Color and design experts have agreed gray has become a comfortable companion in the decorating world that is here to stay.   Gray is considered to be the most neutral of all colors because it plays well with all the other colors. Gray is a quiet color that enjoys being in the background and not competing with other colors.

Sophisticated shades of gray on the walls and ceiling provide a cool backdrop that contrasts with the artwork.

WARM GRAY	COOL GRAY
Mixed with 6% yellow.	Mixed with 6% blue.

Most gray tones have a cool or warm cast to them. Yellow, orange, and red create a “warm gray”.  Green, blue, and violet create a “cool gray”.  When there is no cast at all, it is referred to as “neutral gray”, “achromatic gray” or simply “gray”.

The above photo is painted  a beige-gray to create an elegant backdrop for the trendy combination of robin’s egg blue and chocolate brown.  This would be an example of a “warm gray.”  Other examples of  warm grays include Ben Moore’s, Greige Avenue 991;  (equal mix of gray and beige), Sag Harbor Gray, HC-95; Waynesboro Taupe,  1544; and Cummulus Gray 1551.

                                                       Cool Grays

These grays above are considered “cool” because of their blue undertones.  Colors in this family include Ben Moore’s Smoke, 2122-40;  Misty Gray, 2124-60; November Skies, 2128-50;  and James River Grey, AC-23.

Alessandra Branca

This bedroom is an example of neutral gray.   Think of it as a gray with no undertones, true grays.  They include Boothbay Gray, HC-165; Pelican Gray, 1612;  Seattle Gray, 2130-70 and Coventry Gray, HC-169.

Whichever gray you choose, always be sure to test your paint colors at home.  The colors will not look the same as in the store! It  absolutely is worth the extra time and the $6.00 paint sample to be sure that looks well with your lighting and amount of sunlight you receive.

Meg Braff

Which type of gray on the walls do you see?  Cool? Warm? Neutral?  Let me know what you think!