Sherwin Williams Gris & Mineral Deposit: LRV, Undertones, & Comparison -

When searching for the best gray paint color, there’s a lot to think about: How much gray, how much undertone? Should it lean blue, green, or purple? And what DEPTH of gray is best?

Lucky for you, my blog focuses on the best paint colors on the market – popular shades from Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams, including SW Gris and Mineral Deposit.

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So, let’s get this color comparison started to see which of these hues is best for you…

WHAT TYPES OF COLORS ARE GRIS & MINERAL DEPOSIT?

These glorious grays are…gray (I’m not just good looks…). While some grays are icy cold and crisp, and others are warm, Gris and Mineral Deposit are super stormy and moody-looking, which is one of the many reasons I have mad love for them.

These moderate grays are great on accent walls and kitchen islands, in particular.

Grays like these are great for south-facing homes (interior or exterior), as their cool vibe helps balance the warm sun – the same goes for west-facing afternoon sun.

Mineral Deposit on the inside of the front door | Benjamin Moore Light Pewter walls

As for north-facing rooms/homes, they can still look gorgeous, but make sure your room has adequate natural light. If it’s a low-light northern room (or eastern afternoon/western morning), grays like these can fall a bit flat (you might need a bit more color).

North, East, South, West: Which Paint Color is The Best?

That said, northern light is more likely to enhance the undertones of Gris and Mineral Deposit (which we’ll get to shortly).

Of the two, Mineral Deposit is the best choice if you have a low-light, north-facing room, as its increased undertones help it out a bit more. But still, you’re pushin’ your luck.

WHAT ARE THE UNDERTONES OF GRIS & MINERAL DEPOSIT?

Ahhhh, just as there’s no avoiding taxes, death, and empty wine bottles after a long week, there’s no avoiding undertones in gray paint colors.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Gris…

Both Mineral Deposit and Gris are actually green-grays at heart. Howevaaaah, like white wine that can have notes of peaches and pears, these two glorious grays can also pick a reasonable blue note. In fact, with their reasonably low chromas and blend, some might argue that the blue comes in a bit stronger at times.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Mineral Deposit

Of the two, Mineral Deposit has a tiny bit more green and a bit more color (also known as chroma).

SCHLONG STORY SHORT, Gris and Mineral Deposit can appear like grays with green-blue undertones; a blend that can vary depending on your surroundings/perception.

THE DEPTH (LRV OF) GRIS & MINERAL DEPOSIT

According to Sherwin Williams’ website, Mineral Deposit has an LRV of 43, and Gris has an LRV of 39. This means that Gris is the darker of the two, but they’re both roughly ‘medium-depth’.

This depth makes them popular for…

Accent walls
Single rooms
Exterior siding or stucco
Interior or exterior doors
Kitchen cabinets and islands

THE BEST WHITE TRIMS PAIRINGS

Whether you need the best shade of white for your interior trims, kitchen cabinets, or exterior trim, I’ve got some beauties…

Sherwin Williams Pure White is my favorite white with Gris and Mineral Deposit. It has a soft, very subtle warmth with a touch of gray to calm it.
If you want a bit more warmth, check out Sherwin Williams Alabaster. Notice how its creamy warmth plays with these colors’ cooler hues.
For a brighter, cleaner contrast with a touch of softness, it’s hard to beat Sherwin Williams White Snow.

Sherwin Williams Best White Paint Colors

COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO GRIS & MINERAL DEPOSIT

There’s no shortage of beautiful gray-green-blue blends. It all comes down to what you prefer – more gray, more color, more depth?

The Best Blue-Green Blends

SHERWIN WILLIAMS ELLIE GRAY COMPARED TO OUR 2 GRAYS

Ellie Gray is another great, mid-toned gray paint color. Let’s see how they compare…

Ellie Gray has an LRV of 40, so it’s closer in depth to Gris, but still not that far off MD.
Comparing their commitment to color and undertone, Ellie Gray is far more muted and neutral. While it can still pick up very vague green-blue undertones, it’s more subtle by a long shot. Some would say it appears a bit warmer or stonier.
Mineral Deposit and Gris are more popular than Ellie Gray, in general. However, Ellie Gray is a great option if you want a more neutral-looking shade of gray.

COMPARING OUR 2 GRAYS TO SHERWIN WILLIAMS UNUSUAL GRAY

Ahhh, this is a fun one (if you’re a color nerd like me). Let’s see what’s got this little Ginger tapping so fast on her keyboard…

Unusual Gray has an LRV of 38, so it’s very comparable to our two grays, but closer in depth to Gris (39). Here’s Unusual Gray in considerably muted natural light (possibly north)…
Unusual Gray also has more COLOR in the form of green, making it popular on exteriors.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Unusual Gray…

We talked about how Gris and Mineral Deposit have a green undertone (green-blue). Well, so does Unusual Gray, but it approaches it very differently. Compare these 3 shades and notice which seem more blue-green (Gris and M.Deposit) and which seems greener and a bit more colorful (Unusual Gray).

