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7 Best Gray Paint Colors That Go From Dreamy to Dramatic

Gray has never looked so rich and lovely

Gray paint colors

The Spruce

It's safe to say that gray is a perfect neutral paint color. Gray paint colors are particularly versatile because of their wide range of undertones. A warm gray or greige (a combination of gray and beige) paint color most closely resembles a beige ​and can be used almost interchangeably. Cool grays can appear more modern and fresh, with soft blue and green undertones.

The secret about using gray as a neutral is that it allows you to decorate with bolder blues or calmer beiges. Gray walls stay crisp, even in darker shades. The key to finding the right gray for your space is to sample colors thoroughly and correctly. 

  • Color Family: Neutral
  • Complementary Colors: No direct complementary colors in gray; they already have little bits of color in them
  • Pairs Well With: Everything from whites and pastels to the darkest tones
  • Mood: Light shades are generally peaceful and darker shades are more dramatic and masculine
  • Where to Use: All walls, any room, or even kitchen cabinets

Here are our 7 picks of the best gray paint colors for your home.

  • 01 of 07

    Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray

    Sherwin Williams Repose Gray SW7015

    The Spruce

    Sherwin-Williams' Repose Gray (SW 7015) is a versatile cool, moody gray with a slight hint of green and the palest of purple undertones. It's a great color for dreamy bedrooms or living rooms with a lot of natural light. This gray will pick up cool undertones in complementary colors, so pair it with soft greens and blues, and even navy, for the most stunning effect.

    Tip

    Every gray has an undertone—the bit of color(s) added to the base to create the hue. Knowing the undertone of any color you choose will help you to pair colors that won't clash.

  • 02 of 07

    Farrow & Ball Skimming Stone

    Farrow and Ball Skimming Stone paint swatch

    The Spruce

    Farrow & Ball Skimming Stone (241) is a light, warm gray that looks stunning next to natural wood trim or flooring. It looks beautiful in a bedroom, providing a soothing and calming atmosphere. It looks striking next to a classic, stark white, but also pairs well with deeper grays and blues.

  • 03 of 07

    Valspar Gray-Green Linen

    Valspar Linen paint swatch

    The Spruce

    No list of neutral grays would be complete without a green-greige paint color. Valspar's Gray-Green Linen (V142-3) is extremely versatile in most spaces and will look slightly different depending on the accents you pair it with and the natural light streaming into the room. Next to cool undertones, Gray-Green Linen will appear a little grayer while it will take on a strong beige look next to warm colors. In bright light, the green undertones will shine through.

    Tip

    Test paint samples in large swathes across each of the walls in the room you're painting. This will help to see how the paint color looks in every type of light.

  • 04 of 07

    Behr Irish Mist

    Behr Irish Mist paint swatch

    The Spruce

    Behr's Irish Mist (790C-1) has an airy quality, making it the perfect paint for a darker bedroom or bathroom without a lot of natural light. There is a slight warmth to this pale white gray that makes it much more versatile than a traditional beige neutral. Pairing it with crisp white trim will help lighten the color even more.

    Continue to 5 of 7 below
  • 05 of 07

    Benjamin Moore Sea Star

    Benjamin Moore Sea Star paint switch

    The Spruce

    If you want a deeper gray, consider Sea Star (2123-30), a blue-gray from Benjamin Moore. This cool gray has a teal undertone making it a soothing choice for bedrooms or attic offices. It reminds us of sea glass and is a wonderful color for evoking the feel of the beach, even if there's no sand for miles.

  • 06 of 07

    Sherwin-Williams Amazing Gray

    Sherwin-Williams Amazing Gray paint swatch

    The Spruce

    Sherwin-Williams Amazing Gray (SW 7044) is a warmer gray void of any harsh yellow undertones. It has a lot of depth and works well with warm whites to create a modern, monochromatic palette. Try it in a kitchen with white cabinets and a few accents with some pops of color.

  • 07 of 07

    Magnolia Prairie Smoke

    Magnolia Prairie Smoke paint swatch

    The Spruce

    If you want a dramatic look, a dark gray is the way to go. We love Magnolia's Prairie Smoke for added dimension and personality. This deep gray has soft green undertones and is surprisingly versatile, which will work beautifully in a bedroom, dining room, or living space where you want darker walls. Keep the rest of the color palette bright to avoid Prairie Smoke feeling too dark.

    Determine how much paint you need with The Spruce's Paint Calculator.