Grey paint colors are on my radar this very moment as they are playing a prominent role for renovations at the new house. 9 Light Gray Paint Colors for a Zen Look You May Love + Interior Design Inspiration Photos is a brilliant place to start when you’re seeking paint color inspiration for calm greys. Trial and error is an intelligent part of the process and necessary for arriving at the perfect hue, so don’t rush into a quick decision. Also, I have strong sentiments about trending paint colors and whether grey is in or out…curious to know this color consultant’s take?

9 Light Gray Paint Colors for a Zen Look You May Love + Interior Design Inspiration Photos
Light grey is the color of a Northern sky, a dolphin, silver, pebbles, the moon, and furry friends of varying species.
The color creates a mood, and for me, that mood is quiet and zen-like. So it doesn’t surprise me whenever it happens to be trending for interiors and walls.

What DOES surprise me is when homeowners feel hesitant to use grey paint colors because some blogger (or micro-blogger on Facebook…I’m lookin’ at you, Aunt Sue or your cousin Mike) blasphemes that grays are out.
Really? Is silver just “so yesterday?”
Nope.

Choose paint colors by adopting a broader lens and a timeless mindset. If a color feels timeless, natural, or pleasant to you, that is quite enough reason to go ahead and sample it on your walls.
In other story, we looked at blue-grey paint colors in particular.
Buy Samples & Organize Your Favs
Pssst. Buy samples before investing time and money into a whole gallon. (In fact, did you know Farrow & Ball now offers paint color sample pots shipped free in the USA? YES! TAP HERE and you can choose color samples to try…SCORE!).

The Farrow & Ball sample pots ship free and are 100 ml, which is roughly 3.5 oz of beautiful paint.

If you don’t already have a Pinterest board devoted to awesome paint colors to try, create a board and click here to PIN THIS POST so you’ll have paint names at the ready when you head to the store to buy samples to try on your walls.

Some of these gray paint colors meant to inspire may read “medium” or even slightly dark gray, depending on the lighting in your space.

For example, this first gray, BEHR Classic Silver is the grey I painted the cabinets in our second home in sunny Arizona. Because of the intense sunlight, the color reads as light grey in the space.

Don’t count out pricey Farrow & Ball colors either (which you can always color match after snagging a sample – get them RIGHT HERE!)
1. BEHR Classic Silver

I love how serene this grey feels in the kitchen, and the blue undertones gave those builder-grade plain ol’ cupboards a very sophisticated, timeless boost.

For this art work in a bathroom, the canvas is painted BEHR Classic Silver (and wall color is VALSPAR Salute).

2. BENJAMIN MOORE Pashmina
When a designer reveals the paint colors used in their own home, I’m all ears! Lisa Furey painted her white interiors and exterior in the same color I used here at home…Benjamin Moore White.
For the gorgeous mushroomy taupe-ish Parisian style grey painted kitchen island in her coastal cottage, she painted it BENJAMIN MOORE Pashmina.


3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS Tinsmith
Another light grey suggestion hailing from Lisa Furey is SHERWIN WILLIAMS Tinsmith, a cooler and gentler grey which was used on bathroom vanities.




4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS Dorian Gray
Sometimes word gets around about a certain paint color, and you see it crop up everywhere…which was certainly the case with this popular one!

The thing is, it’s popular for good reason!


5. BENJAMIN MOORE Stonington Gray
I love how atmospheric, neutral, and balanced Stonington Gray is – almost like a tranquil overcast day where you cozy on down with a book.

BENJAMIN MOORE Stonington Gray




Similar to Stonington Gray? FARROW & BALL Pavilion Gray:





6. FARROW & BALL Strong White 2001
Here’s the thing about paint color names: sometimes they contain “white” in them when they live large as a grey.

FARROW & BALL Strong White 2001






7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS Repose Gray
This is a gorgeous, calming grey color that I am presently living with at the new house. It is painted on the walls of the dining room, living room, entry, and powder room.

I am considering Repose Gray for kitchen cabinets too! Why? It is beyond popular for good reason. When you’re after a greige that looks smashing with crisp white trim and only seems to improve when the sunlight hits it…this is it.
In fact, since I’m a huge fan of atmospheric blue-greys, I love how Repose Gray looks with natural light. BUT. If your room is dim, you may still love it!

