These Are the Best Light Gray Paint Colors for Any Room, According to Designers

written by
Ashley Knierim
updated Mar 06, 2020
best light gray paint
Design: Emily Henderson Design, Photo: Tessa Neustadt

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.

01 of 12

Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter

Entryway painted in Revere Pewter
 Elegant Simplicity

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."

pewter paint
Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter $42
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02 of 12

Benjamin Moore Classic Gray

Bathroom painted in classic gray
Elegant Simplicity

"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."

Classic Gray
Benjamin Moore Classic Gray $42
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03 of 12

Clare Paint Seize the Gray

clare paint seize the day

Jojotastic 

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.

seize the gray
Clare Paint Seize The Gray $49
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04 of 12

Benjamin Moore Fieldstone

House painted with Benjamin Moore Fieldstone
Brick + Beam Studio

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."

fieldstone
Benjamin Moore Fieldstone $42
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05 of 12

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.

gray owl
Benjamin Moore Gray Owl $42
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06 of 12

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.

repose gray
Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray $39
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07 of 12

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.

analytical gray
Sherwin-Williams Analytical Gray $39
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08 of 12

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."

amazing gray
Sherwin-Williams Amazing Gray $39
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09 of 12

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.

cornforth white
Farrow & Ball Cornforth White $110
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10 of 12

Benjamin Moore Light Pewter

bedroom painted with light pewter paint
AMA Designs

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.

light pewter
Benjamin Moore Light Pewter $42
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11 of 12

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.

soulful gray
Valspar Soulful Grey $52
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12 of 12

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.

modern gray
Sherwin-Williams Modern Gray $39
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