Painting ideas rooms: 40 Best Gray Paint Colors 2023, According to Interior Designers
40 Best Gray Paint Colors 2023, According to Interior Designers
Stormy Sky 1616 by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore
“I love using this hue because it is elusive. Like its namesake, Stormy Sky can be dramatic but also translucent. I’ve used it everywhere from exteriors to kitchens, where it looks beautiful with white accents and metal finishes. This paint also works well as a base for other colors—I’ve even done 50-50 mixes with it!” –Windsor Smith
BUY NOW
Alpaca SW 7022 by Sherwin-Williams
“This transitional, warm greige is a great go-to for bedrooms and cabinets if you want a light color, but not white.” — Bailey Austin
Buy Now
Blue Gray No. 91 by Farrow & Ball
Farrow & Ball
“This is not really blue and not really gray. It’s kind of creamy-dreamy, like a beautiful cloud. I think of an office as a place where you just want to be restful and creative, and this is very calming—and very chic with a pop of navy or lavender. It’s a blank canvas for whatever you’re doing at the moment. ” — David Phoenix
Buy Now
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Alaskan Skies 972 by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore
“Appropriately named, Alaskan Skies offsets our state’s dramatic change of lighting conditions throughout the year by serving as a neutral base for contrasting interior finishes, all while maintaining an uplifting atmosphere.” — Bauer/Clifton Interiors
Buy Now
Mindful Gray SW 7106 by Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams
“Connecting texture with quiet serenity was my recipe for a modern-glam home found in the mountains of Utah. Mindful Gray offered a respite that embraced all of the rugged textures.” — Anne Marie Barton
Buy Now
Down Pipe No. 26 by Farrow & Ball
Farrow & Ball
“Lately, I’ve been having a good time with this deep gray. It changes a lot in different conditions. When the room is dark or in shadow, it seems almost black. But in direct sunlight, it’s the color of a Baltic afternoon. So it’s not boring.
It also goes well with caramel leather chairs—something I can imagine putting into almost any office.” David Netto
Buy Now
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Moonshine 2140-60 by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore
“There is something about this shade that you can’t quite pin down. It reminds me of mist and fog—a little hazy and soothing. The pale gray manages to be versatile without being boring: It works in a variety of situations, from a light-filled bathroom to a spacious living room. On walls, it’s subtle yet powerful enough to create dimension.” — Michele Dopp
Buy Now
Titanium OC-49 by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore
“Benjamin Moore Titanium is a soft, luminous off-white, with a little green in it that is bright enough to light up our often rainy weather here in Oregon.” — Jessica Helgerson
Buy Now
Parma Gray No. 27 by Farrow & Ball
Farrow & Ball
“A beautiful blend of blue and gray that approaches robin’s egg but is chalkier and more elegant.
It’s soothing and deep and will remain relevant as the child grows. For a boy’s room, bring in café au lait tones and pops of strong olive green. For a girl, ground the room with dove gray and lavender accents.” – Amanda Nisbet
Buy Now
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Himalayan Trek 1542 by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore
“This fantastic neutral is great for both modern and classical interiors. A perfect balance of cool and warm, it’s also remarkably similar to our local Chicago limestone.” — Tom Stringer
Buy Now
Revere Pewter HC-172 by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore
“This is the absolute perfect greige. No need to look any further. And it’s amazing with a brighter contrasting trim. I love it so much that I’ve used it in three of my homes. In light-flooded rooms it feels cool and crisp. In darker, cozier rooms it’s very soothing.” — Shawn Henderson
Buy Now
Granite AF-660 by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore
“For a warm brown-gray, Granite is one of my favorites, bringing coziness and sophistication to any room.
