Posted on June 2, 2020 by KylieMawdsley
Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray: LRV, Undertones & a Little More
When choosing a dark gray paint color for a feature wall, cabinets, exterior siding or an ENTIRE ROOM, it’s important to note the temperature, LRV and undertones of the gray you’re looking at, especially one with a personality like Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray!
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I love to show RELATEABLE & REAL homes, so ONLY use photos from my Online Color 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 color is Gauntlet Gray? Is it warm or cool?
Gauntlet Gray is a warm gray paint color in the medium-dark range. While it often gets passed off as the ‘perfect dark gray or charcoal color’, it actually has some serious considerations as it’s not as cold or neutral as many people EXPECT when they’re looking for a ‘traditional gray’.
And because Gauntlet Gray is a warm, even in north-facing light, you’d be hard-pressed to make it look cold.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
What’s the LRV of Gauntlet Gray?
Gauntlet Gray has an LRV of just over 17 which puts it in the medium-dark end of things. Not as dense as a DARK paint color, but not soft like a more standard medium tone (learn more HERE).
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
What are the undertones of Gauntlet Gray? Will it look violet?
Gauntlet Gray has a violet undertone which is a bit passive than many of the other popular gray paint colors. However, in comparison to grays with a more dominant violet undertone, it can pick up a very slight green hue (barely).
Gray Paint Colors – The 3 Undertones You HAVE to Consider
You won’t find even a WINK of green in this next bathroom remodel…
And in this next photo, Gauntlet Gray looks more or less neutral in comparison to the previous one…
What’s the best way to sample Gauntlet 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!
Which white paint color looks the best with Gauntlet Gray?
When it comes to trim, Gauntlet Gray is very flexible, but loves Sherwin Williams Pure White, a versatile warm, soft white paint color
SHOULD I Paint My Wood Cabinets White? A QUESTIONNAIRE
The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams
Is Gauntlet Gray a good color for the exterior of my home?
It could be! If you have south-facing light or a super bright eastern morning light, you’ll find that Gauntlet Gray will look LIGHTER and look WARMER than expected. It will look that bit more shaded in northern light or afternoon eastern/morning western light.
Read more: 5 Tips to Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
Is Gauntlet Gray a popular gray paint color?
Just because it’s GOOD, doesn’t mean it’s popular. A lot of people lean towards the more blue-green undertones or a light gray when choosing paint color for their interior or exterior walls. Gauntlet Gray works best for a more dramatic look in a room, as a feature wall or as an exterior main color, trim or front door.
What Benjamin Moore paint colors are similar or the same as Gauntlet Gray?
You won’t find an exact match for ANY color between brands – you WILL see shifts in undertones, temperature and depths. And while I WISH Benjamin Moore had options that held up to the beauty of Gauntlet Gray, there are some with similar intentions, but different approaches…
- Benjamin Moore Metropolis
- Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray or Amherst Gray
And if you’re thinking of color matching between brands (ie: getting BM to make an SW paint color), you might want to read THIS first.
What type of paint colors look good with Gauntlet Gray?
Gauntlet Gray is a BIT finicky but has some good flexibility…
- Gauntlet Gray loves lighter neutrals that are slightly warmer than it (ie: warm gray and greige paint colors)
- Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige, Balanced Beige, Anew Gray and Mega Greige are lighter neutrals that suit Gauntlet Gray (but there are many more in that range). That doesn’t mean those colors will suit your HOME, as you have to consider all of your hard and soft surfaces (carpet, tile, furniture, countertops) as well as your exposure
- Gauntlet Gray doesn’t want to be partnered with a color that is lighter and cooler than it unless you’re doing a palette of medium to medium-dark colors, in which case you can look at a darker cool-toned gray
Not sure if Gauntlet Gray is right for you? Want a bit warmer or cooler? I’ve got more!
SHERWIN WILLIAMS GRIZZLE GRAY (love this one)
Read more: Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray
SHERWIN WILLIAMS DOVETAIL
Read more: Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Dovetail
GRAY AND GREIGE PAINT COLORS
Read more: The 10 Best Gray and 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!
