Big Chill SW 7648 – Undertones, LRV and More!

While all of Pinterest has been paying homage to the warmer end of the gray world with colours such as Sherwin Williams Repose Gray and Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter, there has been one colour that has been laying back, waiting patiently for it’s time in the sun (or in the shade more appropriately) and it’s time has COME!

Sherwin Williams Big Chill.  This soft, cool toned gray is one of the top 5 paint colours that I refer to in my online colour consulting.  With the majority of my clients looking for warm and cool gray tones, it really is as close as we’re going to get to the ever-elusive ‘perfect gray’ (which doesn’t exist btw).

Why doesn’t the perfect gray exist?  Well, because there is NO SUCH THING as a fail-proof neutral (BOOM – bubble is officially burst).  You know, that ONE COLOUR that works everywhere, every time?  Nope – it’s ALLL a lie.  There are so many things to take into consideration, such as exposure, flooring, countertops, light bulbs, personal tastes and how much wine you’ve drank – that a colour that is PERFECT for one room can be terrible in another – just based on a change in environment.

Anyway, let’s get back to Big Bad Chilly.

The Undertones of Big Chill

If you like cool grays, you’ll like the undertones of Big Chill.  If you prefer neutral grays you ‘might’ like it (50/50 chance) and if you prefer warm grays – you need to get the heck outta Dodge and go to this blog post instead.

Why?  Because Big Chill is coooool baby.

Big Chill has a very passive blue undertone.  Now some blue undertones are more crisp and icy or they have a bit of green in them.  This beautiful gray has more of a slight stormy blue look, with undertones that are virtually unnoticeable.

See how lighting can play a BIG part in how a colour looks?  The picture on the left, with the lights on, shows how Big Chill can flash that cool look. The photo on the right with lights off shows Big Chill at it’s natural best.

The LRV of Big Chill

With an LRV of 62, Big Chill is considered a light colour.  Now there are light colours that can totally wash-out when hit with a lot of natural light and light colours that lean to the heavier side. This one sits RIIIIGHT in the middle.

It will hold itself well in a darker, more shadowed room (that has enough artificial light) as well as a reasonably well-lit room, only washing out a bit at the height of the day.

Big Chill in a North Facing Room

While there are always other factors to consider, you can expect Big Chill to look that little bit more cool in a north facing room as the gray/blue light filtering in slightly enhances the cool tones of this colour.

Big Chill in a South Facing Room

In a room with southern exposure, it may wash-out a smidge at the height of the day, but most of the time it should act like a soft, cool, but generally neutral gray.

 The Darker Side of Big Chill

If you like the idea of Big Chill but want a bit more body, of course you can darken it by 25-50% OR you can check out ANOTHER cool beauty called Silverplate SW 7649 (be still my beating heart…).

Silverplate has an LRV of 53 so it has some more weight to it, while still offering that beautiful silvery gray look.

Paint Colours that Compare to Big Chill

Big Chill is pretty comparable to Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray.  You’ll see that Big Chill is a bit lighter and ALSO a bit more ‘neutral’ looking, whereas Stonington has just a bit more of that stormy blue undertone.  If you prefer the depth of Stonington Gray, you could darken Big Chill by approx. 25% and it would bring it closer to the same shade.

Stonington Gray via Kylie M E-design

Big Chill is also in the running with Benjamin Moore Gray Owl as one of the TOP cool gray paint colours.  Compare the 2 and you’ll see how Gray Owl can pick up just that touch of green (as well as blue) undertone in comparison to Big Chill.  Big Chill MIGHT pick up a green – if you have grass, trees or Kermit outside your window which can reflect their green tones slightly onto the walls.

Gray Owl via Kylie M E-design

There are SO many beautiful grays to choose from! Deciding which one is BEST for you and your home involves looking not just at your exposure and landscaping, but also at the hard and soft surfaces of your home such as flooring, countertops, linens and of COURSE – personal taste! 

Need help picking YOUR perfect gray?  Check out my affordable E-décor services!