Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray (HC-170): Undertones, LRV, & Best Uses
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray is a light, stormy gray paint color. It works well on interior walls, especially bedrooms, as well as kitchen cabinets.
Gray paint colors like Stonington Gray can change how they look throughout the day. Surrounding finishes, exposure, and light bulbs all play a part.
However, gorgeous gray paint colors are a dime a dozen. It’s enough to make you go loonie—get it? (Funny if you’re Canadian…or not). But that doesn’t mean they’re all worth sampling. In fact, there are only a dozen or so grays that I repeatedly refer to in my Online Color Consultations, and Stonington Gray is one of them.
IS STONINGTON GRAY A WARM OR COOL GRAY PAINT COLOR?
Stonington Gray is a gray paint color that isn’t warm but also isn’t as icy cold as some gray paint colors. In my magical color world (full of wine and brief mental flashes of Ryan Reynold’s in a Speedo), I call it a ‘slightly stormy gray.’ It also has its special blend of undertones, which we’ll get into below.
Photo by Jen Wynia Photography
Being a stormy gray, Stonington Gray is well-suited to many exposures. For example, let’s say you have northern exposure. Some grays are too icy cold and crisp for northern light. While Stonington Gray certainly won’t add warmth to your space, if you love cool grays, it won’t look as ICY cold as a traditionally cool shade.
Or maybe you have south-facing light or afternoon western sunshine. Stonington Gray is amazeballs in rooms with these exposures as it’s cool vibe helps balance out the visual warmth from the sun.
WHAT’S STONINGTON GRAY’S LRV?
The LRV of Stonington Gray is 59.36, which means it’s a light-depth gray paint color but not a ‘light and fresh’ gray—it has a bit more meat on its bones.
Paint Colors and LRV: The Ultimate Guide You Need to Read
Photo by Jen Wynia Photography
With an LRV of almost 60, Stonington Gray works well in a room with average or even above-average natural light. However, if your room has low-light, you might find it a bit harsh and lacking in undertones for this type of room.
WHAT ARE STONINGTON GRAY’S UNDERTONES?
Stonington Gray favors a mild blue-green undertone that ‘usually,’ but not always, favors blue over green. It rarely flashes purple, but like almost any gray, it can be encouraged in the right environment.
Remember, every gray has undertones, so you may as well hone in on the ones that best suit your room and its furnishings!
That said, how you see a paint color can be influenced by personal perception, exposure, and interior finishes.
This next photo is a great example of Stonington’s undertones…
Look at the top right wall in the above photo, and you’ll see a blue undertone. Look to the left, and you’ll see a warmer green undertone. FULL-EXPOSURE BABY (the best kind)! The right side is getting more north-facing light, whereas the left side of the photo has more of a south-facing influence. Damn, I love this stuff.
Here’s another example of Stonington Gray’s undertones. While it mostly caters to blue, in this image, it picks up a muddy green (love me some sunshine)…
The Best Paint Colors with Red Wood Finishes
Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Stonington Gray – HOORAY!
WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM OR CABINET COLOR WITH STONINGTON GRAY?
GOOD QUESTION! I’ve seen Stonington partnered up with soft, warm whites like Simply White and Cloud White. However, you can also go whiter, for example…
- Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
These whites are among some of the TRUEST whites and would show a clean, crisp contrast with Stonington Gray walls.
4 Steps to Choosing the Best White Paint Color
If you choose an overly warm white, the cool blue of Stonington can overreact with the yellow in most warm whites, and they will enhance each other. Enhance means that the blue in Stonington can make the yellow in your white look stronger, and the yellow can, in turn, make the blue look stronger. Some people don’t mind this look, but I ain’t one of ’em.
The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors
WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO STONINGTON GRAY?
When it comes to getting an exact match, you’ll never find it, as there will always be a shift in undertones, depth, and temperature. However, there are a few contenders worth sampling and comparing.
- Sherwin Williams Tinsmith
- Sherwin Williams Silverplate
- Sherwin Williams Big Chill
This said, when doing my Online Color Consulting, I often have clients deciding between Stonington Gray and a few other popular grays, and they can’t decide which is their favorite. Remember, a lot of the time, it’s not about what’s best for you; it’s about what’s best for your room, and learning about the differences between colors can help you make the best choice!
STONINGTON GRAY VS. GRAY OWL
Stonington Gray and Gray Owl are often in the running together. And while they’re certainly in the same ballpark, they’re hitting to different sides of the field.
Stonington Gray has an LRV of 59. Gray Owl has an LRV of 65, so there’s a SOLID difference in depth there (learn more here). Stonington is almost light-medium depth, whereas Gray Owl is tucked nicely in the light range. If you want to learn more about the differences between these two colors, read HERE.
My FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Gray Owl
STONINGTON GRAY VS. WICKHAM GRAY
Wickham Gray is like a lighter Stonington Gray. It has similar undertone tendencies, but they can sometimes come up a bit more in Wickham. Wickham Gray has an LRV of 67.87, so it’s considerably lighter than Stonington but still in the light range.
My FULL Paint Color Review of Wickham Gray
Are you unsure if Stonington Gray is the best color for you and your home? I’ve got more!
READ MORE
The Most TRUE GRAY Paint Colors with No Undertones
Paint Color Review: Benjamin Moore Gray Owl
The 9 Best Benjamin Moore Gray Paint Colors
The 10 Best Sherwin Williams Gray and Greige Paint Colors
NEED HELP?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting packages; I’d love to help!
