When building, remodeling or renovating a home, a neutral interior paint color is generally considered a safe choice. But with so many variations between grey, white, beige and all their subtle shades, it’s surprisingly hard to settle on the perfect shade. Interior designer, TV celebrity, and writer Nate Berkus is known for incorporating lots of neutral tones into his designs, so it makes sense that fans turn to him by the dozens to try and pick his brain on the perfect paint color. “I’m so flattered that so many of you have reached out and asked me what colors I prefer to paint when I’m painting a neutral room,” Burkus said in Instagram reel, “Once and for all I’m sharing swatches that I use most often… for Ben Moore, they’re Alabaster, Swiss Coffee, Smokey Taupe, and Snowfall White.”
Three of these preferred colors are shades of white. However, one stands out from the crowd and that is Smokey Taupe. Benjamin Moore describes Smokey Taupe as “a broadly appealing neutral that offers just a touch of warmth.” Although Berkus has been bathing homes in this color for quite some time, Smokey Taupe is right in line with the main color trend this year: soft and warm taupes. It wasn’t too long ago that cool grays and brilliant whites were all the rage, but today paint colors are moving towards a more natural, earthy approach. Of course, taupe is controversial a timeless color that is always a great choice for modern homesbut adding it now can give your space the modern, fresh feel it needs—and the cozy vibe Nate Berkus loves.
Modern ways to use Berkus’ favorite Smokey Taupe
Taupe is an interesting color in its own right. Touching the border between tan and gray, brown is slightly colder and pinker than beige, which has more yellow undertones. Benjamin Moore’s Smokey Taupe, in particular, offers a bit more depth than other, “cleaner” taupes, making it suitable for rooms with bright lighting. Smokey Taupe also shows significant tonal variation depending on room orientation and time of day. It feels whiter in the bright morning light, but fades into a warm, welcoming shade at sunset and evening light from lamps.
Because of its cozy quality, the bedroom can be one of the best rooms to paint Smokey Taupe, especially if you want to follow in Nate Berkus’ footsteps. “I liked really light, monochromatic bedrooms because for me they were calming after being surrounded by fabrics and colors and patterns all day,” Berkus explained in an interview with Architectural Digest (via YouTube), “Now I’m reaching for richer, warmer caramels, stucco, deeper earth tones in bedrooms because I feel like those colors wrap around you.” Of course, the color also plays well in living spaces, dining rooms and even bathrooms.
Smokey Taupe is an unexpected and trendy neutral, but it might not be the best neutral color for any room in your home. While generally versatile, Smokey Taupe can work muddy in dark rooms with north-facing windows. If Smokey Taupe isn’t quite the right fit, play around with similar hues, like Benjamin Moore’s Cedar Key or Desert Light, which are a bit lighter but still warm and soft enough to stay on trend. Just stay away from any neutrals that are too green or yellow-toned, huh a color choice that Berkus wishes people would stop using.
