Try These Dirt-Hiding Paint Colors in the Messiest Parts of Your House

With two kids, two dogs, and two cats, the odds of a freshly painted wall in my house staying pristine are just about zero. But who has the time to be constantly wiping away kids' handprints or touching up scuffed corners? So if you're in the same boat, it may be time to choose a paint color that can hide dirt and other sins so it requires a lot less upkeep to look good.

Fortunately, there are quite a few paint colors that can hide dirt and damage, according to color experts. Here's how to select the perfect dirt-hiding hue for the busiest rooms in your house—and some specific suggestions from the pros.

Meet Our Expert

• Amy Wax, color expert and author of Can't Fail Color Schemes

• Amy Krane, architectural color consultant at Amy Krane Color and host of the podcast Lets Talk Paint Color

Related: 33 Absolutely Perfect Paint Colors Designers Love

Paint Colors That Can Hide Dirt and Scuffs

Clay Beige by Benjamin Moore

This is one of Wax's favorites; Clay Beige is a soft, warm neutral that can hide both scuffs and dirt. "I like softer neutrals on those vulnerable places like stair risers or inside doors in high traffic areas," Wax says.

Blue Stream by Benjamin Moore

"Try colors that are more subdued, and remember, not too light or too dark will work best for minimizing those signs of wear," Wax says. A soft blue like Blue Stream is one of her recommendations.

Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams

On the cooler end of the earthy neutrals is Agreeable Gray, a soft greige, which can hide both scuffs and dirt with aplomb.

Cookie Dough by Benjamin Moore

If you're looking for something a little less neutral, a hue with a bit of sunny yellow in it, such as Cookie Dough, is a great option.

Gossamer Veil by Sherwin-Williams

If you're looking for a light hue that will still disguise a bit of dirt, this light gray will do the job, Wax says. "I have used Sherwin-Williams' Gossamer Veil as a color to minimize surface blemishes."

Related: 4 Versatile Neutral Paint Colors (That Aren't White)

Woodstock Tan by Benjamin Moore

For a richer shade for your walls—especially if dirt is more of a concern than scuffs—a taupe hue like Woodstock Tan can help hide dirt remarkably well.

How to Choose a Paint Color That Hides Dirt and Stains

The key here is to avoid color extremes, experts say. "Really dark walls are hard to keep blemish free and light, like white and beige, show everything," says Amy Krane, architectural color consultant at Amy Krane Color and host of the podcast Let's Talk Paint Color.

Stick to mid-range hues

Save those light pastels and dramatic dark hues for less-used corners of your home (like your reading nook). "Signs of wear tend to show up on contrasting colors the most," says Amy Wax, color expert and author of Can't Fail Color Schemes. "Off white scuffs will show up on the darkest paint colors while gray and black marks will stand out the most on pale or white surfaces. How to avoid these blemishes? Choose mid-range colors rather than the brightest or darkest colors in the paint store."

One way to select the right colors for dirt-prone spots? Look at the light reflectance value (LRV) of a hue you want to use, Krane says. "From 40 to 60 is mid-toned."

Gravitate toward earth tones

What hides dirt better than, well, something that's inspired by it? "Earth tones tend to hide scuffs and dirt well," Krane says. "Frankly, the closer to the color of dirt, the better! So taupes and warm grays are at the top of my list here."

Related: Clean Paint Finishes That Help Your Home Look Spotless

Consider the paint finish

If you're regularly swabbing off dirty handprints, splashes of smoothie or other icky stains from your walls, you want to make sure they're scrubbable. And that means opting for a shinier paint finish that can stand up to frequent washing. "The higher the gloss on the paint, the more sealed the surface is, making it more washable as well," Wax says. "For example, a satin finish will be more resistant to blemishes than a flat surface, a semi-gloss finish will be more secure in the long run than a matte or eggshell finish. Generally, the higher the sheen, the more durable the surface of the paint is and easier it is to wash as needed."

Krane tends toward a subtler take on sheen, even in messy spots in the home. "I specify eggshell for bathrooms and kitchens, and for a home with little kids, I’ll advise eggshell for hallways and stairwells too."

If your family is particularly rough on the walls, consider upgrading to a heavy-duty paint product. Wax recommends Benjamin Moore's ScuffX, a paint that resists nasty scuffs and prevents them from ever happening. "Commonly used in commercial applications, it is now available to homeowners in almost every color. It might be exactly the product you need to keep that freshly painted look in your home for the weeks and years to come."

Protect vulnerable spots

They aren't exactly a model house aesthetic, but you can buy clear plastic or acrylic corner guards to place on the lower half of the walls in heavily trafficked spaces. You decide whether you can live with the chipped and scuffed corners or the plastic guard instead.

Invest in scuff paint pens

No one wants to drag out all the paint gear and brushes for every ding and scratch. But when you're done painting a wall, put excess paint into a paint pen that you can have handy when that inevitable scuff happens, so you can keep your paint looking fresh more easily.

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