You guys know that I love sharing my style inspiration, but coming in as a close second is my love for working with paint. I love finding the perfect color or exact neutral that a room calls for. Understanding the way that undertones play such an important rule in picking paint colors (when it comes to neutrals especially) has made all the difference when specifying colors for my clients. Well, I didn’t understand any of that when I was selecting paint colors for our home 3.5 years ago. I painted a large white square in every room and then painted 10 different shades of greige to sit and stare at. I eventually came to a decision that I was happy with for every space, but it was quite a time (and money) consuming commitment. Studying under Color Expert, Maria Killam last year and making the investment to have her color boards on hand now makes this process exponentially easier! Having the top Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore colors on hand to move around and compare/contrast allows me not only to see how each shade would look, but also to show my clients why one color will work better than another.
With all that being said, today I wanted to share one of my favorite neutral paint colors, Sherwin Willams Accessible Beige. This color runs though most of our home including our living room, kitchen, master bedroom and our sons bedroom. These days I feel like the term beige can scare people away. We immediately picture those warm yellow and orange beiges of decades past and in fear turn to a grey that may end up feeling too cold. Accessible Beige actually borders being a gray and falls into the greige category. It technically has a green undertone but it can be a bit of a chameleon in different spaces. It gives a great warmth to our walls that I absolutely love and I have carried that love into a number of other homes that I’ve had the chance to work in. I wanted to share some of those spaces with you today so I can make a case for this beautiful hue.
Lovely, isn’t it?! Now, I’m not saying that this color is guaranteed to work for you. I have certainly pulled it out in some homes where it did absolutely nothing for their rooms. But in the right places with the right complimentary colors, it can do wonders!
If you are local to the State College area and need help finding the right paint colors for your home, don’t hesitate to reach out! I’d be more than happy to schedule a consultation with you.
Comments
We painted our entry way several years ago. Great color
That’s so great to hear! Glad the ‘beige’ didn’t scare you away either ;)
Marisa, how would you compare this color to SW “Agreeable Gray”? Thanks for your input.
Hi Laura! I just shot you an email with a visual, but in response to this question, the main difference is that Accessible Beige has a green undertone and Agreeable Grey has a violet undertone. Both are beautiful colors used in the right place (I have Agreeable Gray in our family room). Hope that helps!
Which white paint would you recommend for cabinets and trim when using the Accessible Beige at 50%?
I’m a big fan of SW Pure White which is just a touch off-white giving it a beautiful touch of warmth.
So this accesible beige in the pictures is cut 50%?
I only cut it for one project (the one where I noted above) as it was reading too dark in their space. All others, my home included, I used at regular strength.
Hi,
I recently tried the SW Neutral Ground in my north facing room, but the undertone is too much orange. I got a sample of this SW Accesible Beige and it doesn’t seem to pull an undertone, but looks too heavy in my north facing living room. Do you recommend cutting it at 50%? Does that change the LRV and won’t look too washed out?
Thank you!
Hi! From what I’ve seen and heard, Accessible Beige carries a slight green undertone which reads as a beautiful neutral. I have also cut it by 50% for a client’s house and it worked perfectly (although I’d still recommend sampling). I can’t say exactly what it does to the LRV but it turned out beautifully for us!
Hi!
Looking to paint kitchen cabinets a very light beige(off white) or antique white – would like to stay away from bright white! What color would you recommend for this that would go well with accessible beige?
Thanks!
Hi! SW Snowbound is a pretty off-white that would look pretty with AB. I wouldn’t venture too far past that or you’ll end up getting into the creams which wouldn’t look as crisp next to Accessible Beige. Good luck!
Could assessable beige butt up with useful gray? I have one wall that goes from lower level(useful gray) to upper level and I don’t know what to do with it, since thinking of painting upper level accessible beige.
That’s a tough question. I’d say that it mainly depends on whether there are clear breaks in the space or not. In short, I don’t think these two colors would look great together, especially if you can see them both at the same time. I would prefer to see a change in colors with more of a contrast.
Hello, am considering AB for family/kitchen, which adjoins living/dining room (separated by an open doorway, so you can view both). Would it be OK to paint the LR/DR White Duck, Shojii White, or another off white color? The trim and top cabinets will be Pure White. Last … what do you think of AB on walls AND lower kitchen cabinets?
Hi Judi! I’ve worked with Shoji more than White Duck and I think that color could work well with AB. I’m not sure I’d personally choose to paint the lower cabinets the same color as the walls, but that would just be my preference.
Thank you very much! May I also ask … what are your thoughts on Aesthetic White or AB at 50% less?
Hi Judi, yes, in which regard?
Hi!
I’m looking to paint our condo in siesta key Florida. Looking at agreeable grey or accessible beige to keep it neutral. We have white molding. Can I ask which one you prefer? Thanks so much!!!
Hi Jenny! Both are beautiful colors which I have in my home. The main difference is that Agreeable has a violet undertone and Accessible has a green undertone. So it’ll just depend which relates more to your furniture, rugs etc.
Beautiful color. How does it compare to Modern Gray (lighter version of Colonnade Gray)? I want to put one of them on my two living room walls in an open concept area to lighten it up (it’s always in shadow) and distinguish it from the kitchen. Accessible Beige seems to blend better with the kitchen color (Jogging Path) and make it look more soft neutral and less green (which is good!) What do you think?
AB most likely looks better because it also has a green undertone, although it comes off much more neutral than Jogging Path. I’m almost certain that Modern Gray has a violet undertone which is likely why it’s not feeling quite right. AB could be a great option, but if you wanted to compare one other that’s a little lighter yet still has a green undertone is Ben Moore’s Classic Grey. Hopefully one of those works out for you!
