Posted on June 25, 2021 by KylieMawdsley
The TOP 12 neutrals you can paint your WHOLE HOME
If you’re looking for a shade of gray or greige that’s UNIVERSALLY gorgeous, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re home staging, painting a brand-new home, or freshening up your current home, these colours have a TON of flexibility for a wide range of exposures, finishes and tastes.
However, even universally gorgeous colours aren’t fool-proof, as there isn’t one colour that will look exactly the same in every room in your home. It’s like finding a pair of shoes that looks good with every outfit, or a wine that tastes good with every meal – it ain’t gonna happen (I’ve yet to find one a wine that suits Mr. Noodles). Any magical universal paint colour WILL shift on a room-to-room basis, for example:
NEUTRAL PAINT COLOURS IN NORTH-FACING ROOMS
Cool colours will ONLY look chillier as they interact with gray-blue northern light. The undertones can also show up a bit more to the party because remember, EVERY gray has an undertone! Read MORE about the best paint colours for northern exposure
NEUTRAL PAINT COLOURS IN SOUTH-FACING ROOMS
Cool colours will soften up in a south-facing room. They won’t necessarily look WARM, but they won’t have the same icy, cold, clean look that they have in a north-facing room. Read MORE about the best paint colours for southern exposure
NEUTRAL PAINT COLOURS IN EAST-FACING ROOMS
In a room with eastern exposure, cool colours will look pretty natural and as they should in the morning, but MAN can they look cold and flat in the afternoon. Read MORE about the best paint colours for eastern exposure
NEUTRAL PAINT COLOURS IN WEST-FACING ROOMS
Western light is flat in the morning but warms up in the afternoon. And while you won’t get overly toasty looking walls, you’ll notice your grays and greiges offering a bit of balance to warm south-facing sunshine. Read MORE about the best paint colours for western exposure
How the Quality of Light Changes Paint Colours
Paint colours will change depending on HOW MUCH NATURAL LIGHT you get in your room. For example, let’s say the main floor of your home has mostly south-facing windows, but the bottom level has greenery or a deck that blocks a lot of natural light. Or maybe, your living room is north-facing and your kitchen is south-facing – either of these situations will TOTALLY affect how your paint colour looks and even the SAME COLOUR in both spaces can look considerably different!
- A LOT of natural light will wash out paint colours, especially the ones we’re going to look at. Just remember, the sun shifts throughout the day and so will your paint colour!
- Rooms with LOW natural light can make a paint colour look a bit darker or more shaded than normal.
- Average natural light is when your paint colour will look truest to form.
And don’t forget to pay attention to your LIGHT BULBS!
And the MOST IMPORTANT of all! Me. Just joking…kind of. Really though, it’s important to remember that a gray or greige may favour one or two undertones, but can slide into ANY of the cool undertones (here) given the right environment. You MIGHT not be able to satisfy EVERY room, EVERY countertop, EVERY flooring in your home with ONE paint colour – sometimes, something has to give (and it may have to be you). Be prepared to look at additional colours in your palette if you need to.
Let’s hit that bad boy one more time…
You might not be able to satisfy EVERY room, EVERY countertop and EVERY flooring in your home with one paint colour – sometimes, something has to give. Be prepared to look at additional colours for your palette if you need to.
So, while I love to hear myself talk, I know that you’re REALLY only here for the pretty pictures (wink wink), so let’s get at it!
The Top 12 Flexible Gray & Greige Paint Colours
It’s no secret that gray is slooooowly losing the popularity race, although it’s still in the running in MANY homes. This is why greige can also be a great option for those wanting a choice that’s more likely to last. REMEMBER, I’m not going to tell you that these colours WILL work in your home with your multitude of finishes, exposures and needs, but they’re a great place to start.
BTW, if you’re WORRIED about choosing a gray due to trends, take a look at WARM grays (or greiges) instead of cool ones as they’ll have more of a lifetime.
And because we’re trying to find that one-trick pony, the one colour that suits as MANY finishes and exposures as possible, it ONLY makes sense to start with…
1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS AGREEABLE GRAY SW-7029
Oh, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…LOTS! Agreeable Gray is a greige that leans CONSIDERABLY into gray, far more than it leans into beige (to the point where you COULD call it a warm gray). As for undertones, Agreeable Gray can pick up blue, green or purple, but most often favours a very vague green (it’s so vague, it’s not even really a thing – it’s more about me being anal-retentive and loving to hear myself talk type).
