Sherwin Williams Requisite Gray: Undertones, Best Uses, & Lighting

By Kylie

December 20, 2021

Sherwin Williams Requisite Gray – is it a warm gray or taupe?

If you’re looking for a popular warm gray or taupe paint color with a flexibility that suits a wide range of exposures and interior finishes, you’ve come to the RIGHT blog!

And while I have ALL of the info and guidance you’re looking for, I don’t have a TON of photos of this bad boy – yet. I refer 100% to photos from my Online Paint Color Consulting clients, so hopefully, I’ll be getting more soon!

Sherwin Williams warm grey paint colour review with Kylie M Interiors - Requisite Gray

What type of paint color is Requisite Gray? It is warm or cool? Taupe or gray?

Sherwin Williams Requisite Gray is a WARM paint color but doesn’t have quite enough warmth to step into the TAUPE end of things. This means that Requisite Gray is a WARM GRAY paint color (and a wicked pretty one at that).

If you have north-facing light or even flat afternoon eastern/morning western light, you’ll see Requisite Gray shades itself a bit more with its gray base. It rarely looks like a COLD gray, but it certainly nods in that direction.

Taupe, warm gray greige paint colour comparisons. Collingwood, Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray, Requisite Gray, Benjamin Moore London Gray with light wood trim. Kylie M INteriors Edesign

Notice how Versatile Gray is a bit warmer/taupe than Requisite. Links to others at the end of this blog post

On the other hand, if you have glorious south-facing room or afternoon western sunshine, Requisite Gray will lean a bit more into its subtle warmth. Depending on your PERCEPTION, you might even think it looks a bit like taupe!

North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?

What’s the LRV of Requisite Gray?

Requisite Gray has an LRV of 45. This LRV means that Requisite Gray is a WARM GRAY paint color in the light-medium range.

This depth of color can work well in super bright rooms as it won’t wash out NEARLY as much as lighter colors can. However, if you have a low light room it can look a BIT flat.

Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.

How to Make a Dark Room Look Brighter – and it ain’t with paint! 

The Best LIGHT Paint Colors for a DARK room

What are the undertones of Requisite Gray? 

EVERY gray has undertones and Requisite Gray is NO exception – it has VIOLET undertones. Are they overwhelming? It depends on your perception. If you’re SENSITIVE to violet undertones then you might find it to be a BIT much. However, if you’re not fussed one way or another and see how this undertone connects with your finishes, it can be a PERFECT choice.

What’s the best way to sample paint colors?

Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…

Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

  • samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1 DAY, depending on location
  • they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling
  • if you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

What’s the best white trim color with Requisite Gray

SHOULD I Paint My Wood Cabinets White? A QUESTIONNAIRE

The ULTIMATE GUIDE to White Paint Colors

The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams

Is Requisite Gray a popular paint color for the exterior of a home?

You bet! Requisite Gray can be a GREAT choice as its slightly lower LRV holds up well to bright exterior light (knowing ALL colors will look lighter in bright light). Its undertones are often a good connection with many stone, brick and roof finishes.

This stucco exterior looked dated and out of place with the tones of the roof and driveway…

before after exterior stucco remodel, rancher, yellow, garage, trim warm gray taupe paint colour, concrete driveway. Kylie m Interiors Edesign

After, it looks like an ENTIRELY new home with Requisite Gray and a few other well-chosen colors.

5 Tips to Choosing an Exterior Paint Color

Does Your Exposure REALLY MATTER When Choosing EXTERIOR Paint Colors?

Is Requisite Gray a popular color for kitchen cabinets?

I’ll say that Requisite Gray is AN option for kitchen cabinets, but most of my E-Design clients want something lighter, darker or with less violet undertone.

How to Choose the Best White Paint Color for Your Kitchen Cabinets

The Best Paint Colors for Kitchen Island & Bathroom Vanities

What paint colors are similar to Requisite Gray for comparison?

Every paint color has its own personality and nuances – there will be NO perfect match. You can fully expect to see shifts in undertones, temperature, and depths, but you could check out…

  • Sherwin Williams Alpaca is similar to Requisite Gray but lighter
  • Benjamin Moore Silver Fox is similar to Requisite Gray but a bit warmer
  • Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray is WARMER than Requisite Gray

Difference between versatile gray, requisite gray, dorian gray, balanced beige, Anew Gray, Sherwin Williams best warm gray paint colours. Kylie M Interiors

And if you’re thinking of color matching between brands (ie: getting Benjamin Moore to make a Sherwin Williams paint color), you might want to read THIS first.

What paint colors go well with Requisite Gray?

READ MORE

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Collingwood

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore London Fog

What’s the Difference Between Greige & Taupe

Is Gray Still Trendy on Walls, Cabinets & Exteriors?

The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colors

Not sure which paint color is best for YOUR home?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!

Online paint colour expert, Kylie M Interiors, Edesigns using Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams popular paint colors. Market

Chat soon,

Kylie M Interiors, decorating blog, e-design, online colour consulting expert. signature

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

Grab one of Kylie’s guides

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

    $34.95
    More details
  • Accent 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
    More details
  • 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

    $44.95
    More details
  • Exterior 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
    More details

Comments

  1. Elaina Swartzlander Avatar
    Elaina Swartzlander

    Your color analysis is the best- I have used it for my whole house! My basement currently has whitish walls with grey trim. I’m planning on updating in that same scheme. I was considering Alabaster walls and Requisite Gray trim, but am wondering if Pure White is better? It is south facing with daylight windows. Also, Samplize has been AMAZING!

    1. KylieMawdsley Avatar

      Hi Elaina! It depends on the interio finish, but it sounds like your space could humor either! I mean, off the top, i PREFER Pure White with Requisite Gray 🙂

  2. Lisa Myers Avatar
    Lisa Myers

    I love to read through your suggestions! The exterior house you showed is beuatiful. What color is used on the shutters? Do you think Requisite Gray (siding) would pair well with Onyx (trim and garage) for the exterior? I’m looking for a gray that would pair nicely with Onyx.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s do this together

Ready to love the home you have?

Skip the overwhelm and the expensive mistakes. Get a personal, easy-to-follow color plan completed online in three easy steps.

Trusted by 12,000+ clients · results in 8–10 business days