, nothing is foolproof, but some will last longer than others.
This said (oh, we’re not done yet)…there are a handful more that are super popular, even if they aren’t as timeless (besides, some people love to repaint every five to ten years, anyway).
5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ACCESSIBLE BEIGE SW 7036
Accessible Beige is, hands-down, the most popular beige in my repertoire. I have a Rolodex of paint colors in my brain (you younger folk might want to look that one up), and Accessible Beige comes up often when consulting with my Online Color clients.
Accessible Beige is a light-depth paint color that leans a bit gray, so it doesn’t have an even REMOTELY golden approach, making it popular on walls, cabinets, and exteriors. It’s also a great way to lean slightly into the gray-greige world without going so far that you alienate a beige-inclined home.
4-PART SERIES: How to Create a Timeless, Trend-Proof Home
Because of its depth, Accessible Beige is not as timeless as the others. Its LRV of 58 puts it on the lower, darker end of the light range. Is it still pretty? HECK YES! But does its depth make it a bit less versatile? Also, yes.
My FULL Color Review of Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige
YOUTUBE COLOR Review of Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige
6. SHERWIN WILLIAMS AESTHETIC WHITE SW 7035
When it comes to beige and tan paint colors that can last through trends, the lighter and more subtle, the better. This is why Aesthetic White is at the top of my list, a list that’s definitely in order.
Aesthetic White is nothing short of amazeballs. This off-white shade of beige is slightly darker than the average off-white, giving it a subtle but noticeable contrast with a well-chosen white trim.
As for undertones, Aesthetic White is shockingly neutral. This means it can be open to interpretation. Some find it a bit green, and others find it a bit pink or purple—which doesn’t make sense as these colors are opposite…but it happens. It’s also known for leaning a bit more gray than not in some lighting situations. In other words, sample it carefully and see how it settles in your space.
Here’s your Samplize PEEL & STICK sample of Aesthetic White!
My Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White
Once you’ve finished this blog post, here are reviews of the above colors: Winds Breath / Ballet White / White Duck / White Heron. This said, none are as beige as Aesthetic White or the colors listed below.
7. BENJAMIN MOORE MANCHESTER TAN HC-81
Manchester Tan has to be one of Benjamin Moore’s most requested beige/tan paint colors, as it’s been kickin’ it longer than Abby Wambach. I’ll wait while you Google her name to get the pun.
While I wish it had a slightly higher LRV (its LRV is 63.24), Manchester Tan’s undertones make me a bit nervous. Sure, it can look pretty darn neutral, but like Natural Tan, the odd flash of green pops up, which can be a hot mess when coordinated with the wrong interior finish (of which there are many).
This isn’t to say it’s not the best color for your room, but sample carefully and compare it to similar shades to see which settles best.
My FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan
8. SHERWIN WILLIAMS BALANCED BEIGE SW 7037
Oh, Balanced Beige. If I had my druthers (I wouldn’t talk like an 85-year-old English lady), I’d also put Balanced Beige at the top of the list. However, as far as the most timeless warm neutrals go, Balanced Beige doesn’t make the cut.
With its LRV of 46, Balanced Beige plants itself well into the light-medium range, making it beautiful for walls and cabinets but a bit too dark to be flexible for the long term. Its depth and undertones are like Accessible Beige with a bit more depth – it’s chonkier.
As shown on these walls, Balanced Beige tips nicely into gray while still keeping a passive warmth…
But as shown in this next photo, it easily leans back into its subtle warmth…
My FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige
If you like beiges with a bit more meat on their bones – colors like Balanced Beige and Accessible Beige, get your own CURATED LIGHT & LIGHT-MEDIUM BEIGE COLOR BUNDLE to sample and compare top shades!
READ MORE…
4-PART SERIES: How to Create a Timeless, Trend-Proof Home
The 3 Most Timeless Paint Colors (Part 2 of 4)
The 8 Best WHOLE HOME WARM Paint Colors
The Best Cream Paint Colors: Benjamin Moore & Sherwin Williams
Is Beige Back? You Might be Surprised!
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ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2017, UPDATED IN 2025
I never liked gray, but tan and beige are worse! I am enjoying white walls for the first time in my life with soft
gray-green baseboards and trim. It is so cool and refreshing after seeing all these years of gray. But, now beige?
No Way!
Funny eh? I mean, we’re not there YET, but things are shifting. We’re definitely in the white/greige world right now and I’m loving it too!
https://staging2.kylieminteriors.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Painted-maple-cherry-cabinets-in-off-white-walls-Sherwin-Balanced-Beige.-Green-granite-beige-tile.-Kylie-M-Interiors-Edesign-online-paint-colour-advice-blog-scaled.jpg
Hi wondering what this wall paint colour is?!
Thanks!
Hi Juli, that’s SW Balanced Beige!
This kitchen picture seems to be under the Sandbar header. My entire home is painted Sandbar, and it’s my favorite paint color ever!
Hi Kylie,
Happy 2021!