This color invites you to curl up next to a fire.” — Alice Williams
Buy Now
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
New Hope Gray 2130-50 by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore
“I call this blue-gray a ‘shadow color.’ It changes with the light, which makes it interesting to enter a room throughout the day. This particular hue conjures images of the ocean and the sky—ideal for a tranquil Southampton beach house, where I used it on kitchen cabinets. It provided a punch of color without being too over-the-top.” — Sandra Nunnerly
Buy Now
Gull Wing Gray 2134-50 by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore
“This blue-gray, in an eggshell finish, feels like an icy drink on a hot day. It visually cools off a room that gets loads of light. And then you can build in some warmth with layers of color and texture in the furnishings. I’d bring in earth tones like chocolate brown, rust, and mustard gold, and maybe pop it with a hit of turquoise.” – Scott Laslie
Buy Now
Silver Peony SW 6547 by Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams
“Having both southern and western sun exposures in a room can be tricky, but this unusual color changes with the time of day from a cool lavender in the morning to the warmest of blush in the evening.
” — Kevin Walsh
Buy Now
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Classic Gray 1548 by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore
“This neutral is so versatile and offers a cool and calm retreat from the heat. Art hangs beautifully on it and it lets the room be the showpiece, not the paint color. Our design studio is painted this color and we love the environment that it creates!” —Nancy Price
Buy Now
Granite Dust MQ3-6 by Behr Paint Colors
“I placed this color—a pale gray that resembles a hazy sky—in a lacquered finish on the ceiling of a small black-and-white-striped foyer. The glossy effect is easier to get on a ceiling than on walls, while the reflective, mirror-like surface gives much-needed depth to the room. The shade is also a bit somber, which helped balance the bold walls.” – Rinat Lavi
Buy Now
City Shadow CSP-60 by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore
“Gray skies and a misty rain can be quite beautiful and comforting. Benjamin Moore’s City Shadow captures this cozy feeling perfectly.
Brighten it up a bit with unlacquered brass fixtures and hardware and pair alongside Calacatta marble. You can’t go wrong!” — Katie Hackworth
Buy Now
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Railings No. 31 by Farrow & Ball
Farrow & Ball
“I used this cool-toned, blackened-steel shade on the stair spindles of my own home. The color really pops against the neutral palette of the space around it. My advice for working with a slick finish: Make sure the raw surface is free of any blemishes, because once you apply the paint, the shine will magnify them!” – Christine Stucker
Buy Now
Wickham Gray HC-171 by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore
“I’ve been known to go on a gray streak, in every shade from steel to a warm French gray. No matter the gray, it becomes a serene backdrop for everything—flowers, books, art, fabrics, or people. I like bordering gray with white trim, white fabrics, and white furniture. Sometimes I pop a little red here and there.
But you want to be careful when picking your gray—nothing too sad, cold, or dingy.” – Matthew Patrick Smyth
Buy Now
21 Best Neutral Colors – Designers’ Favorite Neutral Paint Colors
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
1
Off-White Neutral
Sherwin-Williams
“It works with everything,” says designer Candace Mary Griffin of the off-white neutral Snowbound by Sherwin-Williams. Soft with a warm undertone, the paint is her current favorite go-to. You can practically paint your whole house with it.
Get this paint color: Sherwin-Williams Snowbound SW 7004
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
2
Cream Neutral
PPG
It was a challenge marrying the two styles of his clients, designer Corey Damen Jenkins explains. “The wife loved jewel tones and embellishment, while the husband was on the total opposite end of the spectrum—no color, no wallpaper,” Jenkins tells us. So the living room walls were painted in Garlic Clove by PPG, “which has enough warmth to counterbalance the bright white of the often snowy landscape,” while a door to the adjacent room got a splash of color with Navy Masterpiece by Benjamin Moore.
Get this paint color: PPG Garlic Clove 18-09
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
3
Yellow Neutral
Benjamin Moore
Any yellow neutral can evoke a happy, airy atmosphere. Designer Lilse McKenna’s favorite is Capitol White by Benjamin Moore. “It is a white with just a hint of ivory and warmth,” she says.
Get this paint color: Benjamin Moore Capitol White CW-10
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
4
Gray-Green Neutral
Portola Paints & Glazes
For a moody color that would also fit right into a spa, consider Nitty Gritty by Portola Paints & Glazes. One of designer Rydhima Brar’s favorites, the hazy green is deep and soothing.
Get this paint color: Portola Nitty Gritty
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
5
Greige Neutral
Benjamin Moore
Somewhere in between gray and warm beige, greige paint can underscore the dimension of molding and millwork and can have a soothing effect in a flat application on the wall of a bedroom.
