HomeThe Best Paint ColoursBENJAMIN MOORE & SHERWIN WILLIAMS: Paint Color ReviewsBenjamin Moore Gray Owl OC-52: Paint Color Review

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl OC-52: Paint Color Review

Posted on January 19, 2020 by KylieMawdsley

All About: Benjamin Moore Gray Owl – Undertones and More!

Are you looking for the perfect gray paint color? Well, let me be the first to burst your gray-tinted bubble and say that while there IS no perfect gray paint color, you’ll get pretty darned close with Benjamin Moore Gray Owl.

But, why is there no such thing as a perfect gray paint color, you might ask? Well, it’s all about perception, and exposure…and undertone…and LRV…and so much more. And we’re going to cover all of that shortly.

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The best gray paint colour, review of Benjamin Moore Gray Owl. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, virtual online paint colour consulting. DIY advice blogger

What type of paint color is Gray Owl? Is it warm or cool?

The funny thing is that while Gray Owl is technically a warmer gray, it ALMOST ALWAYS looks cool, especially with its blue-green undertones. If you’re looking for a more TRADITIONAL warm gray, you may want to read this.

Hallway with reclaimed wood flooring and white railling. Benjamin Moore Gray Owl and built in bookcase. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color

What is the LRV of Gray Owl?

Gray Owl has an LRV of almost 66, so it has a pretty softness to it, making it not an off-white, but not even CLOSE to the light-medium range either – it sits quite happily in the middle. Not sure what LRV is? You really should read THIS.

Painted kitchen cabinets. Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray, Gray Owl, white subway tile, black laminate countertop. Budget friendly Kylie M Interiors E-design Colour expert (1)

With an LRV of 66, Gray Owl offers a nice contrast with white trim, without adding too much visual weight to the walls. And while it will wash-out on a WELL-lit wall, unless you go darker, any paint color will do the same. However, if you have a dark room, it COULD feel a bit flat if you don’t have adequate interior lighting.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl, maple flooring, black granite countertop, Sherwin Williams Alabaster trim. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, client photo

And while it might not SEEM that way, Gray Owl is classified as a warm gray (whodathunkit), which can be a bit deceiving based on how it shows up on the walls! This basically means it’s not an ICY cold gray, it has a softness to it without going obviously warm.

Read more: The 4 Best Warm Gray Paint Colors by Sherwin Williams

What are the undertones of Gray Owl? Will my walls look blue or green?

While most gray paint colors have a preferred undertone, many of today’s popular gray paint colors can EASILY slide into any of the 3 gray undertones – and Gray Owl is NO exception!

Gray Owl WANTS to commit to its green undertone, as you can see in this next photo. However, like many gray paint colors, it can EASILY be swayed by trim color (Sherwin Williams Alabaster in this photo), exposure, reflection, other interior finishes and more.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl, best gray paint colour. Sherwin Williams Alabaster trim white kitchen. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, client photo

This means that Gray Owl gets around and isn’t faithfully married to its green undertone – not by a LONG shot, and you can easily expect that green to sliiiide on back to be replaced by a blue-green or almost straight-up blue undertone, as shown in this next photo…

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl one of the best gray paint colours for a dark hallway or staircase by Kylie M Interiors. With photo gallery wall of kids and dark wood and metal stair railing

It can even vary on a wall-to-wall basis as shown in this next photo – a bit more green on the left and a touch bluer on the right!

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl with wainscoting, dark wood handrailing on stairs. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color consulting

And there it goes in this next photo, looking pretty darned gray with very LITTLE undertone…

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl with industrial style lighting and clock

Long story short, when it comes to Gray Owl (or any paint color), it’s VITAL to sample it carefully in your OWN space before committing to a full gallon on the walls.

What’s the difference between Gray Owl and Stonington Gray?

I get this question ALL the time – so much, it could be a blog post unto itself. And it is, HERE!

