I have been looking forward to this post for awhile. We have been profiling the Sherwin-Williams Color of the Month for several months now, but have been working on releasing our own “Featured Color” with some of my favorite paint colors (also from Sherwin-Williams). So, without further ado, it pleases me to announce the first official Rugh Design Featured Color: Balanced Beige! I love this color and I hope you enjoy my Balanced Beige review!
Balanced Beige is definitely one of my top favorite neutral paint colors of all time and it seems the general public agrees as it is one of the top searched colors. I recommend it constantly! The best thing about Balanced Beige is that it is so versatile. I have seen it go well in warm color schemes and at the same time, work in cooler color schemes to bring some warmth. Balanced Beige can also help to coordinate spaces that have cool and warm tones, such as a kitchen with warmer tile floors and a cooler-toned backsplash.
Balanced Beige with Virtual Taupe
First, I paired Balanced Beige with Virtual Taupe for a gorgeous monochromatic scheme. Virtual Taupe is a few shades darker than Balanced Beige on the paint swatch, so these two colors are literally made for each other! Since Virtual Taupe is more saturated than Balanced Beige, it can help to “ground” a room and help higher ceilings to not feel so ominous. A perfect example of this is my use of Virtual Taupe below the chair rail for this scheme. I recommend trying Balanced Beige as your main wall color and then using Virtual Taupe as an accent wall or focal point in your space. You will be smitten!
Balanced Beige with Quietude
Quietude is another favorite paint color of mine, so I was itching to use it with Balanced Beige for a triad color scheme. I painted Quietude below the chair rail, but Quietude will also look great as an accent wall (or on all walls, for that matter!).
The warmer feel of Balanced Beige and the cool tones in Quietude compliment each other nicely and I love how they pop against the white trim. Balanced Beige can go with almost any color since it is so adaptable, but I really do love how these two colors look together.
Balanced Beige with China Doll
For the analogous scheme, I got creative again and painted 12” stripes alternating between Balanced Beige and China Doll. These neutral stripes are a unique way to do something different, without feeling too bold or “circus-like.” I like the idea of doing the stripes on an entry wall, but they are soft and subtle enough to be an accent wall in a living room or a bedroom. Balanced Beige and China Doll go well together since they are both warmer neutrals. Since China Doll is lighter in color than Balanced Beige, they are the perfect combo for the stripe detail that I seriously recommend trying!!
See my Limón Fresco review for several more unique stripe paint details. There is also a link for a tutorial on how to do stripe details yourself!
Balanced Beige with Gray Matters
This last scheme (complementary) is my favorite. I started painting Gray Matters below the chair rail and was honestly skeptical at first. Once it dried and I stepped back, I immediately took a picture and texted it to my husband to gush how much I loved it!! The soft blue-gray color of Gray Matters compliments Balanced Beige perfectly, again because of the juxtaposition of the cool and warm colors. You can also think about adding a pop of color with artwork, pillows or accessories like the magenta flowers I used for styling this space.
Rugh Design Rating 
As I wrap up this post, I just keep thinking about how much I love Balanced Beige. I seriously recommend it if you are having trouble choosing a neutral that is in between golden/beige and gray/greige. I hope my Balanced Beige review inspires you to try Virtual Taupe, Quietude, China Doll and/or Gray Matters to coordinate with the ever-popular, Balanced Beige. Check out my Balanced Beige Color Wheel page as well for even more choices!
All of your photos show Balanced Beige with white trim. Can Balanced Beige be used with orangey toned-honey oak trim and cabinetry?
Hi Donna,
Thank you for your question! I love a crisp white trim, but yes, you can definitely use Balanced Beige with honey oak trim and cabinets. In fact, it may help to tone them down the orangey color if that is your goal. Let me know if I can help you further or if you have any more questions. Thank you again for reaching out!
Thank you for your reply! That is definitely my goal to tone them down. When I repainted my walls a few years ago, I used colors from the SW strip with Softer Tan, Macadamia, Basket Beige, etc. Macadamia was used in the main living area and kitchen where I have the stained oak trim and cabinetry. It looks only ok–at night I see a green undertone–not really the color palette I had in mind. What would you say the undertone of Balanced Beige is? And so that I don’t have to repaint other areas of my home where I have Softer Tan (which I really like, and am also considering painting over the Macadamia), will Balanced Beige coordinate with Softer Tan?
