True gray paint colors are very difficult to pick out! Gray paint does have several undertones with the blue undertone most noticeable in a "cool" shade of gray paint color. You will also notice a green or purple undertone in some gray paint colors.
I usually pick up NUMEROUS sample chips, bring them home and lay them on bright white copy paper. It is much easier to see the undertones when you lay the samples on white paper. Another trick I use is to find a sample strip of variations of grays going from dark to light. I have found that if you find a strip with a black as the darkest color you can go up the strip to the lighter colors and find a truer gray. I also look at all these samples in the different light that comes in the windows during the day as they change with the light.
Even with all of that I recently ended up with a "blue" living room rather than the grayer color I was looking for! Sorry to say that you may have to repaint. Here are some truer grays that may help you out. Painters are coming and I really need to decide..Most important is the color doesn't end up purple, pink or worst…. Gray continues to top the list of popular paint colors for homeowners, and for a good reason.
Going gray seems simple enough at the outset, but sample paint chips and the finished result often vary greatly. Sometimes previously unseen, warm, cool, green, or blue tones can surface after gray paint is on the wall. To help you choose the best gray paint color for your space, take these essential factors into consideration. A monochromatic kitchen in Benjamin Moore's Rockport Gray makes for a sophisticated yet soothing statement. "I love this shade of gray as it reads as a neutral with its warm, taupe undertones," Wolter says. "It blends with shades of gray, green, and browns, making it versatile in its appeal. It's just a warm, welcoming hue."
When you are talking about gray paint colors they tend to have blue, green, yellow, or purple undertones. Gray paint colors that have very strong blue undertones are called blue gray paint colors. These paint colors are considered cool grays because of these undertones.
If you are scared of bringing color into your home but you want to add a little something because it feels tired or boring, blue gray colors are the perfect choice. Just follow the steps how to choose the right paint colors for your home, and you will find a color that suits you that is perfect without feeling intimidated. I have read all your post with great interest and HOPE for finding some help as I am having a rather difficult time choosing the right gray for my condo in Sarasota. I have used BM Classic Gray in my other home in MA. My new place has whitish large tile floor.
I was hoping to find one of your posts with a white tile floor! Its an Open floor plan for living spaces and pretty hight ceiling(9.4) with crown molding. Faces South with mostly glass sliders-so very sunny! I have tried many paints on ever wall and nothing seems right!
Did I mention its light stucco walls- not a fan-but not something I can change. I have tried Light Pewter which was too dark for the look I was hoping for. After 4 paint color tries…I am headed back to the store to go with my classic…BMClassic Gray again.
I am looking for a truly light gray and white trim contrast. I tend to favor more of a monochromatic calm look with pops of colors with pillows/artwork/accessories. I feel the whitish tile is making it hard-plus I have not picked furniture or area rugs yet. I feel that the paint decision is the most important- but how to do this without any of the furnishing? Does stucco make a difference when choosing the color? I am looking at a warm grey for my dining/sitting room.
My accents are yellow/gold and purple, my furniture is light oak and I have dark floors. Wondering if you can recommend paints for the gray and off white. I was thinking for the gray I would go with a yellow or purple undertones and same with the off white. Am I in the right direction, thanks Phe. Every single bm gray paint has severe undertones magnified by the quality of the light in your room.
With everyone hankering for a true gray and gray being so popular I don't know why they cannot come up with a neutral gray pallet of say 10 shades of true gray. This is so frustrating and I think it's just a scam to get customers to buy tons of sample paints they can't do anything with. And, in addition, the clerks in the store don't know anything about color or how to customize it for you.
Why Does My GREY Wall Paint Look Blue In areas with lots of wood elements, such as kitchens, tread carefully when choosing gray paint colors with greenish notes. "Be mindful of the other aspects of the room, such as furniture, cabinets, and flooring," Wadden says. "The green undertones in gray look very prominent when paired with wood." Often other blues and most grays work well with bluish grays. Certain greens and purples also play well with blue gray paint colors.
For base molding and trim, choose white whites, rather than creamy or warm white tones . I asked her about a couple other gray swatches that caught my eye, but she quickly pointed out the blue or green undertones in each of those gray paint colors. She warned me to be careful of those because they could potentially pick up colors outside of the "true gray" color I was going for.
Your choice of gray sofa and warm wood floors sound perfect. As far as wall colors, consider blue and green undertone grays. Depending on the amount of light, your room can take it without looking overly blue. If you prefer warmer tones, choose a gray with chocolate or pink undertones. If you like a neutral color, the green based grays are often the most neutral.
As always, I suggest painting a few boards with your sample choices and placing them around the room. Its an extra step but often helps to make a better decision. Thank you for your blue/gray paint recommendations!! I'm considering painting 2 dark accent walls and need to pick up some samples but I do like Distance and Bracing Blue.
I am lightening our dark brown vinyl floors with natural wood tones in tables, chairs and a bench and off white/warm furniture and area rugs. Can you recommend an all over white paint for the other walls ? Or a light color to go with the gray/blue accent walls? The color to avoid in a room with purple-gray walls is yellow. Yellow and purple are complementary colors, meaning they are opposite each other on the color wheel.
