Give Kitchens A Crisp, Coastal Makeover With Erin Napier's Unique Paint Choice

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Capturing a coastal aesthetic doesn't have to mean relenting to seashell dinner plates and mermaid decor. Erin Napier is an interior design pro and the co-host of "Home Town Takeover" on HGTV. According to Napier, opting for a paint color simply because it's popular or trendy is a common kitchen mistake color during renos and no way to design a space that you'll love. Still, that doesn't mean a kitchen that tickles the heartstrings can't look elevated and upscale at the same time. To bring a tasteful coastal touch to the kitchen, she reaches for one paint shade in particular: Valspar brand's Shell White paint color.

Valspar Shell White (7007-12) is a neutral paint color that's timeless yet on-trend. This warm-toned white was practically designed to function in a coastal home. In fact, Valspar's suggested coordinating colors for Shell White include Holmes Cream, Hopsack, and High Noon — a palette of blues, warm-toned tans, and creamy whites that evokes the experience of strolling along the shore. In a kitchen, Shell White adds a cozy touch but is no less bright, letting light in. It's the perfect complement for a backdrop of tan sand and crystal blue water. At Lowe's, a one-gallon bucket of Valspar Signature Satin Interior Paint and Primer in the shade Shell White retails for $50.98 at the time of writing.

To really drive the coastal flair home, you can apply that Shell White paint over vertically-oriented shiplap the way Erin Napier does, giving the walls a subtle element of texture and nautical flair. You can also give the cabinets a similar (if not identical) color, creating the impression of an allover colorwash. With its warmth and simplicity, Shell White is a paint shade that'll turn any kitchen from basic to bougie, and colorwashing in neutral tones is a surefire way to make any space look luxe. The understated elegance of this paint color inherently makes your kitchen appear more expensive.

You can coordinate the floors with white and gray-brown flooring. These colors develop a cohesive palette alongside the Shell White walls that continues throughout the entire space. Still, regardless of the flooring choice, Shell White walls would lend a beachy look to any kitchen. When in doubt, a well-placed jute rug, like this one by Safavieh on Amazon, can go a long way to deliver all the coastal vibes your kitchen is craving without necessitating a costly remodel.

Want to lean into the coastal vibe even further? Try adding a small kitchen lamp made from natural wicker, like Jonathan Y's Aksel Sphere Table Lamp, which goes for $65.99 on Amazon. This beachy material works perfectly alongside the warm walls, and when turned on at night, its soft glow will reflect off the shell white paint for even more ambiance. You could also drape a thin-striped cotton ticking tea towel across the oven handle bar, or install ticking cafe curtains for extra upscale coastal warmth.