Designer Purvi Padia’s favorite is Collingwood by Benjamin Moore. The gray shade is a slightly cooler take on the neutral combo.
Get this paint color: Benjamin Moore Collingwood OC-28
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
6
Light Green Neutral
Farrow & Ball
Justina Blakeney, designer and blogger behind The Jungalow, used this light neutral green as a statement pop on a transitional wall between a living room and kitchen. “If I had to boil it down, jungalow really consists of four ingredients: color, pattern, plants, and global finds,” so neutral shades of green paint are a natural favorite. In her kitchen, she used even more subtle shade, Silver Maple by Glidden, that almost looks gray in certain lighting.
Get this paint color: Farrow & Ball Breakfast Room Green No.81
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
7
White Neutral
Lara Robby/Studio D
Since this white color is dead center between warm and cool, designer Darryl Carter says Benjamin Moore Huntington White DC-02 will work equally well in traditional and modern settings.
“I am historically prone to a neutral palette, and this white has been my go-to for years. It’s a chameleon, taking on subtle changes in shade over the course of the day,” she says.
Get a similar paint color: Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
8
Eggshell Neutral
Sherwin-Williams
With a creamy eggshell paint color, your interiors will feel extra cozy. Designer Sherrell Neal loves Creamy by Sherwin-Williams “for its traditional warmth.” She recently added the paint to her project color cards.
Get this paint color: Sherwin-Williams Creamy SW 7012
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
9
Pewter Neutral
Lara Robby/Studio D
Designer Patrick Baglino recommends using this greige color in large open spaces with turquoise, scarlet, or tangerine accents. “The warmth of this gray comes from the addition of a splash of beige, and it feels as comforting as a bowl of homemade chicken soup,” he says.
Get this paint color: Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter HC-172
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
10
Gray Neutral
Lara Robby/Studio D
Since this saturated gray-brown-black reads as black, but not quite as hard, it’s easy to live with in any room, designer Peter Dunham says: “It’s not that intense fortune-teller black but soft and sun-bleached, with depth and mystery. In a matte finish, it looks like a slightly smeared blackboard.”
Get this paint color: Benjamin Moore Gray 2121-10
More: The 35 Best Shades of Gray Paint You’ll Ever Use
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
11
Mauve Neutral
Lara Robby/Studio D
Designer Brett Beldock says this mauvey taupe is as warm as a cable-knit cashmere sweater, which is why he recommends using it all over a bedroom, not only on the walls. “It would turn the room into a cocoon … very peaceful. Bring in ivory, gray, eggplant, or chocolate for contrast,” he says.
Get this paint color: Sherwin-Williams Doeskin SW 6044
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
12
Red Neutral
Lara Robby/Studio D
Since this bold color is the same earthy red that you see in pre-Columbian art, or an Etruscan mural, or a Turkish rug, it’s surprisingly neutral and goes with anything, says designer Carey Maloney: “We used it in our front hall as a backdrop to a Chinese coromandel screen and a huge African wooden sculpture. It creates this incredibly warm, inviting entry that draws you into the rest of the house.”
Get this paint color: Donald Kaufman Color DKC-17
More: 13 Cool Shades of Red Paint for Every Style
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
13
Blue Neutral
Lara Robby/Studio D
According to designer Jonathan Rose, for a house in the country or by the sea, aqua is the new white and is the perfect complement to greenery or an ocean view. “The idea is for the wall color to be quiet so it can blend seamlessly with the outdoors.
This blue-green is a pastel with personality. Keep the overall feeling serene with light floors, white trim, a touch of deeper aqua, and a few dark accents to anchor the room,” he says.
Get this paint color: Farrow & Ball Pale Powder 204
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
14
Beige Neutral
Lara Robby/Studio D
Beige is designer Jonathan Taylor’s dependable neutral that marries with any white, even a white gone wrong. “Years ago, a Fiorucci salesperson stared at my all-beige outfit and said, ‘Well, beige is the rage.’ I say yes! Best on walls in washable matte, this changes hues with the light, warms a chilly entry hall, and whispers ‘Shhh’ in the master suite. It’s nearly foolproof,” he says.
