The 10 Best Taupe Paint Colors, According to Design Experts

Best Taupe for Dark Rooms: Benjamin Moore Sparrow AF-720

Brianna Thomas, the home design blogger behind Bloom in the Black, says Sparrow by Benjamin Moore is her favorite shade of taupe. "It is the perfect mix of deep gray and rich brown that changes in mood throughout the day."

Thomas suggests using the paint color in any space that lacks natural light. "The shade provides excellent warmth to a dark room while remaining the perfect neutral backdrop for literally any accent color story. Brights, pastels, and more neutrals—they all work! It is particularly beautiful in a family room or as a counterpoint to a bathroom that has a lot of crisp, white tiles."

Best Cozy Shade of Taupe: Poised Taupe by Sherwin-Williams 232-C5

"My favorite taupe paint color is Poised Taupe by Sherwin-Williams. It is a deep, true taupe color and it works with a variety of color palettes," says Jessica Salomone, the owner and interior designer behind Lotus and Lilac Design Studio. She adds that the shade works best in spaces where you want to create an enveloping, cozy feeling like in bedrooms, dens, or reading nooks.

Best Taupe for Creating Drama: Benjamin Moore Upper West Side CSP-70

New York-based interior designer Alec Holland is partial to a taupe paint color called Upper West Side by Benjamin Moore—and not just because of its city-centric name. "It is the ideal color when you do not want white walls. It is rich enough to create depth and drama, yet it still has a clean brightness to it." It pairs well with whites and other creamy neutrals and serves as a great color for living rooms, bedrooms, and home offices.

Best Taupe for Sunny Rooms: The Spruce Best Home Seasonal Taupe SPR-23

"An authentic shade of taupe has a not-so-subtle brown undertone, which can make it off-putting to those who fear dark walls," says Tara Polony, an interior designer out of Dallas, Texas. "What I love about The Spruce Best Home Seasonal Taupe is that it has a distinct brown and gray base without feeling too weighty or heavy. If you are looking to make a sun-drenched space feel more intimate and cozy, this is the color to use."

Best Taupe With a Hint of Green: Dunn Edwards Paints Smoke & Ash DET 514

A neutral paint color with a subtle green undertone can give a room a relaxing vibe, says the design team behind Utah-based interior design firm Studio McGee. One of their favorites is Smoke & Ash by Dunn Edwards Paints. The earthy paint color works beautifully with brass accents and wood details.

Best Taupe for Neutral Decor: Magnolia Home Antiquing

"Taupe walls can make neutral furnishings pop," says New York City architect John Mochelle. One of his go-to shades when designing interiors for clients is Antiquing by Magnolia Home. It's a deeper shade of taupe, which allows brighter, lighter colored accents to really own the spotlight against walls this color.

Best Classic Shade of Taupe: Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray HC-173

When it comes to enduring colors, certified interior decorator Liz Toombs says Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray is the perfect shade of taupe.

Toombs, the president of PDR Interiors, says the hue is a part of the historical color collection at Benjamin Moore, so it possesses a timeless quality that is both classic and on-trend. "One of my clients loved this color so much that since I specified it in her first house, she has used it in every property she has purchased or renovated since."

Best Warm Shade of Taupe: Behr Smokestack N220-3

"Taupe continues to be hugely popular and a happy medium for homeowners," says Sarah Fishburne, the Director of Trend and Design at Home Depot. She adds that taupe is ideal for those who want a fresh neutral that is not as cool as a true gray. One of her favorites for room warming appeal is Smokestack by Behr. It has a little more yellow than some of the other taupe colors by Behr without dipping into the khaki or gold zone.

Best Light Shade of Taupe: Clare No Filter

Nicole Gibbons, an Oprah-vetted interior designer and a co-founder of paint label Clare, suggests one of the paint shades from her collection: No Filter. It is a beautiful light neutral with a gorgeous warm undertone. It's lighter in color, so it can be used in smaller spaces without making them look cramped or dingy.

Best Grayish Shade of Taupe: Sherwin-Williams Moth Wing SW 9174

Sue Wadden, the color trend expert at Sherwin-Williams, suggests a taupe color called Moth Wing. "The paint is a warm and grayish taupe that fits right in with the emerging desert modern aesthetic. It is the perfect neutral backdrop for natural accents like leather, wool, and wood." Quite a few colors will look nice against Moth Wing, so try experimenting with everything from earth tones to light neutrals when decorating.