However, to satisfy your curiosity quickly, check out how Gray Owl looks slightly more green compared to the stormier, slightly bluer look of Stonington Gray…

Stonington gray and Gray Owl. colour review undertones. Kylie M Interiors Edesign online

The best gray paint colors for your room. Benjamin and Sherwin. Edesign, Kylie M Interiors online paint colour services. Home decorating and diy ideas blogger.market

Click HERE or on the above photo to view my Online Consulting Packages!

Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…

Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

  • Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on location
  • At $6.99, they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needing for traditional paint sampling
  • If you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room

Save money on paint samples by visiting the SAMPLIZE website HERE

What are the best white paint colors with Gray Owl?

Gray Owl is definitely one of the more flexible gray paint colors when it comes to whites and can accommodate everything from cool, crisp whites, to warm, creamy ones! And although it’s shown in a few of the above photos with Sherwin Williams Alabaster, personally, I love it with Benjamin Moore White Dove, Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace and Sherwin Williams Pure White.

Entryway, stairwell, reclaimed pine wood flooring, treads, white railing, white wainscoting. Benjamin Moore Cloud White and Gray Owl. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint colour and decorating blog

Read more: The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors

Is Gray Owl a good paint color for the exterior of my home?

Maybe…but there’s a LOT to consider when choosing an exterior paint color. When it comes to the DEPTH/LRV of Gray Owl, you’ll want to consider whether it has enough of it to hold up to intense southern light, which could wash it out considerably. You’ll also want to make sure that the undertones jibe with your roof, stone or brick as well.

Exterior metal roof, Benjamin Moore GRay Owl siding and Sherwin Williams Drizzle shutters. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color consulting

Read more: 5 Tips for Choosing the Best Paint Color for Your Exterior

Tips for Using Gray Owl in Your Home

  • In my experience, I’ve found that rooms with reduced natural light and/or northern exposure can bring out the blue undertones a bit more
  • Warm whites (trim) can enhance the cool undertones hiding in Gray Owl
  • Gray Owl is GREAT for resale if you have a nice mix of exposures in your home. However, if you have a lot of north-facing light, it can be a bit cold looking for mass appeal
  • If you want something a bit warmer, but equally as popular, check out Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
  • Overall, if you don’t like cool colors but would like a gray, you may want to forget about Gray Owl. It might be CALLED a warm gray, but you can expect it to act cooler on your walls. See if you can find something more up your alley in this article instead…The 9 Best Benjamin Moore Gray Paint Colors

Not sure if Gray Owl is YOUR gray paint color? I’ve got another good one right here…

SHERWIN WILLIAMS BIG CHILL

The best gray paint colour, Sherwin Williams Big Chill, a popular neutral. Kylie M Interiors paint color review of grey. Edesign, online and virtual paint colour consultant

Read more: Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Big Chill

Not sure which gray paint color is best for your room?  

Check out my Online Color Consulting Services

The best gray or grey paint colors for your room. Benjamin or Sherwin. Edesign, online paint colour services Kylie M Interiors. diy home decorating ideas blogger.market

Chat soon

Kylie M Interiors, decorating blog, e-design, online colour consulting expert. signature

READ MORE:

Gray: The 3 Undertones You HAVE to Consider

Stonington Gray vs Gray Owl – Undertones and More

Sherwin Williams 10 Best Gray and Greige Paint Colors

Benjamin Moore 9 Best Gray Paint Colors

Originally written in 2015, awesomely updated in 2020



Comments

    1. Post
      Author
  1. Ahhh I think I’ve found myself in a pickle! I have all gray owl walls (w/ decorators white trim) in a large south + west facing area WITH the Cecilia granite. Trying to pick a warm color to paint the cabinets while complementing the gray owl walls is crushing my soul!

    1. Post
      Author

      Well, you can stop looking as you won’t find it (I’m sorry!) – not with Decorator’s White and Gray Owl in the picture – both would need to change for a warm color to work on the cabinets 🙂

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