Hi Donna,
Yes, it sounds like Balanced Beige would be a great option! I do think that it will coordinate just fine with Softer Tan. I always suggest getting a sample (if you can) and testing it out in your lighting first, but I have had great success with Balanced Beige the versatility that is has. 🙂 Please feel free to contact me for a Color Consultation if you would like further help! Thank you so much for reaching out!
Hi Donna and Laura, we purchased a home with honey oak cabinets in the kitchen and bath rooms and oak wood flooring throughout. I wanted to paint all the walls and decided on balanced beige. We Absolutely LOVE it! It really toned down the oak flooring and honey oak cabinets. I actually like the cabinets now where before was thinking about painting them. Balanced Beige looks great in all lighting conditions and you can accessorize with many colors. If I ever move, I may do Balanced Beige in our next home too!
Hi Dawn,
I’m so glad you are loving Balanced Beige! It really is one of my favorite go-to colors. Thank you for reaching out and sharing so others can be encouraged to try BB in their space. 🙂
Have a great week!
Laura
Hi Laura
I am using balanced beige in my guest bathroom, but I am having a problem with color for the ceiling. What do you recommend.
Delores
Hi Delores,
Thanks for reaching out! I typically like to go with a true white for ceilings, but if you have taller ceilings you can go with a color that is a few shades lighter than the wall color. Sometimes it is fun to do an accent ceiling, but it depends on your space. You definitely don’t want your bathroom to feel too much like a cave by using a super dark color! 🙂
Let me know if you would like help finding the right color through an Interior Color Consultation.
Thanks, Delores!
Laura
I’m so happy to find your website & blogs! My husband & I are building a new home in San Antonio. We went over to see it last night after the painters had started on the walls yesterday with my paint choice of Balanced Beige. My first thought was, “Oh my! Have I chosen the correct color or will my house look too “beigy’ & blah? So I frantically started Googling reviews for Balanced Beige & happened onto your site & a few others that give BB rave reviews. Yours is by far the best & most helpful. Love, love, love the video showing different ways & colors to coordinate with it. I have been reassured that my choice of BB is the best & will make my new home look fabulous. Thank you & I look forward to reading more of your blogs!
Thank you so much, Caron! I’m so happy that the Balanced Beige review was helpful for you. That is my goal with the blog! I wish you the best in your new home and thank you again for your kind remarks. 🙂
Hi! I currently have Kilim Beige in my open floor plan home but definitely want to change it and am considering Balanced Beige or Tony Taupe. I love Tony Taupe and currently have it in my master bath but was wondering if it could come off as too dark as an all over interior color. My house faces East and gets tons of natural light. Any thoughts? Thanks and great review of Balanced Beige!
Hi Cheryn,
Thank you! I’m glad you liked the review. 🙂 I love Balanced Beige as an overall paint color. If you are wondering about Tony Taupe, I recommend getting a sample and painting a big piece of white cardboard. Then you can pin it up in your house in different areas to see if it looks too dark. Usually darker wall colors look okay in spaces with lots of natural light, but can look too dark once the sun sets and only your interior lights are on. See how the sample looks in your lighting at all times of the day and then go from there. If you are still having trouble, please feel free to contact me for Color Consultation! Have a great rest of the week!
Hi! I’m looking to update my VERY beige/brown/gold home born in the “Tuscan era”. I currently have Tatami Tan walls, Interactive Cream ceilings, and Biscuit trim and cabinetry. I’m wanting to transition into a Greige color but still blend with my beige tile and granite. I’ve had my eye on Balanced beige and Accessible beige, but wondering if you feel they will go with the Biscuit trim and painted cabinets. I’m not fully opposed to to changing trim color but cabinet color needs to stay as this is a project not in the budget. Also, if walls were painted accessible beige what color would you suggest for ceiling? Would Biscuit ceilings help it all to blend better? Thank you!!
