Asked on Aug 04, 2019

What’s the best shade of grey to go with oak trim?

Nancy
by Nancy

I’m thinking of painting my living room a grey or grey- beige paint, but not sure how it will look with oak trim, and oak floors. I will not paint trim! I buy my paint at Sherwin Williams. Walls are currently a sage green, and my couch is a brown, burgundy, sage tweed, and side pieces honey oak. I feel dated! Any suggestions? I really want grey!

  7 answers
  • Em Em on Aug 04, 2019

    I would go with the warmer brown beige. Almost a paper brown bag like the color of t the bunny in your pillow. Darker than your oak so it doesn't "hide" the oak. Your colors are all warm tones. Grey is a cool color and you would have to go fairly dark to go with grey. You can buy tester jars at some stores. You could paint a piece of poster board and stand it behind your couch to see if you like it for a few days. That may help you make a better choice.

  • Rosalie Rogers Rosalie Rogers on Aug 04, 2019

    Check out some paint chips from Sherwin Williams and place them when it is daylight on the walls. Get several colors you like and compare them to each other. Trust your instincts and if you are not happy with the first color, plan on trying another. Paint is the easiest decorating medium to undo if necessary. Been there, done that!




    p

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Aug 04, 2019

    I would take a pillow to the paint store and see what looks best - there are so many shades of gray and you need to consider your floors and any other wood furniture you have in the room

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Aug 04, 2019

    Hi there,

    I would have gone for a donkey brown, and changed the large pillow for something lighter , as the other one is.

    If you really want Grey, go for a warm tone, more Elephant than Steel! Best wishes.

  • Robyn Garner Robyn Garner on Aug 05, 2019

    Hi Dear - I hate to tell you but merely painting the walls gray isn't going to make the space any less dated. Stubbornly clutching onto the muddy wood trim, window mullions, bunnies etc. screams American Country. Change things up! The couch will move along with your new decor and you can freely pick up colors from there. Brighter pops of color and texture with your gray walls and sharp white trim will move you decades! Paint out the window seat and have a bold print upholstery seat made. Change the artwork, perhaps to large black & white prints. Larger and brighter lamps, updated window treatments, statement pieces rather than knick-knacks.


    As for the paint - I think the idea of taking a couch pillow to the store is terrific. The color of the room currently will make it tough to choose there. Look at the colors indoors, outside and finally in the house. Put brighter lights in the living room to assess.


    All this can easily be done for not much money. You've got the potential for a whole new room and feel! Happy Painting!

  • Lauren Lund Lauren Lund on Aug 05, 2019

    Orange and Blue are complimentary on the color wheel. So the warm of oak goes really well with gray that has a tiny blue hint, sometimes called steel gray. We switched from pale gray/greenish to very pale gray/blueish with tons of oak and love the look. Good luck to you.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Aug 05, 2019

    Check their Light French Grey. Purchase a sample and see if you like whatever color you think you want. If I hadn't I would have been very disappointed with Dorian Gray (it was too dark for my room).