What are the most popular color palettes for homes?
Popular families
Warm neutral palettes use beige, greige, cream and soft brown. They feel cozy and work with wood floors and warm metals. Earthy palettes add sage green, clay or terracotta, and they suit homes with natural materials and plenty of plants.
Cool calm palettes use gray-blue, soft gray and white. They suit bright rooms and modern furnishings. Many people choose a version of one of these families and then add a single bold accent.
- Warm neutrals: greige, cream and soft brown
- Earthy: sage, clay and muted olive
- Cool calm: gray-blue, soft gray and white
- Bold accent: one deep color used sparingly
Pick based on your home
Trends change, so focus on how a palette fits your light, flooring and furniture more than on what is popular this year. A palette that matches your home will usually look better over time than one that only follows a trend.
Look at the direction each room faces. North-facing rooms often look cooler, so warmer tones may help. South-facing rooms can handle deeper or cooler colors.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a trendy palette that clashes with your floors and cabinets.
- Ignoring how natural light changes a color throughout the day.
- Using a palette from a photo without checking it in your own room.
Related questions
- How do I create a cohesive paint color palette for my whole house?
- How many paint colors should I use in an open floor plan?
- Should every room in a house be painted the same color?
- How do I make paint colors flow from room to room?
- What is the 60-30-10 rule for paint colors?
- How do I choose a color palette that works with my flooring?