What is Taupe? 15 Ways to Use This Neutral Hue
Posted in Angelcityfurniture
Once upon a time, taupe-colored walls were written off as a boring, safe choice. You know, the shade that plagues sterile rentals and lackluster office spaces. But now? The paint color is becoming the new hot neutral.
An earthy tone with hints of gray and brown, taupe is every bit as warm as it is versatile. Ready to learn more about this underestimated hue? Read our breakdown on all things taupe:
What is Taupe?
Taupe is French for mole, which doesn’t sound like something we’d want to cover our walls in. However, color expert Annie Sloan promises the color is more fabulous than it sounds.
“Don’t think of just any old grey-brown color, but a shade rich and complex enough to suggest a velveted, mole-y texture,” she says. “People often think of taupe as being interchangeable with beige or tan, but it’s actually a much darker shade of brown-grey, an espresso grey rather than a tan grey.”
Here are some examples of taupe-colored interiors from our house tours to illustrate.
Create Contrast
In Lisa Vanin’s Canadian rental, taupe-painted walls provide a nice contrast to the bright green couch. Go ahead and pair your colorful upholstery with Perfect Greige by Sherwin-Williams.
Add Warmth
A rich shade of taupe paint—like Restoration Hardware’s Light Slate —turns a neutral living room into a warm and welcoming scene. Take a cue from this project by interior designer Jessica Davis.
A Blank Slate
Abigail Ahern’s Wooster Olive acts as the perfect backdrop to a statement piece, like this standout chandelier we found in her London home .
Dare to be Bold
Looking for a design-savvy way to experiment with a bold color in your bedroom? This Virginia rental mixes dark taupe walls subdue vibrant colors and patterns in style. Give this look a try with Benjamin Moore’s Gettysburg Gray.
Play Up Proportions
A deep taupe paint like Benjamin Moore’s Deep Taupe provides a warm backdrop for dark dining room décor, just like we saw in Jen and Rob French’s Providence, Rhode Island home .
Pack a Puch
Bring a pop of color and personality to an all-white kitchen with a saturated shade of taupe wall paint, like Mouse’s Back by Farrow & Ball. Let Sarah Tunstall and Becky Kastelic’s Chicago rental show you how it’s done.
Poised Taupe—What Is It And Why Is It So Popular?
We know what you’re thinking: The taupe-colored interior trend seems random. But if you do some digging, you’ll realize this trend has been a long time coming. Dubbed the “ 2017 Color of the Year ” by Sherwin Williams, Poised Taupe is equal parts warm brown and cool gray, making it the perfect earthy neutral for just about any space.
But Sherwin Williams isn’t the only one embracing taupe. From Clare’s Dirty Chai to Sentimental Reasons by Backdrop, the surge of this shade proves that taupe is not just a one-hit-wonder. Quite the contrary: It’s here to stay.
Still hesitant about Poised Taupe? These three uses will leave all skepticism unfounded.
Brighten Up
A fresh coat of Poised Taupe paint brightens up a dining room without deviating from the natural color palette.
Do a Deep Dive
Add depth and dimension to a lofty entryway with an eye-catching coat of Poised Taupe paint.
Be Dramatic
Use Poised Taupe to bring a touch of drama to an open layout space—without overpowering the rest of the room’s decor, of course.
Colors That Go With Taupe
According to Sloan, what makes taupe a superior choice is that it’s equal parts elegant and versatile.
“It’s a wonderful neutral that works with just about any color,” she says, “Even pastel greens and pinks.” Read ahead for some examples from our house tours of colors that complement taupe.
Layer on Light Colors
In Kirsten and Kyle’s Portland home, taupe walls create a warm but neutral backdrop that makes crisp white and beige-colored furnishings stand out. Recreate the look with Benjamin Moore’s Copley Gray.
Go to The Dark Side
Energize dark-toned decor accents—like the black mirror and sink we spotted in Sherry Joniff-Solomon and Dana Solomon’s West Hollywood home —with a rich shade of taupe wall paint. A shade like Hickory by Dunn-Edwards will get the job done.
Be Bright
Woodsy taupe walls subdue a rainbow of color-coded book spines without sacrificing an inch of style. Gabriel Fontes de Faria and Grant Gochnauer’s Chicago home offers some serious design inspiration with a shade like Benjamin Moore’s River Gorge Gray.
Take on Jewel Tones
In this New Orleans home, a warm taupe accent wall—painted in a hue like Farrow & Ball’s Stony Ground —allows the vibrant hues of the gallery wall to make a statement.
Back to Nature
A taupe paint palette accentuates earth-toned bedroom furnishings, just like we saw in Kerra Michele Huerta’s Washington DC rental . Bring this look to your bedroom with Taos Taupe by Benjamin Moore.
Bring on the Browns
Move over, gray, it’s all about 50 shades of brown. In this cozy abode in Amsterdam, the use of Sherwin-Williams’ Tavern Taupe makes the chocolate brown curtains pop.