Q: I've been digging around for the perfect warm gray for my living room. I'm a little bit of a picky person, and I've already blown through many Benjamin Moore paint samples. I really want to get the job done right, and I'm getting frustrated because I still feel like I can't find "the one":
I've tried:
Abalone: too red/bland
Shale: too red
Thunder: too bland
Etiquette, Classic Grey, Barren Plain, Grey Owl: all too light
Taos Taupe, Shenandoah Taupe: too dark
Berkshire Beige: too brown
Stone Harbor...maybe...it's the finalist so far...



The colors in my home are:
Squirrel Tail, Metropolitan, Blue Porcelain, Greyhound, and Aganthus Green. I like gray, gray, and more gray. I do not like brown, however, my kitchen has brown accents (floor, cabinets, and granite counter tops). Since the room I'm painting (the living room) is connected to the kitchen, I feel like I have to find a gray that will work with the browns in the kitchen. Currently, my living room is Mountain Lane green.
Please help! I need recommendations for a warm gray that's light enough for a small room with limited natural light, but also dark enough to make a statement.
Photo 1: Taken at a baby shower, shows the main wall in the living room to be painted. (No more brown couch or curtains, though)
Photo 2: Shows how the living room is connected to the kitchen with brown accents.
Photo 3: Shows the new, gray furniture and the window in the living room.
Sent by Alycia
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Sheex Bedding
Hey there. I was having the same warm gray dillema as well. lol. Grays are so difficult. I was also looking for a warm gray and have tried at 20 samples before settling on Platinum by bm.
looks better and warmer on the wall. definately has warmth. Dramatic and dark. Great for colorful accents and wall art. This is the only one that didnt change color the next day. Most of the trial colors had a purple or blue under tone. BE CAREFUL. Good luck!!
If you're decided on grey, in my opinion you should choose cool grey -- something with a blue undertone, like slate. With the warm brown in the sofa, and the warm beige in the rug, you need a foil. When everything reads the same, nothing stands out. If It were my room, I'd sample a few greyish blues.
Behr's Elephant Skin is a lovely shade of grey.
I have two favorites: "Silver Tradition" by Behr and "Blizzard Fog" by Valspar. My entire home (except for an accent wall in each room) "Silver Tradition". It looks great with white trim and goes with just about every other colour.
This ask is a fool's errand. Hardcore colorists are drawn to grey precisely because it is so sensitive to light conditions and adjacent colors. You live in a place where there are specific light conditions and colors, and a photo is never going to demonstrate the shifts. Further, you have a sense of the perfect color in your head. The best advice is to keep trying samples in your space and try to see what pleases instead of matching the thing in your head. The real world doesn't match your picky imagination, but often surprises us by being more beautiful than expected.
Benjamin Moore's Elephant Gray is a very nice warm midtone gray.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/elephantgray
I used Sherwin-Williams' "Regular Gray" in my mom's bathroom. I quite liked it. Has a pink undertone, very pleasing. http://retrorenovation.com/2011/04/17/moms-black-and-white-vintage-bathroom-sparkling-with-vintage-jewelry-done/
Try Martha Stewart's Bedford Gray.
Martha Stewart's Bedford Gray is unbelievable - warm undertones and holds its gray in different lights/throughout the day. I painted my laundry room in it and recommend to many MANY people. I've never heard any complaints. The third photo from the bottom is best representation of color.
http://www.gohausgo.com/2011/06/laundry-room-is-finished/
On the same Martha Stewart bandwagon, Sharkey Gray is what I've just painted my kitchen in and it's a warm beige-ey gray. My kitchen gets no natural light and it's light enough to not make the room feel dark, but rich enough that it makes a nice statement. Love it!
BM Revere Pewter was my perfect warm grey.
BM Stonington Gray
Maybe if you find a fabric swatch or something along those lines and have it matched? Or just mix two of the colours to achieve shade perfection?
I have used Benjamin Moore's Stone Harbor on kitchen cabinets and in my dining room. I originally picked it to work with my living room's warm brown sofa, and it totally worked. My space is very airy and bright, and the Stone Harbor is lovely and soft. With my dining room light on in the evening the color goes a little bit lavender, but I actually like that as well. I'm so in love with the color I'm going to paint a bedroom in the color too.
We just painted our family room Martha Stewart's Zinc and LOVE it. It is on the dark side, but so warm and cozy. I would even say....sexy. :)
Check out before and afters here.
I have Sherwin Williams' Rice Grain (SW6155) on most of my walls. I like it a lot and get compliments on the color. It's a light, barely warm, more cool grey color. I live in Alaska, so I did not go darker on the continium of greys on the color-card, but if I lived in a place that received more light during the winter, I would go a shade or two darker.
We have Behr's Dolphin Fin in 2 of our rooms. It has a slight yellow undertone, but I feel it's amazingly neutral:
http://thenestinggame.com/2012/02/27/all-boy/
In our formal living room we have Martha's Whetstone Gray. After living with it for a bit, it's a little too pink for me. But it's lovely. I think it just clashes with the adjacent Dolphin Fin dining room.
http://thenestinggame.com/nest-tour-2/nest-tour-living-room/
Good luck! I think trial and error are, unfortunately, the only way to figure it out.
