Posted on June 3, 2020 by KylieMawdsley
Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray: LRV, Undertones and a Little More
When it comes to choosing the best greige paint color, it’s easy to get distracted by a pretty Pinterest page. However, it’s VITAL that you do your research on LRV, undertones and ALLLL of the other things that go into making a paint color work, or NOT work, for you and your home. Which is why today, we’re taking a closer look at…
What type of paint color is Worldly Gray? Is it warm or cool? Gray or greige?
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Worldly Gray is a warm paint color that can EASILY be seen as a warm gray or a greige, depending on your perception, as well as the exposure of the room you’re putting it in. Generally speaking though, Worldly Gray IS a greige at heart.
If you have a north-facing room, you’ll find Worldly Gray looks MORE like a warm gray (meaning it will look a bit grayer/cooler), whereas it will lean a bit more into its warmth with south-facing light.
Read more: North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
What’s the LRV of Worldly Gray?
Worldly Gray has an LRV of 57, which puts it in the light range, but on the HEAVIER side of it (learn more HERE).
A color with this LRV will hold its look a bit better in a super bright room compared to a color with a higher LRV. If you have a dark room though, a color like Worldly Gray can look a bit dingy, so you’ll need some good interior lighting to back it up!
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
What are the undertones of Worldly Gray? Will it look green or purple like some greige paint colors?
While the undertones of Worldly Gray are AMAZINGLY PASSIVE, it does favour a very mild green, which cuts back on any tendency to lean into purple. However, A LOT of the time it just shows up pretty darned neutral. If you don’t like green undertones…you still might like Worldly Gray as it has a more passive approach than Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter or the slightly darker version, Amazing Gray.
What’s the best way to sample Worldly Gray?
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
If I’m painting my walls Worldly Gray, what’s the best white paint color for my trim?
When it comes to choosing a white paint color for your trim with Worldly Gray, I would look at…
- Sherwin Williams Pure White
- Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
Read more: SHOULD I Paint My Wood Cabinets White? A QUESTIONNAIRE
Read more: The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams
Is Worldly Gray a good color for the exterior of my home?
Well, if your roof, stone, brick and other exterior features can support a mild, warm green undertone, then it certainly could work, although I won’t say it’s a terribly popular choice. My clients are usually inclined towards a bit less green undertone.
Read more: 5 Tips to Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
Is Worldly Gray a popular paint color right now?
Absolutely! With greige and other warm paint colors gaining popularity, Worldly Gray is definitely a top contender. However, it’s got some STIFF competition (read below for links to some comparables).
What Benjamin Moore paint colors are the same as or similar to Worldly Gray?
You won’t find an exact match for ANY color between brands – you WILL see shifts in undertones, temperature and depths. However, there are some with similar intentions, but different approaches…
- Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
- Benjamin Moore Seattle Mist
What type of paint colors look good with Worldly Gray?
If I’m looking to partner Worldly Gray up with some other colors in a palette, I might look at…
- Some gray paint colors with a similar or lower LRV. Worldly is reasonably flexible re: the undertones it likes to be partnered with, but I DO love it with blue-gray blends
- Super passive cream-greige-tan blend paint colors, such as Sherwin Williams White Duck
- Colors that are DARKER VERSIONS of itself, like Sherwin Williams Anonymous (shown below) and Felted Wool
Not sure if Worldly Gray is right for you? Want a bit warmer or cooler? I’ve got more!
SHERWIN WILLIAMS REPOSE GRAY
Read more: Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Repose Gray
SHERWIN WILLIAMS AGREEABLE GRAY
Read more: Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray
SHERWIN WILLIAMS COLONNADE GRAY
Read more: Paint Color Review of Sherwin Willams Colonnade Gray
Not sure which paint color is best for YOUR home?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!
KYLIE M INTERIORS E-DESIGN AND ONLINE VIRTUAL PAINT COLOR EXPERT, SPECIALIZING IN BENJAMIN MOORE AND SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT COLORS DIY DECORATING AND DESIGN ADVICE BLOGGER
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Would you paint your cabinets SW White Duck with Worldly Gray walls?
Author
Nope, I wouldn’t.
My walls are SW White Duck with SW Pure White Trim. Doors are Urbane Bronze. I’m looking at painting the kitchen cabinets Worldly Gray. I like Agreeable Gray and my husband likes Amazing Gray. I think Worldly is in the middle. Thoughts?
Author
Wellll, neither are dark enough to partner up well with White Duck. You’ll want to head into the light-medium depths, so LRV’s around 40-50 or so. I’d also lean into a slightly greige undertone (i.e. Amazing Gray or even a touch more green) rather than Agreeable Gray/Anew Gray :). Also check out BM Pashmina, it’s lovely! Darker than you want, but beautiful all the same.
Hi, would it look fine if I paint my fireplace Chatura Gray and my walls Worldly gray in my Great room living space. I have dark wood trim and a dark wood mantle so just looking for a darker coordinating color for my fireplace but not too dark.
Author
Noooope! Worldly Gray can grab a subtle green undertone that could be right at odds with the taupe approach of Chatura Gray. You might want to shift to something with no violet in it.
Hi Kylie, my house if full of honey oak. If I paint my walls worldly gray would painting my honey oak trim, closets, and kitchen cabinets a Shoji White from Benjamin Moore work?
Author
It cooould, but it will all be very low contrast – you might get a sample made of Shoji White 25% lighter and see how that looks.
Hi Kylie, thanks for your feedback! Would BM Chantilly Lace be a better option to paint all my honey oak trim, closets and cabinets with Worldly Gray on the walls?
Kylie, what do you think about painting our North facing two-story (lots of windows) room with Worldly Gray – the ceiling and trim are honey-pine – and we face a lake.
Author
Ooooo, I do love Worldly Gray! It CAN pick up a minor green undertone which is pretty.
Hello, I’ve been doing a lot of reading and watching your videos! I am doing alabaster cabinets in all spaces, trim, and doors. Is worldly gray going to look good on the walls? I don’t want my walls to have a purple tone to them! My parents have that problem in their house. I’m just trying to find a light griege color that has a little less beige than gray. Thank you!
Author
It can work, but i personally would feel better of Worldly was darkened by 25%, just to increase the contrast between the two a bit more :). And Worldly Gray’s undertones are pretty darn subtle – some don’t see the green at all!
Hi Kylie, I want to paint my walls worldly gray. Will that go with medium stained woodwork, floors, trim, maple cabinets?
I have a few areas that need a lighter “trim”- columns. I am considering creamy and white heron. Will those look good together?
Hi there, I want to use Urbane Bronze on exterior trim and garage door but not sure what to use for body. Looking at Versatile Gray? Do you have a better option? Don’t want to go too light, we live in Arizona. Thank you!
Would Greek Villa be a good trim color to match with Worldly Gray walls & ceiling?
Author
Oooo, I would lean more into Pure White as it’s less yellow.