5 Paint Colors That Soothe and Energize

The popular DIY dictum is true — a fresh coat of paint is often the easiest way to makeover a room. Perhaps a more compelling reason to bust out your overalls and start painting: a well-selected color can also transform your mood. From punchy brights to soothing neutrals, these smile-inducing paint colors are like an attitude overhaul in a can.

01
Elmira White by Benjamin Moore
Michael J. Lee Photography

Elmira White by Benjamin Moore

After a long, stressful day, sometimes a soft neutral is just what the doctor ordered. Benjamin Moore’s Elmira White walks the line between beige, grey, and white, and is a go-to color for designers. It imbues any room with a subtle calm, and is particularly suited for a spa-like bathroom. Elmira White is the paint color equivalent to wrapping yourself in a cashmere robe, and will induce a contented sigh whenever you walk in the room.

03
Touch of Pink by Benjamin Moore
Liz Carroll Interiors

Touch of Pink by Benjamin Moore

People often eschew the color pink as being too feminine, casting it aside for little girls’ bedrooms. Although this notion is so deeply ingrained in our culture nowadays, it wasn’t until World War I that pink became associated with femininity. For those with male co-habitants, it may take some convincing, but the color should not be discounted for the rest of the house. Touch of Pink by Benjamin Moore is a great example of a grown-up pink. It is airy, delicate, and an incredible mood-booster. This living room would transport you to the Bahamas on the dreariest winter day.

05
Teresa’s Green by Farrow & Ball
Heide Hendricks & John Gruen

Teresa’s Green by Farrow & Ball

This minty green is a surprising but cheerful update for kitchen cabinets. It would be equally at home in just about any room in the house, from the bedroom to the living room. Farrow & Ball is much beloved by designers for their selection of complex colors, and Teresa’s Green is no exception. It is bright and fresh, yet distinctly sophisticated. This color might even have you whistling while you wash your dishes.

07
Hawthorne Yellow by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore

Hawthorne Yellow by Benjamin Moore

Yellow is a notoriously difficult color to get right, but when it works, it is a mood booster like no other. Hawthorne Yellow by Benjamin Moore is like a big dose of Vitamin D, and is just right for a sunny breakfast nook. Skip the lemony yellows, which can be sterile and unflattering, and bask in this golden hue. It is soft yet energetic, and will have you glowing in no time.

09
Palladian Blue by Benjamin Moore
Design in a Day

Palladian Blue by Benjamin Moore

Light blue is a popular color for bedrooms, and with good reason. However, it’s easy to take a wrong turn toward baby blue, and end up with walls that look flat, icy, or juvenile. Palladian Blue by Benjamin Moore is the antidote. This blue is chipper yet decidedly mature, evocative of Lady Grantham’s bedroom in Downton Abbey. Waking up for the daily grind might be a little easier in this bedroom, surrounded by walls that mimic a sunny, cloudless sky.