'Shaker Beige is a deeply underrated neutral' – but here's how to decorate with this classic Benjamin Moore shade, as told by designers who love it

Navigating the world of neutral paints can be complex, but turning to designers' favorites is always a good place to start. When it comes to beige paints, Benjamin Moore's Shaker Beige is proving to be one such shade, a stylish choice for pared-back spaces that still feel cozy.

This Benjamin Moore neutral paint color brings subtle warmth to rooms, whether it's used in kitchens, bedrooms, or living rooms. What's more, it makes the perfect backdrop color to allow materials, think wood tones and marble, to shine.

Here, we explain all you need to know about this versatile beige paint, with expert tips from interior designers on how to style it throughout the home.

What color is Benjamin Moore's Shaker Beige?

Described as a 'quintessential beige', Shaker Beige is a warming neutral paint that offers softness and an earthy feel. 'Shaker Beige is a deeply underrated neutral,' shares Dallas-based designer Lauren Saab, the founder of Saab Studios. 'It walks the line between beige and buff, but with enough richness to ground an open-plan layout. Unlike brighter neutrals that can go chalky in dim light, Shaker Beige holds its own. I’ve seen too many greige tones fall flat or feel sterile, but this one adds soul.'

While neutral paints work well with pretty much every design style, warm white paints have become the go-to shade for modern decorating ideas, whereas classic beige tones, such as Shaker Beige, are an especially fitting choice for more traditional decorating ideas.

How to decorate with Shaker Beige

Below, designers share their favorite ways to decorate with this classic beige paint – from using it on the walls to create a cozy space to taking it into kitchens for a timeless scheme.

1. Add softness to south-facing rooms

Shaker Beige works well as a backdrop color in rooms where you want more warmth and coziness than white. 'This medium buff hue works particularly well in living rooms, bedrooms, and home offices, where it creates a calming and inviting atmosphere,' says Helen Shaw, color expert at Benjamin Moore.

'Due to the subtle gray undertones, this hue is well suited to south-facing rooms where the warm natural light enhances its softness without making the space feel too yellow or washed out,' Helen adds.

To complete the scheme, whether it be a cozy living room or a relaxing bedroom, Helen recommends pairing it with accent colors for added interest, while ensuring textural interest through decor: 'Pair Shaker Beige with a light blue or versatile taupe to ooze comfort in an effortless way. Elevate the look with dark woods, tactile bouclé textiles, and sleek stone surfaces like marble. This hue also suits accents of leather, warm wood, linen, and stone to create a modern rustic feel.'

2. Use it on kitchen cabinets

When it comes to kitchen cabinet colors, a timeless beige hue is a go-to for many designers. While white paints can risk appearing too stark in this social space, beige paints add softness while still allowing the space to benefit from the calming appeal of decorating with neutrals.

'This color is so warm and nutty,' says Utah-based interior designer Caitlin Creer, who opted for this soothing hue on the kitchen cabinets in this transitional kitchen. 'Sometimes, all a room needs is a grounding and natural element to balance other aspects, and I love how an earthy beige can accomplish that.'

Cyndy Cantley, the kitchen designer of Alabama-based Cantley & Company, also enjoys using Shaker Beige on kitchen cabinets: 'Benjamin Moore Shaker Beige is my go-to for a creamy neutral kitchen. It never looks stark or yellow, always elegant and endlessly versatile. Paired with Calacatta Marble, unlacquered brass hardware, and rich hardwood floors, it works equally well for a classic cottage kitchen or a modern farmhouse.'

3. Refresh cabinetry with this grounding beige

While Shaker Beige is often used on the walls, you could also consider using it more sparingly to refresh cabinets. 'I’ve used shades very close to Shaker Beige on cabinets with a beautiful result,' says designer Jacqueline Goncalves, the founder of Los Angeles-based Moksa Design, who used Farrow & Ball's Cord here.

'This color serves as a versatile neutral that quietly supports other colors without stealing the show,' Jacqueline continues. 'In a recent design, we paired a similar beige on cabinets with Benjamin Moore's Heather Gray and Simply White. This palette felt warm, welcoming, and perfectly balanced.'

4. Ensure contrast with darker paint pairings

'Like most beige colors, Shaker Beige sings when it’s not the only voice in the room,' explains Russell Goldman, principal at NYC-based design studio More Wow. 'It has rich, peachy-pink undertones that make it warmer and more expressive than people expect – but to keep it from feeling dated or flat, it needs contrast.'

'I'd pair it with bold, moody shades like Benjamin Moore’s Essex Green or Knoxville Gray, which ground the beige and give it some weight,' Russell continues. 'You could also use Shaker Beige above wainscoting in a dining room, with deep olive or green-black below. Or, paint your interior doors in a smoky blue-green like Newburg Green, so that the beige doesn’t feel traditional – it feels tailored and part of the surprise.'

Take inspiration from the room above, which pairs Benjamin Moore's Bleeker Beige on the upper wall with Briarwood, an earthy gray-brown, on the lower portion of the wall, adding contrast and giving the scheme more depth.

Shaker Beige is one of those colors that remains a classic, offering timelessness to rooms, whether used to create a beige kitchen or a relaxing color scheme in a bedroom. Whichever room you're inspired to use it in, take a look at the colors that go with beige to add some more interest to your scheme.

Or, if you're a fan of this neutral hue but aren't ready to decorate with paint, add a similar shade to your home with the below decor pieces.