1Navy
Heidi Caillier Design Navy blue paint adds personality to this small bathroom. Heidi Caillier Design used the same color for the custom vanity base and the walls for a camouflaged look, but keeping the top section of the walls cream prevents the space from getting swallowed up by the darker tones.
BUY NOW Clare Goodnight Moon, $59
2Olive Green
Lisa Romerein When used in an allover treatment like Benjamin Dhong did here, an earthy tone sets a soothing backdrop.
BUY NOW Backdrop Saged, $45
3Crisp White
JOSHUA McHUGH Let's start with a crowd favorite before we move into more obscure territory. There's a reason white is so popular: It reflects light and makes the walls recede, which helps make a small space seems larger. While whites can have undertones of blue, pink, or even green, this bedroom by Raji RM features white in its purest form without any color. It's not stark or cold, just light and airy.
BUY NOW Beyond Paint Bright White, $129
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4Teal
Eric Piasecki Since it's got many undertones, a rich teal like this will enliven a small space—and can even hold up to a patterned wallpaper, like Robin Henry chose for this powder room.
SHOP NOW Farrow & Ball Hague Blue, $115
5Chocolate Brown
Amelia Stanwix In this modern bedroom by Fiona Lynch, an unexpected shade on the brown results in sculptural shadow play.
BUY NOW Graham & Brown Hanami, $90
6Purple
Ngoc Minh Ngo Wild, loud colors, like purple, might actually be better in small spaces. Could you imagine how in-your-face this shade would be all over a giant living room? By limiting it to an entryway, you still get a pop of color without overwhelming your house.
BUY NOW Sherwin-Williams Opulant Purple, $4
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7Pearl Gray
Nicole Franzen Gray can be dull, so choose one that has some luminosity to it. The color fluctuates with the shadows and time of day, so it's always intriguing and looks more sophisticated and unique than a simple white backdrop.
BUY NOW PPG Diamond Silver Blue Pearl, $115
8Sage
Heidi Caillier Design Choose a neutral with mossy green undertones in a small space that gets plenty of natural light. In this walk-in closet/pantry-turned home office, Heidi Caillier paired the sage paint color with a floral motif pattern to complement the greenery outside and make it feel like a natural extension of the view beyond.
BUY NOW Glidden Essentials Soft Sage, $16
9Pastel Yellow
Amy Neunsinger Nickey Kehoe opted for a cream and pale yellow color scheme to lean into the warmth of the wood counters and terracotta floor tiles in this small pool house kitchen.
BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Dayroom Yellow, $125
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10Greige
James Merrell Neutral never goes out of style. This is for everyone who doesn't want basic white but isn't ready to incorporate bold color into their space.
BUY NOW Behr Coastal Beige, $28
11Soft White
Stephen Kent Johnson Shawn Henderson unified the two surface textures in this bedroom by painting them the same shade of soft white, which sets a perfect backdrop for the neutral accents.
BUY NOW Benjamin Moore White Dove, $21
12Mink Brown
STEPHEN KENT JOHNSON This medium-toned shade of gray-brown in a home designed by Mally Skok is surprisingly calming, versatile, and sophisticated. Bright blue and red fabrics and gold accents brighten it up without interfering with the peaceful mood.
BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Mouse's Back, $125
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13Mint Green
Julian Wass This misty green in a kitchen by Gary McBournie feels beachy, but it's also classic. Neutral décor, like a sisal rug and fresh marble counters, strikes the balance between casual and formal in an open kitchen, too. That contrast is the key to making a tiny space feel dynamic.
BUY NOW Clare Two Scoops, $54
14Khaki
Paul Raeside Designer Garrow Kedigian defines a neutral as "anything that isn't jarring," which is a super helpful way to reframe things if cream, white, or gray simply isn't cutting it in your living room and you can't figure out why. Certain spaces just call for something outside the box, whether it's because of an architectural style, light exposures, or existing furniture. Here, the walls are painted Benjamin Moore's Rattan.
BUY NOW Benjamin Moore Rattan, $50
15Dark Green
Nicole Hollis Studio Remember when we said there were no hard and fast rules for small house paint colors? Here's proof. Deep, dark green sets the scene in this modestly sized dining nook designed by Nicole Hollis Studio.
BUY NOW Sherwin Williams Rainforest Canopy, $4
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16Soft Blonde
Robert McKinley Studio A soft blonde or golden color will add warmth to any small space. Pair it with nature-inspired, minimalist decor and eye-catching artwork, as Robert McKinley did in this bedroom.
BUY NOW Glidden Light Autumn Brown, $25
17Glossy Black
AMY NEUNSINGER Glossy black paint turns this small Mark Sikes and Michael Griffin-designed bathroom into a glamorous jewel box. Reflective paint and mirrored walls bounce light, too.
BUY NOW Sherwin-Williams High-Gloss Black, $20
18Sky Blue
Robert McKinley Studio Nothing soothes in a room like a dreamy sky blue tone. This soft shade of blue helps your space feel a bit more expansive and peaceful, no matter the size. Robert McKinley only applied it to half the walls, as to not overwhelm the space.
BUY NOW Behr Ethereal Mood, $44
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19Electric Red
JANET MESIC MACKIE A hallway reading nook nestled into the window is brought to life with fire engine red paint. The plaid cushions and carpet complement it beautifully.
BUY NOW Backdrop Negroni, $45
20Medium Gray
AMY NEUNSINGER Play up the cozy factor of a tiny room with a rich gray tone. This shade in a small bedroom by Commune Design, with its hint of greens, creates intimacy (with an edge) in the small bedroom.
BUY NOW Backdrop Italian Plaster, $45
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