The Timeless Neutral Paint Shade Joanna Gaines Repeatedly Uses On Fixer Upper

If you've ever seen "Fixer Upper" or any of the other TV shows hosted by Joanna Gaines, you may have realized that she has a pretty strong focus on a particular color palette for the homes she designs. Though she no longer follows her well-known farmhouse design, certain rich paint shades still appear over and over again in her designs. Out of the many colors Joanna Gaines tends to gravitate towards, one of the most notable is a neutral shade known as Silos White. It's a color described as being a "warm white with beige hues" on the Magnolia website. Off-whites are a great choice for a room because they work so well with other colors, aren't harsh, and make a space feel fresh. These reasons could be why Gaines uses Silos White and other off-whites so often, although she does decorate with darker colors from time to time. 

If you're trying to get an idea of what the Silos White looks like, it's very similar to Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams, but a little darker, and with little yellow.  Because of its neutral properties, and the fact that it tends to brighten and highlight your home's details, Silos White is a perfect color that will still look good in your home years after. Throughout her shows, Joanna has shown several ways to use this paint, including trim, doors, molding, walls, ceilings, and floors. It's an incredibly versatile choice that really does go anywhere, even outside.

In Episode 7 of "Fixer Upper: Welcome Home," Joanna used this color as an outside trim and on the walls of the living room. In Episode 9 of the same series, she uses it on the ceiling and floor of the entryway to make the space feel open and inviting. She also carried the color to the living room, using it for the ceiling, walls, crown molding, and floor. It was also featured in various parts of the dining room, den, bedroom, and kitchen. If you're looking to change up your cabinets, Silos White looks great on them as well.

There is really no limit to this color. It goes in any space to create a neutral and welcoming backdrop. You can put it in one room or use it as the main color throughout your home. It does best with other, more muted shades and whites. So if you're looking for a bright and welcoming, but neutral-colored room, Silos White is an amazing option. If you would rather have a colorful room, you may want to look for something else, as this paint shade may not match quite as well as you hope. Pair it with colors like Vintage Weathervane, Drawing Room, and Step Stool Green, all also by Magnolia Home, to get the perfect look for your house. It is worth noting that this color may appear a little more beige or yellow than what you might expect, depending on the brightness of the room, the furniture, and other colors you're pairing it with.

One problem with such a useful color is that sometimes it makes it hard to know how to get started using it. Colors with more specific uses may have limited applications, but they are also easier to plan a room around. Thankfully, there are plenty of living room ideas that will inspire you if you need a little help with the color choices in your home. 

To ensure Silos White fits your home and dream style, Joanna suggests coming up with three descriptive words that match the feel you're looking for. During an interview with House Beautiful, she explained this method and its relations to paint choices in detail: "I've been in the paint aisle, completely overwhelmed, more times than I can count, and I've learned how helpful it can be to use my three words to hone in on color choice." She then continued by saying, "If I'm working on a space that I've said I want to feel tucked away or moody, then I know I should be looking for richer, darker tones. If my words were light or airy or peaceful, then I'll probably focus on lighter or more neutral hues."

Another tip is to choose the right finish. For example, a satin finish in a bathroom is a great choice, while most walls do better with matte. Paint finishes determine a wall's appearance, ease of cleaning, and durability, so it's a good idea to do some research and see which finish works best for what you want to paint.