Sherwin Williams Classic French Gray: Paint Color Review
By Kylie
October 1, 2022
SHERWIN WILLIAMS CLASSIC FRENCH GRAY: does it even HAVE undertones?
When picking the best gray paint color, it’s hard to figure out which one suits your home AND your personal tastes. Whether you’re painting your walls, cabinets or exterior, you have to do your research. Which is why I’m glad you’re here with me today, drinkin’ the Ginger-flavoured Kool-Aid while we take a closer look at Sherwin Williams Classic French Gray.
I love to show RELATEABLE & REAL homes, so ONLY use photos from my Online Color Consulting clients. This means I don’t always have the quality pics I need, but DEFINITELY have some SUPER helpful info to help you on your way!
IS CLASSIC FRENCH GRAY WARM OR COOL?
One of the great things about Sherwin Williams Classic French Gray is that even though it’s a slightly warm gray, it comes off pretty darn neutral in most situations.
When might Classic French Gray look a bit warmer than usual? In south-facing light or warm afternoon western sunshine. You might also see it look warm COMPARED to surrounding finishes that are cooler-toned.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
WHAT’S CLASSIC FRENCH GRAY’S LRV?
Classic French Gray has an LRV of 24, which puts it on the slightly HEAVIER end of the medium-range (my fave end of it, personally – I like a lil’ junk in the trunk). Paint colors with THIS low of an LRV are awesome because while they have body and bulk, they won’t look BLACK even if you have a dark room. They also hold up quite well to a SUPER bright room with a ton of sun shining on its walls.
Just LOOK at the difference in these next two photos between shade and sun!
And while natural light IS CRAZY, it’s not SO crazy that it changed the front door color that much ;). Part of this Online Paint Color Consult included a new gorgeous blue-green paint color for the front door – with the previous photo being the final choice.
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint-lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
The Best Paint Color for Your Front Door
WHAT UNDERTONES DOES CLASSIC FRENCH GRAY HAVE?
Because Classic French Gray has very subtle undertones, they’re not easy to see at first glance. However, a slightly green hue can show up to the party if you partner this shade of gray with another shade that’s more violet-toned.
Gray Paint Colors – The 3 Undertones You HAVE to Consider!
ARE THERE CLASSIC FRENCH GRAY PEEL & STICK SAMPLES?
Like with every paint color, I highly recommend using SAMPLIZE. Samplize is a peel & stick paint sample that you can easily move around your room for over HALF THE COST of traditional sample pots – and they deliver right to your front door!
Learn all about Samplize HERE
WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM COLOR WITH CLASSIC FRENCH GRAY?
If I’m painting with Classic French Gray, I’m DEFINITELY hitting up these white paint colors for my trim, ceilings and doors…
- Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
- Sherwin Williams Pure White for a softer approach
SHOULD I Paint My Wood Cabinets White? A QUESTIONNAIRE
The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams
IS CLASSIC FRENCH GRAY GOOD FOR A HOME’S EXTERIOR?
You bet your booty it is! Classic French Gray can be a great shade of gray for the exterior. HOWEVER, make sure it suits your particular asphalt roof, stonework or brick – these are ALL things you have to consider when picking your exterior paint color!
5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
IS CLASSIC FRENCH GRAY A POPULAR SHADE OF GRAY?
Heck no. While it COULD be popular, many other grays come in the top spot, including Sherwin Williams Dovetail and Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray. If you’re painting a kitchen island, bathroom vanity, feature wall or exterior, Classic French Gray COULD be a good choice but make sure to compare it to the others.
WHAT PAINT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO CLASSIC FRENCH GRAY?
There are many shades that are similar to Classic French Gray. Just remember, EVERY gray has its own nuances, so compare carefully!
- Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray or Amherst Gray
- Sherwin Williams Dovetail
- Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray
WHAT COLORS GO WITH CLASSIC FRENCH GRAY?
Classic French Gray is REASONABLY flexible, but like every neutral paint color, it has its preferences, such as some…
- Light gray and greige paint colors as long as they aren’t too cold
- Some soft, subtle warm off-white paint colors
- blue-green-gray blends
Not sure if Classic French Gray is right for you? Want a bit warmer or cooler? I’ve got more!
READ MORE
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Cityscape
Sherwin Williams 8 Top DARK Gray Paint Colors
Sherwin Williams 6 Best DARK Greige & Taupe Paint Colors
Benjamin Moore Metropolis: Paint Color Review
Is Gray Still Popular on Walls, Cabinets & Exteriors?
Not sure which paint color is best for YOUR home?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!
Chat soon,
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2020, UPDATED IN 2022
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Meet Kylie
Do you need help, but aren’t quite sure what ‘help’ looks like? Are you drowning in paint samples and decision fatigue?
Does every color you like at the paint store look terrible in your lighting or pick up a funky undertone? I’d love to help.
Hi, I’m Kylie
For over 24 years I’ve helped 12,000+ homeowners and renters make more confident decisions on paint colors and affordable home updates using real home examples and practical, experience-based advice. My goal is simple: help you love the home you have.
Do-it-yourself, the smart way
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Affordable, downloadable shortcuts to the colors and combos I’d pick for you. Yours to keep, forever.
Homeowner’s Guide: White Kitchen Cabinets
This isn’t another ’10 Best Cabinet Colors’ list, because there is no SINGLE best white for every home and every kitchen.
Learn how to choose a white cabinet paint color that works with your countertops, backsplash, flooring, trim, lighting, and home—so you can rule out the wrong whites, sample fewer colors, and choose with confidence.
158-page PDF – Instant Download
$34.95Accent Colors – And How to Use Them
This isn’t about plastering your home in the ‘Color of the Year’ or following the latest trends (unless you really want to).
It’s about finding accent colors that work with YOUR home, YOUR style, and YOUR comfort level.
Because the best accent color isn’t one you love on a paint chip, it’s one that makes everything around it look better.
118-Page PDF – Instant Download
$34.95
Homeowner’s Guide: Exterior Paint Colors
Painting your home’s exterior is a BIG investment and choosing a color based on a tiny paint chip, a trend or the house down the street can be an expensive mistake.
Learn how to look at YOUR roof, YOUR windows, YOUR brick (or stone) and YOUR home as a whole so you can understand what colors make sense.
The goal? Less guessing, fewer samples and a lot more confidence before gallons of paint go on your home.
206-page PDF – Digital Download
$44.95Exterior Trim Paint Colors
This isn’t a list of ‘the best trim colors’, although you’ll get a ton of links to great shades!
You’ll learn how to look at your home and understand whether it needs contrast, repetition, connection, or a little visual peacekeeping to pull it all together.
Because trim might seem like a small detail…but spread it around all four sides of your home on multiple surfaces and it suddenly has a pretty big job.
118-page PDF – Instant Download
$24.95
Comments
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I’m wondering if you’d recommend Classic French Gray as a bathroom cabinet color in a large, very bright, south facing bathroom, with SW Silver Strand on the walls?
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