7 Unexpected Paint Colors West Coast Designers Secretly Love

“We love incorporating dark, moody colors that reflect the natural surroundings of the West Coast into our projects,” says Trish Knight, a designer based in Vancouver. Lately, she’s been digging Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe, a lead gray with blue undertones. Knight recently used this shade in a coastal dining room to create a rich, luxurious effect. San Francisco-based designer Lindsay Anyon Brier seconds this shade. “It’s a deep lead gray with blue undertones that deepens its complexity,” she adds.

Looking to find a happy medium between subtle and statement? Jacqueline Goncalves of Moksa Studio is a big fan of JH Wall Paint No. 166, a muted rust that’s “saturated without being distracting.” “I love that it brings warmth and depth to a space while remaining muted enough to act as a neutral backdrop rather than a bold statement color,” the Los Angeles designer explains. Move over, greige. There’s a new shade in town. 

If you ask Seattle-based interior designer Jessica Dorling, it doesn’t get more versatile than navy. This moody-yet-approachable is fitting in an array of architectural styles—ranging from contemporary to traditional spaces—as well as a breadth of applications. “It’s a great way to add depth and interest to a space, whether you’re color-drenching a room or using it as an anchor,” says Dorling. There are a lot of navy hues out there, but Naval by Sherwin-Williams is Dorling’s go-to. “Its undertones allow you to lean warm or cool with complementary colors,” she says. “I especially love pairing it with creams, greens, and varying shades of blue.”

Serene spaces are often synonymous with airy ivories and creams, however, Reanna Channer of Design to Elevate begs to differ. When she wants to create a space that’s rife with zen vibes, she turns to Carolina Gull, a sage shade from Benjamin Moore. “Color that feels calming, not overwhelming, is the key to creating homes that exude warmth and welcome,” the Seattle designer shares. “Carolina Gull does just that with its perfect blend of green and gray.” For an instant ahhh, Channer likes to use this color on cabinets and millwork.

Speaking of soothing sages, Northern California designer Lisa Simopoulos is partial to Benjamin Moore’s Rosepine. Another beautiful mix of green and gray, Simopoulos says this particular pigment looks great with mid-century modern and Southwestern-style spaces. “With everything from mountains to deserts shaping the way we design, Rosepine reads as a landscape-driven color,” she explains. “It adds character while maintaining the relaxed, indoor-outdoor sensibility West Coast interiors are known for.” The designer also used this color on a recent Craftsman project and found the shade was rich without feeling too heavy. 

Here’s your sign to venture to the dark side with Benjamin Moore’s Wenge, a deep burgundy Narrative Design Studio’s Shannon Niehenke loves. “I love it for television rooms or reading spaces, where the goal is to cocoon and settle in. Used in a home filled with warm white rooms, it became an unexpected, moody contrast: One dark room that always caught guests off guard.”

When Katie Cunningham of Light and Dwell was designing a laundry room, she chose to go for the bold. Her top choice: Farrow & Ball’s Preference Red in a glossy finish. This ruby hue makes a statement in both small doses and large strokes. “That’s the thing about the West Coast,” says the Oregon-based designer. “It offers everything. Breezy neutrals live beautifully here, but so do rich, fearless shades that feel warm and full of personality.”