Go beyond the beige—your farmhouse-style home deserves the rainbow
Farmhouse design isn’t just a design style. It’s a state of mind—one that’s calmer, slower, and no-fuss. The best paint colors for farmhouse-style homes exude warmth with easy-on-the-eye paint hues, cozy accents, and clean lines. Luckily, you don’t have to be an HGTV host or a professional interior designer to achieve the look on your walls. It all starts with picking the best interior paint, and we’re here to help with this round-up of top-notch farmhouse paint colors.
1. Soft White
When you hire an interior painter, they’ll likely advise you to use white paint with intention, layering creamy shades with pure white accents. For example, pick a yellow-tinted white for your walls, but keep the molding, ceiling, and trim a bright, snowy shade.
White paint works well as a backdrop that lets bold accents shine (think: painted gray cabinets or brightly colored kitchen stools). It also gives space to paint with texture. Cloth rolling or using patterned paint rollers can help give a white room more rustic charm.
For inspiration:
Benjamin Moore® White Dove
Benjamin Moore® Decorator’s White
Sherwin-Williams® Alabaster
BEHR® Polar Bear
2. Greige
Greige—a perfect blend of gray and beige—is a rustic neutral that works anywhere in a farmhouse interior. It's light enough that it keeps a space feeling airy, but it has enough color that it doesn’t feel flat. Since greige is neutral, it’s ideal for interior walls and larger areas like hallways.
The key to using greige is choosing a shade that has the right undertones. Some shades lean toward the cool end of the spectrum (with green or blue undertones) and others are warmer (with red and yellow undertones). Be sure to match the paint shade to your existing decor.
For inspiration:
Sherwin-Williams® Crushed Ice
Farrow & Ball® Cornforth White
Benjamin Moore® Rockport Gray
Benjamin Moore® Cumulus Cloud
3. Gray-Blue
Navy paint conjures images of coastal New England cottages—but once you add a touch gray, it starts oozing classic Americana.
Gray-blue is one of the most popular farmhouse interior paint colors because it walks the line between bold and classic. You can choose a lighter shade to brighten up basement walls or a darker shade for a dramatic accent. You can even use it in unexpected places, like around a sink or on the inside of a door. Just make sure your decor works well with cool tones. No matter the season, gray-blue is always the coolest of cool.
For inspiration:
Benjamin Moore® Andes Summit
Benjamin Moore® Oxford Gray
Sherwin-Williams® Distance
Sherwin-Williams® Bracing Blue
4. Robin’s Egg Blue
Looking for a paint color that’s bright, delicate, and bold? Say hello to robin’s egg blue. In the past, this color has been relegated to nurseries, but that’s selling it short.
A soft robin’s egg blue—with a touch of gray to mute down the intensity—lends itself to farmhouse kitchens and bathrooms. It’s a great accent color for a breakfast nook or farmhouse-style shiplap closet, but you can also use it to brighten darker spaces like hallways and basements.
For inspiration:
Benjamin Moore® Bird’s Egg
Sherwin Williams® Open Air
Sherwin Williams® French Moire
Farrow & Ball® Blue Ground
5. Green-Gray
Gray is a staple paint color, but its personality lies in the undertones. A green-gray lends itself to a rustic, vintage vibe. It feels earthy and undone but still crisp and clean.
Lighter shades work best as an interior wall color—whether you have regular drywall or shiplap. It’s also a good option for kitchen cabinetry.
The lightness of the gray will help a small kitchen feel airy, but the green undertones elevate the look. Don’t overlook this popular shade when painting a room to match your farmhouse-style design.
For inspiration:
Sherwin-Williams® Silver Strand
Sherwin-Williams® Sea Salt
Farrow & Ball® Cromarty
Benjamin Moore® Gray Owl
6. Sage Green
Sage is similar to green-toned gray—but with emphasis on the green. Think of it as a muted, soft green color similar to the leaves of actual dried sage. It’s also shockingly versatile and can either have hints of brown (like the Farrow & Ball® Lichen) or allow the true green to take center stage (like the Sherwin-Williams® Agate Green).
To create an enviably (but oh-so-easy) rustic farmhouse-style home, use this bright hue as a beadboard accent color or go bold with your kitchen cabinets.
For inspiration:
Benjamin Moore® Rolling Hills
Sherwin-Williams® Agate Green
Farrow & Ball® Lichen
Farrow & Ball® Green Smoke
7. Soft Pink
The average cost to paint the interior of a house is around $1,950—so you want to make sure you choose a color you’ll love for years to come. Pink can feel risky. It’s much more common in French Country style, but when used in a farmhouse bedroom or bathroom, it adds an unexpected charm.
Today’s modern pinks are a far cry from the pinks that were splashed across bathrooms in the 1980s. Choose a shade with gray undertones for an elevated look that acts almost like a neutral. A rosy shade with peachy undertones works well as a soft, aesthetically pleasing accent.
For inspiration:
Farrow & Ball® Calamine
Glidden® Ballerina
Benjamin Moore® Playful Pink
Benjamin Moore® Rose Garden
8. Cream
Creamy shades of off-white create a sense of warmth, calm, and tranquility against a clean farmhouse look. These creamy shades pair well with natural wood, bronze accents, and pops of bold colors such as teal, emerald, and brick red. Similar to white paint, pay attention to the paint’s undertones, as they can vary from yellow to blue and create slightly different looks.