If my floors are a warm hardwood and furniture is a mix of cool/gem colors, do I choose a warm beige/tan paint or a cool beige/tan, etc? Should floors and walls be opposites?! Off to explore your blog!
Many thanks for all the great info.
Oooo, that’s a tough one Laura. Cool colours (including fabrics) don’t always LOVE to be partnered with beige or tan paint colours. The darker your cool is, the more flexible it will be, but the lighter ones are tricky. I have a lighter-toned cooler sectional and it’s MIGHTY fussy. I found that a soft warm white was the best way to get warmth, as I just couldn’t hit it with a good beige or tan. I’m pretty sure that didn’t answer your question ;), but it can really depend on the depth of your cool tones (darker won’t be as fussy, long story short).
I’ve been saying Beige is slowly replacing Gray for at least 3 years now while all my friends wrinkled their noses! Beige has gotten such a bad reputation but I think (the right) beiges, tans and creams are the best blend of fresh and cozy. Thank you for this post! I am wanting to try Clay Beige in my home. I wish there were more real life photos of it to be found on Pinterest.
Hi Rachel, I AGREE! Right now we’re into greiges, but those tans are creeping in and then before you know it, beige will be back! And really, it’s ALLLLL about the right colour in the right space, whether it’s gray or beige! I HOPE to get more Clay Beige photos in as well, it isn’t chosen as often for sure – just watch for that wink o’ green hiding in it (it doesn’t come up much, but if you have products with pink in them, it WILL!)
I’ve always thought of grey walls with that old Tom Jones song Green Green Grass of home. He wakes realizing he’s stuck in his prison cell walls and sings,
“Then I awake and look around me
At four grey walls that surround me
And I realize, yes, I was only dreaming..”
I do appreciate your videos Kylie! I binge watch sometimes, as I try to decide what new colors to choose for my home. Some greiges you feature are quite pretty. Some light greys I’ve even considered, but personally, I prefer warmth, and a cozy feeling to my home.
I love it! And I’m so glad you love my videos, I’m currently revamping my video room so I can really DEDICATE time to doing more (rather than pushing the guest bed over and squeezing myself in ;). And I’m like you, I do have a few grays here and there and even some greige, but where I lean GRAY for built-ins and feature walls, I prefer some soft warmth on my walls!
I’m am so ready to get away from gray! We bought our home a year ago, the entire main floor was grays and blues. The ceilings are gray,! I am stuck trying to find a very light beige or cream in Benjamin Moore. Years ago I painted my former home Linen White and it came off as white with a hint of beige and I loved it! . I had my foyer painted in what I thought would be the same color and it is soft yellow! It isn’t what I was looking for even tho I painted 2×4 foot Sheetrock boards of linen white and they didn’t look yellow! At this point I am ready to throw in the towel and paint it all white!
Ahhh yes, I was surprised when I read that Linen White came off a light beige for you, as it is quite yellow! Sometimes it’s ALLLL in the exposure and lighting of a room. I wonder if you might like BM White Down, which is still cream inspired, but more muted…good luck :).
I agree that Tony taupe looks better, but what is the deal with that ceiling…very awkward! Would they have considered painting it as well so it didn’t stick out at all? Accessible beige is a great color for people on the fence about gray but wanting more warmth. Also for making a kitchen with warm cabinets. I helped my friend pick this color for her kitchen and I just love it. Whenever I go over to her house, I find myself gazing at the access beige walls!
Hiya! Isn’t it funny, I actually LOVE the ceiling – but then I’m a lover of wood 🙂 (even though I suggest painting it sometimes). And you’re right Accessible Beige is SUCH a great moderate colour, same with Natural Tan, they’re a great way to lean warm without going over the top.
Haha! I wanted gray walls for my main living areas, and my son wanted beige. We shave narrowed it down to a few options that are greige – but are more on the beige side. He will be saying “I told you so”.
Oh man! Well, you HAVE to check out SW Agreeable Gray which DOES cater more to gray and is a fanTASTIC colour. Edgecomb Gray – also a stunner and a GREAT happy medium! But remember, it’s important to pay attention to the room too!
If you have southern or warm afternoon sunshine, gray (or greige) can help balance that out a bit. If you have northern or eastern light, a warmer greige (like Edgecomb) or a beige can add a bit of warmth to a space. Hope that helps!
Tell us the best beige/tan to tone down 90s oak cabinets! Tired of yellow walls!
Ooooo, I would head towards Accessible Beige. I mean, it can depend MORE on the countertop/backsplash, but that could be a place to start!
I’m not sure how I feel about this, having recently painted my kitchen cabinets Gauntlet Grey!
Oh don’t you worry at ALL! Gray is still going strong and when it comes to cabinets it’s more of an ‘accent’ so comes across way different than walls. Plus, when you choose colours that SUIT your home, that’s the BEST way to create a space that flows! I have gray cabinets too, but they aren’t as versatile as Gauntlet Gray, so ya done good!
