Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray (7016): Undertones, LRV, & Best Uses
Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray is a light-medium, warm gray paint color. It works well on interior walls, especially open-concept spaces, as well as accent walls.
Mindful Gray’s undertones and overall look can vary with a room’s exposure, interior finishes, and even light bulbs.
Regardless, it’s no surprise that it’s a popular paint color. However, just because something is popular doesn’t mean it will work in your home. Thank goodness you’re doing your research, including reading this blog post!
WHAT TYPE OF COLOR IS MINDFUL GRAY?
Rest assured, Mindful Gray is a warm gray paint color. However, it’s the kind of warm that if you’re hoping for a traditional shade of gray, Mindful Gray could seem, well…a little greige. This is because Mindful Gray has a bit more brown than the average gray and some super sneaky undertones (which we’ll get to shortly).
If you have a north-facing room, Mindful Gray’s warmth is a great way to add a bit of balance without leaning into the wild world of beige. This said, it can also be gorgeous for south-facing rooms or afternoon western light, as it’s still gray – just not a super cool one. However, if you need to balance your super warm sunshine, you might need something more traditionally cool or stormy.
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WHAT’S THE LRV OF MINDFUL GRAY?
Mindful Gray has an LRV of 48, making it a light-medium-depth neutral paint color. This depth makes it a tough sell for darker rooms, no matter which exposure they have, as it can look a bit murky or muddy in low light.
However, this additional depth helps it withstand strong sunshine without washing out quite as much as lighter shades (e.g., Repose Gray).
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
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WHAT ARE MINDFUL GRAY’S UNDERTONES?
Like the lighter Repose Gray and darker Dorian Gray, Mindful Gray is a bit of a color ninja. Every gray has undertones, and Mindful Gray favors a slight earthy green undertone. Could it pick up a flash of purple in the odd light? Maaaybe, but that’s more situational than ‘actual’. Mindful Gray is definitely more earthy and muddy compared to other cooler gray paint colors.
In this next photo, Mindful Gray is too gray-green for the purple undertone in the gray-wash laminate flooring…
In this next image, the photography affects how Mindful Gray looks. It shouldn’t look as cool and green as it does around the kitchen cabinets. Look above the door on the right to see a better example of Mindful Gray in action…
If you have finishes catering to a purple undertone (which many interior finishes do), Mindful Gray will probably look a wee wink too green. Focus your sampling efforts on grays with violet undertones or dabble in the taupe range.
WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM WITH MINDFUL GRAY WALLS?
- Sherwin Williams Pure White
- Benjamin Moore White Dove
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
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IS MINDFUL GRAY A GOOD EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR?
Mindful Gray can be a fanfriggintastic exterior color if it suits your brick, stone, roof, and surroundings. Many exterior finishes love the touch of green and warmth in Mindful Gray! This said, if your rockwork or roof prefers a purple undertone, it’s time to switch gears.
However, if you expect Mindful Gray to look like a traditional gray on your exterior, you may want to adjust your goggles, as it won’t.
This brick exterior has a Mindful Gray wash on it.
As with many exterior colors in this range, Mindful Gray looks warmer than expected on exteriors. Sample carefully before plastering your home with it!
5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
Does Your Exposure REALLY MATTER When Choosing EXTERIOR Paint Colors?
IS MINDFUL GRAY A GOOD COLOR FOR KITCHEN CABINETS?
Mindful Gray isn’t a popular color for kitchen cabinets, but just because it’s unpopular doesn’t mean it’s not good.
Mindful Gray can look amazeballs on kitchen cabinets, as long as it suits the surrounding finishes.
Many people lean toward the lighter looks of Sherwin Williams Repose Gray and Agreeable Gray. However, the increased depth of Mindful Gray can give you a wider range of coordinating wall colors.
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WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO MINDFUL GRAY?
While you might find a color close to Mindful Gray, every color has its own LRV, undertones, and nuances. These tweaks make one color a better option over another, so sample carefully!
- Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray is a bit warmer than Mindful Gray and has a more purposeful green undertone.
- Sherwin Williams Anew Gray is a warmer, more greige-taupe take on Mindful Gray.
- Benjamin Moore Cumulus Cloud is an interesting option. While it can still grab a touch of green, it has more purple hiding in it, making it more balanced.
Here are a few other colors that are often compared with Mindful Gray…
Sherwin Williams Silverplate / Worldly Gray / Benjamin Moore Smoke Embers
WHICH COLORS GO WITH MINDFUL GRAY?
If you’re creating a color palette for your home, Mindful Gray entertains a range of colors…
- Greige paint colors that are darker than Mindful Gray can look smashing.
- Some darker gray paint colors with similar undertones or even a more dominant green
- Some suuuuper subtle and muted off-white paint colors.
- Sherwin Williams Repose Gray and Agreeable Gray.
- Darker gray-blue hues are magic with Mindful Gray.
READ MORE
The Best Stone-Inspired Medium-Depth Paint Colors
The 4 Best Quasi-Warm Gray Paint Colors
Sherwin Williams Anew Gray Paint Color Review
Is Gray Still Trendy on Cabinets, Walls & Trims?
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ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2020, UPDATED IN 2024
my painter painted mindful gray sw7016 on the siding of my home (my home is mostly brick, small amount of siding on both sides of front door. i love it. i chose dovetail SW7018 for the porch floor. not so happy with it. i don’t want to go any lighter, would go slightly darker but the tone of dovetail is not making me happy. what would you recommend? Many thanks
Oooo, that’s tought, as Mindful Gray won’t lvoe a color that’s warmer than it. My BEST advice is to go a bit darker with Gauntlet Gray, and maybe the shift to a color with a bit more depth will feel better??
I’m looking at Mindful Gray for my exterior. Should I stick to a brighter white for trim and garage doors like Pure White, or do something less stark, e.g., Eider White or BM Classic Gray? Also contending with some burgundy brick.
Oooo, it depends on the exact brick yoiuy have, your window color and even your ROOF can play into things. Off the top, I would lean into something like Pure White.