Dusty bluish gray is a color many of us associate with winter, but I personally love it in any season for its soothing ageless mood. I hope these timeless tranquil blue grey aesthetic glimpses and paint color ideas ignite your creativity and spark joy as you decorate and consider colors that lift your soul.

Timeless Tranquil Blue Grey Aesthetic
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Get the Look of European Inspired Cozy Opulence
I assembled the mood board of ideas above to capture the look and feel of timeless ingredients intended to impart a calm mood. What’s wonderful about this pretty blue grey wallpaper is how it is peel and stick. No need to fret about the commitment or wall damage if you’re renting.

This blue grey aesthetic friendly paint color would be lovely with Elisie wallpaper as well as on walls, doors, or trim. And isn’t it lovely with Farrow & Ball’s Dimity (suggestive of creamy plaster)?
Here’s a similar pretty greyish blue-green to sample too since it’s always wise to begin with a handful of similar hues to see them in your particular space with its unique lighting conditions:

Timeless Not Trendy Blue Grey Aesthetic
I suppose there are simply certain colors that feel so natural and resistant to trends that they never feel dated. For me, soft and European-inspired muted grays and blues qualify.
Particularly those atmospheric gray blues where if you took a poll, half would call it grey and the other half would insist they’re seeing blue.

For me, these colors feel refined and slightly feminine. Blue can go so wrong when it is too bright or baby-like. If you haven’t lived with it, start with an accent pillow or paint an old pot that has seen better days.

I love seeing shiplap painted in a contrasting color with white trim:

The thing is, even when you decide to use a blue-grey color, there are a host of choices. We’re exploring slightly muddy blue greys which will be perceived differently depending on the lighting situation. In rooms with northern exposure, the color may read too drab or too cold. In Southern light and strong sunlight situations, the paint color may warmed to aqua blue.

Remember that showhouse kitchen?

It’s smart to sample at least three colors before buying a quantity of paint.

Blue-Grey Exteriors
Should you be selecting exterior colors for windows, doors, or trim, sample and watch the color change throughout the day. Since sunlight washes out color, you’ll see undertones come forward. With strong blue undertones in a paint, the sample may appear very green.

BENJAMIN MOORE Boothbay Gray
While Benjamin Moore calls this color a fresh steely gray with hints of blue, to my eyes it looks like a blue color in person. I painted the exterior trim and porch of our tiny house this color and love how gentle it is without being cloying like a kids room blue.

Boothbay Gray has a light reflectance value (LRV) of 43.26, which means it will reflect back 43.26% of light into the space.

When I have used Boothbay Gray in areas with plenty of light, it appears more like this:


Farrow & Ball Pavilion Gray 242
When I think of a favorite timeless, gentle, quiet, light blue gray paint color, a couple of my all-time favorite homes spring to mind. First, Brooke and Steve Giannetti’s Patina Farm. Even though the light grey selected was custom, they say it’s close to Pavilion Gray.


They paired creamy plaster-like walls in this European country farmhouse in Ojai with steel framed doors and windows painted out in a soft grey.

While so many modern farmhouse designs incorporate a more austere look of black painted steel for windows and doors, this peaceful hushed hue captures an elegance that feels more unique and slightly Gustavian.
History of Farrow & Ball Pavilion Gray 242
“This classic mid grey was originally created for a bespoke pavilion, but is also reminiscent of an elegant 18th century Swedish colour. One of the Architectural Neutrals, the subtle blue undertones of Pavilion Gray add a contemporary touch and sense of spaciousness.”
This grey is quite similar to Repose Gray from Sherwin Williams, and I go into more detail in THIS:

Here’s how Repose Gray looks in our home:


I love Pavilion Gray enough to paint the cabinets in our renovated kitchen at the Georgian, (it is mixed it at a lower saturation of 66%).

If you feel confused about how the same color feels different across different contexts, don’t become overly concerned. Lighting, editing, variations in computer screens are to blame and why it’s important to sample first.

Blue-Grey Feels Very Gustavian
Here’s another favorite home of mine (Desiree Ashworth’s unforgettable custom French cottage with its Gustavian design details), and soft blue-grey trim similar to Pavilion Gray imparts an ethereal, rich mood.

Isn’t it refreshing to see trim painted out in colors beyond white?


Benjamin Moore Silver Mist
Okay, full disclosure. There’s a color from Benjamin Moore called Silver Mist and a color from Sherwin-Williams called Silvermist. They are similar. We know that this mud room is one of the two, but go ahead and study both!


Benjamin Moore Silver Mist 1619 “A silvery shimmer characterizes this very pale shade of whisper-soft blue. Delicate and light, it relies on a generous amount of gray to achieve its misty quality.”

To see more soft, romantic pastels like the one above, GO HERE.
Benjamin Moore Silver Gray 2131-60
Benjamin Moore Silver Gray
“This color is part of Color Preview. A collection of bold, saturated colors that brings spaces to life for those looking to illuminate their world with pure, extraordinary color. A great complement to Classic Colors, Color Preview offers a collection of 1,232 hues that excite and inspire with pure, deep, clear colors that create striking combinations.”



Benjamin Moore Silver Lake 1598
Benjamin Moore Silver Lake 1598
“This color is part of the Classic Color Collection. Surround yourself with your color favorites. These timeless, elegant, Classic Colors guarantee beautiful, usable color all the time, every time. A collection of 1,680 inspired hues that consumers and professionals have enjoyed for years, the colors in this palette are as timeless as they are forward.”

Easiest way to see if a paint color will work?

Order samples with Samplize and have them delivered straight to your door.


Benjamin Moore Quiet Moments 1563
What if you like your bluish grey with a bit of green and an aqua mood?

Well then, you may find this calm color calming. Find a bunch more info on it in THIS.

I hope these color ideas give you a place to start in your search for the perfect gray-blue for your particular project.

Blue Grey Aesthetic: A Few Lovely Finds




For me, Betsy Eby’s ethereal encaustic paintings spring to mind when I consider the dreamiest of blue greys.

How do blue greys have their way with you? Use it much at home?

Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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