17 Rooms That Prove Why Taupe Is the Unsung Hero of Colors

When it comes to neutrals, taupe is tops. This brown-meets-gray hue encompasses a spectrum of undertones that makes it an ideal backdrop to many a design scheme. It can feel warmer with hints of red or cooler with a touch of green, making it extremely versatile and timelessly popular.

“Taupe is the unsung hero of the color world,” says Designed by JQ’s Jessica Quintero. “It’s warm, inviting, and incredibly versatile. It’s that perfect blend of gray and beige that adds depth without overpowering a space.” In fact, the lovable neutral is having a major moment right now, Quintero holds. “People are gravitating towards taupe because it’s like a warm hug in a paint can; In a world where we’re craving comfort and coziness, taupe delivers just that.”

Some of Quintero’s favorite ways to incorporate this hue? “I adore taupe on cabinets, especially when paired with cream walls to really make the taupe pop.” It also looks stunning with a white and black checkered floor, deeper muted accent colors, and marble with deep veining and a mix of dark brown and rich burgundy hues similar to the type found in Calacatta Viola, Arabescato Orobico, or Rosso Levanto, she adds.

“I love to have a uniform treatment of the interior shell of a project, so I’ve used taupe on walls and ceilings that are treated alike, continuing into each other,” says architect and interior designer Crina Arghirescu Rogard. Meanwhile, designer Celeste Robbins often uses the neutral shade to differentiate a cabinet from a wall when she wants a subtle shift, while remaining neutral. “Taupe is a beautifully complex color that can shift from warm to cool depending on the light and shadow,” she explains.

Quintero agrees. When incorporating taupe into your space, she advises homeowners to consider how the color will play out against the room’s lighting. “Warm lighting can make taupe feel cozy, while natural light can bring out its cooler tones,” she explains. “Experiment with both to see what you love best.” General backdrop considered, don’t be afraid to mix taupe with other neutrals, Quintero adds. “Combining it with shades of white, cream, and gray can create a beautifully layered, sophisticated look.” And finally, she advises pairing taupe walls with a variety of textures like velvet cushions, chunky knit throws, and woven rugs. “This adds visual interest and coziness.”

Whether you’re looking for a backdrop to bolder decor or simply favor subdued shades, taupe works wonders for home interiors across all styles and tastes. To prove just how gorgeous this color can be, we’ve gathered 17 of our favorite taupe rooms.

Francesco Dolfo

1

Warm Taupe

What happens when you add warmth to an already warm hue? Magic, as this Milan apartment belonging to Eric Egan demonstrates. In the entry hall, the light taupe walls (Farrow & Ball’s Cord) create a sense of comfort and grandeur against luxurious vintage window treatments and larger-than-life artwork. It’s proof that the loudest items in the room aren’t always the most impactful.

Rachael Smith

2

Taupe Living Room

Effortlessly chic is a term thrown around way too often. But in Suzie de Rohan Willner’s Georgian farmhouse in the Oxfordshire countryside, it’s on full display. The seemingly arbitrary assortment of art and objets above the mantel provides instant charm, but it’s the taupe color that brings it all together to make an enviously elegant living room.

Stephen Kent Johnson

3

Taupe Bathroom

For the upstairs john of a 1730s colonial house in Stamford, Connecticut, designed by Ryan Lawson, taupe was deployed as a foil for the charred mushroom wood ceiling. You’ll want to stay in this room forever, or at least until your legs fall asleep.

Sharyn Cairns

4

Taupe Home Bar

A shelf lined with empty bottles of booze is decidedly freshman-dorm retrograde. But when they’re auction-quality wines and bubblies set against the backdrop of moody natural light, mirrors, marble, and walls painted in taupe, you have yourself a chic and cozy little escape. It is proven in this subterranean wine bar of a home designed by Powell and Glenn in Melbourne, Victoria.

Read McKendree

5

Taupe-Patterned Powder Room

You can picture Danny Torrance riding his tricycle up and down this Hicksian-pattern wallpaper by Robert Kime. But there’s no need to write REDRUM in lipstick in this powder room by designer Lucy Doswell thanks to the calming taupe colorway.

Frank Frances

6

Soft Taupe Living Room

It doesn’t always have to be a color that blends into the background. For her San Francisco Victorian, interior designer Eva Bradley chose the ubiquitous Camaleonda sofa by Mario Bellini upholstered in a taupe fabric. Bonus: The hue is picked up in the curtains.

Simon Watson

7

Taupe Tented Bedroom

According to Sally Bowles, life is a cabaret, old chum, but Veere Greeney posits in this bedroom in London’s Belgravia that life, specifically at home, can also be a circus. One without trapeze, bike-riding elephants, and soggy popcorn. No, this circus is subdued, thanks to the taupe striped tent.

Nicole Franzen; Sarah Elliott

8

Serene Taupe Bathroom

A sanctuary-like bathroom works with natural materials and a neutral palette in the home of Eyeswoon founder Athena Calderone. From the manila rope ceiling to the velvety taupe walls, a tactile comfort and a connection to nature come to life.

Eric Piasecki

9

Tufted Taupe Seating

In a midcentury modern living room, statement furniture and art are grounded with a warm and neutral palette, including a vintage Mies van der Rohe daybed from Lost City Arts upholstered in a taupe Brochier velvet.

Alyssa Rosenheck

10

Tranquil Taupe Deck

Modern and mountain chic mingle on this Park City, Utah, deck, where a taupe exterior perfectly complements the wooden roof and pale lounge chairs.

Amanda Kirkpatrick

11

Light Taupe Trim

The dining room in this serene country house includes light taupe trim, playing into a monochrome palette while still remaining warm against the rustic accents.

Richard Powers

12

Elegant Taupe Doorway

In an art-filled Upper East Side home, exquisite architecture guides the design. In a doorway leading to the living room, the doors and ceiling are painted a warm and earthy shade of taupe.

Lesley Unruh

13

Cool Taupe Curtains

A handsome bedroom sitting area unites grays of varying undertones: Green-gray walls contrast with cool taupe curtains, and a light, textured gray rug balances it all.

Bjorn Wallander

14

Vintage Taupe Living Room

A Gramercy Park pied-à-terre brings the outdoors in with an old-world, vintage approach. In the living room, 18th-century antiques mix it up with Gustavian, mid-20th-century, and contemporary pieces, backed by walls in a beautiful beige-ish taupe.

Christopher Stark Photography

15

Shimmery Taupe Dining Room

The sophisticated and youthful dining area of Colin Kaepernick’s California home includes statement mirrors and lighting, backed by shimmery taupe walls that play up the metallic accents.

Nicole Hill Gerulat

16

Sisal Taupe Walls

In a light-filled powder room, glass and mother-of-pearl tile cover the walls and play off of the geometric flooring, while coastal sisal wallpaper warms up the space.

Björn Wallander

17

Taupe Bed Frame

The bedroom of a Paris pied-à-terre blends antique accents with a modern sensibility, including a fun gallery wall and a statement custom bed.