What colors go with beige? 6 color combinations designers always turn to for this warming neutral

Beige is a neutral color that is seemingly always in style, providing a warming and timeless base for many rooms, from living rooms to bedrooms.

When decorating with beige, you should choose your color combinations carefully, depending on the mood and look you want to create. While darker colors will create contrast, lighter tones can create a layered and much softer look, and more vibrant hues can add an unexpected pop of color.

We enlisted the help of designers and color experts who share all you need to know about the colors that go best with beige below, with six of their go-to color combinations for this warming and much-loved neutral.

1. Blue

Since beige is a neutral color, it pairs well with most other colors. When it comes to decorating with blue, a cooler color, beige adds softness and balance, as seen in this living room.

'Beige is a beautiful backdrop to accentuate color, as the right hue can immediately create a warm, cocooned space without overwhelming it,' say the interior designers Mallory Robins and Elizabeth Bennett, partners at Kobel + Co. 'We love adding elements of blue against this background to add vibrancy against an otherwise neutral color.'

While a muted shade of powder blue paired with beige feels calming and soft, you could also choose richer shades such as cobalt blue for a bolder look.

2. Wood tones

While beige makes a wonderful backdrop for bolder colors, it works equally well paired with other neutrals for a monochromatic color scheme. By introducing natural materials into your beige color scheme – think rattan and wood – the colors feel cohesive while texture is added.

'We often pair beige accents from textiles and natural woven materials with natural wood, from a paneled ceiling or millwork, to a beautiful piece of furniture,' says interior designer Lindsay Anyon Brier of Anyon Atelier + Design, who designed this bedroom, which showcases beige walls teamed with wood tones and earthy hues.

'Beige pairs really well with wood tones,' agrees interior designer Andrea Goldman of Andrea Goldman Design. 'It’s very easy to let it build toward monochrome or tilt it into a more earthy palette.'

3. Light gray

If you enjoy decorating with neutrals and want to lean into a calming and understated color scheme, consider adding light gray to your space. In this modern kitchen, the sandy beige lime wash walls, Portola Paints' Kingdom, add warmth to the light gray tiles. The combination of warm and cool tones ensures balance and stops the space from leaning too warm, which can often be the case with beige.

'I love pairing beige with other softly muted and neutral tones such as gray,' shares interior designer Krista Hoffman of Krista Hoffman Design.

That said, when opting for an all-neutral scheme, it's important to add interest through texture in interior design. 'Restricting the use of color requires the materiality and finishes selection to be well considered and planned,' Krista adds.

4. Black

Designers also recommend decorating with black in beige rooms to add contrast and depth. 'Whether in my wardrobe or my interior designs, I love the rich contrast of combining beige with black,' says Nicole Yee of NY Interiors.

'This timeless, stylish, never-fail combination has an air of understated elegance. The soft warmth of beige balanced with the dimensional depth of black creates a strong, pleasing, and versatile pairing. It can be used in both casual and formal settings and within any architectural genre, making it a reliable combo,' Nicole adds.

This neutral pairing is further recommended by designer Darci Hether, who adds: 'Beige with black accents is one of my favorite ways to create subtle drama. The softness of beige sets a warm, neutral foundation, while the black brings in structure, contrast, and just the right amount of edge. It’s a timeless pairing that feels grounded, refined, and effortlessly modern.'

5. White

'Beige and white are a true match made in heaven. It's a classic combo that has some laid-back elegance to it,' says interior designer Jamie Gernert of WYC Designs.

In this light and airy living room, the pairing of beige and white feels soft and understated. White adds brightness, ensuring beige tones don't feel too muddy, while beige adds warmth and an earthy quality.

Hannah Boyle, lead designer at MDI Luxury Design, also enjoys decorating with white and beige: 'The combination creates a fresh and clean contrast – beige brings subtle warmth and depth, while creamy white lifts the palette with softness and brightness. Together, they feel timeless and effortlessly elegant, making any space feel airy yet grounded.'

6. Muted purples and pinks

If you're looking to bring more color into your beige room, warm tones such as purples and pinks are a stylish choice. Muted variations of these two hues – think soft lavenders and dusty pinks – feel refined and calming, working in harmony with beige rather than competing with it.

In this neutral living room designed by Doniphan Moore Interiors, the muted purple sofa adds warmth to the beige tones, while its soft quality ensures it doesn't overwhelm the space or come across as too colorful.

A similar look can be carried out by decorating with plaster tones, resulting in an earthy scheme with more depth than a neutral pairing. 'Pink and beige work beautifully together because they balance warmth and softness,' adds interior designer Elizabeth Bolognino.

Whether you channel an all-neutral look by pairing beige with whites or wood tones, or choose soft shades of blue, pinks, or purples for a more colorful scheme, beige works as a versatile backdrop. If you're inspired to decorate with this neutral, start by painting the walls with the best beige paints and incorporate color through accents for a timeless look.