Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray: LRV, Undertones & a Little More
When choosing a dark gray paint colour 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!
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 Gauntlet Gray? Is it warm or cool?
Gauntlet Gray is a warm gray paint colour in the medium-dark range. While it often gets passed off as the ‘perfect dark gray or charcoal colour’, 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 Colour 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 colour, 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 SUBTLE violet undertones which are more passive than many of the other popular gray paint colours. However, in comparison to grays with a more dominant violet undertone, it can pick up a very slight green hue (barely).
Gray Paint Colours – The 3 Undertones You HAVE to Consider
What’s the best way to sample Gauntlet Gray?
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!
Which white paint colour 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 colour
SHOULD I Paint My Wood Cabinets White? A QUESTIONNAIRE
The 4 Best White Paint Colours from Sherwin Williams
Is Gauntlet Gray a good colour 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 Colour
Is Gauntlet Gray a popular gray paint colour?
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 colour 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 colour, trim or front door.
What Benjamin Moore paint colours are similar or the same as Gauntlet Gray?
You won’t find an exact match for ANY colour 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 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 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 colours)
- 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 colours 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 colour that is lighter and cooler than it unless you’re doing a palette of medium to medium-dark colours, 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 Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray
SHERWIN WILLIAMS DOVETAIL
Read more: Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Dovetail
GRAY AND GREIGE PAINT COLOURS
Read more: The 10 Best Gray and Greige Paint Colours
Not sure which paint colour is best for YOUR home?
Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting – I’d love to help!
Chat soon,
I’m loving this gray! Would gauntlet gray painted over a brick fireplace look good next to walls painted in agreeable gray?
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!!
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 🙂
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?
Hi Jessica, I might shift to SW Pure White as it’s a bit less yellow 🙂
Would gauntlet grey be okay to paint a upright piano? I have medium dark wood floors. Thanks
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?