I am loving this!! As one of Kylie’s online clients, I recently changed my kitchen and hall color to Shittake with Mega Greige in the living area (Dove White trim) still in love, BTW. It really was a perfect recommendation for my home. I never did get the kitchen cabinets painted, maybe next year. I have been considering changing the master bedroom but not really feeling the grays – as much as I “try” to like them. This gives me some great ideas and I already have my cart full at Samplize!! I want to say “thank you” for everything you do and all the personality to give to your posts… Happy New Year!
Adria, what an awesome comment to read, THANK you! And I’m SOOOO glad you’re loving your colours – Shittake (as you read) is right up there for me with Balanced Beige). And if it all makes you love your kitchen cabinets a little longer, well, that’s a good thing – money in the bank! What about adding a soft gray-blue-green to your palette? I mean, I haven’t seen your bedroom/exposure, but something like Argos is GORGEOUS or even SW Comfort Gray which commits more to colour. If you want to stay warmer, you’ll probably want to add a bit of lightness, something like Accessible Beige or Natural Tan perhaps?
Too much gray…….*Gray exteriors* are *rampant* in our area, talk about a trend that’s gone overboard….. .For re-paint/ touch up of our Colonial Yellow (LMV of about 50) house this spring, we now plan to keep the yellow, with white trim and white garage doors and wndows, bur perhaps with gray on front and side doors. (Pantone colors of year, have a lighter yellow, and a deep gray, about 35 LMV, but we’re considering also light gray on doors, like BM Neon)… you have thoughts about using yellow dominant, white trim, but maybe what particular shade of gray ()…
Hi Steve, there IS a lot of gray going on. And I’m cool with that if it SUITS the home and it’s finishes. Now for the light gray doors, it actually depends on your roof and any other features on your home (ie: stone/brick) as the TYPE and DEPTH of gray would be dictated by those! While Pantone has that lovely neutral gray, it actually isn’t a great colour as it doesn’t connect with ‘real-life’ products that always have undertones! You’ll want to look at your roof/brick/stone and see whether they favour a gray with a blue, green or purple undertone and go from there! Generally speaking (without seeing your home) I’d lean into a gray with an LRV approx 20 or so, just for some nice contrast.
I 100% agree with your comments about BM Manchester Tan. I don’t consider it tan at all; but a lovely warm neutral. I used this color to update my entire home from the Tuscan gold, brown trend so popular in the late 90’s/2000. I live in the Midwest where white painted wood trim is not popular, most people still have oak and former clients would never consider painting their wood trim. I was fortunate to have a medium brown fruitwood stained trim and BM Manchester Tan looks amazing. Manchester Tan looks warm and creamy next to my wood trim. My home is now on trend and I receive compliments from everyone who walks in my home. I’m a retired Home Stager/ Stylist so I understand color…just like you do! Keep recommending this color as it just works in so many dated homes. If someone wants to paint their trim, BM White Down looks perfect.
Thank you for your comment Susan, kindred spirits! And Manchester Tan has been around SO long, it can be such a great go-to! I’m glad it worked out for you. And you’re right, many of my Midwest clients love their wood trim too!
Hi Kylie! My new build house interior was just painted entirely in SW Natural Tan, and I LOVE IT! I wanted cream, hubby wanted gray, so this is a compromise and we both are so happy with it. It isn’t orange, pink, or yellow….you are correct about the gray lean if anything. I’d love to attach a pic, just not sure how!
Thanks for all of your help with my choices.
Melissa
Good choice, it’s one of my FAVE warm neutrals! And I would absolutely LOOOOOVE PHOTOS! You can email them to me at kylie@kylieminteriors.ca, I just love to see colours in action!!
And in 10 years everyone will be whining about the tan/beige overload everywhere. 😋
Oh you bet, wait for it!
Good choices. I used Egret White instead of a beige OR a grey. It’s complex and beautiful, depending on where you look at it – the undertones either taupe or a little grey-ish, and violet, too!
YESSSS, I love Egret White and you’re SO right on the undertones, I love it when others see what I do! It’s like this SOFT, passive warmth that certainly ISN’T beige or tan, but it’s not gray either!
Hi Kylie!
Not sure if BM Fossil or BM Dove Wing fall into this category of beige, but was wondering if you ever used these colors. I don’t hear about them much.
Hi! So Accessible Beige doesn’t look good with travertine floors and taupe furniture? – I was leaning toward using it before I read that a warmer paint should be used with lighter flooring .
That’s right, Accessible Beige is usually too toned-down for travertine 🙂
Hi Kylie. Love your videos! I have a tough one, for me anyways. I have a large grey fabric headboard that looks more blue than grey, furniture that is a warm metallic that could have a wink of silver in it, floors and trim that are honey oak. I can’t for the life of me figure out what color to paint the walls. I thought of accessible beige or Natural Tan. Am I even in the right color family???? East facing room, btw. I thought about painting the trim some kind of white if that would help, and cover the floor with a large area rug.
My cabinets are painted Cedar Key by Benjamin Moore…what wallcolor would you pair with it? Looking for neutral color. Thank you