Great Paint Colors for Home Staging or Selling Your House: Taupe!

Last Updated on January 13, 2025 by Vannessa Rhoades, Three Bears Home Staging

Taupe gets a lot of criticism for being a boring, safe choice, but when properly styled it can add a lot of interest and dimension to your home design. Taupe is a great background for pops of color and bold prints, and it’s a bit more exciting than a cold gray or plain beige. For many homes, it’s also the perfect color for a resale.

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What Is a Taupe Paint Color?

Taupe is a versatile neutral shade that sits comfortably between gray and brown. It combines the warmth of brown with the coolness of gray, making it an ideal choice for creating a balanced and modern aesthetic. Unlike plain gray or beige, taupe adds subtle depth and dimension to walls, offering a sophisticated backdrop that pairs well with a wide variety of decor styles. Its chameleon-like quality allows it to shift depending on lighting and surrounding colors, making it a go-to for both home staging and personal design projects.

Is Taupe Brown or Gray?

Taupe is a balanced blend of both brown and gray. Its unique composition may lean more toward one tone or the other, depending on the specific shade and lighting conditions. Some taupe paints may have a warmer, brownish hue, while others may appear cooler with more gray undertones, even leaning toward purple. This duality makes taupe highly adaptable, as it complements a range of colors and materials.

When selecting your color, consider the lighting and fixed elements in your home to be sure the color balances perfectly within your space. For home sellers who want to give a more modern feel to a home full of wood accents and brown-toned tile and stone, taupe paint can be an effective and inexpensive way to create a more modern feel that still complements the more permanent elements of the house.

What Is the Difference Between Taupe and Greige?

There are at least a hundred different opinions on this. The terms taupe and greige are subjective and often interpreted differently by individuals and designers. Both colors are blends of gray and brown, but their specific hue family and nuances vary widely. When it comes to choosing a paint color that’s right for your space, don’t simply rely on arbitrary names. To find the right color, take some time to consider the fixed elements of your space, evaluate your lighting, and (ideally) explore the paint’s spectral data (we can help with the spectral data!). Taupe and greige colors can each have unique “undertones”, warmth, and coolness influenced by their pigment composition, making it crucial to evaluate them in context.

What Color Goes Best With Taupe?

Taupe pairs beautifully with many colors, making it an excellent base for both neutral and bold palettes. For a soft, cohesive look, combine it with other neutrals like white, cream, or beige. To add contrast and drama, deep blues, rich greens, and even black work wonderfully with taupe. If you prefer a vibrant touch, accents of mustard yellow, coral, or terracotta can energize the space while maintaining balance. The beauty of taupe lies in its flexibility to harmonize with virtually any color scheme.

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Is Taupe a Good Color for a Bedroom?

Yes, taupe is an excellent choice for a bedroom. Its calming and inviting tones create a restful atmosphere, perfect for relaxation and sleep. Taupe’s neutral base also allows you to easily layer in textures, patterns, and pops of color to add personality to the space. Whether your style leans toward cozy and traditional or sleek and modern, taupe provides a versatile foundation that adapts to your vision. Additionally, its timeless appeal ensures your bedroom will feel stylish and fresh for years to come.

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The Best Taupe Paint Colors for Home Staging

Taupe’s versatility and timeless appeal make it a favorite for many homeowners and designers. Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore offer a range of stunning taupe shades that work well in various spaces. These shades strike the perfect balance of warmth and neutrality, making them ideal for both staging and personal design projects. Here are a few standout options

Sherwin-Williams Taupe Paint Colors

• Accessible Beige SW7036
• Balanced Beige SW7037
• Tony Taupe SW7038
• Moth Wing SW9174
• Taupe of the Morning SW9590
• Tavern Taupe SW7508
• Loggia SW7506

Benjamin Moore Taupe Paint Colors

• Driftwood 2107-40
• Weimaraner AF-155
• Pashmina AF-100 
• Smokey Taupe 983
• Brandon Beige 977
• Shaker Beige HC-45

Do you have a favorite shade of taupe? (*Yes, I realize that question sounds a little bizarre if you’re not into that sort of thing, but if you’ve ever picked out what you thought was a “neutral” only to find it had a weird pink or yellow undertone, you’ll know what I’m talking about) What’s your favorite neutral?

Photo by Erin Paige Design, LLC – Look for family room pictures

Need Help Choosing the Right Taupe (or an Entirely Different Color)?

Need help finding the right paint color? Order a Virtual Color Consultation Report from the color professionals at Three Bears Home Staging to get a custom, curated palette and guidance for your next painting project.

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