As for the LRV of Agreeable Gray, 60 is a great place. I usually lean a BIT lighter when I’m wanting an ‘overall’ paint colour (read about that here), but this LRV still works. Not sure what LRV is? It’s SUPER important and you should read more about it here.
FULL Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray
2. BENJAMIN MOORE COLLINGWOOD OC-28
Collingwood is another greige inspired colour that leans HARD into gray so that it’s more gray than beige by a good shot. And unlike Agreeable Gray, which can flex a little bit, Collingwood commits to a subtle, soft purple undertone.
And BOOM, right on the money-maker, the LRV of Collingwood is 62, which in my eyes, is the most magical LRV number of all.
FULL Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Collingwood
3. BENJAMIN MOORE EDGECOMB GRAY HC-173
With an LRV of 63, this colour is just fantastic, but it’s on the edge of our range and I’ll tell you why. Edgecomb Gray is a taupe (quasi-greige), but it’s a SUPER warm one, sandwiched right between gray and beige, with no real specific allegiance. This means it can swing warm or cool (like me once a month) depending on your exposure/interior conditions. And while it’s the warmest of the bunch, I’d be missing a BIG boat if I didn’t mention it as one of the best neutrals on the market.
See this WHOLE HOME
Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM, I’D LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE!
4. BENJAMIN MOORE CLASSIC GRAY OC-23
Classic Gray is the lightest of the bunch, coming in hot with an LRV of 74 – RIGHT on the border of off-white and light.
Classic Gray is an off-white warm gray with a very soft, subtle, warm purple undertone. In the ODD light, it can pick up a wee wink of pink, but don’t expect it all the time. If you want soft, subtle and simple – Classic Gray is a gray-t choice.
Paint Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Classic Gray
5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS BIG CHILL SW-7648
Big Chill is wicked cool…literally. It’s a light gray with a soft, subtle blue undertone. Like most grays, it CAN flex into the other cool undertones but doesn’t go easily.
Big Chill isn’t an OVERLY icy gray, but it sure as heck isn’t warm, ESPECIALLY in a north-facing room. And with its LRV of 62, it hits me RIGHT in the happy place (Tim could take some lessons from it, wink wink). I also have a mild weakness for Sherwin Williams On the Rocks and Crushed Ice – same idea…slightly different undertones.
Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Big Chill
Want to learn how to pick paint colours? Take a paint colour course from the comfort of your OWN HOME!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW AVAILABLE ONLINE PAINT COLOUR COURSES
6. BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY OWL OC-52
Gray Owl has been popular for quite some time now, right up there with Revere Pewter (which we’ll be talking about shortly). However, with an LRV of 65, not only is it lighter, but it’s also cooler.
Gray Owl is a light gray. In fact, Gray Owl is a WARM gray (whodathunk it, right?) that will act as a soft cool gray on your walls, picking up a sometimes green, sometimes blue, and sometimes non-existent undertone. You can expect this bad-ass colour ninja to really change its tune as your exposure shifts.
Read more…
Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Gray Owl
What is the difference between Gray Owl and Stonington Gray?
Now, not EVERYONE wants a soft, light neutral – there are some of you who like things a bit deeper. That being said, if you’re doing home staging, I would HIGHLY recommend that you stick to the ABOVE depths for mass appeal.
For those of you who want a bit more depth, without getting too hot n’ heavy (you can read into that line AS MUCH as you want), you might REALLY love…
7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS COLONNADE GRAY SW-7641
My love affair with Colonnade Gray has been going on for a while. And while I sure as heck didn’t love our last home, I DID love how Colonnade Gray looked in it.
Colonnade has an LRV of 53, so it sits like a soft, light-medium depth, rather than a fresher, brighter ‘light’ depth as it’s got a bit more meat on its bones.
Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray
Click HERE or on the above image to see available packages
Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…
- samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in ONE BUSINESS DAY depending on location
- they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling
- if you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room
Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE
8. SHERWIN WILLIAMS REPOSE GRAY SW-7015
Repose Gray is one of Sherwin Williams more popular gray paint colours, even though I lean more into Big Chill/On the Rocks for flexibility. Repose Gray is darned interesting though, as while it’s a light warm gray favouring a purple undertone, it can pick up just a nugget of green with the right encouragement. I often recommend lightening Repose Gray by 25%, just to lift it up a touch.
And remember, I’m 110% dedicated to using only photos from my local or Online Colour Consulting clients (and my own home), so HUGE high-fives to all of you for sending me your photos!
Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Repose Gray
9. SHERWIN WILLIAMS MINDFUL GRAY SW-7016
Mindful Gray is warm gray, and with its LRV of 48, it sits more in the SOLID light-medium range, rather than the off-white or light range. For HOME STAGING, this has more depth than I’d prefer, but for personal use, if you aren’t into the lighter, softer colours, this one could hit a great spot.
Seriously, check out how Mindful Gray (and a new backsplash and countertop) update the look of these oak cabinets (above). I love how this update turned out without having to paint all of the wood!
Mindful Gray does favour a vague purple undertone, but I’ve also seen it pick up a weeee willy wink o’ green, giving it a bit of flexibility. If you find that it’s similar in nature to Repose Gray, you’re right, as it’s like a slightly darker version of it!
10. BENJAMIN MOORE STONINGTON GRAY HC-170
Oooooo, Stonington Gray ALMOST made it into round one, as its LRV is getting awfully close to my happy place. However, I find that because of the TYPE of colour it is (gray), it can look just a wink too heavy/stormy for some rooms.
Stonington Gray is a light (heavy-light) gray that is cool looking, but not super ICY cold – it has more of a stormy look to it. It can definitely crisp up in a north-facing room, but be careful in a dark room or hallway, as it can look a bit frigid.
If you’re worried about cool grays going out of style, check out some of the popular warm grays on this page, ie. Collingwood, Revere Pewter and more.
What is the Difference Between Gray Owl and Stonington Gray?
11. BENJAMIN MOORE REVERE PEWTER HC-172
As far as LRV goes, Revere Pewter is a bit dark when it comes to universally beautiful paint colours, but because of MASS APPEAL, I almost squeezed it in with the first batch of colours – DAMN is it a popular colour!
In this next photo, look at how soft and pretty Revere Pewter is in the bedroom. However, AROUND the doorway to the bathroom, where it’s more shaded, look at how moody it becomes! This is going to happen much easier with colours that have a lower LRV.
Revere Pewter in the bedroom, Wickham Gray in the bathroom
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a colour that’s more well-known than Revere Pewter right now. Why? Well, it does a whole bunch of fantastic things. Revere Pewter is a light (HEAVY light), warm gray, trying to be a greige, with an earthy-green undertone. HOWEVER, it’s been known to show flashes of blue and purple (subtle undertones), and the above three photos are the PERFECT examples of this flexibility!
If you prefer a paint colour with a bit more depth and body, you might prefer Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray. If you want a bit less green, check out Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray.
Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
The 8 Best ‘Whole Home’ Warm, Neutral Paint Colours
12. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ANEW GRAY SW-7030
Anew Gray is a stunning light-medium depth greige. While it does slightly favour gray, overall, it can appear relatively well-balanced, with a bit more contrast than the lighter version, Agreeable Gray.
Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Anew Gray
What’s the MOST POPULAR light neutral paint colour?
Right now, Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray and Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray are in the top spot. In previous years we saw more of Benjamin Moore Gray Owl, Revere Pewter and Sherwin Williams Repose Gray but as trends are leaning that bit warmer, we’re seeing the greiges and taupes stepping up their style game!
So, there you have it, my funny friends. Again, while these might not suit EVERY single finish in your home, they should at least get you on the path to colour happiness!
READ MORE
4 PART SERIES: How to Create a Timeless & Trend-Proof Home
The 10 Best Paint Colours to Create Calm and Reduce Stress
The 8 Best Whole Home Warm Neutral Paint Colours
The ULTIMATE Guide to White Paint Colours
Sherwin Williams 10 Best Gray and Greige Paint Colours
The 16 Best Paint Colours to Go With Wood Cabinets & Trim
Need help choosing YOUR best paint colour?