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2020., UPDATED IN 2024
Wow! I love Stonington Gray in that home (and how it’s decorated – looks like the work of Kylie)! It looks almost like a greige – is the way it’s appearing on line, pretty accurate? I have an open concept home, with the front of the home (2 story entry) facing north & the back (2 story family rm) facing south. Both areas have lots of natural light. Have you seen Stonington Gray in a north facing room? Does it go purple or look icy cold? I have a painted board of this color, but I have a hard time visualizing it in the full space. I love the idea that it’s earthy.
And the picture of Gray Owl in that entryway, looks so blue (baby blue) compared to Stonington Gray, whereas I though Stonington Gray would appear more blue. BTW, my wood floors are similar in tone to that entryway with Gray Owl, but Gray Owl is a little too light for my space.
As always, thanks Kylie!!!
Hi Christy, good to hear from you again! And yes, that is pretty true to Stonington, it’s a pretty fab colour! You WILL notice that shift as your exposures change, so it’s like getting 2 colour in 1! I’ve RARELY had it flash purple, and even then, it’s a stretch (more likely when it’s up against a strong blue-green as it will ‘look more blue-purple’ in comparison to a strong blue-green, but again, it’s still a stretch. I also don’t find it icy. It can look ‘cool, but not icy cold.
Oh, and don’t be fooled by Gray Owl, it can easily look blue, but then in another space, it can lean a bit green – it’s a super ninja, but yes, in that space it was super committed to blue!
I hope that helps and Merry Christmas!
You’re the best!!! Thank you so much! Merry Christmas to you & your family 🙂
Hi Kylie,
Another hugely informative post. Thank you!
The photograph of the bedroom above the heading “What’s the Difference Between Stonington Gray and Revere Pewter” — I love the combination of two tones used on the walls. You have inspired me. Is it just the headboard wall that is different? And which wall is which colour?
Hi Dawn! If it’s the one that I’m thinking it is, it’s actually just one colour – SW Tinsmith! I wonder if the lighting is shifting things on you (or if it’s a different photo 😉
Oh, right! It’s says SW Tinsmith right above the photo. I missed that. (The photo of the bedroom with the sailboat on the wall, right?) I follow your blog enough to know that colours change with the light, but that colour shift is remarkable … and beautiful.
Hi Kylie,
What do you think of Balboa Mist in a small bathroom with south exposure through a very small window. Fixtures are white and the floor is a warm honey wood.
Ooo, you know, I like the sounds of that!
Based on months of reading your brilliant color reviews, I painted my living/dining room combo, bedroom and laundry room Stonington Gray and I’m in love. The living/dining room is large, with tall walls, one small east facing window and two small west facing windows (no not great natural light) and the color still looks fab. It’s a cool gray in my rooms but still feels warm and adds the perfect amount of depth. My laundry room is small so I painted both the walls and ceiling Stonington Gray and it’s gorgeous. You are my go to website so thank you for all the fantastic info! The exterior is my next project which has proved to be quite challenging so I will definitely be purchasing one of your packages!
Hi Kylie,
The room’s are so beautiful. I love the color you educated me on. Stonington Gray.
One question ; do I ask for semi gloss, satin, or egg shell? I’m painting my whole house with Stonington Gray. Thank you
Sincerely
Mary
Hi Mary! I would definitely stick to eggshell as the others can be a bit shiny 🙂
Hi, I have dining room furniture painted smokey taupe. Would stonington gray look good on walls? Benjamin Moore site shows silver mist but color looks more like a kid’s bedroom to me. I have balboa mist in adjacent room. I’d appreciate your help!
Thank you
Hi Julia! I think Stonington is too cool/light for the warmth of Smokey Taupe 🙂
Thanks so much!
Hi kylie,
I am doing an accent wall with the stonington gray for my tv area. What is the darker gray in the photo that you have the fall print on the wall with the stonington gray and the darker color in the hallway? Any suggestions for a accent wall? I am using black trim only on that wall.
Thank you!
Robin
Hi Robin! That’s BM Dior Gray, which is great for the BATHROOM that it’s in, but I wouldn’t use it as a feature with Stonington as it has too much violet in it! Something like BM Charcoal Slate would be better 🙂
Does Stonington Gray coordinate with White Dove?
You betcha!
Oops, I just messaged you about quartz countertop. The cabinets are Stonington Gray not Collingwood. Messaging for my daughter. Thanks again.
I have learned SO much from you (after I made some big paint blunders and realized I needed to learn some basic principles!), so THANK YOU. I painted my living/dining room Stonington Gray, and the den Covington Gray. Now I’m looking for a lighter version of something in the same family for a north-facing bedroom and a hallway that doesn’t get much light. Any recommendations? Wickham? Or could I ask the shop to mix Stonington with some white?
Hi Noelle! What about asking BM to lighten Stonington by 50% for you and see how that looks? The undertones CAN shift, but at least you’re starting with a similar base :).
Thank you so much!! I’ll report back:)
I need help!! I need my laundry painted and I am leaning on the gray, beige or greige side of things. I have literally 20 paint strips on my wall and hate them all. My cabinets are white, my floors are a beigey rubber like floor, which I want to change out and I have one small window facing west. So, if you were to choose one of each color listed, which ones would it be?
Hi Kylie! Love your blogs! Does stonington gray work as an accent color for soffits with classic gray as primary color in a loft with really tall ceilings and east facing light?