Best Paint Colors for the Whole House

Are you looking for a paint color you can use throughout your home? Maybe you have a rental property that needs a fresh new wall color, or a house you're preparing to sell. Or, maybe you just need a great neutral paint color for the main areas of your home. This video will show you 20 of the very best, designer-favorite whole house paint colors that will make your home look fantastic.

Melissa Welsh is an Interior Designer and DIY enthusiast, who shares home decorating tips and interior design secrets, so you can learn to decorate your home like a pro! Her online courses and eBooks offer easy to follow steps to create a beautifully designed home, and help you feel more confident in your decorating.

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**The images used in my videos do not always belong to me. Some are stock photos, others are from popular interior design sources, or talented designers and homeowners. I make every attempt to list the source for each image, where applicable.**

[masoodrazaq]

We are renovating a 2003 built home (lots of mustardy yellows, dark creams and drab greens!) and the primary color we chose is a warm white called BM Cloud White. We also considered similar warm white colors such as Simply White, White Dove, and Greek Villa. The key thing is to test samples on your actual walls, in different rooms, and at different times of day and see how they interact with natural light, artificial light, window treatments, floor colors, ceiling color and even outdoor scenery (like trees, which might reflect green into your spaces through the windows). Floor reflection and undertones have a big impact on how paint reads. And of course it’s a deeply personal choice. Another thing we are learning is that multiple shades of paint in the same general color can add depth and interest to a space, eg slightly different shades of white for ceiling, walls, trim, etc. This gives your home a sense of layers and history.

We are learning as we go!

[veliagarofalo]

I love how you described every paint color. This is exactly what I was looking for. Picking a color with the wrong undertone can be an expensive mistake so I appreciate the information. Thank you! You got a new subscriber.

[LorryMLewis]

I painted one of my houses entirely in alabaster and thought it would be too white and I ended up loving it.

When I went to paint my second house alabaster two different stores did not mix it correctly and had to involve the Sherwin-Williams district representative. He agreed my Painters agreed everyone agreed it was definitely not alabaster but white, pure white -like the ceiling, he did not know what happened. I ended up choosing BEACHCOMBER and absolutely love it. I have 25 ft ceilings that face south and my family room gets so much light that I felt like I needed a little bit more color anyways than alabaster afforded. I was also having to match an existing sofas and this is BEAUTIFUL.

This color should be added to your list!

I’m considering painting the entire house this color, but I don’t want to get boring .

What are your thoughts?

[likicanoe]

Thank you for talking about undertones...this really sets you apart from other color analysts I've watched. Great, informative video.

[donnaallgaier-lamberti]

I really like that you use drapes the same color as your wall color-this is exactly what I prefer too. I want the drape to blend in rather than standing out.

[rconach]

BM Sugar Cookie OC-93 is a cream color that isn’t white, beige or gray. We used in the the main living areas of our home and I love it! If you chose it, be aware when when first applied it looks bright yellow. I freaked when I first saw it! Three to five days later it looked gorgeous!

[mauraronda]

Chantilly lace all over my apartment gives such a bright clean airy space. Love love it!!!

[deennapirilli]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! There are so many beautiful shades of neutral and so hard to figure out the differences. Thank you for your expertise! You saved me so much time and money! 💖

[christineoskirko]

I have chantilly lace in my living dining area and I love the chalkiness of it and the purity.

[valeriejewell]

As an Interior Designer, I am surrounded by exposed live in an English Industrial insperation was the color of the mortar between the chose Valspar's Woodrow Wilson little contrast with the ceiling white....the color of my level loop
carpet was inspired by the outcropping of the foundational stone, exposed in my dining area....just gorgeous....

[SamS-fdqt]

I’m a 33 year old man that is doing a first time DIY project to paint and floor our house and you have no idea how much your video just helped me. I got so overwhelmed with all the gray/beige/greige paints. We are getting the paint from SW and based on your video, I think we’re going to go with the Agreeable Gray as it seems to be a good greige color.

Based off of your video I picked up 3 samples from Lowe’s today (cheap way to get a sample of SW paint to pick out the color. SW doesn’t have samples in our area). Picked up Colannade Gray, Repose Gray and Agreeable Gray. Tried all 3 and Agreeable Gray seems to be the best greige choice.

[cassthompson]

You explained each paint color to perfection. 🤌 I appreciate you discussing the undertones and which ones need to be *extra* careful about different lighting and decor choices. Undertones can make or break any color. Very important.

[windorbkollie]

I have been searching for a color that will suit my living room. This video has provided me with a perfect color. Thanks for the video

[ruthpelcastre]

Great video. I appreciate the extra insights on each color regarding undertones and pairing along with lighting. Thank you!

[kimberlyalber]

This is helpful for someone like myself who is frozen in fear over what color paint to choose. ;) What would you say is the difference between SW Colonnade Gray and SW Agreeable Gray? Also I keep hearing gray is on it's way out. By going with a color in the Greiges category, does that help keep the paint color more timeless? If not, what color is the trend moving to?

[createwithconfidence]

I live in Colorado too. Our east-west exposures make it easy to be happy with one color choice when one room has a predominant exposure. But picking a color now for a longer room with equal east west windows is challenging.

[jhenniceamorrow]

I live in the desert southwest and in a very open space. All corners are rounded bullnose, so the main living spaces flow into each other and are blessed with lots of natural light.
The exterior has a Mediterranean vibe and my aim is a very comfortable transitional interior that feels very comforting after entering from 110+temperatures outside. Only permanent color is our new medium/dark bamboo flooring.
Any thoughts? I really need ideas.

[pdesai]

Strictly to the point and very informative. New subscriber! Thank you!!

[patandmickeymagee]

I’m a 73 yr old woman, with no experience!! Your video is helpful. We are building our dream home and have chosen Alabaster for most of the house. The house has lots of natural light, high ceilings. What do you suggest for the trim and ceiling?

[barbarahering]

Look at autumnal equinox, beautiful, changes with sunlight.