Minimalist Room Paint Colors That Are Subtle but Still So Good

Classic blue may be the 2020 color of the year, but let's be honest. Minimalist room paint colors are still incredibly popular. If you're at all a fan of minimalist design, you already know that.

And while white is at the core of minimalist room paint colors, one cannot live by white alone. There are plenty of subtle shades, from cool grays to deep, dark browns and blues, that work, so long as you keep the other elements in your space simple. Think: minimalist furniture and carefully curated decor.

Here's a selection of our favorite minimalist room paint colors. They're simple but so good.

Minimalist room paint colors don't have to feel austere. Take this little girl's bedroom, for example. The gender-neutral paint color on the lower wall — a silvery blue that can read sage green contrasts with the white paint that's used higher up. The result is calming, sweet, and not girly at all.

Get the look: Farrow & Ball Light Blue

Mary Patton, of Mary Patton Design, notes that "Even with minimal accent details in the room, a dark color can bring a clean and crisp feel to a small space just as well as a white or neutral shade can." So it's no wonder this bathroom feels minimal and luxe at the same time. Patton went with a deep, dark brown that reads black because of the low lighting. The dramatic, but still neutral, backdrop lets the accent light shine.

Get the look: Farrow & Ball Tanner's Brown

In this stunning, open plan live-work space, natural light bathes the interior. The bright, neutral white helps draw attention to the jaw-dropping architectural details. The wood accents, and pops of color from everyday objects, give the minimalist space a feeling of warmth.

Get the look: Dulux Trade Pure Brilliant White

In this dark minimalist bedroom, by Helen Powell of Design Hunter, a deep, moody blue provides a blank canvas for a select few pieces of decor. While black bedrooms can definitely work, a slightly softer, yet still dark, hue feels a bit cozier, especially when there are few embellishments.

Get the look: Dulux Azure Fusion 1

With the right design, even a dusty pink can feel like an appropriate minimalist room paint color. Take this pink kitchen from GRT Architects. The cabinets are clad in a pink linoleum, and the opposing wall is Farrow & Ball Pink Ground. Both muted tones do well under the flood of sun from the skylight above, softening the space without making it feel fussy. Millennial pink may be over but minimalist pink? Just beginning.

Get the look: Farrow & Ball Pink Ground

Lavender isn't exactly the first color you associate with minimalism. But when combined with hints of gray, it can work. The barely-there purple undertones add a certain softness to a gray bedroom. In this Berlin apartment, the paint plays wonderfully with the muted linen bedding and shadows, creating visual texture and embellishment even though the walls are mostly unadorned.

Get the look: Magnolia Home Vintage Collection

This dramatic, dark bedroom proves that rich green or jewel-toned backdrops are as vital as white ones when it comes to minimalist room paint colors. They create the perfect sultry mood. Here, the darkly verdant paint color lets the leather headboard and simple bedside sconce shine.

Get the look: Benjamin Moore Salamander