Check out my Online Colour Consulting packages – I’d love to help!
Chat soon,
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN OCTOBER 2019, UPDATED IN 2021
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I’m trying to decide on a whole house color for our new build. Living room/kitchen will have a ton of natural light with west facing windows. Pure white or white dove cabinets and light oak floors. I’m leaning very heavily toward Edgecomb Gray but have recently discovered BM Pale Oak and think it might be my winner winner chicken dinner (to quote you, of course). Thoughts on using such a light color (Pale Oak) in a room with a ton of natural light? I prefer a warm over cool space.
Author
Oooo yes, I do love chicken dinner! But…I want you to be careful with Pale Oak. It’s a beauty, but in some lights, it can flash a bit purple-pink. It’s gorgeous, as long as you’re cool with that. I would LEAN more into Edgecomb as it has a bit more flexibility in comparison, UNLESS you’ve found that the products you prefer also lean into that warm purple. And while I love White Dove, I do love the simplicity of Pure White :).
We painted the main areas of our house Agreeable Gray (lightened 25%) thanks to a consult with you… and we absolutely LOVE it. It’s the perfect greige. It pairs so well with our Decorators White cabinets, trim and ceiling. I’ll be sure to send you some pictures sometime next century when we are finished the build!
Author
Sweet, I would LOOOOOVE to see photos – definitely! And I know it can take a long time to really feel after building (ie: years) 😉
I also think that Agreeable Gray’s next lighter shade is Gossamer Veil. Very similar, but the Gossamer Veil has a light green tint, which AG would probably have if lightened.
We tried some of the recommended greys,, but ended up using SW Light French Grey. South facing bedroom, fairly well lit, southern exposure. What’s your opinion of this particular color grey?
Author
Good one – that could come in at #13! I do love this gray. It would come into the 2nd grouping, the colours with that bit more depth and body to them. It can favour a purple undertone that can sometimes (in northern light) flash quite a bit purple – it’s a beauty!
~Kylie
We used Anchor Gray thanks to you to match our red tones wooden accents. It favors more blue and warm tones and we love it
Author
Hey Tory! Isn’t Anchor Gray wicked gorgeous – I love it too, hope all is good with you, and give those pups a good tooshie scratch for me!
Hey- do you have any recommendations for what to put with orangey oak floors? We love our house and the floors are in good shape but I want to minimize them not
Author
Hi Shelley, you might find this blog post helpful, where I chat about the different wood tones/paint colours! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-best-paint-colours-to-go-with-oak-wood/
I would love to know what color you ended up painting. We have the same floors and are wanting to paint. Struggling with what would match best. I do love the agreeable grey.
I ended up using several of the colors off of this list after a consult with Kylie on how to update the colors in my large Colonial to get it ready for sale (lots of greens, yellows and beiges beforehand…..) All I can say is that it came out FANTASTIC!!! Kylie chose Gray Owl for the main spine of the house: the mudroom, backstair, upper central hall, and front foyer. There is a lot of white trim and wainscotting, and it came out gorgeous and tied together the whole homes. The kitchen with white cabinets, honed black granite and Carrera marble subway tile backsplash got SW Classic French Gray – a dark great but with some much white in the kitchen, it turned out great. The contrast really made the white trimwork pop. Stonington Grey for the garden room with some tricky to match marble flooring, Revere Pewter for 3 of the children’s bedrooms, Platinum Gray for the family room and one child’s room, and Edgecomb Gray for the master bath. Rounding it out: Amherst Gray for a dramatic Master Bedroom, and Chelsea Gray for a library with a gray stone fireplace. To say that this totally transformed the house would be an understatement. Kylie’s consult was worth every penny – I would never come up looking like this if I had tried to do it all myself. THANK YOU, KYLIE!!
Author
Hey you! Thank you for that lovely comment! Give those poochies a good cuddle for me 😉
After painting most of the house Classic Gray I really see so much how it looks purple or blue most of the times . We are now finally buying a new house and I would like a light gray like Classic Gray when he behaves ???? without going crazy with the purple and blue . Any chances that a colour like that exists?
