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Gray is one of those colors that, regardless of what’s on or off trend, homeowners can’t seem to get enough of. Gray symbolizes neutrality and balance and can be a great neutral canvas to build a room or color scheme around. Today we’ve asked our in-house color consultants to put together a list of their favorite and most recommended gray paint colors. For this list, we will be focused on gray colors from Sherwin Williams, but if you’d like to see popular grays from another brand then be sure to let us know!
Kicking things off, we have Light French Gray. A french gray is a gray with a slightly brown undertone. This helps the color feel more grounded and inviting so we love it for a home. This is a fairly neutral gray, but it does have a slightly warm undertone thanks to the brown present in it. If you’re looking for a “true” gray or a completely neutral gray then we always recommend a gray that is actually slightly warm. This will help make sure your space doesn’t end up looking blue, which is generally a top concern of clients going gray.
Jogging Path is almost more of a greige color, but we’ll allow it because it’s just so beautiful! This gray has a lot of warmth in it, so it’s a great option if you’re a little nervous about taking the plunge into gray. We particularly love this for a large open floor plan or in areas that you want to feel a bit bigger. Pair this color with deep navy and blues, oranges, deep reds, or earthy greens to create your perfect space.
For a really neutral gray without a blue undertone, consider Gray Matters from Sherwin Williams. This is a light to medium gray that feels very neutral. It’s a great gray option if you have a lot of cooler toned features in your home or if you’re just looking for that neutral gray color. Neutral grays can end up feeling a little dull, so we recommend incorporating some kind of pop of color through your furniture, accessories, or an accent feature.
Darker grays can be a bit tricky to get right. If the color is too cool toned then the space can feel hollow and cold. Definitely not what we want for a home. Acier is a beautiful medium gray with a slightly warm undertone. This color provides a rich finish with a fair amount of depth. So, if you like color, but want something neutral, this could be a perfect fit. Make sure you use this in a space with a decent amount of light so you don’t end up creating a cave.
This is one of the warmest grays on our list, but we love a warm gray because it helps the color feel more dynamic and modern. Requisite Gray has a very red undertone so it will pair nicely with warm wood floors and crisp white trim. A color like this creates a little more interest than a flat, “true” gray because it opens up the space while adding warmth.
A list of top 10 gray colors wouldn’t be complete without the mention of Repose Gray. Repose Gray has primarily red and green undertones so it won’t create that blue cast that so many grays lean towards. This helps create a very welcoming space rather than a room that is cold and sterile. If you like the look of white walls, but aren’t ready to fully commit, this could be a fantastic option for you!
Here we have another warm gray, Colonnade Gray. This is a little bit lighter so it makes for a great interior color. It’s not quite as warm as Worldly Gray and has a little bit more depth to it, but should still keep your space nice and bright. As always, we highly recommend ordering some samples to test your colors before you commit.
Pussywillow has actually been a very popular exterior color in 2021. It’s not too dark and not too light, which means it has enough depth to keep from looking washed out on an exterior. This color also works very well on the interior and has a nice warm and welcoming finish.
Downing Stone is straight from the Sherwin Williams historical collection which means it’s been around for quite some time. This is a beautiful gray that pairs really well with the other Victorian colors and it works with both warm and cool color schemes.
This might surprise you, but this is actually one of our most popular interior colors. Worldly Gray is often used throughout a home to create a cohesive and harmonious flow. It’s a very warm gray and it works exceptionally well with both warm and cool colors. If you have a room that has both warm and cool fixed features, such as flooring and tile work, this color can help bring the space together.
Although gray is often associated with neutrality, balance, and calm it does have negative connotations as well. Some people feel gray can create depressing and cold spaces, so it’s important to get it right. Because of this, we highly recommend going with a warmer gray or a gray with a slightly red or green undertone. This helps give the gray depth and makes the color feel more inviting. This rule applies to both light and dark grays so do keep that in mind. For this list of the best gray paint colors, we did focus on universally flattering grays, but if you’d like to see cooler or darker grays be sure to check out our exterior gallery online.