If you’ve looked at the title and still clicked on this post, thank you. Your first question is probably something like, “Are gray paint colors still popular in 2023?” Short Answer, Yes, but it depends on the paint color. Many of the best grays are from Sherwin Williams.
Today we are going to look at 20 of the best gray paint colors from Sherwin Williams so you don’t have to stress which one might look best in your home. I’ve already researched them all and found my faves.
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Things To Know Before Picking A Gray Color
Gray is a neutral color that about 10 or so years ago was the go to neutral for designers and builders. Have you heard of “the millennial gray?” Within in the last few years, the neutral of choice has migrated to beiges and greiges.
Things to keep in mind when selecting a popular Sherwin Williams Gray is to think about how to categorize “grey paint colors.” I put this in quotations because there are so many variations of greyish paint colors on the market, that it has to be narrowed down in groups: Warm, Cool, and Neutral.
Which One Do I Choose? Warm, Cool, Neutral?
Another consideration when choosing gray paint colors is to consider undertones. Warm gray paint colors have a beige, red or yellow base and cool grays have blue or purple undertones.
The next thing to consider is the other elements in your home such as other paint colors, countertops, hardware, etc. Choose what you like, but remember to test it out first.
Best Gray Sherwin Williams Paint Colors
Here are 20 of the most popular Sherwin Williams Gray paint colors:
- Agreeable Gray SW 7029 11. Dovetail SW 7018
- Light French Gray SW 0055 12. Peppercorn SW 7674
- Repose Gray SW 7015 13. Gauntlet Gray SW 7019
- Mindful Gray SW 7016 14. Useful Gray SW 7050
- Modern Gray SW 7632 15. Requisite Gray SW 7023
- Dorian Gray SW 7017 16. Gris SW 7659
- Anew Gray SW 7030 17. Colonnade Gray SW 7641
- Online SW 7072 18. Worldly Gray SW 7043
- Silverplate SW 7649 19. Amazing Gray SW 7044
- Pavestone SW 7642 20. Alpaca SW 7022
Warm Grays Sherwin Williams
Let’s make it as easy as possible for you lovely folks to find the best gray sherwin williams paint color for you. Here are the Warm Gray Colors:
Agreeable Gray SW 7029
How gorgeous is this living room from @bymeghang!
Agreeable Gray is a light warm gray with an LRV of 60. I’m putting this one first because it is the most popular Sherwin Williams Gray on this list. It is also the most popular warm gray, greige, light gray- all the things. This is because it is so versatile and can blend into most color palettes.
This color has taupe undertones that help make it more a warm gray that doesn’t lean too cool. A warmer option that is also a really popular color is Accessible Beige. It is slightly warmer and more beige toned, but till considered greige and has all the same richness and depth as Agreeable Gray.
Related: Accessible Beige vs Agreeable Gray
Light French Gray SW 0055
Love this shelf styling from The Daily DIYer!
Light French Gray is one of those grays that is the perfect blend of warm and cool to be completely neutral. It has an LRV of 53, so a little bit darker than Agreeable Gray. This color is so versatile with really neutral undertones. There are no hues that really jump out in any different lighting situations.
It is a historic color, which is kinda my jam if you didn’t know. If you are looking for a cabinet for walls, cabinets, trim, this would be a good choice. I can definitely see me picking this for my next project.
Repose Gray SW 7015
This barn door with Repose Gray from @abby_singharath!
Repose Gray is another almost perfect light warm gray color that has a slight coolness to it. The LRV for is 58. What makes this paint color another one of the most popular Sherwin Williams gray paint colors is while it is a gray, it has a taupe base which is made up of beige, gray, brown, and smidge of purple.
The undertones are much the same: some brown and gray, greige, and a small amount of purple. These tones help bring this gray into the greige family that is used in a lot of homes these days. Its a great choice for to go with many styles and also a great choice for a painting a whole house.
Mindful Gray SW 7016
Laura Sima has this living room dripping in greens. It’s stunning next to the Mindful Gray!
Mindful Gray is a warm gray that reads a little beige because of that warmth. If compared to a true beige, it is easy to tell that this really is a gray paint color. It has an LRV of 48, making it a deeper mid toned gray. Mindful Gray is the most neutral shade of gray.
The undertones can lean more green in certain lights and more purple in others. I wouldn’t recommend this paint color for darker rooms because it will bring out that purple and look more beige. However, it looks great in a room with a ton of direct sunlight.
Modern Gray SW 7632
Modern Gray is a warm gray that enough warmth to make it look taupe in some lighting. I have this color in my home. My house is Northern facing so it looks like a more cool gray color, however if you have a south facing room the taupe undertones really shine through.
It has an LRV of 62, making it a light gray. If your home has less natural light, make sure the interior lighting is adequate to light it or this paint color can feel blah. Supposedly this is one of Joanna Gaines go to gray paint colors.
