Best Paint Colours for Minimalism

Use these paint colours and design ideas to imbue restorative, minimalist design into your space.

A serene dining room with off-white-painted walls, a light-gray ceiling and trim, black wood table and chairs, and wicker chandelier. A serene dining room with off-white-painted walls, a light-gray ceiling and trim, black wood table and chairs, and wicker chandelier.

Best Paint Colours for Minimalism

Use these paint colours and design ideas to imbue restorative, minimalist design into your space.

Understated. Tranquil. Essential. Explore minimalist style through the lens of colour.

Today’s minimalism has evolved beyond “clutter-free” toward soothing, exuberant comfort. Use our colour palette of white, greige, gray and black hues to set the mood.
A tranquil, white-painted bedroom with a shiplap vaulted ceiling, a canopy bed and white bedding, purple wicker chair and ottoman, and white wood floor.

Minimalist Interior Design: The Power of White Hues

The clarity and beauty of restorative and inviting soft white paint colours are undeniable.

Conjure timeless minimalist vibes with White Heron OC-57, Chantilly Lace OC-65, and White Dove OC-17. Create a warm, inviting haven with beige-tinged creams such as Maritime White OC-5, Ballet White OC-9 and Paper White OC-55. Turn to the Benjamin Moore Off White Collection as your go-to resource to find the just-right white.

Against all-white, other room elements become beautifully spotlighted. Painted wood floors, thoughtfully selected furniture, warm wood, and chunky fabrics add dimension to classic white backdrops. This cozy minimalist bedroom uses a wide range of Benjamin Moore white paint colours to create an airy sanctuary.
A serene living room with a greige-painted upper wall, white lower wall, mantel, and moulding, a mirror, clay vase, and wood chairs on a white rug.

Layered Neutral Paint Colours

Combine earthy hues and natural materials like jute, linen, leather and wood to breathe warmth into minimalist style. Taupe, grays and other neutrals bring cozy cabin vibes to any space.

In this minimalist living room, homeowner favourite, Revere Pewter HC-172, from the Historical Collection, delivers an elegant backdrop—a testament to the design power of beige and gray, known as greige. Other greiges we love for creating a minimalist style include Pashmina AF-100, Balboa Mist OC-27, and Edgecomb Gray HC-173 from our minimalist colour palette. Add in Simply White OC-117, a past Benjamin Moore® Colour of the Year, for a luminous glow.
A neat, white-painted entryway and front door, with white stairs, fun red stair risers, a dark gray-framed mirror, gray chair, and blonde wood floor.

Enliven Minimalism with Splashes of Colour

Use intentional colour to invigorate minimalist décor. Highlight architectural features that deserve a spotlight, like a fireplace mantel, accent wall, or window trim. Take it a step further with stylized, linear colour blocking in a single-shade, monochromatic colour scheme.

Here, a wink of Rosy Apple 2006-30 on the staircase balances the gravitas of Iron Mountain 2134-30, a rich, deep charcoal gray on the mirror frame. Both hues provide colourful energy against the blonde wood floors and white walls of this Scandinavian-style entryway.
A sleek kitchen space with uniformly green painted built-in cabinets and wall, a white ceiling, modern turquoise chair, and a yellow-striped rug on a blonde wood floor.

Bold Paint Hues for Minimalist Style

Saturated, mood-boosting colour brings minimalist style to colourful new heights.

Use saturated jewel tones like Beau Green 2054-20, Bronze Tone 2166-30 and Starry Night Blue 2067-20—from the Colour Trends 2023 palette—as a focal point, letting minimalist style inform the rest of the space.

Create an eye-catching, cohesive colour envelope, as seen here in all-green Balsam 567 on the cabinets and wall. Pair a crisp white ceiling with more adventurous colours to highlight walls and add height to any room.

Sheen selection also plays a role in the minimalist style aesthetic. Here, creative use of sheen—a satin finish on walls and an ultra-flat finish on ceiling—adds dimension to this kitchen corner.
A sleek, contemporary kitchen with white-painted walls and ceiling, a black accent wall, painted black cabinets, and a large island, open to a white hallway.

Sleek, Chic and Sophisticated: Black Paint Colours

Classic black hues elevate minimalist style. Combine crisp white paint colours with intense, inky hues for a dramatic yet streamlined look.

Alternatives to black paint colour include rich, dark shades—think royal purples, moody browns and deep ocean blues. Like black, these enigmatic, darkly glamourous hues sync effortlessly with fresh whites.

Here, Cloud Cover OC-25 pairs with Black Tar 2126-10, from our minimalist colour palette, bringing both cool and calm to this contemporary, minimalist kitchen.
“The right paint colour elevates the back-to-basics ethos of minimalism. While white is a go-to choice, there are plenty of other colours to consider for creating a timeless look that aptly reflects minimalist style.”

Hannah Yeo, Colour & Design Expert



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A dark purple-painted bedroom with white trim, a black and white striped headboard and pillow, and purple and white blankets.

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Gray dining area featuring a rustic table with books, vases, and branches, and chair topped with white fur blanket.

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