Craftsman Style Paint Colours

An inviting entryway with dark green-painted wainscotting, white walls and trim, a large window, and a bench with a throw and pillows.

Introduced at the turn of the 20th century, Craftsman style provided a stark contrast to the Victorian era opulence of the industrial age. Influenced by the simple beauty of nature and a focus on hand-crafted high quality, Craftsman style evokes a classic character that endures today.

Our timeless Craftsman colour palette continues in the tradition of this iconic style with sage, russet brown, greige, two off-white hues, and an alluring blue-green.

The Benjamin Moore Craftsman Colour Palette

Earthy, warm, and muted, these effortless hues breathe the spirit of Craftsman style into any home.

“Use the warm, earthy tones of the Craftsman paint colour palette to recreate the timeless aesthetic of Craftsman design in your home—whatever its style!”

Molly Lynch, Colour & Design Expert

A beautiful taupe-painted Craftsman style home with gabled rooflines and a front porch, a black front door and sage accents and trim, surrounded by greenery.

The Craftsman Exterior

The classic Craftsman home includes low-pitched triangular roofs, elegant, tapered columns, large windows and a spacious front porch. California Craftsman homes tend towards Japanese architectural influences.

Some of our favourite Craftsman exterior paint colours include:

Green Paint Colours: Soft Fern 2144-40, Louisburg Green HC-113, and Wethersfield Moss HC-110
Blue Paint Colours: Smoke 2122-40, November Skies 2128-50, and Amsterdam AF-550
Red Paint Colours: Georgian Brick HC-50, Hodley Red HC-65, and Audubon Russet HC-51
Taupe Paint Colours: Smokey Taupe 983, Revere Pewter HC-172, and Sag Harbour Gray HC-95, shown here.
Black Paint Colours: Raccoon Fur 2126-20, Flint AF-560, and Black Beauty 2128-10

Let nature be your guide: Craftsman home colour schemes always harmonize with their natural environment.

An airy, open white-painted living room and kitchen with shiplap walls and vaulted ceiling, wood beams, blue and white decor, and far back blue walls.

Craftsman Open Floor Plan

What architectural elements are found in a Craftsman Style house? Exposed ceiling beams, centerpiece fireplaces, and a surfeit of natural materials, to name just a few.

A modern twist on the Craftsman interior comes via the airy, welcoming nature of an open floor plan. Cloud White OC-130, from our Craftsman paint colour palette, envelops this lodge-like space in calm on walls, trim, doors and ceiling shiplap. Add a swath of colour with an accent wall seen here in Fantasy Blue 716 from the Benjamin Moore Classics^® collection.

Other off-whites we love for Craftsman open floor plans include White Dove OC-17, Acadia White OC-38, and Calm OC-22. Check out the Benjamin Moore Off White Collection for more inspiration.

A sunlit, white-painted living room with vaulted ceiling and natural wood beams, wall art, a gray sofa, chair with a white throw, and coffee table with books.

Natural Accents Against White Hues

Intentionally exposed beams, brackets, rafters, and stone are classic Craftsman elements. In this living space, rich, natural wood trusses make a design statement against walls and ceiling in Soft Chamois OC-13.

Take some time to understand the nuances of white paint colours so that it synchs effortlessly with decorative elements—including natural light—in your space:

Warm whites include red, orange, yellow undertones—see Pink Damask OC-72, Pompeii OC-82, and Mayonnaise OC-85.
Cool whites include green, blue, violet undertones—see Distant Gray OC-68, Decorator’s White OC-149, and White Wisp OC-54.

And remember to use colour samples to test wall colour—even white—in all lighting conditions.

A home library with a statement floor-to-ceiling white-painted bookcase, blue walls, white shiplap vaulted ceiling and trim, and white stone center fireplace.

The Beloved Built-Ins of Craftsman Style

Benches, window seats, bookcases: Built-in furnishings in bungalows and Craftsman homes are not only classic design mainstays, they also optimize small space.

Consider highlighting your built-ins by using the same paint colour on trim and ceiling. Here, Overcast OC-43, an off-white with a subdued green undertone, pairs effortlessly with Manor Blue 1627 walls. Check out other harmonious colour pairing ideas in our analogous and monochromatic colour scheme articles.

Natural stone is another key element of Craftsman style. You can emulate the look of cool stone with the right gray colours: Consider Silver Half Dollar 2121-40, Steel Wool 2121-20, and Stone 2112-40 in your home design.

A white-painted living room, with green window and door trim, a charming off-centred fireplace and stone accent wall, a dark wood floor, white fur rug and white hanging mobile.

Hearth & Home: The Craftsman Fireplace

Fireplaces are an important part of the Craftsman home. Whether working or not, fireplaces are focal points. For non-working fireplaces, nestle flowers, mirrors, or baskets for warmth and personalization. The power of the just-right colour on the mantel and surround—here, soft, sandy Natural Linen 966 does the trick—enhances the design impact.

In this eclectic space, doors and trim in herbaceous Gloucester Sage HC-100 pop against white Steam AF-15, from our mix-and-match Affinity^® Collection. The stone wall adds the ultimate Craftsman touch.

Want to paint all-natural brick? Good news: You can! We’ve even got a step-by-step video to show you how.