Dorian Gray SW 7017
Dorian Gray has an LRV of 39. You’re looking at yet another one of the best grays Sherwin Williams has to offer. It is a warm gray, yet it feels a bit darker and edgier than the ones we have talked about so far. This is another one of Joanna Gaines go to gray paint colors.
Even though it’s darker, it is still considered a mid-toned gray (goldilocks of gray I call it) not too light and not too dark. This color is quite soft and muted, giving it a very classy and elegant feel. It would look great in main areas or bedrooms. The undertones are purple, some green, yellow and brown.
Anew Gray SW 7030
Anew Gray is another soft warm gray paint color. With an LRV of 47, it is a mid tone gray that is kind of in the middle of all the grays we have talked about. The undertones on this color are neutral beige, and subtle greens and purples.
I have this color in my downstairs powder room that is a smaller space with no windows. Its like a warm hug in the space. With no natural light, the warmth shows more beige than grey. I love it.
Pavestone SW 7642
This dining room from My Illinois Home is stunning. Look at the Pavestone with the crisp white trim, Pure White.
Pavestone is a warm medium gray. It has an LRV of 32 which is one of the darkest in this list of gray paint colors so far.
This color is a little too warm to be considered a true gray. The undertones for this color are dark and warm grays and soft green that may wink out every now and then in the right lighting.
It reminds me of a historic color so Pavestone is right up my alley. Sherwin Williams has it as part of it’s timeless collection, so you can’t go wrong when choosing this color. I would pair Pavestone with creams, greens, and deep blues.
Dovetail SW 7018
Dovetail is a warm mid-tone gray paint color. This color is super versatile and looks great on a variety of surfaces such as cabinets, doors, trim, exterior, etc. I love the masculine feel to this color with its undertones of brown and gray.
That’s exactly why it is the color we chose for our upstairs media room/my husband’s office. It paired well with the ceiling color, Modern Gray. Depending on the color it’s paired with it reads warm or cool. In this case, LRV 26, it is a warm enough space and makes it perfect for movie watching.
Peppercorn SW 7674
Peppercorn is a dark gray that is the perfect balance between warm and cool toned. It has an LRV of 10, so it’s close to black. Compare it to another dark gray by sherwin williams, Gauntlet Gray, and the warm tones of GG brings out the cooler tones in Peppercorn.
This color pairs well with a crisp and bright white such as Pure White. I think it also looks nice with a creamy off white color. I used in my son’s room with Sherwin William’s Snowbound.
Gauntlet Gray SW 7019
See how beautiful Gauntlet Gray looks on a home exterior painted by H M Precision Painting? It’s almost a black exterior, but not quite.
Gauntlet Gray is a medium-dark, warm gray with warm greige, brown and slight violet and green undertones. Its LRV is 17, so not as dark as Peppercorn. They are right next to each other on the color strip.
This color looks fabulous on the exterior of the home and looks great as an accent color to brick. It pairs well with other soft greige colors that are maybe 2 shades lighter than Gauntlet Gray such as Accessible Beige and Anew Gray.
Useful Gray SW 7050
Cute bedroom with Useful Gray from @diana.housemadehome! It would have been kind of funny if they used Ellie Gray. Get it?
Useful Gray is a warm neutral gray color. It has an earthy hue to it with undertones of beige and peeps of green. Pair Useful Gray with other earthy paint colors such as browns, creams, rusts, and greens for best results.
I really like this choice for a best gray Sherwin Williams has to offer because it is so versatile and can work for lots of different styles. It has an LRV of 59, so it is a light, soft warm greige color.
Requisite Gray SW 7023
How stunning is Requisite Gray next to all this wood panelling?!?!?! If you didn’t know, historic homes have my heart! @1907homerenovation
Requisite Gray is another one of those grays with a good balance to it. There is enough warmth to not feel too cool, but not so much that it has any taupe or brown in it. The undertones for this color are violet. Depending on the lighting, it can be more noticeable or not.
With an LRV of 45 (the same as online), I would classify this paint color as a light to medium warm grey.
Colonnade Gray SW 7641
Colonnade Gray is another gray paint color that looks so subtle and soft on kitchen cabinets! @londonjoneshome
Colonnade Gray is another one of the best grays from Sherwin Williams because it is basically a mix of two of the more popular gray colors: Agreeable Gray and Repose Gray. It has a good bit of warmth to it, making it a greige paint color.
This color would be a beautiful color on trim and doors, exterior, you name it. As with any gray color, it has some tricky undertones. Depending on the light, it can have undertones of blue, greige or slight peeks of green or violet. LRV is 53, making it a light gray paint color.
