What Are The Most Popular Cool Gray Paint Colours For Painting Walls
Cool Gray Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams are at the top of the list when it comes to the best gray paint colors. It’s safe to say that cool grays are the perfect neutral paint color. The color gray continues to trend as one of the most popular paint colors for your walls due to its versatility and wide array of undertones. What is the most popular gray? Agreeable Gray rounds out at the top of the list as one of the most popular colors and the default color for new construction home builders and home renovators alike. In a close second is all of the Sherwin Williams Warm Gray Colors. Cool Grays can add both excitement and elegance to any wall.
Gray works with a multitude of coordinating colors and honestly goes well with just about everything. Cool Gray is so popular that even Nike is coming out with the”Cool Gray” Ah11’s Everyone loves Cool Gray Colors. Just keep in mind that all grays are not the same, they all have a different undertone that will drastically change the overall look and feel of your home. There are grays that are beige looking, grays that have a blueish tone, purple tones, and everything in between. Chances are, you have heard someone mention cool grays. There are tons of cool gray pins on Pinterest and a simple Google search will fetch a plethora of links to articles on cool gray paint as well.
Did you know that between Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, and Behr Paint there are over 200 shades of gray paint alone? The choices, all the choices are enough to cause any homeowner to pull out their hair. Before you get into the actual paint color, you have to decide if you actually want a warm gray or a cool gray.
What Is A Cool Gray?
What exactly does cool gray mean? Although the color gray is commonly associated with thunderstorms and cloudy days, there are both “cool grays” and “warm grays.” Cool grays have more blue undertones, while warm grays are grounded in yellow and brown — similar to “greige,” in Agreeable Gray, it’s a combination of gray and beige. The coolness refers to the undertones Cool grays — like Repose (SW 7015) or Argos (SW 7065) — complement pure white trims and even creamy white trims like Greek Villa in rooms with plenty of light.
Let’s Focus On Sherwin Williams Cool Gray Colors
What Are The Undertones In A Cool Gray Paint Color
Cool Grays Paint Colors Have 3 Main Undertones
- Violet
- Green
- Blue
Paint Undertones, are a direct result of blending multiple colors together. Think of elementary school when you would blend, blue to yellow to make green or blend black with blue to make indigo. The more dominant color is the overall color that you see. The color that you slightly see is the undertone. If you have ever seen a gray paint that looked somewhat blueish; the blue is the undertone. And this my friends is why I recommend getting paint samples.
What Sherwin Williams gray paint has no undertones? Sherwin Williams’ “Agreeable Gray” is a popular gray paint color that is considered to have little to no undertones. Another option is “Eider White” which is a light gray with no undertones. Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray 7016 is another gray paint with no undertones. It’s always best to paint a swatch on the wall and observe it at different times of the day to see how it changes with the light.
What Is LRV? And Why It Matters.
LRV stands for Light Reflective Value. It is a color’s Light Reflectance Value (LRV) which measures the amount of visible and usable light that reflects from (or absorbs into) a painted surface. In layman’s terms, LRV measures the percentage of light a paint color reflects. Why should this matter to you? If you paint a room that has a low LRV and has no natural light, then the room will be dark. This is why you will often see a color paint that you love and it looks amazing; then you purchase it and put it in the den that has very little light and you would swear that it is another color. Colors with an LRV above 50 are much lighter and reflect more light than they absorb. Higher LRVs help to create a warm, “daytime” feel. Colors with an LRV below 50 tend to create a more intimate feel.
Keep the following in mind. If you are looking to do over a room that does not have adequate lighting, then painting it lighter will not make the room brighter. You will need to address the lighting source. I ran into this issue in my own kitchen which does not have windows. I had to replace all my bulbs with daylight bulbs. I still plan to have recessed lighting installed as well.
What Are The Best Sherwin Williams Cool Gray Paint Colors?
I’ve comprised this list of 21 of the best cool gray paint colors. I recently had a home buyer ask me what color should they paint the interior walls of their home. I asked do they want warm paint or cool paint and they thought I was speaking Greek. This is how the list of the best cool gray paint colors came to be.