Chat soon,
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I’m loving this gray! Would gauntlet gray painted over a brick fireplace look good next to walls painted in agreeable gray?
Author
It depends. In the odd room, Agreeable can pick up a vague green cast, but GENERALLY SPEAKING, yes, this can work :).
Thank you for all your posts and videos!! I have spent hours scouring your site and videos and my husband is slowly catching on hearing me talking LRVs and undertones. Would Gauntlet Gray play well with Colonnade Gray? Also, is there a white you could pair with these?
Thank you for all your help!!
Author
AWESOME, I love to hear that ;). I think Gauntlet isn’t quite warm/green enough for Colonnade. I mean not BAD…but not close. I’d look more along the lines of SW Porpoise perhaps or even into BM with Amherst Gray! I also LOVE SW Pure White 🙂
My exterior is painted Guantlet Grey and my stucco is painted Colonnade. They look great together. We get lots of compliments. Our trim is Urban Bronze.
This is super helpful! I am planning on Gauntlet Gray for body color. Do you think Alabaster would pair as a trim? We also have shakes above the garage. Any suggestion for what color to use? Would a shade or two lighter on the spectrum (such as Dovetail or mindful gray) be acceptable?
Author
Hi Jessica, I might shift to SW Pure White as it’s a bit less yellow 🙂
We are doing gauntlet gray for exterior of house and pure white for trim. It is a ranch style house with two dormers on front and garage door on side. What color should we do garage door and should we do a different accent color for the dormers?
Would gauntlet grey be okay to paint a upright piano? I have medium dark wood floors. Thanks
Author
Oooo Lin, I like the sounds of this!
Hello I am painting my brick home Oxford white, with gauntlet gray shutters and garage doors painted dovetail ?
I’m using this color on bathroom vanity and using Marquee Chain Reaction with it on walls. Lots of light in bathroom. What do you think?
Hi! I’m using Gauntlet gray for my exterior home and thinking of High Reflective White as for the window trims. My front door is black. What do you think about the High Reflective White with Gauntlet Gray?
Author
Petal, i LOVE this idea, I see no problem with it at all (I’d love to see it all done too!)
Hi Kylie, we have an exterior stone that is lighter gray, some slight maroon and dark grey and our home is stucco . If we went with Gauntlet Grey as the body and Reflective White as the trim, do you think Tricorn Black would work for the doors and shutters? Thanks so much.
Author
Hi Dylan, without seeing your home, from the SOUNDS of it, I like this overall palette!
Pingback: Our Exterior Paint Colors that Compliment Red Brick - My Homier Home
Gauntlet as body of house (stucco), Tricorn on windows and glass/black iron door. Best to use either Black Fox, or Iron Ore for garage doors, fascia and soffit.? The home gets strong sun exposure (south-facing), and soffits are 2 ft deep.
Thank you!
Please help!!! I’m trying to decide what color to paint our fireplace(currently Cloud White). Our walls are Balboa Mist. The inside is brick tiles, shades of browns and tans! I prefer green undertones over blue. I’m wondering if Stonehenge Greige (PPG1024-5) would look good? Suggestions greatly appreciated!!!
Author
Oh gosh, Sharon, it’s so hard to say without seeing your fireplace – I’d just be shootin’ in the dark! Especially seeing as Balboa Mist has a violet undertone.
I am painting my kitchen island Gauntlet Grey. I have creamy cabinets which work well with gauntlet grey and white duck for the walls., but I also have an aquamarine backsplash which is throwing everything off. Can you recommend a color for my backsplash that works?? My cabinets are creamy. My walls are going to be white duck, and my island will be gauntlet gray I have granite countertops that are black grays and off white. A little bit of taupe runs through.. thank you!
Author
It sounds to me like you shouldn’t add another color to the mix. Instead, I would lean into a subway tile that perfectly matches the cabinets!
Thank you!
Hi Kylie! Your posts on design and colors have been very helpful! I’m strongly considering Gauntlet Gray for my lower cabinets with white uppers, like you have pictured at the beginning of this post. I’m wondering if you happen to know the finish of the hardware used in that photo? Looks almost like a nickel or pewter? Any help you can provide is appreciated! Thank you 🙂