Beige has always been a staple paint color for many homeowners, and that’s because you know what you’re getting when you open the tin – it’s a ‘safe’, neutral shade that’s totally livable and creates a warm and welcoming environment. But let’s be frank, it’s a pretty obvious choice that can sometimes feel a bit underwhelming and visually flat, especially if it’s overused.
Increasingly, designers are gravitating towards more nuanced color trends that still offer the comfort that beige does, but they are achieving warmth through more complex, layered hues with plenty of depth and character. These color palettes aren’t extreme though – they’re muted and sophisticated, but they pack more punch when it comes to creating dynamic interiors with personality and atmosphere.
If you’re after an interesting alternative to beige, but don't want to stray too far from decorating with neutrals, these five key shades are designer-approved replacements that still feel timeless but deliver on individuality.
1. Cola Browns
In the dining room of this project by Of Place Studio, rich greens, natural wood, brown-patterned drapery and a pop of terracotta on the light enhance the richness of the dark wall color
In the dining room of this project by Of Place Studio, rich greens, natural wood, brown-patterned drapery, and a pop of terracotta on the light enhance the richness of the dark wall color
Bronze-like hues are having their moment in interiors, with cola browns particularly popular given their depth and richness. Even paint brand Benjamin Moore has revealed ‘Silhouette’ as its color of the year for 2026, described as an ‘alluring cross between chocolate and charcoal’.
‘The underlying red tones in this rich brown hue embrace and enhance the coziness of smaller spaces, which is why I chose cola for this petite bedroom – it envelopes the space in a really lovely way,’ says Amy Knerr, founder and principal designer at Of Place Studio.
‘Like beige, cola is a really versatile color, but what sets it apart is how luxurious it feels, as well as being incredibly grounding,’ adds Amy. ‘It shifts in intensity as the light moves; in the morning it can feel a bit cooler and lighter, and as the day progresses the color intensifies and feels richer and warmer, perfect for bedrooms or after-dark entertaining.’
Amy suggests layering browns, like Klamath from Portola Paints used in the bedroom, with rich marbles, warm oaks, bronze finishes, and heavy linen drapery to amplify the warmth and comfort of the space.
2. Soft Mauves
Interior designer Anna Haines took a two-tone approach in this entrance hall, contrasting aubergine woodwork with a gentle mauve wall color to create a space that’s interesting yet calm
Interior designer Anna Haines took a two-tone approach in this entrance hall, contrasting aubergine woodwork with a gentle mauve wall color to create a space that’s interesting yet calm
While decorating with purple is often a no-go in interiors, mauve is a complex, sophisticated shade that is a soft, muted pastel – warmer than greige, but cooler than pink, making it a great choice for those who want a neutral that’s not too saccharine.
‘Mauve has the same softness and warmth as beige, but the subtle plum and reddy undertone gives it more of a richness and quiet sense of depth, so the color shifts beautifully with the light rather than sitting flat,’ says Anna. ‘In daylight it feels quite soft and uplifting, whereas in the evening it becomes more enveloping and feels a little deeper in hue.’
In this project, Anna chose the mauve tones as she wanted it to feel like a rich but relatively neutral backdrop to the spaces leading off each landing. ‘The client has quite a bold art collection, so the depth of color works well with the tones in the artwork without competing with it,’ she adds.
Anna says she loves pairing mauves with tactile materials like painted timber, linens, and softer, more muted tones such as dusky pinks and chocolate browns, which allow the color to feel relaxed rather than overly decorative.
3. Butter Yellows
An India Yellow ceiling draws the eye upwards in this Paris apartment designed by Jessica Helgerson
Soft, creamy, and mellow, buttery yellows offer gentle warmth and create an uplifting feel, providing a great alternative for cooler, north-facing spaces where beige might read as gray.
‘Using yellow is brighter and a much more effective way to really bring joy and visually warm up a very cold and dull recently remodeled Paris apartment,’ says Jessica Helgerson, principal at Jessica Helgerson Interior Design. ‘The kitchen cabinets were already built, and we wanted to create a subtle distinction between the two shapes by using a soft, warm neutral and a slightly cooler neutral combination.’
‘So many things are working together to warm up the open-plan space. The Farrow & Ball India Yellow ceiling, the rich red velvet sofa, the yellow enameled lava stone counters and yellow tile backsplash,’ adds Jessica. ‘I love the buttery hues with the soft gray of Stony Ground; it’s such a pretty, sophisticated combination and very French!’
4. Muted Greens
The soft sage hue in this kitchen by Blank Slate Interiors brings depth to a really small space and makes it feel less confined while still being calm and neutral
While beiges can often feel flat, these greens with their earthy undertones have greater depth and feel more ‘alive in a way beige never can’, according to Bari Jerauld, founder of Blank Slate. Taking their cue from nature, soft sages, olives, and mossy shades are soft and enveloping – never cold. ‘They have that warmth beige tries for but with so much more character,’ says Bari.
‘I use earthy greens in every single project – it's almost become a signature for us,’ she reveals. ‘In this project, the kitchen was tiny, and I wanted something earthy and timeless – not trendy. This muted green helped maximize the space, especially with full-height cabinetry. It made the room feel bigger and less boxed in than beige would have.’
Bari says muted greens are a great way to bring the outside in and pair well with other natural materials, bringing out the warmth of timber, while living brass accents enhance that sense of warmth.
5. Muddy Pinks
Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster provides an earthy and welcoming backdrop to deVOL’s Classic English and Haberdasher's Kitchen cabinetry
A perennial favorite among designers, muddy pinks have a soft, understated hue, often with earthy, dusky or plaster-like undertones. Offering a more sophisticated alternative to sugary pinks and more charming than beige, this versatile neutral is gentle and soft in bright sunlight and calm and more beige-brown in low light.
Creative director John Law of Woodhouse & Law believes, ‘the key to using this color successfully lies in varying texture and finish, allowing muddy pink to reveal different depths across textured or painted walls, layered soft furnishings and subtle pattern, alongside furniture pieces that harmonise with the hue, such as natural wood, marble or soft velvet.’
In this deVOL kitchen inspired by Manhattan bistro bars, the earthy pink wall color creates a velvety backdrop and makes the space feel chic and contemporary with contrasting cabinets in Printer’s Black. ‘In our showrooms we like to use a very soft pink, such as Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster or Dead Salmon with dark cupboards as it softens the walls without the appearance of too much color,’ says Helen Parker, creative director at deVOL.
Helen says that black is a bold yet brilliant bedfellow for muddy pinks. ‘Black is our new love… Think late-night bars, speakeasies, and restaurants in New York City for the look,’ she continues. She also notes how the copper accents are ‘essential’ in this scheme. ‘They add understated shine and warmth and enhance the pink tones in the space.’
Shop The Colors
What all these paint colors have in common is their complexity and muted nature, which means rather than being flat and one-dimensional, as beige can be, they have more depth and interest, as the light shifts throughout the day, creating a cocooning atmosphere by night and a calm and welcoming space by day.
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