Cool Gray Paint Colors from SW
- Online SW 7072 – LRV = 45
- On the Rocks SW 7671 – LRV = 62
- Olympus White SW 6253 – LRV = 68
- Reflection SW 7661 – LRV = 66
- Silver Strand SW 7057 -LRV = 59
- Serious Gray SW 6256 – LRV = 23
- Steely Gray SW 7664 – LRV = 30
- Passive SW 7064 – LRV = 60
- Fleur de Sel SW 7666 – LRV = 72
- Big Chill SW 7648 – LRV = 62
- Tinsmith SW 7657- LRV = 57
- Gray Screen SW 7071 – LRV = 59
- African Gray SW 9162 – LRV = 31
- Network Gray SW 7073 – LRV = 37
- Software SW 7074 – LRV = 23
- Silverplate SW 7649 – LRV = 53
- Morning Fog SW 6255 – LRV = 42
- Ellie Gray SW 7650 – LRV = 40
- Lattice SW 7654 – LRV = 61
- Silverpointe SW 7653 – LRV = 61
- Front Porch SW 7651 – LRV = 59
1. Online SW 7072 – LRV 45
Online is a very popular Sherwin Williams paint color. It’s a mid-toned gray that is very neutral. It’s just about in the middle between dark and light. If you paint it in a very bright room, it will show as being light. It will have the opposite impact in a darker-toned room with less natural light.
Coordinating colors:
2. On the Rocks SW 7671 – LRV 62
On The Rocks is a gray paint with subtle undertones, thus making it extremely versatile for many interior projects. Though it is classified as a cool grey, it is borderline warm, thus it is timeless and matches pretty much everything. It is a “soft gray”
Coordinating colors:
- Greek Villa SW 7551
- Almond Roca SW 9105
- Extra White SW 7006
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3. Olympus White SW 6253 -LRV 68
Sherwin Williams Olympus White is timeless, chic, and sophisticated. If you are looking for a color that exudes calmness, then Olympus White is your go-to color. Olympus White is a great neutral paint color with soft blue undertones.
Coordinating Colors:
- Lazy Gray SW 6254
- Perle Noir SW 9154
- Ice Cube SW 6252
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4. Reflection SW 7661 -LRV 66
Sherwin Williams Reflection is a gorgeous and sophisticated exterior and interior gray paint color that is relaxing! It is a cool gray with a slight blue undertone. Sherwin Williams Reflection Gray would not go well with flooring or cabinets that have red or orange hues. The reflection will result in blue undertones being prevalent vs. gray.
Coordinating colors:
- Dustblu SW 9161
- In The Navy SW 9178
- Ice Cube SW 6252
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5. Silver Strand SW 7057 -LRV 59
Sherwin Williams Silver Strand is an optimal color for bathrooms, bedrooms, and laundry rooms. It has a bluish-green hue and creates the ambiance of a spa. If you are a fan of Sea Salt, then Silver Strand is similar in color, however, it has more of a gray tint to it.
Coordinating colors:
- Illusive Green SW 9164
- Vintage Vessel SW 9050
- Reserved White SW 7056
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6. Serious Gray SW 6256 -LRV 23
Serious Gray by Sherwin Williams is a deeper gray that has both blue and a slight purple undertone. This cool-toned gray has blue undertones which give the color a slate-like appearance.
Coordinating colors:
- Gossamer Veil SW 9165
- Veri Berri SW 9069
- Ice Cube SW 6252
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7. Steely Gray SW 7664 -LRV 30
This is a deeper cool gray.
Coordinating colors:
- Pure White SW 7005
- Pollen Powder SW 9014
- Ice Cube 6252
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8. Passive SW 7064 – LRV 60
Sherwin Williams Passive is definitely a soft-blue-gray with just a hint of green that is embedded in its green undertone. This color would be great for a nursery or playroom. I often see people use it as a color on kitchen cabinets as well.
Coordinating colors:
- Shell White SW 8917
- Green Onyx SW 9128
- Nebulous White 7063
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9. Fleur de Sel SW 7666 -LRV
Coordinating Colors:
- March Wind 7668
- Carley’s Rose SW 9002
- Extra White SW 7006
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10. Big Chill SW 7648 – LRV 62
Sherwin Williams Big Chill is one of the most sought-after cool-toned grays available. It’s a nice neutral with an ever-so-slight blue undertone. If you are looking for more true gray, then Big Chill is it. It is definitely a classic color that is ageless and won’t go out of style.
Coordinating colors:
- Blonde SW 6128
- Tin Lizzie SW 9163
- Extra White SW 7006
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11. Tinsmith SW 7657 – LRV 57
Depending on the location of the room and the lighting, ie., a north-facing room vs a south-facing room, you may get a slightly blue-green hint. This is definitely a color that you should try out using Samplize as it will show differently in every room.
Coordinating colors:
- Snowbound SW 7004
- Whirlpool SW 9135
- Elder White SW 7014
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12. Gray Screen SW 7071 – LRV 59
Sherwin Williams Gray Screen rounds out the top of the list when it comes to their most popular paints. It pairs well with rich dark hardwoods and you can pair it with anything in the furniture department. Gray Screen does well with being a primary color throughout a home. Think about pairing it up with an accent wall.