You may love gray, but sometimes too much of a good thing is… too much. Gray carpet, gray fireplace tile, gray furniture… and now gray walls? This room already has a serious case of the blahs, introducing more gray will only increase that feeling.
And there is another major issue to address: The existing grays do not work together. On my monitor, it looks like you have a pink/red undertones in the carpet and fireplace tile, and green undertones in the new gray sofa. And obviously the kitchen cabinets are in the yellow range. No wonder you are having problems… no wall color is going to pull all of these elements together.
I recommend Maria Killam’s blog: http://www.mariakillam.com./
I've been reading her blog for about 6 months -- it's really good. She has worked out a system that will help you understand and choose color. (She has a book out about choosing paint colors, and I think that would really help you. I have not seen it but I am going to buy it. And I have zero affiliation with her, fyi.)
i just painted my living room (BM) balboa mist. LOOOOOOOVE IT!!!! its the perfect grey!
I'll second Behr's Elephant Skin. I turned my walls into camouflage trying out grays...until Elephant Skin entered my life (never mind that its an awful name, its a great gray). Its a nice warm gray and does not read brown or taupe in the room...its nice, warm and comforting.
Sherwin Williams Functional Grey. I love it!
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7024-functional-gray/
I would stay away from the gray since your floor is gray I think a white would be a good choice.
We just painted our kitchen in Benjamin Moore's stardust, a nice warm gray. We have midrange brown cabinets and red valances. We are very please with how everything coordinates. We also did a small accent wall in chocolate coffee by Hershfields.
I too am really picky about color so have often mixed my own. I finally bought a set of tube paints and mix them myself until I get just what I want, then take the sample in and have the paint store match it. They can usually get just what I want.
But, have to agree with some of the comments above...if you paint it all grey it might look a bit dull...why are getting rid of the green?
Elephants breath - Farrow&Ball
Our entire downstairs is Behr GRANITE with Behr DUSTY MOUNTAIN on the fireplace accent wall and under the chair rail in the dining room. The interior doors are DUSTY MOUNTIN high-gloss. Trim is off-white (contractor painted). It also coordinates with our downstairs bathroom, which is Behr SILVERMIST. Upstairs, I'm doing it with a brick red & navy in my son's room, pale pink & aqua in my daughter's room, and coral & teal in the master.
Oh! I also really liked Behr's JACKAL and Martha's SHARKEY GREY. They were my 2 other finalists.
2nd the motion on BM's Revere Pewter. Also, search in apartmenttherapy for Kirsten and Kyle's Bungalow (Portland)- I remember they had some beautiful grays from BM which they list
Sticks and Stones by Sherwin Williams
I went through so many blogs and paint chips myself trying to find the perfect gray for my home. I decided on Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter, it's in my opinion, the perfect gray, not to dark, a warm gray - I get compliments on it all the time. Also, if you are looking for a darker gray, I would recommend Restoration Hardware's "Slate", you can always ask them to mix it at 50% or something like if it looks to dark to your liking. Good luck!
7031 mega greige by Sherwin Williams. i reccommend it to alot of my customers. it is the perfect taupe-y gray. also have it in my house
Gray is such a hard color to get right, especially depending on the light your have. After countless samples, I settled on BM's Coventry Gray. It's part of their historical colors collection.
I've used Benjamin Moore "SIlver Fox" - you can see photos here:
http://itsagoodhouse.blogspot.com/2011/05/pointless-exercise-in-aesthetics.html
It's a pretty neutral warmish grey - I love grey too - good luck!!
Hire someone - it wouldn't cost much for a paint consultation. Consultants see paint in different rooms and can see how they work. The color my consultant picked for my bedroom was spot on and it was one I would never have chosen.
C2. Artesian
My bedroom is Benjamin Moore "Ozark Shadows" I totally love it, it has weird/limited light. I really did not love it in the store but my sister forced me to bring the sample home and it was perfect!
I have to 2nd the recommendation for 7031 Mega Greige by Sherwin Williams, did my entire finished basement ("the studio") with it. FYI, doesn't look so good under fluorescent lighting. I also love Restoration Hardware's Graphite (actually, a color match in Behr paint), did the most of the rest of my house in that. A little darker and less taupe-y than Mega Greige, and a step lighter than RH's Slate (recommended by another). Both look great with white trim and warm wood floors.
I chose Sherwin Williams "Knitting Needles" for my living room. It's a nice, slightly warm, mid-tone gray.
This is SO timely, or possibly a bit late, for me. I brought a slew of Martha Stewart Gray paint chips home for my bathroom (looking for a foil to the salmon pink tile in my bathroom). I looked at it all through the day. I chose Potter's Clay, thinking it had a pinkish undertone. I got it on the wall and it is more like a warm olive green/khaki. I did like Zinc, but thought it would be too dark for a bathroom with western light. Dolfin or Cement might also be a choice. But now I am going to look up some of these suggestions.
Looooove that green. Can't think why you'd want to change it.
