Sherwin Williams Anew Gray: exploring a popular greige paint color
Have you been looking for a paint color with JUST THE RIGHT BLEND of cool and warmth and just the right DEPTH – not washed-out OR too heavy? Well, have I got the paint color for you!
What type of paint color is Sherwin Williams Anew Gray? Is it warm or cool?
Anew Gray is a warm greige paint color. Is it TRADITIONALLY warm? No, it will look COOL compared to warm colors like beige, tan or cream, but is a subtly warm color at heart. If we go COOLER than Anew Gray, we enter the ‘warm gray range‘.
If you have a room with north-facing, morning western or afternoon eastern light, Anew Gray might lean more into its gray base. However, if you have south-facing or afternoon western light, Anew Gray will look like the PERFECT soft greige paint color.
North, East, South, West: Which Paint Color is the Best?
What’s the LRV of Anew Gray?
Anew Gray has an LRV of 47, putting it in the light-medium range. It’s not as light as what MOST people would put in the average room (read more on that HERE), but it’s not heavy or overwhelming by ANY stretch.
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
And thank you to all of my Online Paint Color Consulting clients for sending in their PHOTOS – you make my colorful lil world go round!
This subtle warmth works well for a north-facing room if you were wanting gray, but found it a bit too chilly looking. It can also be a nice balance to a south-facing room with a lot of golden sunshine. Why? Anew Gray’s STRONG gray base will calm things down a bit without putting you in the gray world.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
What are the undertones of Anew Gray?
Anew Gray is one of my favourite greige paint colors for a reason – its undertones, or lack of them. I mean, it HAS undertones, every gray and greige does, but Anew Gray stays PRETTY darned neutral looking. When it does decide to grab an undertone, it’s an INTENSELY subtle violet or green. If you want a more noticeable green undertone, check out THIS paint color instead.
What’s the best way to sample Anew Gray?
Like with every paint color, I highly recommend using SAMPLIZE.
These peel and stick paint samples will let you check out your color options for WAY less mess and money than a traditional sample pot – and they deliver right to your front door!
I want to paint my walls Anew Gray, what white paint color should my trim be?
Anew Gray is pretty flexible and via its color AND depth, can suit a wide variety of whites. If you have a white ALREADY in place, Anew Gray could work as long as your trim isn’t too yellow/creamy.
SW Pure White on trim, walls and ceiling with Web Gray feature wall and GREIGE carpet
If I were to CHOOSE a white paint color to go with Anew Gray, I’d lean the most into Sherwin Williams Pure White for its muted warmth.
SHOULD I Paint My Wood Cabinets White? A QUESTIONNAIRE
The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams
Is Anew Gray a good color for the exterior of my home?
You bet it is! I can’t guarantee it will work for YOU in particular, but Anew Gray suits many types of brick and stone, as well as different exposures. Just remember, exterior colors can look WAAAAY DIFFERENT than they do on an interior (warmer AND lighter) – read these tips before you dive in!
You might also want to consider my Quick Consult package, which is an affordable and fun way to learn about the needs of your home!
Is Anew Gray the most popular greige paint color?
No, but it’s right up there. The lighter version of it, Agreeable Gray is more popular due to its DEPTH as is the lighter and warmer Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray, a LONG-TIME fave of mine!
Anew Gray with the brick fireplace, SW Dovetail in the entryway
What Benjamin Moore paint colors are the same as or similar to Anew Gray?
- Benjamin Moore Himalayan Trek
- Benjamin Moore Plymouth Rock
- You might also want to check out Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray
And if you’re thinking of color matching between brands (ie. getting BM to make an SW paint color), you might want to read THIS first.
What are some paint colors that go with Anew Gray?
- light-medium grays with a soft stormy blue or blue-green undertone
- some warm grays that are darker than Anew Gray with subtle undertones (so an LRV lower than 47)
- light muted beiges that have some gray in them, something like Accessible Beige is a good place to start
What are some paint colors that DON’T look as good with Anew Gray?