Amazing Gray SW 7044
Amazing Gray is stunning on both the walls and cabinetry in this Laundry Room by Kathryn Salyer Designs. This is a fabulous painting hack you can use in a small space.
Amazing Gray is another versatile light, warm gray paint color from Sherwin Williams. It has undertones of warm gray and green. The LRV is 47. The warmth of this color makes the color lean more greige and not a true gray.
Amazing Gray pairs well with creamy off whites, earthy greens, deep blues, and rosy blush colors. I’m not sure I would use this paint color in a space that lacks a lot of natural light.
Worldly Gray SW 7043
This makes a stunning cabinet color according to Bria Hammel Interiors and photography by Spacecrafting Photography.
Worldly Gray is a light, warm gray paint color. It has different undertones of greige and green, but certain lights can have spots of violet or blue shining through. With the right amount of natural light, this warm greige could be a great choice for main living areas such as family rooms or kitchens.
Some coordinating colors for Worldly Gray include dark blues, blacks, crisp whites, deeper gray colors, and sage greens. It has an LRV of 57, so it can be a light and bright color in certain spaces.
Alpaca SW 7022
A gorgeous bedroom reno from @brittanyrylie_
Alpaca is soft, light warm gray color. It is similar to the last few gray Sherwin Williams paint colors in that it is versatile, looks great in a number of places and styles, and shifts between warm and cool depending on the lighting. Alpaca is mostly warm, but can appear cool in some situations.
I think this color would look so sweet in a Nursery. The warm brown undertones make sure that it is has warmth, but it is still considered a light gray paint color with an LRV of 57. It is slightly warmer than Agreeable Gray so it is a good option if you want something similar but a little bit different!
Cool Grays Sherwin Williams
Let’s make it as easy as possible for you lovely folks to find the best gray Sherwin Williams paint color for you. Here are the Cool Gray Colors:
Gris SW 7659
From the color queen herself, Kylie M. Interiors pairs Gris by Sherwin Williams with Super White by Benjamin Moore.
Gris by Sherwin Williams is what I would have called a quintessential gray back in the day. It is a dark charcoal color with cool undertones such as green and blue. The LRV is 39, which is the same as Dorian Gray.
Compare Gris to Online and the blue undertones belonging to Online shine through and Gris is left to appear darker and more neutral. This isn’t a color that you hear a lot about, but I think it is a really pretty option for a deeper charcoal color with more neutral undertones than most cool, dark grays.
Online SW 7072
Online is a light mid toned gray with an LRV of 45. This color is part of the cool gray family with undertones of blue and green that are very cool and crisp. Pairing this gray paint color with other blue colors.
I did this in our last house in my son’s nursery. Online was on all of the walls with a navy blue accent wall. The colors work well together and gave it a coastal feel.
Silverplate SW 7649
Such a pretty bathroom by Kiki and Willy Designs!
Silverplate is a gorgeous cool gray from Sherwin Williams. Is is a silver or a gray? It is a gray with undertones of subtle blue. They don’t appear too cool, but it is not too warm either.
In some lights this gray paint color can appear silver. On the wall and in direct sunlight, it does seem to reflect the light as if it were silver. Silverplate has an LRV of 53, which puts it on the medium to light end of the light scale.
FAQ On Sherwin Williams Gray Paint Colors
Here are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about The Best Gray Sherwin Williams Paint Colors:
Are Gray Paint Colors Going Out Of Style In 2023?
No, neutrals such as greyish paint colors will never go completely out of style. However, in 2023, we are seeing less of the gray and more of the greige, tan, rust and terracotta, and creams are being favored.
Is Greige The Same As Warm Gray?
Yes and No. Warm grays have so many different undertones and hues that they can take on, it is a really broad categorization. Greige, however, is more specific. It is a blend of gray and beige that generally gives a warm gray color.
So most greiges are warm grays, but not all warm grays are greiges.
Do Greige and Gray Go Together?
Yes! The rule to remember when pairing these two color families together is to keep the greige lighter and the gray paint color darker. This helps these colors mesh well and live harmoniously in your space.
What Is The Best Way To Test My Paint Colors?
The best way I have found to test the best grays from Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, Farrow & Ball or PPG is to try Samplize. You buy paint samples that are shipped to your door.
They are real paint samples that can go on your wall like a sticker. Peel them off when done and there is no mess or samples to paint over. No Mess. It’s Awesome!
Final Thoughts
I think the biggest takeaway from this post is that “gray” isn’t always gray. There is greige, warm gray, cool gray, and just a color with the word gray after it that has a completely different hue. These are all beautiful gray paint colors that are popular Sherwin Williams choices.
The things to remember when picking a greyish paint color are to look at the undertones of the paint color, think about the lighting in your home and the direction it comes from, and lastly TEST THEM OUT WITH SAMPLIZE!! That’s it! See y’all next time!
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