For inspiration:
Benjamin MooreⓇ Vanilla Ice Cream
Sherwin-WilliamsⓇ Dollop of Cream
ValsparⓇ Cream Delight
GliddenⓇ Cream Puff
9. Pale Violet
Pale violet is a unique and colorful garden-inspired choice for a farmhouse space. It looks lovely against complementary pale yellow floral patterns, dark wood, and minimalistic black-and-white wall art. It also creates a welcoming feel in a foyer and it’s a statement-making color for a bathroom or farmhouse-style powder room.
For inspiration:
Benjamin MooreⓇ Violet Dusk
ValsparⓇ Watercolor Grape
ValsparⓇ Purple Mist
GliddenⓇ Pale Orchid
10. Butter Yellow
Butter yellow is a warm, cheerful color that looks especially beautiful against dark, natural wood grain. It’s the perfect choice for a farmhouse living room and makes a lovely backdrop for a houseplant collection. As a bonus, it’s neutral enough to suit any space, from a sunroom to a hallway, and works with various colorful accents, such as teal and muted violet.
For inspiration:
Benjamin MooreⓇ Pale Straw
Sherwin-WilliamsⓇ Honeypot
ValsparⓇ Yellow Bliss
GliddenⓇ Limitless
11. Teal
Muted shades of blue-green add a touch of coastal charm to farmhouse decor. This soft teal color is a great choice for a beachy-farmhouse bathroom or powder room, or a colorful farmhouse dining room. Light teal hues also work well alongside with sandy beiges or clean pops of white.
For inspiration:
Benjamin MooreⓇ Blue Echo
BEHRⓇ Dolphin Blue
ValsparⓇ Moody Teal
GliddenⓇ Hazy Seacliff Teal
12. Mustard Yellow
Mustard yellow is a bold, warm color that brings extra vintage appeal to a farmhouse decorative scheme. It’s a stand-out paint choice that pairs well with rich, dark woods like walnut or mahogany, and with darker shades of red, such as brick and maroon. In the right spot, mustard yellow can add a punch of vintage country charm to any room.
For inspiration:
Benjamin MooreⓇ Mustard Seed
Sherwin-WilliamsⓇ Funky Yellow
ValsparⓇ Mustard Glaze
GliddenⓇ Yellow Coneflower
13. Barn Red
Barn red is a classic choice for farmhouse decor that’s true to its roots. Shades of barn red are an appealing choice for kitchens and dining rooms, and they pair beautifully with rich mahogany wood. If you find the color too bold, consider painting your trim or an accent wall for a pop of color. Plus, red is a great paint pairing for red brick walls or accents.
For inspiration:
Benjamin MooreⓇ Cottage Red
Sherwin-WilliamsⓇ Foxy
Sherwin-WilliamsⓇ Flower Pot
GliddenⓇ Red Gumball
14. Cocoa Brown
Cocoa is a rich brown color that adds a sense of warmth and coziness to a farmhouse space. It creates a bold, clean-looking contrast when painted on door and window trim, as well as mantels. It also makes the perfect color for an accent wall against rustic white-washed wooden decor.
For inspiration:
Benjamin MooreⓇ Kona
Glidden Ⓡ Rich Mocha
ValsparⓇ Boston Brown Bread
GliddenⓇ Brown Study
15. Charcoal
Charcoal is a dark, moody color that brings a modern twist to farmhouse decor. This bold color can feel a bit heavy for all-over wall paint, but it makes an excellent statement for refurbished vintage wooden furniture, door and window trim, and mantels. If you’re set on using charcoal on your walls, consider using it in a room that receives a generous amount of natural light.
For inspiration:
Benjamin MooreⓇ Charcoal Linen
Sherwin-WilliamsⓇ Charcoal
ValsparⓇ Almost Charcoal
GliddenⓇ Charcoal Coast
Choosing the Right Paint Colors for Your Farmhouse
Choosing the right paint colors for farmhouse decor involves considering several factors, such as your desired style and mood, the existing elements in your space, and your style preferences. Farmhouse design typically features a palette of muted, natural colors such as creams, whites, and earth tones, so these are a good place to start your search. You can also incorporate bold, colorful accents and accessories, but it’s often best to keep the all-over wall color more muted to achieve that clean farmhouse style.
Since home color and mood rely on personal preference, it’s always a good idea to test paint swatches on your walls before making a final decision. Paint small sections of your wall with your top color choices and observe them at different times of the day to see how they appear in natural light and artificial light. Trust your instincts and choose a paint color that suits your existing decor and makes you feel happy in your space.
Mariel Loveland contributed to this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most popular paint colors for farmhouse decor are muted, natural hues that evoke a rustic, cozy ambiance. Shades of white and creams are often used as base colors in farmhouse decor, creating a clean and fresh backdrop that allows other elements to stand out. Popular shades for farmhouse decor include warm whites with undertones of beige or gray, warm browns and other earthy tones, and soft, natural greens.
When it comes to accent walls in farmhouse decor, several paint colors that can work well to create a focal point and add visual interest to the space. Some excellent choices for farmhouse accent walls include warm and earthy tones, muted blues and greens, and weathered grays. Warm browns can create a rich, cozy backdrop, while brick reds can recreate the look and feel of an antique barn, pairing well with distressed woods and galvanized steel.
If you’re painting your kitchen cabinets to fit your farmhouse vision, consider light, muted colors that create a fresh and airy atmosphere. Soft whites are timeless options that give off a clean look in a farmhouse kitchen. Warm grays can add depth and sophistication to farmhouse cabinets while still maintaining a neutral tone. Subtle greens can evoke a sense of nature in the space, pairing well with dark woods and fresh-cut flowers.
