The Neutrals Cheat Sheet

Our go-to colors, undertones, LRVs and sheens on one page.

Our go-to neutrals

Screen colors are approximate. Always sample in your own light.

Chantilly Lace
BM OC-65 · LRV 90
Nearly no undertone
Our whole-house white
Simply White
BM OC-117 · LRV 90
Faint warm cream
White Dove
BM OC-17 · LRV 83
Soft warm cream
Alabaster
SW 7008 · LRV 82
Soft warm beige
Pale Oak
BM OC-20 · LRV 69
Warm gray, slight taupe
Edgecomb Gray
BM HC-173 · LRV 64
Nearly no undertone
Agreeable Gray
SW 7029 · LRV 60
Warm-leaning greige
Accessible Beige
SW 7036 · LRV 58
Warm beige
Repose Gray
SW 7015 · LRV 58
Cool, slight violet
Revere Pewter
BM HC-172 · LRV 55
Shifts with light

Undertones

  • Warm (yellow, red, peach): cozy. Loves wood and brass.
  • Cool (blue, green, violet): crisp and airy.
  • Low-undertone: flows room to room. Our pick for whole-house color.
  • Test it: hold the chip on white printer paper.

LRV & your light

  • LRV = how much light a color reflects (0–100). 80+ bright white · 60–75 wall sweet spot · 50–60 more depth.
  • North-facing: cool light. Go warmer.
  • South-facing: warm light. Most neutrals shine.
  • East/West: check morning and evening.

Sheen guide

  • Flat / matte: ceilings, adult bedrooms
  • Eggshell: living & dining rooms, halls
  • Satin: kids' rooms, kitchens, baths, mudrooms
  • Semi-gloss: trim, doors, baseboards, cabinets
  • High-gloss: statement doors, furniture

Sample like a designer

  1. Narrow it to 2–3 colors.
  2. Go big: samples at least 12" × 12".
  3. Move them around the room.
  4. Check morning, afternoon and evening.
  5. Compare to floors, cabinets and stone.
  6. Live with it 2–3 days before you commit.

Take this to the paint store, or let us build your whole-house palette.