Nate Berkus Reveals His Go-To Paint Colors From Benjamin Moore

The importance of paint can sometimes be underestimated while decorating, but even the subtlest change in hue has a big impact on a room's appearance and overall feeling. Light shades, for example, can instantly make a space seem airier, while darker tones add coziness and warmth. Paint is also a good way to express your personality and style, however, Nate Berkus warns against going too flashy. While following the latest color trend may be tempting, the design guru is a firm believer in coating walls with neutral shades, thus allowing furniture and decor to tell your style story instead. As the reality TV star told Homes & Gardens, "What I love about neutrals is that they provide the perfect backdrop to then make the room what you want it to be."

One timeless paint color both Berkus and Jeremiah Brent predict will always be trendy is classic beige. Not only does it go with everything but, as Berkus told Homes & Gardens, "[It] will always look handsome." That's not his only go-to neutral, though. Taking to Instagram, Berkus shared a full list of his faves, available from both Benjamin Moore and Portola Paints. "Here they are, once and for all," he proclaimed. "I am sharing the swatches I use most often." For both his own properties and commissions, Berkus is drawn to Benjamin Moore's Alabaster (white with a touch of pink), Swiss Coffee (a warm white), Smokey Taupe (a warm brown-gray), and Snowfall White (a crisp, bright white): four complimentary but unique colors perfect for any project.

In addition to his four beloved Benjamin Moore shades, Nate Berkus told Instagram that he's also partial to two hues from Portola Paints. His go-to choices are Saint Sauvant (an earthy gray-white) and Lisbon, a green-gray sea foam that his own family lives with. "It's a beautiful kind of historic color and we used it in the kids' bathroom," he shared.

However, it's not simply enough to choose a neutral and get to work. Of all the painting tips that Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent swear by, one of the most important is being considerate of lighting. While a neutral palette is sure to compliment any design style, the same color can look very different when used in various rooms. "People often choose their paint color without considering the lighting of their actual space," Brent told Homes & Gardens of one of the biggest mistakes decorators make. As he explained, "What you see in a store with fluorescent lighting is very different from the natural light that will change with every hour in your home." A simple solution is to choose a few potential contenders and monitor them closely over a couple of days. As Brent advised, "I recommend gathering swatches of paint, putting them on the wall in the actual room you'll be painting, and watching how their hue evolves throughout the day."