Get this paint color: Benjamin Moore Hush AF-95
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
15
Lilac Neutral
Lara Robby/Studio D
Although typically considered feminine, designer Laura Burleson says lilac performs beautifully as a neutral when paired with strong, deep colors like charcoal, black, or navy.
“This shade is the perfect balance of saturation and tone, like seeing a sunset through a soft filter. Try it in unexpected applications—the ceiling of a moody, masculine library; the interior of creamy cabinetry in a kitchen,” she says.
Get this paint color: Sherwin-Williams Wallflower SW 6281
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
16
Stone Neutral
Lara Robby/Studio D
This is one of those chameleon colors that can read as gray, taupe, or green, depending on the light, according to designer Robin Bell. “I’d use it in a matte finish on walls, where it would be a great foil to warm whites, or in a high-gloss finish on trim,” she says.
Get this paint color: Farrow & Ball Stony Ground 211
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
17
Brown Neutral
Lara Robby/Studio D
People always think neutral means beige, but designer Gary McBournie says beige isn’t a neutral it’s “blah blah blah.” Instead, he recommends looking to nature for inspiration: “You’ll see forest green, sky blue, and this luscious brown, which also reminds me of a melting pot of chocolate.
I have used it in foyers, dining rooms, and even in my own bedroom. For a crisp effect, paint the ceiling and trim a bright white.”
Get this paint color: Benjamin Moore Barista AF-175
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
18
Ivory Neutral
Despite the name, Farrow & Ball’s Blackened is actually a cool ivory hue with a touch of gray. (Per the company, it “was historically made with the addition of lamp black pigment gathered from the smoke of burning oil lamps.”) “I love it because it’s not a stark white,” says designer Eddie Ross. “It’s great for using with bolder colors because there’s not a major transition.”
Get this paint color: Farrow & Ball Blackened No. 2011
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
19
Charcoal Neutral
Looking for a neutral that’s moody but not overwhelming? “This warm gray-blue has a relaxing feel,” says Ross. “It’s the right mix of dark and cozy for a master bedroom.
“
Get this paint color: Benjamin Moore Montpelier AF-555
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
20
Taupe Neutral
Taupe-y beige with a hint of green, “This color reminds me of drabware,” says Ross of C2 Paint Lamb’s Ear BD-78. “I’d use it in a living room; it’s really welcoming and eases your eye into the space.”
Get a similar paint color: C2 Paint Sisal C2-638
15 simple and original ideas to paint walls in an unusual way
Home » Decor
Decor
Painting the walls is a great idea when you want to freshen up the interior, but not everyone wants to live among plain walls. We offer original solutions to decorate walls that are akin to designer interiors. In order for wall painting to be done at the highest level, it is not at all necessary to turn to professionals and pay a lot of money for their work. Here are a few ideas that you can follow to radically change the design of the room.
Original wall painting ideas
1.
Different colors of the geometric pattern
Play around with the geometry of the room with masking tape and different shades of paint.
2. Incredible wall texture with a simple sponge
With this trick, even an inexperienced painter can achieve excellent results.
3. Imitation of brickwork with a rectangular sponge
Agree, it’s not difficult, but it looks great
4. Almost a real tree in your room
Such a tree can be drawn using stencils
9 0009 5. Light air composition
Feathers on walls make the interior of the room lighter and no additional decorations for the wall are required. Such feathers are also applied to the wall using stencils.
6. Mountain peaks in Ombre technique
Ombre smooth transition from a saturated shade to a lighter one. This technique can be successfully used in painting walls.
For the sake of this view, it is worth working hard, but with great desire and patience, you can get an excellent result.
Another example of ombre mountain slopes. A sheet of newspaper is used as a stencil.
7. Ombre technique
If you want to achieve an ombre effect without additional pattern. Each shade of paint is applied separately, then the transition between colors is shaded.
8. The color transition on one wall with the help of a geometric ornament will allow you to zone the space in an original and beautiful way.
9. Decorative honeycombs of different shades will make the interior modern and original.
10. A complex geometric motif is best placed on one wall only. This pattern is easy to make with masking tape and a roller.
11. Two in one: ombre technique and geometry. This method of painting imitates a wall panel and will become a bright accent in the interior.