:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/DesignbyEmilyHendersonDesignPhotographerbyTessaNeustadt_365-21babe265740478d8059701599468219.jpg)
When it comes to picking a neutral hue, you don't have to stick to just whites and off-whites. In fact, light gray could be considered the perfect neutral. It provides just enough color to add depth to any room in your house while keeping your space feeling light and airy. It's the ideal color for anyone seeking a sophisticated and chic color that is versatile enough for any decor style.
- Color Family: Gray
- Complementary Colors: No complementary colors
- Pairs Well With: Pair cool light gray with blues and greens, and warm light grays with deeper orange and red-based hues.
- Mood: Crisp and calming
- Where to Use: Anywhere in the home, including walls, cabinets, and vanities
From warm to cool undertones, we asked designers to give us their best light gray paint ideas to help you pick the right hue for every room in your house.
Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/elegant_simplicity_may_15_2019-102-f54561f959ba45188612a7a8f3573f88.jpg)
According to Sherri Monte of Elegant Simplicity, Revere Pewter is the perfect warm greige tone that still feels distinctively neutral. "It's absolutely timeless for every room in your home," Monte says. "It's elegant and light in the bright spaces of your home yet sophisticated and classic in the darker areas."
Benjamin Moore Classic Gray
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/elegant_simplicity_june-38-2b057b81588c42359d121f55e069a3f0.jpg)
"If you're looking for a very pale warm gray, classic gray is your choice," says Sherri Monte of Elegant Simplicity. "It is one of our go-to colors because although it's very light, it adds such a strong warm energy to a home."
Clare Paint Seize the Gray
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/jojotastic-Craftsman-House-Makeover-Accent-Ceiling-with-Clare-Paint-6-2c3fdf8d02464789a3c731b33c1736af.jpg)
A newbie on the paint scene, Clare's Seize the Grey is a wonderful middle of the road light gray paint. According to Joanna Hawley-McBride of Jojotastic, this hue is "a neutral-toned gray that isn't too light and isn't too dark" and is perfect for a dining room.
Benjamin Moore Fieldstone
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BenMooreFieldstone1558-a39c4e2f48c54b6da3796a78b013a59a.jpg)
Kim Valente of Brick + Beam Studio loves Benjamin Moore's Fieldstone because "it looks great in so many different lighting conditions. It has a little bit of a green undertone but is still warm enough to keep the room looking cozy and inviting."
Benjamin Moore Gray Owl
One of Benjamin Moore's best selling colors, Gray Owl is a versatile light gray. According to Kim Valente of Brick + Beam Studio, it’s light gray with a great balance of warm and cool undertones. "[Gray Owl] does change dramatically in different lighting situations, which is great if you’re using it in several rooms because it will look different from room to room depending on the lighting conditions," Valente says.
Instead of using white primer, consider a gray tinted printer, especially before very light paint colors. This will allow you to do fewer coats and still end up with a vibrant color.
Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray
"It can be hard to find a true gray paint color that doesn't feel too greige or too blue and adds just enough warmth to any space," says Sherri Monte of Elegant Simplicity. But Repose Gray is just that. It is great for living rooms and bedrooms and pairs with a wide variety of hues due to its neutral undertones.
Sherwin-Williams Analytical Gray
One of the darker light gray hues on our list, Kim Valente of Brick + Beam Studio loves Analytical Gray becuase it's an almost greige paint with soft green undertones. "It’s easy to pair this paint color with either warm grays or tans in your furniture and accessories," she says.
Sherwin-Williams Amazing Gray
"Amazing Gray is a warm gray, with some depth to it," says Valente of Brick + Beam Studio. "It’s a great color to use in an open floor plan or in a main living area because it creates a great neutral backdrop."
Farrow & Ball Cornforth White
Farrow & Ball's Cornforth White is a chic, sophisticated gray with a subtle blend of both warm and cool undertones. It's a wonderful neutral gray that pairs beautifully with soft blues or blushes and creates a tranquil, calming feel.
Benjamin Moore Light Pewter
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/AMADesigns_Wallington_byMariahTexidor_006-372b5a1f183940ce83502e677acdb4fd.jpg)
Amanda Amato-Scotto of AMA Designs loves to use Light Pewter in bedrooms to create a soothing, tranquil space. "Although it may be the lightest color on the paint strip, it still has enough color to make white trim pop," she says.
Valspar Paint Soulful Grey
A warmer gray, Soulful Grey is ideal for nurseries or bedrooms. It's soothing and mellow. but still holds its own when paired with other neutrals or even bold paint shades.
Sherwin-Williams Modern Gray
Sherwin-Williams' Modern Gray is a warm gray that feels clean and crisp. We love it when paired with olives, dusty oranges and even darker grays and it works in nearly any room in the house.