Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray & Perfect Greige Color Review

While escaping the world of gray can be hard, colors like Versatile Gray and Perfect Greige make the transition so much easier. Not too warm, not too cool (though that’s open to perception), these two gorgeous neutrals have become popular for single rooms, open-concept spaces, exteriors, and even kitchen cabinets.

But just because colors are gorgeous doesn’t mean they’re the best fit for you and your home. This is why learning about them and comparing similar shades is the best way to find your perfect shade.

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WHAT TYPE OF COLORS ARE VERSATILE GRAY & PERFECT GREIGE?

Versatile Gray is very versatile thanks to its depth and undertones, which we’ll hit shortly. First, let’s talk about what type of color it is.

Versatile Gray is a taupe paint color (or greige, if you prefer that term). This brings out a step outside of gray, with a more noticeable warmth.

As for Perfect Greige, it’s a taupe and is far too warm to be gray. As colors lighten and darken, their temperatures and undertones shift. So, while Perfect Greige is kind of like a darker version of Versatile Gray, it picks up a bit more warmth along the way.

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

What’s the Difference Between Greige & Taupe Paint Colors?

THEIR LRVS

Versatile Gray has an LRV of 48, making it a light-medium depth paint color. This depth of color holds up quite well in super bright rooms, whereas brighter colors more easily wash out. It’s a popular depth for open-concept, especially for my clients who want a more noticeable contrast with their white trim.

However, if you have a dark room, both colors can appear more moody and muddier – this isn’t always a bad thing, just something to be aware of.

Perfect Greige has an LRV of 42, putting it closer to the medium depths. Again, Perfect Greige is great for well-lit rooms, but can start visually weighing down a dark room if you’re not careful.

Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint-lovin’ life – learn about the magic of LRV!

Get your Samplize Peel & Stick sample of Versatile Gray HERE!

WHAT ARE THE UNDERTONES OF PERFECT GREIGE & VERSATILE GRAY?

Both Versatile Gray and Perfect Greige are typical taupe paint colors (despite their names).

Taupe and greige are contentious words. Some people use them interchangeably, whereas in the Kylie M. Color System, I separate them by their most likely undertones – with taupes leaning purple-pink and greiges leaning green.

Before, my client’s home was a hot mess of colors…

After, it looks updated and coordinated with Versatile Gray siding. Notice how it connects with the asphalt roof and stone…

Now, the front door and deck still need a little KLC, but you get the idea. Baby steps.

Many factors affect which way a color may lean. However, when you’ve seen paint colors in over 12,000 homes, you’ve seen a thing or two.

COLOR REVIEWS: BM LONDON FOG / BM COLLINGWOOD / SW REQUISITE GRAY

Are these undertones noticeable? Yes, but they aren’t overwhelming. If you’re super sensitive to violet and/or pink, you’ll likely find them too much; just keep in mind that they’re often the perfect choice for the finishes in many of today’s homes, as well as those from the early 2000s.

Thank you to all of my Online Paint Color Consulting clients and followers who send their AFTER photos; you make my colorful little world go round!

WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM OR CABINET COLOR?

If your walls are Versatile Gray or Perfect Greige, there’s a nice range of whites to explore, including…

Sherwin Williams Pure White is a beautiful, moderate white color.
Benjamin Moore White Dove has a bit more warmth than Pure White, but it still works well with these two shades.
Sherwin Williams Alabaster is okay, too, just a wink warm. It’s better with Perfect Greige’s depth.
Sherwin Williams White Snow can be a gorgeous choice for a touch more contrast.

The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams

They also look gorgeous with most wood trims…

WHERE THEY DO (& DON’T) WORK BEST

Some colors are easy wins across wide range of finishes, whereas others are a tight squeeze. Let’s look at how Versatile Gray and Perfect Greige are for the average home and its finishes.

Here are the short n’ curlies, then we’ll dive in a bit deeper.

They’re the most popular in living rooms and bedrooms
Versatile Gray is more popular as a cabinet color
Both are well-suited to a range of exteriors, with Versatile Gray being the more popular of the two.

Get your Peel & Stick paint sample of Perfect Greige…

Now, let’s dive in.

ARE THEY GOOD WITH WOOD FINISHES?

You bet your cute little booty they are – Versatile Gray and Perfect Greige can be gorgeous with a wide range of wood tones, including many golden and honey oaks, darker wood stains, red-toned woods, and more.

Here’s Perfect Greige (top) with a beautiful orange-toned, cedar sauna…

Here are the ones I have reviews for: SW Natural Linen (4th down) | SW Perfect Greige (top) | BM Stone House (bottom)

DO THEY WORK GOOD AS EXTERIOeasy wins acrossR COLORS?

HECK YES! Versatile Gray and perfect Greige can be awesome exterior colors.

They’re often well-suited to particular brick and stone facades
They suit a surprisingly wide range of roofs, especially those that cater to taupe.

In these next two photos, notice how these colors change between no sun and full sun…

The Best Blue-Green Paint Colors

Pretty cool, eh?

Many people want their homes painted a soft, warm gray, but their finishes need gentler, often more taupe-inspired colors. These two colors straddle the gray and beige worlds and pay homage to the needs of many exterior finishes.