Hi Lyndi,
You are not alone in trying to update your “Tuscan era” home!! This is my most common request for my Interior Color Consultation. I do suggest Balanced Beige and Accessible Beige a lot to transition to a more greige palette. However, the best way to make the right decision is through my Interior Color Consultations. I can view pictures of your space and find the perfect color to go with your current selections, along with recommending a ceiling and trim color. Here is the link again if you would like to check it out:
Interior Color Consultation
Thank you for reaching out! I sincerely hope to hear from you and help you transition to an updated look for your home. It is my passion!
Laura
Hello! Do you think that balanced beige would look good in a bedroom with the rest of the house being Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray?
Hi Hannah,
Yes, I do! Balanced Beige will work in a bedroom with MG as the overall color in the rest of the home. Mindful Gray is cooler and has a slight blue undertone and Balanced Beige has a taupe undertone. They will coordinate together in the same scheme.
Thanks so much for reaching out!
Laura
i have a stone fireplace with darker wood mantle and darker pine cabinets. My current color which has a yellow undertone makes everything look “dirty” to me. My floors are oak so kinda a yellow tone. I picked accessible beige for my entire downstairs ranch. open living room/kitchen then dining room and hallway. bedrooms and bathrooms have color but you can’t see from the rest of the house.
to me I thought this new color looked very grey but i’m wondering if I should just roll with it and it’ll look good when done. My other color thought was natural linen or kilm beige (by SW also) but the kilm beige gives off a yellow tone like what I have. currently i have gobi dessert by behr.
any thoughts on this, very stressed as i’ve been here 20 years and this is the 2nd time painting 🙂
white trim throughout and white ceilings
Hi Janet,
Accessible Beige/Balanced Beige are my go-to colosr if you are trying to get away from the yellow tones (Kilim Beige has more of a golden undertone), but don’t want to go totally gray. However, I am not looking at pictures of your space, so there could be another neutral option out there that could work better. I would love to help you through an Interior Color Consultation if you would like:
https://www.rughdesign.com/product/interior-color-consultation/
Keep me posted!
Laura
Hello, Just had a new home built and it has a knotty alder trim, doors and cabinets that give it a bit of a rustic feel. We are within a couple of blocks to the ocean, so I’m going for a coastal meets rustic kind of feel. I was currently looking at Behr Sand Motif but I’m afraid it has too much of a yellow hue that might look outdated. I would greatly appreciate any advice you may have. Thank you!
Hi Tana,
Congrats on your new build! I would love to help you find the right color for your space through a Consult! I am leaning towards a gray that has a bit of a blue undertone or a warm greige to accentuate a beach feel.
Thanks for reaching out and I hope to hear from you soon!
Laura
Thanks for this review. I had the majority of my home painted Accessible Beige, with dining room Silvermist and formal room Colonnade Gray, I love all the soft colors. Painters come in 2 days to do master bedroom and bath, and I think I have chosen Balanced Beige to tie it all in. I’ve flip flopped a few times thinking I wanted a darker room (although it faces North, and is in Michigan, brrrr), but I think Balanced Beige will be dark enough and fill the griege need. Fingers crossed I love it, your review convinces me to stay the course with it!
Hi Diane,
Thank you! I’m so happy to hear that the Balanced Beige Review helped give you the confidence to go for it. 🙂 Keep me posted on everything. I would love to see pictures of the finished result!
Thank so much for reaching out,
Laura
Hey , I have a living room that has a grey/ beige brick fireplace. So I am looking for a color that will go with the fireplace but also go well with my relaxed khaki dining room and entry ay area. Right now I have requisite grey and since it’s a
North facing wall it’s turned to color very blue. So I need a beige/ grey color that will work with the tan wall and my grey fireplace/ couch. I was thinking about balanced beige.
Hi Alicia,
You are right on track! Balanced Beige is a warm greige that is the perfect in between color for transitioning from a beige to a gray. I have several clients who are in the same boat: trying to move towards a more gray palette, but since they still have some beige selections, need an in between color. Test out a sample of Balanced Beige in your space to make sure it works next to your fireplace and with your Relaxed Khaki wall. I might consider repainting the Relaxed Khaki walls if it isn’t working. It would help to keep your spaces cohesive and freshen up your home with a new paint color. Let me know if you need further help!
