Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Home
  3. Color Palettes & Paint
  4. The Best Paint Colors To Make Your Guests Feel at Home

The Best Paint Colors To Make Your Guests Feel at Home

By Emma Phelps Updated September 10, 2021
Skip gallery slides
FB
Earthy Guest Room
Credit: Ngoc Minh Ngo

We all want our guests to feel at home when they visit. Whether its family or friends staying with you, ensure that the space they're staying in feels like their own by adding personal touches around the room. A great way to spruce up a guest bedroom is adding a fresh coat of paint. We've rounded up our favorite guest bedroom colors to give you a bit of inspiration for your next home project. Choosing a paint color doesn't have to be a stressful process, consider whether you'd use a potential paint color in other parts of your house and if it fits the atmosphere that you are trying to create for your guests. Sometimes the best paint color for a guest bedroom is the one that you least expect. Go bold with a true sage green or brighten a space with a reliable cream.  

Start Slideshow

1 of 14

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Soothe with Pale Blues

2019 Idea House Resource Guide Guest Bedroom
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Liz Strong

Get the Look: Lullaby by Sherwin-Williams (SW 9136) on the walls with High Reflective White by Sherwin Williams (SW 7757) on the trim.

A soothing blue color will have your guests counting sheep in no time. Designer Heather Chadduck Hillegas used Meg Braff Designs, LLC, Southwind, White on Powder wallpaper to bring out more soft blues in this cozy and light guest bedroom.  

1 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 14

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Frame White in Color

2019 Idea House Queen Guest Bedroom
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Liz Strong

Get the Look: Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams (SW 7008) on the walls and  crown molding, with Jasper Stone by Sherwin-Williams (SW 9133) on the window trim, plus Sea Salt by Sherwin-Williams (SW 6204) on the ceiling. 

If you're looking for a toned-down approach to color, switch your typical white trim for a sea green and mirror it with a lighter green on the ceiling. 

2 of 14

3 of 14

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Accentuate Moody Greens

Idea House 2020 Guest Bedroom with Warm Neutral Colors
Credit: Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Kendra Surface

Get the Look: Momentum by Sherwin-Williams (SW 9530) on the walls and trim with Simple Stone by Sherwin-Williams (SW-9521) on the ceiling and crown molding. 

Let the natural light that streams into your guest room play off cozy shadows created by this comforting marsh green. 

3 of 14

Advertisement

4 of 14

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Decorate with Pops of Color

2021 Idea House Guest Bedroom in Yellow
Credit: Marta Xochilt Perez; Styling: Page Mullins

Get the Look: Cotton by Sherwin-Williams (SW 9581) on the walls, ceiling, and trim with Arrowroote by Sherwin-Williams (SW 9502) on the doors. 

This off-white shade is perfect for a warmer-toned room. Add in bright colors – like this yellow headboard from LEE Industries – to draw your guests' eyes to focal points in the room. 

4 of 14

5 of 14

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Contrast Colors

2021 Idea House Brown Bedroom
Credit: Marta Xochilt Perez; Styling: Page Mullins

Get the Look: Tea Leaf by Sherwin-Williams (SW 9604) on the walls with Cotton by Sherwin-Williams (SW 9581) on the ceiling, trim, and door. 

Make a stark contrast in your guest bedroom by pairing a warm-toned white with a darker color. This will keep the room feeling cozy and intimate without making it feel cramped. 

5 of 14

6 of 14

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Warm Up the Room

2018 Idea House in Austin, Texas Guest Bedroom
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Get the Look: Cavern Clay by Sherwin-Williams (SW 7701) 

Make your guest bedroom as inviting as possible with a warm clay paint color. It's an easy balance of earth tones mixed with a bold color to incorporate a touch of personal style into a room. 

6 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 14

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Welcome Bold Tones

Brittney Forrister Hat Rack in Nashville Cottage
Credit: Mary Craven

Get the Look: Still Water by Sherwin-Williams (SW 6223)  

The murky emerald, turquoise, and moss shades in this paint make it a fun shade to play with in an experimental space like a guest room. 

7 of 14

8 of 14

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Take a Chance

Andrew Howard Home Decorated for Christmas Blue and Red Guest Bedroom
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong

Get the Look: Sonoma Skies by Benjamin Moore (737)

Designer Andrew Howard wanted to experiment in his guest bedroom with a bold color that matched the hues in the vibrant wallpaper. The result is surprising and will leave your guests feeling like they're on a coastal retreat. 

8 of 14

9 of 14

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Keep Things Festive

Green guest room with twin beds decorated for Christmas with greenery and bottle brush trees.
Credit: Marta Pérez; Styling: Vero Designs

Get the Look: Calke Green by Farrow & Ball (No. 34)

Jordan Kruse & James Hewlette's guest room is ready to be adorned with holiday decor any time of year with this merry "traditional sage green" paint. Whether you're in the holiday spirit, or adore a signature green, this shade would compliment any bedroom style. 

9 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 14

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Bring on the Purple

Earthy Guest Room
Credit: Ngoc Minh Ngo

Get the Look: Brinjal by Farrow & Ball (No. 222)

This full gloss paint embraces the drama of a bold color while still remaining sophisticated for a comfortable space.

10 of 14

11 of 14

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Stay in a Color Range

Blue Bedroom with Twin Beds
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Get the Look: Niebla Azul by Sherwin-Williams (SW 9137) on the walls with Blustery Sky by Sherwin-Williams (SW 9140) on the trim. 

Have a little fun with your guest room paint and go for two complimentary colors to accentuate the space. A light and dark blue with gray undertones compliment any neutral palate for bedding and curtains. 

11 of 14

12 of 14

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Complement the Room's Surroundings

Guest Bedroom
Credit: Lucas Allen, Styling: Elizabeth Demos

Get the Look: Lighthouse Landing by Benjamin Moore (1044)

If you have a smaller guest bedroom, open up the space with a warm beige that complements light-filled windows and whimsical fabrics. 

12 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 14

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Sing the Blues

2018 idea House in Austin, Texas Master Bedroom
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Get the Look: Quietude by Sherwin-Williams (SW 6212)

This calming pale blue-green paint color will relax your guests. They'll easily fall asleep each night and gently wake up each day with natural light reflecting on the walls. 

13 of 14

14 of 14

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Balance Brightness

Nicola McLaughlin San Antonio, TX Home Guest Bedroom
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Get the Look: Marshmallow by Sherwin-Williams (SW 7001) on the walls with Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball (No. 239) on the trim. 

These off-white shades will add the slightest bit of warmth to bedroom walls and still allow all the brightness of true white, without the blinding morning light reflection. 

14 of 14

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Emma Phelps

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 14 Soothe with Pale Blues
    2 of 14 Frame White in Color
    3 of 14 Accentuate Moody Greens
    4 of 14 Decorate with Pops of Color
    5 of 14 Contrast Colors
    6 of 14 Warm Up the Room
    7 of 14 Welcome Bold Tones
    8 of 14 Take a Chance
    9 of 14 Keep Things Festive
    10 of 14 Bring on the Purple
    11 of 14 Stay in a Color Range
    12 of 14 Complement the Room's Surroundings
    13 of 14 Sing the Blues
    14 of 14 Balance Brightness

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    The Best Paint Colors To Make Your Guests Feel at Home
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.