Look at this next exterior to see how well colors like Versatile Gray and Perfect Greige sit with some stonework…

5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color

DO THEY GO WITH CREAM CABINETS & TRIM

Wellllll, this one’s hit and miss. Being lighter, Versatile Gray can be a bit more hit-or-miss with cream cabinet and trim. On the other hand, Perfect Greige’s depth often makes it a better option, as it often layers better with trickier cream finishes.

How to Update Your 2000s Home Without a Full Remodel

Here’s Versatile Gray with creamy kitchen cabinets…

Remember, your home will have different lighting and finishes – sample colors carefully and compare similar shades!

Modern Paint Colors to Update Cream Cabinets & Trim

WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR?

When choosing a paint color, you should always compare similar shades. Often, it’s a tweak in depth, temperature, or undertones that makes one color perfect over another!

SW VERSATILE GRAY vs. SW ANEW GRAY

If you’re talking about the most popular, Anew Gray wins by a long shot. But just because a color is popular doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for your space.

These neutrals have comparable LRVs, with Versatile Gray’s 48 only a smidge higher than Anew Gray’s 47.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Anew Gray (and I would sure love to see the inside of that front door painted!)

If you want minimal undertones, Anew Gray is the best choice.

However, you might be surprised to learn that many homes and interior finishes need more of an undertone, specifically, purple-pink – one offered by Versatile Gray and not by Anew Gray.

Agreeable Gray, which sits directly above Anew Gray in the fan deck, has a more noticeable difference and fewer similarities. It has an LRV of 60, making it a light-depth color and lighter than Versatile Gray. Like Anew Gray, Agreeable Gray isn’t very committed to its undertones. That said, it’s WAY more popular than Versatile Gray and Perfect Greige combined.

SW PERFECT GREIGE vs. SW MEGA GREIGE

Mega Greige is a great alternative to Perfect Greige, especially if you’re considering it for your exterior, cabinets, or an accent wall (it isn’t as popular on walls or front doors, but it can still look good).

Starting with depth, Perfect Greige has an LRV of 42, which is lighter than Mega Greige’s 37. This means that Mega Greige sits closer to the ‘medium range’ than Perfect Greige.

REVIEWS, TOP TO BOTTOM: Versatile Gray | Mega Greige | Edgecomb Gray | Revere Pewter

As for undertones, they share a bit of taupe, but Mega Greige is far less committed than Perfect Greige. It also comes off a touch cooler (but still warm) than Perfect Greige.

SW VERSATILE GRAY vs. SW REQUISITE GRAY

When doing my Online Paint Color Consulting, I’m constantly bouncing these two shades off each other.

Versatile Gray is warmer than Requisite Gray, as Requisite Gray is more of a warm gray that tends to lean toward purple-pink undertones, so it has less beige. As for LRV, Requisite Gray is a bit darker than Versatile Gray, with an LRV of 45 to Versatile’s 48.

Check out my client’s before-and-after using Requisite Gray…

Versatile Gray would look similar, but a bit warmer.

Here’s Versatile Gray on another of my clients’ homes. Notice how it looks on the sunny side vs. the shaded one…

COLORS YOU SHOULD COMPARE WITH VERSATILE GRAY & PERFECT GREIGE

Sherwin Williams Requisite Gray (shown above), for a slightly cooler look
Sherwin Williams Anew Gray offers a bit less of a taupe hue
Benjamin Moore Collingwood is lighter and beyond lovely
Sherwin Williams Mega Greige is a more grounded, less warm alternative to Perfect Greige
Benjamin Moore London Fog is amazeballs and worth sampling

WHAT COLORS GO WITH THESE TWO SHADES?

Versatile Gray and Perfect Greige are reasonably flexible. Now, of course, it depends on whether you need a color for an accent wall, an adjoining room, etc., but these should get you started…

BEIGES: Some warm, subtle beige hues work well in a palette
GREEN-GRAYS: Green-gray paint colors can be gorgeous accents to Versatile Gray and Perfect Greige. Just make sure your chosen green is darker than them.
BLUE-GREEN-GRAYS: Blue-green-grays that are similar in depth or darker can be beautiful.
LIGHT TAUPE: Some lighter shades of taupe/warm gray, like Sherwin Williams Egret White can be pretty.
COOLER, LIGHTER SHADES: I’m always careful with colors that are cooler and lighter than Versatile Gray/Perfect Greige

SUMMARY: PROS, CONS, CONSIDERATIONS

Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray SW 6072 is a light-medium, warm taupe paint color.
Sherwin Williams Perfect Greige SW 6073 is a soft, medium-depth, warm taupe paint color.
Both colors tend to pick up soft purple-pink undertones in many lighting conditions.
They suit well-lit rooms, but can look a bit moody and muddy in dark, low-light rooms.
Both are great exterior paint colors, with Versatile Gray being the more popular.
They suit a wide range of colors, including darker greens, green-grays, subtle light taupes, and more.

Shlong story short…

SHERWIN WILLIAMS VERSATILE GRAY & PERFECT GREIGE: WHICH IS BETTER?

According to this color expert, Versatile Gray is, overall, the best paint color. But it depends on your tastes and needs. In my experience, here’s how they stack up…