I think you’re exactly right. Thank you!
Hi! I would like to lighten some of my walls but keep the Antique White trim, especially since I would have to repaint the plantation shutters. Would Agreeable Beige work with the Antique White? I know it won’t pop like it would with some brighter whites.
Hi Jay! I’m assuming you’re referring to SW Antique White? If so I’d sample a large area (or paint a large sample board to move around). I’m not sure you’ll have much of a contrast as they are rather close in color. Antique White looks to have a decent amount of yellow which may end up making the trim look ‘dirty’. Let me know what you come up with!
What are your thoughts on painting interior walls, doors and trim in accessible beige? We have a one level condo with a short hallway that has several bedroom and bath plantation shutter doors in close proximity to one another. The floor and baseboards are tile so it would be the doors and jambs that would match the walls. Too monochromatic?
Hi Mary! That’s more of a personal preference when it comes to going monochromatic. But if you love the look, I say go for it!
I am using accessable
beige in condo
With ceilinghite and snowbound
White trim. Soffits are rounded and will be accessable beige but problem is kitchen ceiling. Can be painted accessable beige ( lots of cams on ceiling) so the soffits are the same or white but then that soffit sticks out. Your suggestion appreciated.
Thanks
Hi Alan, this one is difficult to picture without an image, but my gut says to stick with white for the kitchen.
I have painted furniture that is BM Coud White. I’m considering painting my walls SW Assessible Beige at 50%. Will these two colors work together?
They should work beautifully!
I have some ancient marble paint in My Den that I’ve had for years and I still love that has a green undertone how would accessible beige in another room look with with that?
Hi Diane! Those two colors are both beautiful in their own regard, and they do look pretty together, but personally I’d like to see a little more contrast going from one color to another. You could always paint a large sample board to get a better idea for yourself in your space and hopefully that will make your decision a little more clear!
I just painted my kitchen Revere Pewter and I absolutely love how it turned out. My kitchen faces west and my cabinets are almond. Now, the next room is the living room that faces West and gets a lot of light from a big bay window. Would you recommend to continue RP or go with accessible Beige?
Hi Pam! Without seeing the space in person, I’d say sticking with RP is your better bet. The colors aren’t drastically different and may just have people questioning if it’s the same color or not, especially since it gets different light. If you love RP where it is, you’ll likely love it in another space, regardless of the light.
Would Accesible Beige work with my dark gray sofa?
Hi Paula, that will mainly depend on the undertones of your sofa. Grey can have a blue, green or violet undertone. If it has a green undertone, there’s a good chance it could work. Otherwise you may want to look into other colors.
I Love Accessible Beige when it shows the more beige taupe undertones than the gray but how can I achieve this look?
Hi Nichelle, AB technically has a green undertone to it, not taupe. I’d recommend painting a large sample board to move around your room to see if it’s reading the way you want it to in your space.
Hi ,
My kitchen is open into my livingroom . The kitchen is painted Sherwin Williams Seasalt. I am wondering what tne best beige color would be to use in the living room . My hardwood floors are a medium to dark brown with orange tones. Any help you can give me would be appreciated.
Hi Jan, Sea Salt is one of my favorite colors! And fortunately (or not) it can work with most beiges/grays. What’s more important to make this decision is looking at the undertones of your furniture, rugs, pillows, drapes etc. and working off of that to help make a better decision.
What do you think of accessible beige for the exterior? I’m thinking of updating my stucco home and need both a lighter shade (for wood trim-maybe aesthetic white?) and darker shade (for stucco banding around windows) that would look good. I’ve also got some stone on the front so I want to blend all the colors.
Hi Rhonni. The most important influencer in guiding your decision should be the stone that won’t be changing. Make sure you play off of the strongest influencing undertone in the stone and work off of that. For reference, AB has a green undertone, so keep that in mind!
Hi! Our townhouse is basically one big great-room on the first floor. The kitchen and living room are currently painted 2 different colors and I feel it gives it a closed off look. I’d love to paint our whole downstairs, staircase, one color to open it up a bit. Unfortunately our kitchen remodel was back in 2013 and we went w traditional off white (that’s really almond) cabinets. We’re trying to go more..west elm, less pottery barn LOL
I’d love a greige we could use throughout that would be okay with the kitchen cabinets!! The one picture you posted where you cut AG 50% looked like our color cabinets! How you think it worked? I am STRUGGLING. We’re taking everything else in the townhouse lighter and brighter with greys. And this kitchen is making things hard. Couch in living room is grey. Light Woodlook tile with dark greys and taupes…
Think AG would work?
We just painted our entire upstairs AB with a white trim. Totally love it! We are struggling with finding a carpet color to match. I came across your blog with your beautiful bedroom and the carpet and weals look great together! Can you tell me your carpet brand and color as well as suggest some carpet colors that will compliment the wall.
Thanks!
Looking at AC but trying not to paint trim would it be ok to keep our trim STAR THISTLE and paint walls AB
I am looking to paint my living room that has cathedral ceilings with AB . Would you recommend painting the ceilings with white ceiling paint or just painting the ceiling the same color on both ceiling and walls, I have 2 skylights and 2 south west windows that get a lot of light in the afternoon but not a lot of other natural light during the early part of the day. I have medium to dark wood flooring and dark brown leather furniture. Do you think the AB will lighten up the room and go with the flooring and furniture. Have golden oak trim in this room
Do you think AB mixed at 50% and Alabaster would be pretty together?
We just painted our open concept first floor accessible beige and really like it. We have creamy colored kitchen cabinets and am concerned if it matches. One wall matches up up to the cabinets