We would be forgiven for overlooking the power of neutrals – however, as the failsafe basis for both timeless and contemporary designs, these hues deserve a moment of recognition. And Nate Berkus is here to ensure they get the appreciation they deserve.
The designer, along with his husband (and TV counterpart) Jeremiah Brent, has spent two decades mastering the art of layered neutrals – creating spaces as elegant as they are cohesive and sophisticated. It was inevitably only a matter of time, therefore, that the question arose, which neutrals are his favorite? Well, stop everything because our color prayers have finally been answered.
'I’m very flattered that a lot of you have been reaching out and asking me what are my go-to paint colors when I’m painting a neutral room. Are you guys ready? Because here they are, once and for all, I’m sharing the swatches that I use most often,' he says via Instagram.
Nate begins with Benjamin Moore – sharing Alabaster, Swiss Coffee, Smokey Taupe, and Snowfall White are his favorites.
'Portola is another paint company I use all the time, and they have two colors that I absolutely love: Saint Sauvant and the second is called Lisbon, which is a greeny gray, and that’s the real name. It’s a beautiful color, and we use it in the kids’ bathroom.'
Since Nate’s first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2002, he has become one of the world’s most recognizable interior designers. He has authored two New York Times bestselling books and stars alongside his husband, Jeremiah Brent, in HGTV's Nate & Jeremiah Home Project.
Of Nate's favorites, most don't qualify as a stark white – but, instead, have warmer undertones that create a comforting base that complement any other hued furnishings. However, should we desire a brighter white option, Nate points us to Clare Paint’s Fresh Kicks (and their white-green tone Flatiron) in his caption.
For yet more color design inspiration, Nate and Jeremiah previously sat down with H&G to discuss neutrals' eternal influence on design. At the time, Nate also noted that Behr's Even Better Beige was a stand-out when decorating with beige – but all these colors are versatile enough to work in rooms of all shapes and sizes.
'What I love about neutrals is that they provide the perfect backdrop to then make the room what you want it to be,' he says.
'Whether that’s bringing in a certain design style or color scheme, a neutral palette literally provides a blank canvas. I’m not the hugest fan of bright paint colors or accent walls; rather, experiment by painting niches, like shelving.'
This is our cue to get creative with our shelving while refreshing our walls – and whichever of Nate's favorites we choose, we're almost certain we can't go wrong.
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