Asked on Feb 24, 2012

The perfect warm gray?

Alycia A
by Alycia A
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.
The living room. We no longer have brown curtains or a brown couch. We have gray couches and no curtains...yet...
  15 answers
  • You may want to try the Sherwin Williams paint visualizer tool: https://www.sherwin-williams.com/visualizer/# Granted, it will not be perfect over a computer screen but you can at least try some different tones that will lead you in the right direction.
  • Did you try Proper Grey from SW (6003)? It is a warm grey and will go well with your browns.
  • I am picky too, I go to Home Depot paint department & ask to see the Glidden Master Color "BOOK". It is the size of an Atlas. After their surprise, they will lay it on the counter. Then you can select and sample the exact gray that you want. Try the color on a poster board and place it in the room. See it in different lights of day. Light and surrounding colors affect color, therefore it looks different in different light. The reason the Glidden Master Color book helps is because you can look at the top and bottom color hue and see if it has green, or black, or red and it helps you to determine the base color hue and this gives you clues at to what the color will do on a wall. That base is why it "reads" green/gray, or black/gray, or red/gray. Color is not easy, no one sees color the same way and that makes it even more difficult. If you see a color you want in a fabric, or rug, or anything, take this to the paint store and they can produce it. I hope this helps.
  • Teri Uliasz Boyungs Teri Uliasz Boyungs on Feb 27, 2012
    Bear Premium Plus "Silver Screen". I painted my media room. It is a beautiful color.
  • Earl R Earl R on Feb 27, 2012
    Whatever you do.....make the fireplace wall the 'feature' wall and give it it's own personality. Make it's color your bold grey, and be done with it!! Good luck.
  • Therese C Therese C on Feb 28, 2012
    There is a color called Early Dawn Gray that is beautiful. I have used it before and was afraid it would feel cold, but it was a warm color. In my daughters bedroom I used a very pretty confederate gray with a rose blush applied while the gray was still wet. It was a beautiful color and set off her black and white room! Good luck!
  • I don't know how dark / light you want to go but sample Valspar 5006-1B Notre Dam or 6005-1C Smoked Oyster. Valspar were named by consumer reports as a "good value" paint. They have some great grays, but def sample in the room first. You can paint a piece of card and look at it at diff times of the day / diff light. It will def change!
  • Terri J Terri J on Feb 29, 2012
    I was going to suggest Sherwin Williams or Valspar as well. Plus, follow Martine Louise Design's suggestion of small sample - that is the only way I have found to get a "true feel" for the color, before going all out.
  • I agree with Martine as well!(:
  • Dory Doyle Dory Doyle on Sep 12, 2013
    Feel free to check out my blog post about finding the perfect shade of gray. We found that BM Gray Owl and Stonington were wonderful! http://doyledispatch.com/2013/08/24/perfect-shade-of-gray/
  • Therese C Therese C on Sep 13, 2013
    Alycia...try Sherwin-Williams. They have a lot of warm greys that are beautiful! Two of my personal favorites are Tony Taupe and Stone Lion. Good Luck!
  • Therese C Therese C on Sep 13, 2013
    Here is the web link and grey color palate: www.sherwin-williams.com
  • Kym Kym on Sep 19, 2013
    If you are still looking for the perfect grey I would suggest BM: Annapolis grey or revere pewter. We just painted our house an I am loving these two colors. They are warm greys.
  • Peggy Gama Peggy Gama on Aug 30, 2015
    I will be painting my hardwood floors soon. Your color is wonderful and just might work for me, however I have vibrant colors Red orange purple yellow. got any Ideas? I haven't started the search yet. My idea and I see you accomplished it, I want the floor to be a palate on which my colors thrive.
  • Debi53 Debi53 on May 03, 2016
    Sherwin Wlliams 'Pediment' might work.