Are Beiges Back in Style?
These examples just might make you reconsider this comeback hue
Jennifer Ott
6 May 2019
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's... More
I must confess that I am guilty of being a beige-basher. It was everywhere back in the 1990s, when I first became interested in interior design, and I think I grew tired of its ubiquitousness. I don’t tend to specify beige too often with my current design clients because I figure they are paying me good money to get them out of a beige rut. So while shades of grey remain my go-to neutral, I’m definitely seeing a renewed interest in warmer neutrals, such as taupes, tans and, yes, even beige. Here’s how to make it work in today’s interiors.
Remember to click on a photo to see more of the design professional’s work.
Remember to click on a photo to see more of the design professional’s work.
For purposes of this piece, I’m defining beige as a highly diluted warm neutral. If you take brown and dial it all the way down to its lightest incarnation, that’s beige. But, similar to light shades of grey, beige hues have undertones that can make them veer pink, orange, yellow or even grey.
The wall colour here appears to be a cooler beige, with grey undertones. This is one way to give beige a modern boost. It’s a nice background colour here, where a cooler hue – such as true grey or a stark white – might appear too cold.
Beige or grey: which neutral is right for you?
The wall colour here appears to be a cooler beige, with grey undertones. This is one way to give beige a modern boost. It’s a nice background colour here, where a cooler hue – such as true grey or a stark white – might appear too cold.
Beige or grey: which neutral is right for you?
Here’s an example of a warmer beige. This wall colour appears to have orange, almost pink undertones. It therefore pairs nicely with the bolder shots of colour in the room — the orange and red hues in the artwork, and the magenta upholstered dining chairs.
Oftentimes homeowners pick a single beige paint colour and then go to town slapping it on every single wall in the house. A better way to go is to pay attention to the undertones of your chosen neutral wall colour to make sure it complements the other colours in the space.
Browse though more images of dining rooms
Oftentimes homeowners pick a single beige paint colour and then go to town slapping it on every single wall in the house. A better way to go is to pay attention to the undertones of your chosen neutral wall colour to make sure it complements the other colours in the space.
Browse though more images of dining rooms
How do you figure out what undertones a paint colour has? I have found that the easiest way to do this is to gather up swatches of various shades of your chosen hue. You will immediately notice differences among them. In the case of beige, one will look more yellow than another, or one will almost turn pink against a cooler shade. Those are the undertones at play.
This wall colour appears a bit cooler than the last example, which could be partly due to all the other warm hues in the space.
This wall colour appears a bit cooler than the last example, which could be partly due to all the other warm hues in the space.
One of my favourite ways to use a very light neutral hue, such as beige, is as a visual break in an otherwise white or mostly white space. It’s very difficult to pull off all-white decor without it appearing cold and stark. If you want to keep your room super light-filled and airy, think about adding beige tones to the white elements for warmth and variety.
Beige can be called upon to bridge different materials, and their varying hues, in a space. Bathrooms, especially, tend to have many different surface materials, including flooring, backsplash, tub deck and shower walls. When different materials are used for each element, the room can start to look busy. A neutral beige wall color can help unify the look.
Browse more bathrooms and save your favourites
Browse more bathrooms and save your favourites
It’s also a solid choice when different wood tones are combined in a room. This kitchen features light wood floors and cabinetry, along with many clean, crisp white elements. The beige wall forms a nice link between the wood and the white.
But beige needn’t be limited to wall colour. This kitchen oozes charm, and I think the beige-painted cabinets are a big part of why it’s so successful. There are quite a few wood finishes here, so the cabinets really beg to be a different finish. I think white cabinets would appear too modern; this light kiss of beige is the perfect choice.
There are many different soft neutral shades in play here – some warm and some cool – and I like how they interact with one another. The cooler shades give a modern edge, but the beige wall colour keeps the room from looking too cold.
Read more:
How to Make a Beige Room Pop8 Sophisticated Paint Colours to Try
Tell us:
How have you incorporated beige in a modern way in your home? Please share in the Comments section below.
Read more:
How to Make a Beige Room Pop8 Sophisticated Paint Colours to Try
Tell us:
How have you incorporated beige in a modern way in your home? Please share in the Comments section below.
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My coworker was trying to decide what color to paint her new apartment. We went through all the colors & I thought she decided on the light lavender for her bedroom. Next day she told me she was "afraid so I went with beige" and for the living room?? Gray! These aren't colors, these are what people use when they can't make up their minds and are too afraid to live with a little color. Now you can buy small samples and try the paint & see how it looks on all walls & in all light. Back in my day you had to buy the pint sized cans and hope you chose wisely or you end up with a kitchen that looks like Pepto-Bismal exploded in it. I managed to live with it for a few years. LOL.
Gray is so over-used! Beige is a better neutral, although a burst of colour is so much better!
I like beige with a few bursts of colors. Also it is better with most Oriental carpets and to me is more friendly to the art on the walls. I've never had anyone come over and say : " This room would look better gray." To each her own of course.