I love how Unusual Gray EXPOSES the wild and wonderful undertones of Gris and Mineral Deposit!

ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES IN BENJAMIN MOORE?

While the VERY odd paint store employee can do a decent color match, it’s never 100%. That’s why it’s often best to find the closest shade in your preferred brand rather than asking them to match another brand’s color.

Benjamin Moore doesn’t have anything actually ‘close’, but they do have some comparable gray blends to explore, including…

Benjamin Moore Silver Mink, which I’m obsessed with. Compare it with our 2 grays, and you’ll see a touch more color and more BLUE comin’ through.
For more commitment to color (green-blue), take a look at Benjamin Moore Greyhound.
And while it’s lighter and more muted, I’ve always been a fan (as I blow a LOT of hot air) of Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray (shown in the above bedroom).

Here’s Mineral Deposit compared to a few faves…

BM Boothbay Gray | BM Brewster Gray | BM Mount Saint Anne

Get the best paint color advice with Kylie M’s Online Color Consulting

WHAT COLORS GO WITH GRIS & MINERAL DEPOSIT

I love these mid-depth grays, as they go well with a wiiiiiide range of colors, either for adjoining rooms, walls, cabinets, accents, etc.

WARM OFF-WHITES: Come to MOMMA! I love how our 2 grays pair with any number of warm, flexible off-white paint colors.
TAUPES: Check out off-white and light-depth taupe paint colors, for sure.
WARM WHITES: There aren’t many warm whites that don’t look fantastic with Gris and Mineral Deposit.
GREIGE PAINT COLORS: Greiges, especially those with a decent green backdrop and a reasonable depth, can look amazeballs.
DARK GREIGE-GREENS: I’m looking specifically at Sherwin Williams Hardware. Just deadly.
DARK TANNISH BROWNS, DIRTY GOLDS, CHARTREUSE: One of my favorite pairings includes grays like these with accent colors like Sherwin Williams Artifact, Sconce Gold, and Grandiose.

WHERE GRIS & MINERAL DEPOSIT DO (& DON’T) LOOK BEST

While these 2 check a lot of boxes, they aren’t great for every job. Let’s start with a general, large-scale look, then focus on some specifics.

Gris & Mineral Deposit look best…

In single rooms. They aren’t meant for a whole-home or open-concept space. Not to say you CAN’T, but most people find them too dark for that.
On kitchen cabinets and islands.
On front doors, both inside and out.
Great for exterior siding.

Now, let’s look at a few hot topics…

DO THEY GO WITH CREAM CABINETS & TRIMS?

For the most part, they caaaan go with some cream cabinets and trims. However, there are 3 big considerations…

They rarely go well with cream cabinets and a brown glaze; even a gray or black glaze is tough. Instead, your best chance is with cream cabinets/trims with no glaze.
The more muted and less yellow your cream color is, the better your chances are of things working…
The cool undertones of gray-blue-greens can overreact with creams, making each look stronger.

Here’s Mineral Deposit with Sherwin Williams Dover White. Keep in mind, Dover White is one of the more muted, lighter cream paint colors.

DO THEY GO WITH WOOD FINISHES?

They can, but it depends on the depth and undertones of your stain.

For example, I might not pair Gris and Mineral Deposit with a lighter, pink-stained wood. However, they can be handsome partners to a more moderate, medium-depth wood with brownish hues.

They can be pretty, soft accents to lighter wood stains, but often come into their own with darker wood stains, including some redwoods.

ARE THEY GOOD EXTERIOR COLORS

Absolutely, Gris and Mineral Deposit can be beautiful on exteriors, including…

Mineral Deposit with Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White (25% darker)

The main siding or stucco color as they suit a wide range of roofs
As a shutter color, especially with white or off-white siding or stucco.
As a softer, more subtle front door paint color.

While I’m DYING to paint the garage door white and the side door a gorgeous color, it’s easy to see how pretty Mineral Deposit looks on this siding…

PROS & CONS: QUICK SUMMARY OF GRIS & MINERAL DEPOSIT

PRO: They’re great in rooms with warm southern or western afternoon sunshine.
CON: They can look flat and heavy in darker rooms.
PRO: They go well with a wide range of wood stains; just be careful with lighter pink-stained woods.
CON: They don’t work well with most cream cabinets and trims.
PR0: They’re beautiful for a coastal, calm, relaxing room, especially as an accent wall or interior door.
PRO: Both are awesome exterior paint colors.

READ MORE

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The Best Light to Medium Blue-Gray Paint Colors

The Best Darker Gray-Blue Paint Colors

Get the best paint color advice with Kylie M’s Online Color Consulting