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mollydog007

Suggestions for neutral "taupe" paint colors?

9 years ago

Hi, I'm going to be listing my home for sale in the next 6 months and feel like I should change the living room and dining room paint colors to a more neutral, "buyer friendly" color. I have distressed wood floors and was thinking a nice, light, almost taupe leaning color would be nice. So like between a tan and a gray? I'm not partial to all the gray you see on HGTV right now (I'm not so sure it would look good with my wood floors anyway) and a cream is boring. I can see the color in my minds eye but I've been to too many places to get little paint chip samples at this point and am on overload. A light color with just a little something in it. I'll paint the living room, dining room and up the stairs in this new color.

If it matters, I live in Southern California and my trim color is Decorator White from Behr. The other color I mostly decorate with is a light blue in fabrics etc. if that matters.

I'm wanting a color that buyers will flip over. So if you have any insights about that, please, let me hear them.

Thanks for your time and help!!

Comments (22)

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Try maybe Seagull Wail or Nomadic Taupe, both by Dunn Edwards? They're very similar..and much grayer on monitor than in a real life.

    I also love, love Kangaroo from BM's Affinity line..but it is a tad darker I'd say..a bit moodier..

    You'll need to try them first in your own place of course..different light and all that.

    mollydog007 thanked aprilneverends
  • 9 years ago

    Sw accessible beige, agreeable gray, bm manchester tan or edgecombe grey.

    mollydog007 thanked nosoccermom
  • 9 years ago

    Nantucket Dune by sherwin williams

    mollydog007 thanked jewelisfabulous
  • 9 years ago

    I love my Berkshire Beige walls (BM)

    mollydog007 thanked sjhockeyfan325
  • 9 years ago

    My first instinct was also Edgcomb Gray! We have it in the bedroom at our beach house (on the walls...the ceiling is Healing Aloe).

    mollydog007 thanked Sueb20
  • 9 years ago

    I used sw agreeable grey in a rental. Everybody loved it. It's very, very similar to bm edgecombe grey but slightly less green in my place.

    mollydog007 thanked nosoccermom
  • 9 years ago

    I'm also in So. CA and BM Edgecomb Gray looked very dull in my house. I ended up using BM Grant Beige, which is a bit darker color and not gray-ish.

    What color are your floor?

    mollydog007 thanked chispa
  • 9 years ago

    Realtors here suggest SW Kilim Beige as a popular color when selling. Good luck!

    mollydog007 thanked cindy2459
  • PRO
    9 years ago


    mollydog007 thanked Divine Interiors
  • PRO
    9 years ago

    SW 6142

    mollydog007 thanked Divine Interiors
  • 9 years ago

    Thank you all for your suggestions. I will hunt them all down and get started trying out some samples.

    My floors are hand scaped wood in a medium brown tone.

    Here is a question for you.... so since I decorate in blues/yellows etc. I have the dilemma of trying to pick a color that buyers will like but it still has to look good with how I decorate too. I'll be removing my curtains so that just the 2" white blinds will be there (that will neutral it down too).

    I'm torn because I think a grayish color will look better with my stuff but I'm afraid the gray will look bad with the warmer wood floors. Plus I'm going to be painting my stairs area and upper hall.

    Is it better to have just one unifying paint color for this whole area or would 2 colors that go together be the way to go? When you're not painting for yourself, it's a whole different ball game.

    Thanks everybody and sorry to take so long to give you my appreciation.

  • 9 years ago

    Molly...I am in the exact same situation. My walls seem to be some shade of "gold" everywhere which I love but I don't think will help sell my house. It seems like everyone likes the greiges?? Glad you started this thread.

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Macadamia is what most builders use in their new builds. Also keep in mind that you are selling the house - so I would not exert too much energy in decorating it per se. You want the buyers to pay attention to the house not your stuff. This wall color is so neutral that it goes with just about everything.

  • 9 years ago

    I love..no I LOVE gray next to the warmth of wood. They both bring the best out of each other. I didn't go real gray, all of them were too cold for me..but greige and taupe and whites and greens and whatever else I used in the house-everything was great next to the floor. Medium brown, very warm toned walnut.

    I must add to it that I did take a sample of the floor (the painting was done before laying the floors), and carried around the house, checking how it is working next to each color, before committing:)

  • PRO
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Just a few pictures with that color combo.

  • 9 years ago

    SW Accessible Beige. Goes great with blue and white and wood floors.


    Agreeable Grey (above)



    http://www.kylieminteriors.ca/sherwin-williams-best-gray-greige-paint-colours/

  • 9 years ago

    Imo, a lighter color is better than dark, with the exception of a deep red. Accessible Beige and Agreeable Grey both look to be good neutrals. I'm not a lover of gray, but the AG doesn't seem to have the coldness of most grays.

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Gray looks fabulous with warm wood floors! Look at SW Repose Gray.

  • 9 years ago

    I'm in So Cal too. Have used Behr Sandbox for years. Very pale, warm tan. You won't find the swatch anymore, but you can still see it online. I'll try to remember to take some pictures tomorrow in the daylight.

  • 9 years ago

    We did most of our house in Behr Marquee Merino Wool and it's probably been the best paint color I've ever, ever used (and I've used A LOT!). Can't say enough about this color. Super cozy!
    http://www.behr.com/consumer/ColorDetailView/HDC-NT-13

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I too am in so cal, with distressed medium/dark wood floors. We chose Dunn Edwards Exclusive Ivory. It goes with cool tones as well as warm and is extremely versatile. We LOVE it! Baseboards, door and staircase are DE Whisper White.