Coordinating colors:
- White Hyacinth SW 0046
- Studio Blue Green SW 0047
- Site White SW 7070
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13. African Gray SW 9162 – LRV = 31
Coordinating Colors:
- Extra White SW 7006
- Salty Dog SW 9177
- Site White SW 7070
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14. Network Gray SW 7073 – LRV 37
Coordinating colors:
- Gossamer Veil SW 9165
- Mineral Gray SW 2740
- Site White SW 7070
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15. Software SW 7074 -LRV 23
Coordinating colors:
- Toque White SW 7003
- Pollen Powder SW 9014
- Site White SW 7070
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16. Silverplate SW 7649 – LRV 53
Coordinating colors:
- Nebulous White SW 7063
- CityScape SW 7067
- Elder White SW 7014
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17. Morning Fog SW 6255 – LRV 42
Coordinating colors:
- Extra White SW 7006
- Sedate Gray SW 6169
- Ice Cube SW 6252
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18. Ellie Gray SW 7650 -LRV 40
Coordinating Colors:
- Shell White SW 8917
- Stay in Lime SW 9032
- Elder White SW 7014
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19. Lattice SW 7654 -LRV 61
Coordinating Colors:
- Stamped Concrete SW 7655
- Perle Noir SW 9154
- Elder White SW 7014
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20. Silverpointe SW 7653 -LRV 61
Coordinating Colors:
- Pure White SW 7005
- Magnetic Gray SW 7058
- Elder White SW 7014
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21. Front Porch SW 7651 – LRV 59
Sherwin Williams Front Porch is a cooler-toned gray and consists of both green and blue hues. It’s one of the paint colors that looks different in every room depending on what type of lighting is present.
Coordinating colors:
- Shell White SW 8917
- Exclusive Plum SW 6263
- Elder White SW 7014
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Is it Grey or Gray?
Grey and gray are two different spellings of the same word. Gray is more common in the U.S., while grey is more common in other English-speaking countries according to Grammarly There is no incorrect version. It all comes down to preference. Most Americans tend to lean towards using the word gray, whereas most Brits, folks from the UK and Canada tend to use the spelling of Grey. Either way, you can find the most stunning cool grays or cool greys in Sherwin Williams colorful paint palate.
Paint Samples
The days of needing to buy multiple small cans of sample paint are over. Instead, you can order authentic paint samples from Samplize Peel & Stick Paint Samples.
Why You Should Try Samplize
- Inexpensive
- The samples are made with actual paint (two coats)
- Reusable
- Authentic – true colors
- Environmentally friendly
Do not paint without first testing samples. Trust me, I have over 10+ random cans of paint that I just knew were the right color until I put it on the wall and did not like the undertone that showed up on my wall. Samplize is super easy and will make your paint project a breeze.
TRY SAMPLIZE NOW
Paint Resources
Here are some paint tools that you may want to invest in if you decide to tackle this paint project on your own.
Useful Paint Info
The best paint for interior walls is typically a matte or eggshell. Flat paint is most often used for ceilings and semi-gloss paint is used for trim.
Pottery Barn and Sherwin Williams Painting tips for DIY homeowners
Final Thoughts
I’ve shared an array of Sherwin Williams Cool Gray Colors from paints blue undertones, paints with purple undertones, and even a few paints with green undertones. You have your pick from light, dark, and various undertones. Take your time and play around with a few colors. Make sure that you factor in the LRV of the paint as it will impact how the paint looks on the wall. Any of these 21 cool gray paint colors from Sherwin Williams gray color palette will work in your home.
If you found my tips & advice useful and helpful, then feel free to buy me a cup of coffee and support my blog!
Related Paint Posts
- Agreeable Gray SW 7029 – Neutral Greige Paint Color
- Warm Gray Paint Colors: 10 Perfect Neutral Gray Paints
- Peel And Stick Paint Samples From Samplize
- Sherwin Williams Greek Villa Is Stunning
- Best Sherwin Williams Gray Paint Colors
Earlier this year we had our kitchen and living rooms painted in two different but very similar gray colors. We used the Samplize option for testing out colors and it worked really well. I’m definitely bookmarking this post because I think as we repaint rooms in the house, we’ll stick to variations of gray. It just makes things look clean, crisp and open.
I agree, my house is various shades of gray. Using samplize was the best thing ever. I went from an upstairs landing that was my test wall of 20 different shades to finally getting it painted all one color and getting my gallery wall complete.
I really love that Fleur de Sel. Grey is one of my favorite neutrals. It allows you to do so much with a room.
Yes, it’s a very pretty color. Don’t forget to click on the sample link and order a sample.
I really love that morning fog and gray screen. We did gray in the common areas in our last home and it really opened the rooms up.
Morning Fog is definitely one of those colors that are timeless and classic. It’s on the cool side and it always makes your space look larger and more spacious.