Benjamin Moore Sparrow
http://redesignedinteriors.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/houseandhome-com-benjamin-moore-sparrow-af-720-grey-green.jpg?w=640
grey mist, bengie moore. great, light grey, goes so well with brown. if you can't find the right colour, you might actually be craving light.
As SMIHILIST commented, this is not something that can be answered online. As much as we all would like to be able to give you an "answer" there is no way to do this via jpegs and not seeing the physical light and color in your space at different times of day. If you know an artist, designer, or someone who just seems to understand color well, that would be your best bet for help.
Restoration Hardware Graphite Subtle Velvet is an amazing shade of grey
I just redid my entire house. I had the exact same desire and fretted and fretted and just finally went with something. I ended up with BM Silver Metallic (bathroom) and BM Silver Lake (Kitchen and Living Room...I'm going from memory here). When I first got them on the wall, I thought they had too much blue undertone, but now I love them, especially with the art I have on the walls, which is very bold and poppy (bright red). Silver Metallic is bluer than Silver Lake.
Personally, I think the bluer shades might read better with all of your brown tones. Chocolate brown and light blue, afterall, is a very good combination, though it was overplayed a few years ago. Even so, if the gray is very subtly blue, it might make your furniture and cabinets pop...in a good way.
Taubmans "Rock Quarry", a very warm medium grey
Girls:
Gray is hot right now! Glad your going that direction. There are a plethora of grays out there!
I recently wrote about gray, maybe this can help?....
http://rubenmarquezjr.com/blog/2011/07/13/gray-is-the-new-beige/
Good luck!
Ruben from Los Angeles, CA
I had the same dilemma as you - searching for the perfect gray!!! What we finally went with after many samples and research is
Cape May Cobblestone by Ben Moore
It is neutral but still dark enough to make a statement, it has no noticeable blue/brown/green/purple undertones, it is right in the middle gray, I did my open concept living/dining area and absolutely LOVE it!
Good luck!!
Dovetail from the HGTV Collection at Sherwin-Williams. I did my bedroom in that color.
I think you will be able to find a pleasing warm gray if you cue off the color(s) in the tile surrounding your fireplace.
I painted my entry (very little sunlight) Benjamin Moore London Fog and Love it with Mandarin Orange. It is soft and calming and everyone loves.
I am an interior designer, and I always recomend Sherwin Williams paints for grays. They have so many grays and neutrals, all with different undertones and root colors, it's impossible not to find one that you like! Gray is the 21st century neutral, so you've already made a great choice for your color pallette. Based on your selection of BM Stone Harbor and the light heather color of your upholstery, I think you should try these SW colors:
SW 7023 Requisite Gray, GW 7024 Functional Gray
SW 7030 Anew Gray, SW 7031 Mega Greige
SW 7044 Amazing Gray
Hope this helps! -Becky
For my son's nursey i bought a paint from home depot called "dove grey". it is a perfect grey color. it is extremely popular in show homes . i just cant remember the brand only the color name
Benjamin Moore - Silver Fox. It's in all my rooms as a 'neutral'. Highly recommended. Covers in 1 coat, 2 coats if you want a deeper tone.
I just painted my kitchen with Wet Pavement by Valspar. Awesome shade, not too dark or too light. I love it! Affordable brand, covered well with one coat.
My perfect warm grey is Benjamin Moore London Fog. You should definitely chek it out.
I went with Ralph Lauren 'Neutral grey' for my bedroom and i love it!
Martha Stewart Living's Sharkey Gray. Here's a picture of it on my walls, so you get some idea in different light situations:
Walls painted in Sharkey Gray
I wasn't looking for it at the time; I was just walking down the aisle at the home improvement store, saw the paint chip, and instantly knew it was right. I hope you find the right one soon!
Behr's pewter mug is what my bedroom is painted and I LOVE IT!
Alycia - off topic but what is going on in photo #3? The lady in the middle looks like she is waxing philosophically, while the other two are bored to death or about to cry?
Maria Killam is the queen of colour, and she posted this very helpful blog post about choosing grey paint. http://www.mariakillam.com/2009/11/what-everyone-should-know-about-gray.html
Good luck!
Slate or graphite from Restoration Hardware's paint collection have nice warm undertones.
I loved the pussywillow gray from the sherwin williams catalogue. http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-collection/kids-colors/teen-space/charmed/
Fawn Brindle by Sherwin Williams
I used Behr's Ashwood and (warm, can look a little sage-y depending on the lighting) and Behr's Wheat Bread (lighter, looks good with browns and grays that have a more red/purple undertone). I've lived with both for over 2 years and like them. Swatch photo of Ashwood and its hues here: http://monochromaticdynamic.blogspot.com/2010/01/perfect-gray.html
the green is a nice colour, but not in that space. grey is tricky. assemble said samples & at least 4'x4' sheets (larger is better b/c the existing green influences) of foamcore or drywall remnants, paint those, move them @ your room(s) at different hours, next to different furniture, then decide in person. allso consider one accent colour as a pop, against which all the greiges will seem more coordinated (keeping the green pillows, for ex).
What paint color did you find to tie the living room / kitchen with the gray and wood cabinets?