Cream paint colors provide a gentle softness that makes a space feel warm and welcoming. They brighten without being stark and set a neutral base to build upon with other colors, materials, and textures. Not all cream paint colors are alike, which has much to do with their undertones. Some have a yellow undertone and read warm and cheery, while others have pink or green undertones that can be emphasized when you use those undertone colors as accents throughout the room.
To add visual interest and subtle depth and dimension to a cream paint color, consider a two-tone look or using the shade on decorative wall paneling. Cream paint colors are well suited for a calm and serene private space such as a bedroom or bathroom, but they're also an excellent pick for an all-over interior color or a kitchen cabinet update. To help you navigate the endless array of cream shades, paint industry experts are sharing their all-time favorite picks.
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Whipped Cream by Behr
Give bedroom walls a modern refresh with Whipped Cream, which is a soft neutral that adds subtle sophistication. "It's a delectable, clean white that invites a playful lightness into your home," says Erika Woelfel, Behr's VP of color and creative services. For subtle contrast and dimension, add an extra layer of visual interest with wall paneling such as wainscoting or beadboard.
Paint color: Whipped Cream by Behr
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Canvas by Annie Sloan
If you're looking for a slightly warm creamy neutral, opt forCanvas, a beautiful beige-white blend and one of the top-selling Annie Sloan paint colors. The putty-inspired shade has a hint of taupe and makes for a beautiful all-over color for walls in a bedroom, bathroom, or living room.
Paint color: Canvas by Annie Sloan Paint
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Focus by Glidden
"Focus is a warm and creamy off-white paint color that offers a ton of versatility and pairs well with warm tones like reds and yellows, but looks equally great when combined with cooler blues and greens," says Ashley McCollum, Glidden color expert. Use it on trim or as an all-over wall color for a warm and welcoming ambience.
Paint color: Focus by Glidden
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Kestrel White by Sherwin-Williams
As far as living room paint colors go, Kestrel White is a great fit. "It’s clean but simultaneously warm and cozy," says Emily Kantz, color marketing manager at Sherwin-Williams. The creamy shade has a white base with pink undertones for a snug space that invites you to sit and linger. Layer it with other warm whites such as Downy and natural materials like wood, stone, and rattan.
Paint color: Kestrel White by Sherwin-Williams
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Gray Mist by Benjamin Moore
Gray Mist is one of those versatile use-anywhere, with-anything paint colors. "It's a subdued off-white with a delicate greige undertone that strikes a perfect balance between yellow and gray," says Hannah Yeo, senior manager of color marketing at Benjamin Moore. She says this cream shade possesses an air of sophistication and enduring charm that exudes timeless elegance, making it an excellent all-over wall color that won't go out of style anytime soon.
Paint color: Gray Mist by Benjamin Moore
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Limitless by Glidden
When it comes to cheery cream hues, there's no better pick than Limitless, which is Glidden's Color of the Year 2024. McCollum points out i's a surprisingly versatile paint color. "It's a fresh, warm hue, that works just as beautifully as a main wall color as it does in more unconventional locations such as cabinetry and on the ceiling," she says.
Paint color: Limitless by Glidden
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Blank Canvas by Behr
"Blank Canvasis a warm, welcoming cream that provides a clean background for endless design and decor possibilities," Woelfel says. Use this elegant cream shade to update a primary bathroom and layer it with other neutrals in the form of a wood vanity, matte brass lighting and hardware, and slate gray floor tile.
Paint color: Blank Canvas by Behr
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Antler Velvet by Sherwin-Williams
"For a deeper cream that marries natural tones with moody browns, I would suggest Antler Velvet," Kantz says. It's a versatile cream paint color that's a beautiful pick for anywhere from kitchen cabinetry and trim to an office accent wall.
Paint color: Antler Velvet by Sherwin-Williams
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String by Farrow & Ball
Infuse your home with the cozy charm of String, a warm cream tone that was part of Farrow & Ball's first official paint chart and remains to be one of the brand's best neutrals. "A little black note stops it feeling too cream, and its yellow base brings warmth and a great partnership to dark greens and blues," says Patrick O’Donnell, Farrow & Ball's global brand ambassador.
Paint color: String by Farrow & Ball
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Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore
Swiss Coffee ranks as one of the most popular cream paint colors on the market. "It embodies the quintessential white with a touch of warmth and its creamy, luminous hue exudes soft elegance," Yeo says. The warm white paint color is effortlessly inviting and versatile, and Yeo suggests pairing it with other soft neutrals such as Revere Pewter or green paint color like Lush and Newburg Green.
Paint color: Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore
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Drift of Mist by Sherwin-Williams
An ideal neutral, Drift of Mist is a light, airy, and inviting cream gray. "It's a deep earthy cream perfect for respite spaces like a bathroom or bedroom," Kantz says. For a two-tone look, use the light gray shade on the lower half of the wall, beadboard, or decorative wall paneling, and opt for a lighter shade or wallpaper on the top.
Paint color: Drift of Mist of Sherwin-Williams
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Tallow by Farrow & Ball
"The pink note throughTallowgives this color a gentle prettiness and can be lovely as a wall color when teamed with soft whites such as Wimborne White or Pointing," O'Donnell says. Use this soft, pale neutral to illuminate a dark space, as an all-over wall color for a home, or a sweet yet elegant pick for nursery walls.
Paint color: Tallow by Farrow & Ball
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Chanoyu by Behr
For a cream paint color that serves as a good base for vivid brights and moody darks, go with Chanoyu. Woelfel describes it as a harmonious shade of cream with a hint of light green and says it's a reliable neutral to built upon. Bring out its green undertones by layering it with green and chartreuse accents, and create a nature-inspired aesthetic with pops of blue and neutral grays and browns.
Paint color: Chanoyu by Behr
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Creamy by Sherwin-Williams
Creamy is a bright white with soft yellow undertones that give it subtle warmth and makes it a great pick for kitchen walls. Emphasize the shade's warm quality by pairing it with wood kitchen cabinets and highlight its lightness with glass pendant lights. Layer in deeper, more saturated warm tones such as Reynard for a cozy and inherently welcoming space.
Paint color: Creamy by Sherwin-Williams