article - Designers Share Their All-Time Favorite Paint Colors
You don't need to be an interior designer to experiment with paint color in your home—you just need to follow along with Fresh Coat. We'll help you tackle all of your home's painting projects, from choosing the ultimate color palette to perfecting your method. You'll be prepped, primed, and ready to roll (literally) in no time.
Nothing freshens up a room faster than a fresh coat of paint. And with all of the gorgeous hues on the market, painting your bedroom, entryway, living room, or even just your front door in a sleek shade should be a no-brainer. "When used correctly, I have hardly met a color I could not like in the right circumstance," says Celerie Kemble of Kemble Interiors. "I am pretty courageous in the color department." Not sure what shade of paint to employ in your home? We asked several lauded interior designers to name the paint colors they consider the greatest of all time—and here's what they had to say.
Bath Salts by Benjamin Moore
Few hues make a room feel more soothing than aqua blue, which is why Kemble says it's her go-to paint color. "Color is personal for everyone. Pale aqua blue is a color I come back to again and again because it's the color of the sky where it meets the ocean on a happy day," Kemble says. "Currently, my favorite shade of aqua paint is Bath Salts (624) by Benjamin Moore. It works well on walls, but I really love it on ceilings."
Blazer by Farrow & Ball
According to Katie Ridder, a little red paint goes a long way. "I am really fond of Blazer by Farrow & Ball," she says. "I use it in a high-gloss finish for trim. It's the perfect orangey-red. It highlights so many colors and I especially like it with grasscloth. It's got depth without being heavy—it's fresh."
Metropolitan by Benjamin Moore
If you're looking for an eye-catching paint color that will work well with the other hues in your room, Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller of Carrier and Company suggest a classic shade of gray. "Benjamin Moore's Metropolitan (AF-690) is a favorite in the Carrier and Company color palette in particular, because it is a chameleon color that blurs lines between blue, gray, and off-white, making it an exceptionally versatile hue," Carrier says. "The color is understated, yet impactful. It works well as a trim color, or all over without being overbearing."
Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball
You can always count on a crisp shade of warm white to brighten up a space. "Wimborne White from Farrow & Ball is our ride-or-die paint color," says Christine Gachot of Gachot. "Finding the right white is a challenge; Whimborne White is the perfect balance and doesn't read 'sterile gallery.'"
Geranium by Benjamin Moore
Whether you're a fan of warm or cool color palettes, Thomas Jayne of Jayne Design Studio says to consider a nice shade of pinkish-red for your wall paint. "Geranium by Benjamin Moore is a warm, soft red with undertones of pink and orange, with a bit of terra-cotta," he says. "Red is always impactful, but that the level of impact depends on what other colors are in the room, too. If you are leaning heavily into cool colors, a color like Geranium is a wonderful counterpart."
Skylight by Farrow & Ball
You can always count on a soft shade of pale blue paint to make a space feel light and airy. "Skylight by Farrow & Ball really does feel like the color of the sky," says Mark D. Sikes. "This color feels fresh and optimistic. It helps connect the indoors with the outdoors, and makes a beautiful backdrop for so many different things."