When placed near each other, each color looks brighter and more intensified. Yellow-toned wood such as oak, yellow upholstery, fabrics or art intensify the purple undertone in the gray paint. Instead, use brown or tan wood in the room to invoke a warmer color on gray walls. Soft white, cream, tan and brown colors on upholstery and fabrics make the wall appear more gray and less purple.
Bring in additional purple or blue fabrics to help neutralize the purple undertones on the wall, making it appear more gray. Hang black-and-white photos in black frames and white mats to influence neutral gray in walls. If you prefer warmer tones, avoid gray-blue paint colors or green gray paint. These will make your room look and feel even colder. Use yellow or beige based gray, sometimes called greige, to bounce as much light around as possible.
Or, for more impact, paint ceilings gray. Try a gray that's two or three shades lighter than the wall color — like Light French Gray — to give a smaller room a spacious feel. Select a darker gray paint for a high ceiling in a large room.
It will create the illusion of a cozy space. Whether you choose gray on the walls or on the ceilings, it offers a crisper, cleaner look than beige. The reason blue gray paint colors are great is because when they are paired with brighter colors they will act as neutrals. They also hold their own when they are used in combination with black colors, white colors, or wood tones. To sample paint like a pro, Wadden suggests painting a 3-foot square in the space.
"Look at it at different times of the day and in different lighting," she says. "The various tones emerge depending on the light." With the right color temperature and undertones, gray paint colors can make a gorgeous backdrop for any room. And all the experts were saying grey is going out – I didn't want to date my home before the paint dried.
My kitchen colors are white cabinets, grey backsplash and a rather boldly grained granite counter with creamy white, grey and browns in it. I went with Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist which is actually in the white family I believe. I still have a bit of contrast with my white trim, but it is very subtle. I am very happy because it seems to lend itself to bringing color in with rugs and accent pieces. In general, most gray paint colors are cool toned and most blues are also cool toned, so they usually work well together.
Now, I'm oversimplifying a bit as there is a range of grays and some are warmer than others. And, there are a range of blues with different undertones , others have purples and others have gray undertones. I have walnut colored hard wood floors,gray quartz & quartzite countertops, and cararra marble backsplash. My wall color/trim/cabinets are builder off-white and lot of bright blue and red accents. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I would love some advice because I'm having a very hard time choosing a color to paint my cabinets.
My walls are French White by Benjamin Moore. And I was thinking of painting my kitchen cabinets with Ashley Gray by Benjamin Moore. But I want to make sure it still looks warm. My kitchen is somewhat open and higher ceilings. I get a good amount of natural light during the day and then mid-afternoon things start to darken up which makes all the colors change.
Adding a little beige will go a long way. However, adding white will really make your blue gray paint colors pop! I highly recommend adding a crisp white with your blue gray colors.
Sometimes that beautiful light blue you thought you were getting turns out to be a baby blue that you certainly didn't intend on. First, this is why I always suggest swatching paint colors, and second, rather than a full blue go for blue gray paint colors. There are hundreds of paint colors it's hard to choose a select few, but these are my absolute favorite blue gray paint colors that I recommend most often. Since many gray paint colors can feel cold because of their blue or purple undertones, a gray paint color that has beige, yellow or red undertone is a "warm gray". Could you suggestion a light grey accent wall color for my white wall theme bedroom. Floors will be the Congoleum Carrara marble dura ceramic tiles.
Vertical blinds will be a soft white with a super subtle hint of silver depending on lighting. Bedroom furniture will be a soft white, ceiling is a soft white. Any suggestions on a light gray Benjamin Moore paint color and trim color for the baseboards for the entire room? Northern light exposure in the afternoon.
Warm gray paint colors are in some ways the opposite of blue-gray paint colors. They give a warm feeling versus a cooler feeling. Revere Pewter is one of my favorite warm gray paint colors, and you can also trygreige paint colors (gray/ beige) which also have a lot of warmth. It's true, we have been having many customers asking for cool gray paint colors with more of a blue undertone to it. I feel like so often people are terrified of color on their walls. Today I have rounded up my favorite blue-gray paint colors for you.
The blue gives them a bright, happy shade that is very trendy right now. However, the grey undertones keep them from being too bright. Blue gray paint colors are very popular, and they are the rise. Blues are calm and relaxing and when you combine them with gray undertones, you have a super stylish mix.
Blue grays look more sophisticated and upscale than a typical blue, and since gray is so stylish, it's the perfect recipe. Gray paint may have an undertone of blue, green, purple or brown. Pick up a handful of gray paint chip cards in shades that appeal to you and take them home. Compare the various tones of gray to a piece of white paper and this should help you identify the undertones more clearly. Look at the paint chips again in the room you plan to paint under the room's lighting. Hold the cards next to wood, upholstery, fabrics and decor to narrow down your choices to three or four colors.
