15 Paint Colors That Will Make Your Home Feel Warm and Cozy
Even if it seems like a subtle detail, the color you paint a room can have an enormous overall impact on the ambiance of your space. For instance, one shade of gray can read stark and cold while other variations can lend the perfect amount of welcoming warmth.
The same is true for hues in the brown, white, green, and even purples. We asked an assortment of interior designers to share which interior paint colors are giving them all the warm and cozy vibes right now, so prepare to feel inspired.
1. Farrow & Ball: London Clay
“We are seeing a strong dive into walnut brown from paint to furniture, wood stains, textiles, and more,” says Heather Fujikawa, owner and principal designer at House Sprucing. London Clay is Farrow & Ball’s "warmest brown" that's infused with undertones of magenta. It leans into the earthy walnut trend while capturing a wealth of warmth.
Where to Use It:
“This cozy paint color could be beautiful as a signature wall in a room or painted on an entry wall for unique contrast,” Fujikawa suggests
2. Benjamin Moore: Louisburg Green
Colors like olive and sage are also trending in a big way this year. “If you're looking to use this trend in your home in a way that feels cozy, go for a mid-toned shade like Louisburg Green,” advises Kaitlin Madden, co-founder of The Finish. She adds, “To me, paints that aren't too dark or too light feel the coziest. Very light colors tend to create spaces that feel vibrant and energetic, while very deep shades can be very dramatic.”
Where to Use It:
Madden loves this accent color for a powder room.
3. Benjamin Moore: Black Forest Green
Want to go darker with your green? Try Black Forest Green, which is part of Benjamin Moore’s historic collection. “It’s a color that will stand the test of time, but also put you right in the middle of the current green trend,” says home expert Jaclyn James.
Where to Use It:
“Black Forest Green is a great color to add warmth to your home office and for a pop of color in your kitchen on the island,” says James. “This color would also work well in a room that has a complementary bold wallpaper accent wall to add warmth while not overpowering the wallpaper.”
4. Benjamin Moore: Baby Fawn
Baby Fawn is a creamy, off-white greige that boasts impeccable balance. “I absolutely love this warm tone,” says Fujikawa. “It is a subtle neutral with just the right amount of tint and warmth.”
Where to Use It:
The perfect backdrop color, Baby Fawn can be used on bookshelves or on a feature wall. Fujikawa adds, “It also performs beautifully as a two-toned cabinet paint color in a kitchen, or provides subtle contrast with interior doors by painting the doors a different color than the overall paint color in the home.”
5. PPG Porter Paints: Weathered Wood
This new, 2023 release from PPG Paints is part of the brand’s Serenity color palette, which is loaded with both warm and cool soothing tones. Weathered Wood is a mid-toned, neutral brown sugar beige that sits on the warmer side of the scale. Kimberly Greenwell, housing education expert and host of My Southern Home, says, “This color will wrap you in all the seasonal feels all year long.”
Where to Use It:
“This color is perfect for the living area of a home or a lower level,” Greenwell says. She adds that mid-dark neutral tones are “perfect for open floor plans with lots of windows and large lower levels.”
6. Sherwin-Williams: Clove
For a boost of rich warmth, consider Sherwin-Williams’ Clove. It’s not quite brown and not entirely black, but lands somewhere perfectly in the middle. “It adds a comfortable coziness to any room,” says Linda Smith, co-founder of BLDC Design. “The richness of the color plays as a neutral with almost any palette.”
Where to Use It:
Smith recommends using this paint color in smaller spaces to create a strong, dramatic statement, such as in a guest bedroom or small bathroom.
7. Sherwin-Williams: White Sand
Finding the perfect white can be challenging, as too often, this “non-color" can read sterile or harsh. This paint color allows you to have your white paint and cozy aesthetic too. “White Sand has just enough undertones to create a clean, pure softness in any space,” says Smith. “It's a perfect choice for a modern interior design.”
Where to Use It:
This neutral paint color works in any part of the home.
8. Benjamin Moore: Simply White
Here’s another variation of cozy white to try, only this one is slightly purer in white tonality without losing that hint of warmth. “This is the creamiest, most beautiful white paint color for your home,” says lifestyle influencer Kat Jamieson. “We have this on both the interior and exterior of our Connecticut farmhouse.”
Where to Use It:
This soft, neutral hue also works well in any room.
9. Sherwin-Williams: Black Magic
Black Magic invites you to consider the opposite side of the color spectrum. “It’s a rich color with neutral undertones, but there's also a softness to this color,” says James. “This color gives you that wow factor while at the same time creating a blanket of coziness.”
Where to Use It:
Truly versatile, Black Magic works beautifully for kitchen islands, bathroom vanities, or oversized rooms that need a good warming up. James says, “Don't be afraid to paint the ceiling with this color, too. It's becoming more popular to add warmth and drama all the way to the tippy top.”
10. Benjamin Moore: Finnie Gray
“Warm neutrals are a great alternative to white because they're just as easy to use but tend to make a space feel extra cozy,” notes Madden. “Finnie Gray is a beautiful, accessible neutral that can look either like a sage green or a greige depending on the light.”
Where to Use It:
Finnie Gray is perfect for a bedroom, den, or as an accent color on doorways and trim.
11. Farrow & Ball: Down Pipe
For a cozy gray paint color that offers a little more heft, try Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe. Carissa Byrne Hebert, founder of CBH Interiors, says it’s one of her favorites. She notes, “The color has beautiful depth to it and adds drama to a space without being too overwhelming.
Where to Use It:
This moody deep gray is the perfect dark accent for any space, big or small.
12. PPG Porter Paints: Synchronicity
“Synchronicity is a pale gray-meets-peachy beige with a perfect hint of cozy brown undertone,” says Greenwell. “This soothing gray is a great neutral and will have you calmed and relaxed in your space.”
Where to Use It:
Light grays are perfect for any room in a home because they blend seamlessly with patterned furniture and fun pillows. Greenwell recommends using the same color for your trim, which allows the wall to blend into the room so your furniture pops.
13. Benjamin Moore: Soho Loft
For a gray with a tinge of soft, coral-y pink, try this paint color from Benjamin Moore. This rich hue somehow feels both complex and minimalist at the same time.
Where to Use It:
“This yummy, medium-tone gray is just what you need on the walls of a reading nook, or a full-blown living room,” says Hebert. “Either way, it just wraps you up like a warm wool blanket.”
14. Farrow & Ball: Pelt
This satisfyingly deep purple hue nods to a sense of regalness, but without feeling too stuffy. “Pelt is unexpectedly sexy,” says Hebert. “You don’t know why you didn’t see it before, but now that you’ve seen it, you just want it.”
Where to Use It:
“I recommend going all in on this color,” Hebert says. “Paint all four walls of a room this deep moody purple, you won’t regret it.
15. Benjamin Moore: Hale Navy
If purple isn’t really your aesthetic but you like that end of the spectrum, check out Benjamin Moore’s maritime-inspired Hale Navy. “This is a great color to bring warmth to your home,” says interior designer Andi Morse. It's part of the brand's historical collection and effortlessly blends both cool and warm.
Where to Use It:
Try it on cabinets or built-ins to add a nice touch of warmth. “You can even paint all the walls and ceiling in it to create a cocoon feeling for a room,” says Morse. “I also love this in a dining room space.”
** This article was originally published by Real Simple. CLICK HERE to view the full article.