Sherwin Williams Dovetail: LRV, Undertones and a Little More

There aren’t many paint colours out there as versatile as Sherwin Williams Dovetail. Whole rooms, feature walls, cabinets, islands, interior doors, exteriors and more – is there anything Dovetail DOESN’T look good on? But, that doesn’t mean it will be the best fit for you and YOUR home, as it’s important to do your research before slapping any paint on those walls!

I love to show RELATEABLE & REAL homes, so ONLY use photos from my Online Colour Consulting clients. This means I don’t always have the quality pics I need (hence the ‘QUICK Review’), but DEFINITELY have some SUPER helpful info to help you on your way!

What type of paint colour is Dovetail? Is it warm or cool? Gray or greige?

Dovetail is a WARM gray paint colour, which means it’s a softer look compared to more traditional cool gray or charcoal paint colours.

If you have north-facing light, you may find Dovetail looking a ‘bit’ more like a traditional gray, while still holding a passive warmth. However, if you have south-facing or afternoon western light, you’re more likely to see the pretty warmth hiding inside of it.

What’s the LRV of Dovetail?

Dovetail has an LRV of 26, which means it’s a solid medium-depth paint colour.

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

What are the undertones of Dovetail? Will it look purple, blue or green?

Many of my Online Colour Consulting clients are looking for the PERFECT neutral gray paint colour. Sadly, this doesn’t exist as you’ll always have undertones to deal with. And while you can often find ANY of the three gray undertones in one colour, Dovetail favours a very (very) minor purple undertone that can sometimes pick up a flash of green.

What’s the best way to sample Dovetail?

Like with every paint colour, 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 Dovetail, what’s the best white paint colour for my trim?

If I’m using Sherwin Williams paint, I’m most likely to recommend…

Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
Sherwin Williams Pure White

Is Dovetail a good colour for the exterior of my home?

Absolutely! With its medium-range LRV, Dovetail is a great choice for MANY exterior palettes. However, be aware that like its main competition, Metropolis, it might look a bit warmer than expected in some exterior lighting, especially south-facing, morning eastern or afternoon west-facing light. Just make sure it suits your stone, brick, roof and other exterior considerations.

Is Dovetail one of the more popular gray paint colours?

Dovetail is VERY popular, especially when it comes to kitchen islands and cabinets, bathroom vanities, interior doors and exterior siding.

Is Dovetail a good paint colour for kitchen cabinets or an island?

You bet it is, but it can SOMETIMES be a wink warm for some of the popular gray, white and marble-look quartz and laminate countertops.

What Benjamin Moore paint colours are the same as or similar to Dovetail?

You won’t find an exact match for ANY colour between brands – you WILL see shifts in undertones, temperature and depths. However, there are some with similar intentions, but different approaches…

Benjamin Moore Metropolis

And if you’re thinking of colour matching between brands (ie: getting BM to make an SW paint colour), you might want to read THIS first.

What type of paint colours look good with Dovetail?

When it comes to Metropolis, it’s important to remember that it’s a CONSIDERABLY warm gray, so it’s not quite as flexible as a traditional gray paint colour. However, it does have some versatility with colours like…

Some lighter grays that are the same warmth as it or even a bit warmer
Some lighter greige paint colours with similar undertones
DOESN’T love to be partnered with colours that are lighter and cooler than itself unless there’s some good separation/walls between them
Loves deep grounded, darker earth-tones, particularly some blue-gray blends

Not sure if Dovetail is right for you? Want a bit warmer or cooler? I’ve got more!

SHERWIN WILLIAMS CLASSIC FRENCH GRAY