I know this because I still love the hue on the gloomiest of Chicagoland days! It is cooler for sure, but never cold or sterile.

See this kitchen tour and resources too RIGHT HERE.
8. BENJAMIN MOORE Classic Gray
If you’re looking for a perfect white for your room, it just may be a barely there, light grey like this one which I used in a bathroom.



9. KILZ Wedding Band
For a soothing grey paint color, Joanna Gaines has gone on record and given a thumbs up to KILZ Wedding Band.



Smart Grey Paint Color Tips
1. Consider all the various nuances of light grey paint colors (is it cool, warm, bluish, mushroom-ish?).

2. Decide whether objects in the room are cool (choose a cool grey) or warm (choose a warm grey).

3. Assess the lighting in your space…does it receive a ton of natural light (go with a less pigmented hue) or very little sunlight (go with a more pigmented option).

4. Choose a few grey paint color to test large swatches on the walls.
But which greys?

It’s Smart to Start Your Search Online
We all understand how the perfect white paint color at my house in Chicagoland may come off completely different for someone trying it in New Mexico.

A room’s exposure, geography, and other factors come into play.

Additionally, photos we view online are often edited and tweaked so the the actual color may vary significantly!

So why should you even bother?

Well, it’s still a good idea to pay attention to images online and info as to what designers and folks in the industry suggest as a place to start because it saves time and launches your quest.

Try a Handful of Samples
It is wise to begin your search for the perfect light gray paint with a handful of possibilities because the differences between them will give you valuable information.

While it’s possible to paint on just one sample and decide it’s all wrong or (yay!) perfect, typically you need to see multiple tones to tease out why it works or doesn’t work.

When you view three or more shades of grey in your space, you’ll be able to easier identify undertones coming forward or how one or more may feel too dirty, too green, too cool, or too brown.
Need a Moody Darker Grey?
OMG. I spied this grey on a door in Leanne Ford’s IG (are you following me there?), and it’s gorgeous!

She paired it with walls painted this white which is super similar to the white throughout my own home:


Here’s an infographic with a few more of my favorite white and neutral paint colors from BENJAMIN MOORE (including Classic Gray mentioned above)…click it to discover how to choose a great white paint:


YOUR TURN! Have a favorite go-to light grey or neutral paint color? Why do you love it?
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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Good tips on interior color tips. Thank You for the article
Author
Thanks so much for reading. 🙂
Great article since grays are still so popular 🙂 Could you do a post on some popular beige tones? That would be great too!
Author
You bet! Thanks so much for reading. 🙂
What color are the barn doors?
Author
I couldn’t find the answer – here’s a gorgeous blue in the same spirit: https://rstyle.me/+ZL6Ndx4z6TAEFAXe5KQNJw
Author
Hi again – also check out Benjamin Moore Hearthstone – it is gorgeous.
Loved this article – thank you. On the little cottage painted in repose gray – can you tell me what color the porch floor and ceiling are?
Author
Hi there! No idea – you should send a DM on instagram to Bell Sheep Studio with any inquiry about those colors. Hope this helps.
Fantastic article! Thank you.
Author
Thanks for reading – so happy to have you here.
Thanks for the inspiration.
I am searching for the perfect colour to paint the exterior of our home. Our roof is brown shingles. Do you think gray matter would work with th brown roof or should we stick with sage?
Author
I think gray or sage works well with the brown, and sometimes when I can’t decide, I mix the two tones together and find it’s just right. So how about a greeny-gray custom color from the two you like?
Thank you so much for this informative article.
Author
So happy you liked it. 🙂
what wall color goes good with amber cherry cabinet ?
Author
If you’re looking for a light gray color to go with the cherry cabinets – try Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray. It’s a grey-beige or greige and is not too cool, not too warm. If it isn’t dark enough and your space has ample natural light, consider Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter.
Great post! I’m saving onto Pinterest. The gray I love most is SW Agreeable Gray. It works in sunny rooms and also those with no light. In my sunny living room at some times of day, it takes on a little green and others, a little blue. It never feel cold.
Thank you for your wonderful blog!
Author
Thanks so much for sharing these particulars about Agreeable Gray, Beth! It is the color we currently have in all of the upstairs bedroom at the new house and is so calming. So happy to have you here and hope you’ll keep following the journey. Have a wonderful weekend.