The gray craze has been around for a couple of years now, but perhaps you’ve resisted it all this time? You love your beige walls, and aren’t ready to repaint your entire house. But, now that you see the gray trend isn’t going away anytime soon, you’ve recently been flirting with the ideaofadding a little bit of gray paint into your house. A gray accent wall, perhaps? What’s the bestgray paint to pair with your beige walls? I’m so glad you asked!
With so many grays, where do I even start?
There are two kinds of gray – warm and cool. If you want to pair gray with beige, you must choose a warm gray. If you learn nothing else from this post, please remember this key point!
Cool grays tend to have hints of blue and purple, which does not work well with beige, while warm grays tend to have brown andyellow undertones, which can pair well with beige.
Here’s a great picture to help show the difference between warm grays and cool grays.
Source: Uptownstudios.net
So, where do you start? There are some beautiful tried and true grays that pair well with beige that I will share in this post. However, you must see these colors in your own house and next to your beige walls before you make your final selection. There is just no getting around thisimportant step.
One method is to buy 3 to 5 samples of gray paint colors from the paint or hardware store, paint the samples in big rectangles on some foam core poster board (so it doesn’t warp when it dries), and prop them up against your walls for a day or two.
BUT, a much more convenient method is to buy peel-and-stick sample sheets from Samplize. Not only are they super easy to use, but when you add up the cost of paint sample cans (and the wasted paint you’ll have leftover), paint brushes, foam board, and your time…Samplize is a way better option!
Whichever method you choose, stare at your samples in the daylight, and at night, and eliminate the ones that just don’t work for you. Maybe one of them is looking too green at night, or another looks too blue in the daytime…you may even need to order another round of samples before you find the perfect shade of gray (see my seemingly endless search for the perfect gray paint).
Also, keep in mind that if you find a color you love but wish it was just a little darker, the paint store can make the paint lighter or darker for you. Just ask them to lighten the color by 25% or 50%, and give that a try.
What’s the best gray paint color to use as an accent wall with my beige walls?
Can you combine gray and beige in the same room? The answer is YES! There are several gray paint colors that work beautifully with beige. Here are some of my favorite shades of gray to use as an accent with your beige walls.
#1 Sherwin William’s Dovetail (SW 7018)
This is my personal favorite. I used this in my previous house, and more recently at a friend’s house for an accent wall. Both of the houses had beige walls, and Dovetail is just beautiful paired with beige. Definitely put this on your list of samples to try. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Dovetail HERE.
#2 Sherwin William’s Gauntlet Gray (SW 7019)
This is a beautiful dark, warm gray option from Sherwin Williams. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Gauntlet Gray HERE.
#3 Benjamin Moore’s Chelsea Gray (HC-168)
This is a tried-and-true shade of gray, that has been popular for many years. Great if you want a medium-dark gray shade with a touch of warmth to it. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Chelsea Gray HERE.
#4 Benjamin Moore’s Briarwood (HC-175)
Briarwood is quite a bit warmer than some of the others on this list, but still looks gray. Because of its warmth, it is sure to pair nicely with beiges. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Briarwood HERE.
#5 Sherwin William’s Urbane Bronze (SW 7048)
Dark, yes, but absolutely gorgeous! This is a fabulous choice for a dramatic look, and it has a nice bit of warmth to it to help it pair with other warm paint colors. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Urbane Bronze HERE.
#6 Benjamin Moore’sCape May Cobblestone (BM 1474)
Cape May Cobblestone is actually quite neutral for a gray, but it does lean slightly warm. This one will work really nicely with more neutral beiges and greiges. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Cape May Cobblestone HERE.
What if you’re ready to paint all of your walls gray, but you’re not sure if you’ll like it?
Maybe you’re thinking about taking the plunge and painting all of your walls gray, but, after having beige walls for so long, you’re not sure if you’ll love the gray look. Well, the good news is that there are many, many beautiful shades of gray out there, so you’re sure to find one you love.
I searched and searched for the perfect gray paint in my previous home for quite some time until I finally found the right one for me. If you have been a beige person for years, I would highly recommend you take a look at the following colors. They are often referred to as “greige” paints…the perfect blend of gray and beige.
#1 Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter (HC-172)
This color is very well known in the design industry, and has been hugely popular for many years. It’s a beautiful neutral greige that is subtle, warm, and goes with everything! Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Revere Pewter HERE.
#2 Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray (SW 70)
Often referred to as the Sherwin William’s version of Revere Pewter, this is what I have in my current home, and I love it. It looks quite gray, but has a warmth to it that keeps rooms from looking cold. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Colonnade Gray HERE.
#3 Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray (SW 7029)
Another very popular light greige…a little more on the gray side. This is a fantastic choice for a whole-house paint color, as well, and has a cult following. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Agreeable Gray HERE.
#4 Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Gray (HC-173)
This is the most beige of the greiges I’m sharing here today, but it is a beautiful color, nonetheless. It might not be enough gray for you if you are making a change to all of your walls, but then again, it might just be the subtle change you are looking for! Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Edgecomb Gray HERE.
I want to go completely gray, what’s the best gray paint?
If you want to go moregray (with no hint of beige),consider Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl (BM 2137-60). It’s a beautiful gray that won’t look cold on your walls, due to its green and yellow undertones. It’s simply lovely! Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Gray Owl HERE.
Another favorite is Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore (OC-23). It’s very neutral, very light, with just a hint of warmth (almost enough warmth to be considered a greige). Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Classic Gray HERE.
Trends come and go, but gray walls are going to be around for some time. If you’re ready to add some gray paint to your home, this list will provides you with a great starting point.
I want you to remember two key things from this post. Number one, the best gray paint to pair with beige walls/furnishings is a warm gray. Number two, be sure to sample the paint colors in your home before committing to one. Happy painting!