- Anew Gray doesn’t always love to be partnered with a color that’s lighter and COOLER than itself
- It doesn’t love to be partnered with overly cold, icy, crisp colors
Not sure if Anew Gray is right for you? Want a bit warmer, lighter, cooler? I’ve got more!
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray & Perfect Greige
Color Review of Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray
The 12 Best Whole Home Gray and Greige Paint Colors
The 4 Best Warm Gray Paint Colors
Not sure which paint color is best for YOUR home?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!
Chat soon,
I used SW Anew Gray on exterior shutters with BM White Dove on exterior walls & trim. Beautiful! Could not be happier. My painter decided to mix Anew Gray in BM
base in my kitchen. Not happy! It may look okay ( it does)
but it is a very different color than outside. I reluctantly agreed to keep it (wanted the kitchen back) but now plan to repaint the kitchen this year. Outside Anew Gray is a soft taupe beige – inside is a moody gray. Just sayin’.
Lovely review! Would Anew Gray pair well with Greek Villa trim and cabinets?
will Anew Gray pare with Slate Tile kitchen island with Pure White cabinets and trim ?
Author
You bet!
Would anew gray cabinets with plenty of sunshine look good with gossamer veil walls with pure white trim??
Thanks!
Author
Nope! The green in Gossamer Veil won’t be happy with Anew Gray 🙂
I have classic gray on the walls in a bathroom located in the center of my house, no windows. It looks pretty white. I want to paint the cabinets and was deciding between anew gray or amazing gray, which would work best?
Thank you!
Author
Hey Alicia, with Classic Gray I do PREFER Anew Gray over Amazing Gray, but it can depend on the countertop/tiles!
It says not to pair it with a lighter grey but can anew grey on the island be paired with city loft or classic grey on the walls?
Author
Uuuusually – City Loft and Classic Gray are warm grays that are TRYING to be taupe, so they can often slide in there 😉
We will have white vinyl windows. Would Anew Gray look better with Pure White trim on the exterior with white vynal windows or do I have the exterior white trim color matched to our white windows? Help
Author
Hi Holly! It’s hard to say as different brands of windows have different whites. Pure White WILL look warmer than most white windows – some people don’t mind that !
Thank you! I have noticed SW Pure White looking white but with a little bit of a gray undertone around white exterior windows. My builder has color matched the white windows into a white trim paint through SW for other customers. Do you think that would look best with SW Anew Gray?
We will have a black roof, black garage doors and a black front door in SW Tricorn Black. I appreciate your input as I am done with feeling like I may screw my exterior up so thank you!!
Anew gray runs through our open concept ranch. I’m looking to do a darker themed accent wall that our TV and fireplace are on. Would SW Iron Ore or BM Wrought Iron pair well with Anew Gray?
Author
Oooo, heck yes! Both are lovely. I also love BM Cheating Heart.
Thank you. I probably should have added it’s a north facing room. I had the anew gray lightened by 20% because of this, I didn’t want it appearing too “muddy” looking due to lack of light, so far it’s been great. Does this change your opinion about the Iron Ore or Wrought Iron use?
Author
If it’s a north-facing room with a GOOD AMOUNT of light, should be good. But if it’s dark and north-facing, they could look more blackish than not. I have Wrought Iron in my primary bedroom on an accent wall. Our room is north-facing and dark. While I KNOW it’s got a great blue hue, most people see it as a soft black (I mean, not like a lot of people are in my bedroom, but you know what I’m sayin’).
I like Peppercorn on my tv wall would anew gray work on the other walls?
I have an open home with a light gray sofa. Thanks
Author
It sure could, as long as Anew Gray isn’t too warm for your sofa, as Anew Gray is more of a greige-taupe 🙂
I am doing anew gray for my kitchen cabinets. Do you have any suggestions for countertops. I haven’t decided between quartz or marble, but what color profile should I be looking for? Also, what hardware finishes look good? I don’t like the gold look that seems to be in style at the moment and hate black. I’m leaning towards German bronze, but would love your thoughts. Thanks!