7 bright neutrals for light-challenged spaces

November 21 at 6:00 AM

Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams, offered advice for readers with dark rooms this week on our Home Front online chat. Here are her favorite neutral paint colors from the edited transcript.

The north-facing bedroom: Jersey Cream or Inviting Ivory

Q: My north-facing bedroom gets very little light. Im ashamed to admit that the walls have had only white primer on them for years as Ive been struggling to find the perfect color to bring the walls to life. I went to a model home and loved the paint color, which was Cottage Cream, a soft yellow with a hint of beige. However, that house had a ton of natural light. Will that color work in my dark room? My furniture is light cherry with tan carpet.

A: A north-facing bedroom gets cool light, which can dull a color. You may want to try a slightly brighter cream such as Jersey Cream or Inviting Ivory.

The dark but open kitchen: Accessible Beige

Q: I need help selecting a kitchen paint color. The kitchen doesnt get a lot of light, and its open to the family room, which is a warm taupe. I love the family room walls; what would complement them? The cabinets and trim are Benjamin Moore White Dove.

A: Since those rooms are connected, using a lighter tone of taupe would be a good direction. I love our color Accessible Beige.

The 80s kitchen: Kilim Beige or Irish Cream

Q: We just moved into a new house with terrible 1980s navy and mauve wallpaper, faux granite laminate countertops and honey oak cabinets in the kitchen. Can you suggest a paint color to go with the countertops (shades of blue and rust) and cabinets? My first hunch is beige (dont want anything too dark), but I worry about the walls and cabinets blending too much and looking blah.

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7 bright neutrals for light-challenged spaces