The Best Unexpected Farmhouse Paint Colors for Coziness in Every Room

Add a personal touch to your decor by infusing your home with subdued or saturated—and delightfully unexpected—farmhouse paint colors.

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Updated on October 10, 2022

Farmhouse decor, grounded in whites and neutrals, typically favors no-fuss palettes with muted hues. But that doesn't mean the style is void of color. In fact, a fresh, modern interpretation of farmhouse style leaves plenty of possibilities for thoughtful, well-edited color.

Start by determining if floors, countertops, tiles, and other permanent finishes are warm (cream, yellow, red undertones) or cool (gray, blue, green undertones). It's natural to let that color temperature drive your overall scheme.

If your personal preference contradicts that direction, though, never fear! Go ahead and listen to your heart. You can also carefully blend color temperatures to keep a space from feeling too warm or cold. And if you're looking for the perfect balance between gray and beige, greige hues are game-changing tones that play well with any palette. Use these fool-proof ideas to choose farmhouse paint colors for every room.

Farmhouse Kitchen Paint Colors

The kitchen is probably most responsible for popularizing farmhouse charm. Well-designed farmhouse kitchens balance form and function to create hardworking yet visually pleasing spaces. Kitchens demand much of the construction or remodeling budget, so it's a space you want to get right the first time and then drive your home's overall decorating style.

Reliable White

Kitchen with bar seating and white cabinets — James Nathan Schroder

This white kitchen is a perfect example of classic farmhouse paint colors. Start with white and build on it by adding an unexpected choice for a fresh farmhouse color palette.

Best White Farmhouse Paint Colors:

Sophisticated Gray

gray kitchen cabinets light blue island wood floors — Cabinet paint color: Andes Summit CSP-600, Benjamin Moore. John Granen

In this farmhouse kitchen, cool gray-blue cabinets are grounded by white walls and countertops and pair well with stainless-steel appliances. Although cool tones have dominated farmhouse spaces recently, there's a shift toward earthier palettes—think warmer mushroom hues. Consider painting upper and lower cabinets different colors and keep accent hues minimal or nonexistent. Subtle yet effective, painting the island a shade or two lighter than the other cabinets calls attention to the gathering spot and offers more dimension to the room.

Upbeat Green

jade green table coffee station mug storage baskets sconce — Table paint color: Pale Jade PPG1230-4, Glidden. Jason Donnelly

Pops of color, though, is far from out of the question. Reminiscent of Depression-era feed sacks, this green hue gives style-defining status to a painted table. Bright white walls make the perfect base to showcase the practical piece, which was upgraded with a handy DIY shelf.

Best Unexpected Farmhouse Paint Colors:

Farmhouse Bathroom Paint Colors

Farmhouse bathrooms make the most of modest footprints, from master en suites to petite powder rooms. Straightforward but far from stale, these spaces flaunt crisp, clean finishes grounded in white and layered with a dose of delightful color or pattern. Ticking stripes, charming checks, and modern florals as accents or the main attraction can set the stage for trademark farmhouse design.

Surprising Pink

pink bathroom walls double white vanity gold pulls oval black mirrors — Wall paint color: Ballerina PPG1183-1, Glidden. Adam Albright

In this farmhouse bathroom, black-and-white floor tiles offer a bold plaid pattern underfoot and are a refreshing alternative to traditional hex or penny tiles. Delicate pink walls sweeten the space and set off the contrasting black-framed mirrors. Touches of brass complement the clever combination without overdoing it.

Navy Plaid

Dressed in all-American navy and white, this tiny bath flaunts big style. Hand-painted using Benjamin Moore Decorator's White and three shades of Hale Navy, the show-stopping buffalo plaid is so captivating it's hard to look away. The contemporary take on this classic pattern works wonderfully, thanks to the visual rest offered by the bright white wainscot. With a semigloss paint sheen, this board-and-batten wainscot is durable, cleans up easily, and contrasts nicely with the matte finish on the above wall.

Committing to colorful design takes confidence, but if you tire of a daring treatment, you can grab a can of paint and a roller and start fresh.

blue farmhouse bathroom buffalo check wainscot — Paint colors: Hale Navy HC-154, Benjamin Moore; Decorator's White CC-20, Benjamin Moore. Laura Moss

A reclaimed sink blends with the wainscoting. This treasure, an icon of farmhouse style, repeats the navy hue on the exposed basin exterior and reveals a hint of metal on the rim to add an industrial touch.

To warm up signature white farmhouse bathrooms, you can't go wrong with natural wood furnishings and accents. From deep walnut to driftwood, wood stains in multiple hues can mimic authentic farmhouse finds. Fashioned from pine boards and walnut stain, the handcrafted vanity is proof you don't have to live on a farm to get a farm-fresh look.

Best Blue Farmhouse Paint Colors:

Farmhouse Paint Colors for Living and Dining Rooms

Color can be instrumental in defining farmhouse spaces, whether applied sparingly or coated from floor to ceiling. Drawing from the great outdoors, greens, blues, and plenty of earth tones create inviting rooms to settle into for hours.

Vivid Color

farmhouse kitchen table green pop dining chairs — Chair paint color: Irish Clover 2038-20, Benjamin Moore. Adam Albright

Chairs dressed in vibrant spring green grab attention in the otherwise neutral dining room. Black accents, such as the window trim and Windsor bench, are runners-up visually but play a critical role in rounding out this impactful palette. To achieve a collected-over-time look, use a single spark of color such as Benjamin Moore 2038-20 Irish Clover alongside a predictable neutral palette to punctuate a mix of finishes and furniture styles.

Dramatic Color

charcoal gray built-ins hallway office farmhouse — John Granen

Whether working with light or dark hues, always test several samples in your room before committing to a color and buying gallons of paint. It also helps to know a color's light reflective value. Typically found on the back of the paint chip, this value helps predict how much light will bounce off the paint and back into the room. On the 0–100 scale, lower-value colors, as on charcoal cabinets or deep green walls, absorb more light and create a cozy, moody atmosphere.

Although they aren't hallmarks of farmhouse homes, don't discount dark, dramatic hues. When natural light is abundant in a room, saturated color can dominate walls or sections of built-ins without feeling gloomy.

When choosing colors—especially those tricky grays—look at various paint chips side by side on a white background in the room to be painted. Eliminate those with displeasing undertones, then paint promising colors on 2-foot-square sample sheets to hang on walls and hold up to upholstery, flooring, and other finishes.

Best Gray Farmhouse Paints Colors:

dark green living room walls open wood shelving — Wall paint color: Rockwood Shutter Green SW 2809, Sherwin-Williams. Adam Albright

A deep mossy hue bridges modern farmhouse and midcentury style for an eccentric feel. The forest-like foundation embraces warm, natural hues and textures in the leather furniture, woven rugs, and baskets. Forgo shiplap and instead fill walls with wood shelving, putting plenty of personality on display through thoughtfully placed collections and accessories.

Best Green Farmhouse Paints Colors:

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