Thanks so much,
Laura
Laura, you opened my eyes to the warmness and yet coolness when contrasted with warm brown furniture. I’d worried initially bout it being too dark in my shadier rooms. Painter suggested adding %25 white. I was thrilled, after it dried, retained its depth and looks classy.
We are building a new home and going with the builder’s paint program. I am limited to only a few beiges- Accessible Beige, Balanced Beige,Kill Beige, Nomadic Dessert, and Latte. I plan to use Accessible Beige in the main living area which is an open floor plan. Do you think Balanced Beige would be too dark to use in the study which is the first room on the left from the entry and has a double window? It is a North facing room. I would also like to use it in the guest bathroom which has only a transom window above the bath tub and I am concerned it may look too dark There are white cabinets in the bath with a stone countertop that has dark brown, beige and cream in it. There will be a white shower curtain.
Hi Maria,
I think Balanced Beige will be perfect for your study! Also, since you have white cabinets, a white shower curtain plus natural light through the transom window, Balanced Beige will work in there as well. All the best with your new build! Keep me posted and let me know how everything turns out. 🙂
Thank you for reaching out, Laura
Thank you so much Laura.
I have an open concept and it’s difficult because I like so many warm colors I’m afraid it would box in my space. Would hushed Alburn for kitchen, balanced beige for over all color and purple plume as an accent wall work? Or too dark? Thanks ps. I do get a good amount of light through my windows.
Hi Mariah!
Thank you for your comment. However, it sounds like you are in need of more than I can offer by responding to your comment. Please check out my Interior Color Consultation packages in my shop.
I would love to be your color consultant!
Laura
My walls are painted balanced beige, my counter tops are Uba tuba granite, and my backsplash is earth tones/slate tile. Can you suggest a light grey paint color for my kitchen cabinets? Currently they are painted an off white which matches our trim. However, we are redoing our flooring to a walnut hardwood and I wonder if a light grey would blend better with the slate in the backsplash and the grey in the granite…
Hi Candice!
Thank you for your comment. However, it sounds like you are in need of more than I can offer by responding to your comment. Please check out my Interior Color Consultation packages in my shop.
I would love to be your color consultant!
Laura
Hi! I love your reviews!! We built 14 years ago when the “in” colors were brown, tan, cream, etc. I love those warm colors, but feel like I need to update. I would like to go something between brown and gray – greige? We have oak cabinets and trim which will stay. I am putting a new floor in which has lots of depth. Oak, gray, light, dark. Right now our walls have a yellow/green undertone which I hate. Am thinking about doing all of the walls Balanced Beige or Accessible Beige, with Pure White on the ceilings. The furniture hasn’t been ordered, but am thinking cream, tan, or light gray. I have sea foam green/teal accessories. Our main living area -living/kitchen gets lots of light. It is a west facing room with 6 floor to ceiling windows. How do I know if Balanced Beige will be too dark? Help!!
Hi Brenda,
Thank you! I’m so glad that the reviews are helpful. 🙂 You are going in the right direction with Balanced Beige or Accessible Beige for sure. It is my go-to for transitioning from the Tuscan era into a more updated look. Your furnishings sound right on and the neutral BB or AB will work well with green/teal accents. To make sure BB isn’t too dark, test out a sample. My Shop has easy to use peel and stick paint samples available for purchase. This will help you see how the colors work in your lighting. You can also move the samples around instead of having to paint the samples all over the walls!
Keep me posted on your progress and let me know if I can help further through a Color Consult!
Thank you,
Laura
Hi Laura, our house is getting built and I am planning to pick balanced beige for my entire house. We are going with basalt skylar cabinets. Do you think balanced beige would go with those cabinets and won’t make our kitchen space too dark?
Hi!
Thank you for your comment. However, it sounds like you are in need of more than I can offer by responding to your comment. Please check out my Interior Color Consultation packages in my shop.
I would love to be your color consultant!
Laura