How to Select a Gray Paint Color
Gray is the new beige and homeowners are in search of the perfect gray paint color for their home.I have selected over a dozen gray paint colors in the last month for my clients and I have to say that it's not easy, even for a designer who has been selecting the perfect paint colors for years!There are so many gray paint colors, each with different undertones and selecting the one that looks best in your home and one that you want to live with can take a bit of time. There are many things that will affect the way a gray paint color looks on the wall. The amount of natural light, the colors of the finishes, the direction that the house faces, the light bulbs and the furniture will all affect the way the gray paint color is perceived.Here is the process that I use to determine how to pick your perfect gray paint color.1. Decide how light or dark you want the paint color to look. Do you want a hint of gray? Then select a paint color with a Light Reflective Value of 60% or greater. If you want a good depth of color then select a paint color with an LRV of 35-50%. If you want a dark, rich color then consider an LRV of 25-35%.2. Once you know how light or dark you would like your paint color to be, think about how you want the paint color to feel. Do you want a crisp cool shade or a warm shade? Paint colors with more blue are cooler and paint colors with more brown or gold are warmer.3. Some colors are what I call "complex" because they have undertones that might be green, blue, pink to purple. They can be described with more than one word. For example, you might describe a gray color as taupe-gray or blue-gray. These colors will look very different in the morning, afternoon and evening. They will also look different from room to room. So, do you want a complex gray paint color?4. Think about the paint color of other rooms that will be adjacent to your gray room. How will your gray paint color look with the other colors? Make sure you consider all rooms that can be seen from the gray room.Now that you have answered these questions it's time to try a few colors. Always purchase a paint sample and paint it on your walls to "audition" your new color. If you are painting over another color such as royal blue, red, or green, or, then I recommend that you paint the gray color on a white poster board. It will be difficult to see the true color on a painted wall because the current wall color will distract. And, make sure that you prime the wall before you paint it with your new, gray paint! If you don't, the color underneath will change the way that the gray color is perceived (this is true for medium colors, not very light colors such as ivory or powder blue).Here are some of my favorite gray paint colors from Sherwin Williams! Enjoy and let me know what your favorite gray paint color is!Complex Gray Paint Colors
True Gray Paint Colors
Dark Gray Paint Colors
Soft green-Gray Paint Color
Soft Blue-Gray Paint Color
Warm Gray Paint Colors
