10 Best Gray Paint Colors

Our Favorite Shades of Gray

Written by
Ashley Knierim

Ashley Knierim is a New York-based freelance writer and editor with 10 years of experience. She covers everything from health and wellness to celebrities to finance. She's held staff positions at AOL, Time, Inc., and About.com.

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Ashley Knierim
Updated 12/13/19
Gray paint colors

The Spruce

It's safe to say that gray is a perfect neutral paint color. Gray is particularly versatile because of its 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 while cool grays can appear more modern and fresh, with soft blue and green undertones.

The beautiful secret about gray as a neutral is that you can go much darker than you may feel comfortable going with a bolder color such as blue or even beige. Gray somehow manages to stay crisp, even in the darker shades. The key is finding the right gray for your space and sampling colors thoroughly. 

Here are our picks for the best gray paint colors.

  • 01 of 10

    Best Moody Gray: Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray SW 7015

    Sherwin Williams Repose Gray SW7015

    The Spruce

    Sherwin-Williams' Repose Gray is a cool, moody gray with a slight hint of green undertone. 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 greens and blues for the biggest effect.

    Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray SW 7015

  • 02 of 10

    Best Dark Gray: Benjamin Moore Dior Gray 2133-40

    Benjamin Moore Dior Gray

    The Spruce

    If you want to go bold with you gray, consider a deep, soothing dark gray like Benjamin Moore's Dior Gray. This rich color works in bathrooms and bedrooms and pairs well with golds and rich reds for a classic palette that will transcend trends. When placed next to a fresh white subway tile, Dior Gray looks extremely chic and modern.

    Benjamin Moore Dior Gray 2133-40

  • 03 of 10

    Best Warm Gray: Farrow & Ball Skimming Stone 241

    Farrow and Ball Skimming Stone paint swatch

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    Farrow & Ball Skimming Stone 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.

    Farrow & Ball Skimming Stone 241

  • 04 of 10

    Best Calming Gray: The Spruce Best Home Gravity Gray SPR-30

    The Spruce Paint color swatch in Gravity Gray

    The Spruce

    A light gray is a great choice if you crave minimalist, monochromatic styles but want a color a bit punchier than white. The Spruce Best Home Gravity Gray is a light, cool gray with blue undertones that lends a silvery touch to your walls. This shade pairs beautifully with other cool tones such as blue or crisp whites and is a great color for any size bedroom.

    The Spruce Best Home Gravity Gray SPR-30

    Continue to 5 of 10 below.
  • 05 of 10

    Best Beige-Gray: Valspar Linen EB12-2

    Valspar Linen paint swatch

    The Spruce

    No list of gorgeous neutral grays would be complete without a greige paint color. Valspar's Linen is extremely versatile in most spaces and will look slightly different depending on the accents you pair it with. Next to cool undertones, Linen will appear a little more gray while it will take on a strong beige look next to warm colors.

    Valspar Linen EB12-2

  • 06 of 10

    Best White Gray: Behr Irish Mist 790C-1

    Behr Irish Mist paint swatch

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    Behr's Irish Mist 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 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.

    Behr Irish Mist 790C-1

  • 07 of 10

    Best Blue Gray: Benjamin Moore Sea Star 2123-30

    Benjamin Moore Sea Star paint switch

    The Spruce

    If you want a gray with a little more oomph, consider Sea Star, 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.

    Benjamin Moore Sea Star 2123-30

  • 08 of 10

    Best Cool Gray: Clark+Kensington Sheer Mist N-C9

    Clark + Kensington Sheer Mist paint swatch

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    Sheer Mist by Clark+Kensington is a soothing and pure gray without any major undertones. This cool, light gray can effectively replace a pale neutral when you need to tone down the warmth of a color scheme. It's also a nice option if you're going for a classic gray rather than a beige or greige. 

    Clark+Kensington Sheer Mist N-C9

    Continue to 9 of 10 below.
  • 09 of 10

    Best Earthy Gray: Sherwin-Williams Amazing Gray SW 7044

    Sherwin-Williams Amazing Gray paint swatch

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    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.

    Sherwin-Williams Amazing Gray SW 7044

  • 10 of 10

    Best Nearly-Black Gray: Magnolia Prairie Smoke

    Magnolia Prairie Smoke paint swatch

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    If you want a dramatic look, an almost-black-but-not-quite 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, working beautifully in a bedroom, dining room, or living space. Keep the rest of the color palette bright to avoid Prairie Smoke feeling too dark.

    Magnolia Prairie Smoke