Thank you !!
Author
Hi Elisa! Well, it can have a LOT to do with your exposure as north/south lighting can do crazy things to paint colours! And grays will have the blue, purple or green undertone and I’d say that Classic Gray is LESS likely to go cool – purple/blue, compared to some others and usually leans that touch warmer, so I do wonder if it’s your exposure or it’s somehow playing off of your interior finishes/trim funny??? What I’m trying to say is that sample it in your new home as it could look TOTALLY different!
~Kylie
Hi there!
Thank you for your wisdom and humor! I read your East West post and I’m still lost. We are building an ope floor plan home. There are no west facing windows. The main living area, and dining are right by the east facing windows. And the kitchen is center of the room. There are windows on the north side. On the main window area ( East) there will be a large stucco patio cover for our one story home, and the home behind us to the East is 2 story. This is feel will cause much less light as the sun rises. That being said, with our dark countertop, dark grey brown floor, espresso furtinure dark countertop, white kitchen cabinets, farmhouse with blue accents, I am wondering your thoughts on Agreeable grey. We currently live with an old color that is called Chateu that I love ( sort of creamy coffee neutral beige but darker? My husband and I want this newer larger house to be a bit lighter and we like online pics of agreeable grey , but I’m fearing I’ll miss my creamy coffee color. Since the new home will have minimal natural light What are your thoughts on agreeable?
Hi Kylie I paid for a consult quite some time ago and I finally found the questionnaire in my spam. I completed it and sent it in but I never got an email back. I don’t know if you received it or my pictures. Is there a way to get this looked into?
Author
Ooo Dayna, I’m glad to hear from you! I’m going to have Tim (the hubby) look into that…can you let me know approx when you purchased the consultation, sometimes if it’s a long time ago we wouldn’t even think to find the questionnaire… :).
Hi Kylie,
What is a lighter alternative (higher LRV) to SW Agreeable Gray, if I am restricted to using SW and want to stay with neutral/warm greiges?
Thanks,
AF
Author
Well, there aren’t a ton, you’ll find the undertones start coming up more, like with Incredible White. You might want to try lightening Agreeable Gray first and seeing how those look – try 25% lighter and 50% lighter and see if you can get the depth you want without going as light as Incredible White. 🙂
Where would you put SW Useful Gray in this mix? And specifically, how does it compare to Repose Gray? Thanks!
Author
Good questions! I like Useful Gray. It’s kind of like another step over from Worldy Gray and Amazing Gray, into a bit more warmth and green.
I’m trying to find a gray to go with my house. My house is a cream color similar to accessible beige. I want to go gray! My hubby don’t let me paint the whole house just accent walls and the kitchen. What gray can I incorporate, that will match the accessible beige color?
Hi Kylie,
Which SW color is most similar to BM Swiss Coffee?
I wanted to use the Swiss Coffee as tha main wall paint for new build, a modern farm house. I am limited to SW paint though. The SW, rep said Alabaster but it looks warmer to me. Thank you!
Author
Hi Maredee, one thing to realize with Swiss Coffee is that it CAN pick up a very vague green undertone. If you’re cool with that, you might like SW Greek Villa. The thing is, paint colours don’t have the same colours, so there won’t be an exact version of a colour that you love in another brand, there will be some minor (or major) adjustment. I actually prefer Alabaster in that it is less likely to grab that vague green, even thought it’s a weeeee wink darker than Swiss Coffee.
Hi Kylie!
I am a huge fan of your blog and check here before I choose any paint color for my house 🙂 We recently painted our downstairs Edgecomb Gray and while I love it, my husband does not. He wants to paint it all Repose Gray! Is there a happy middle? I love how light and warm Edgecomb feels but he wants something that has a little more gray in it. Any advice would be amazing! Thank you!!
Author
Oooo, you have to check out Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray. I’m with you, Repose Gray ‘has its place’, but not in every home, whereas I find that Agreeable Gray is a FAAANTASTIC happy medium, DEFINITELY. 🙂 I have a blog review and Youtube review of it too!
What would you suggest for a basement small bedroom? Though the room does have a large window facing NE. I am decorating with a vintage look. The room has tan carpet. What would you suggest? I have SO enjoyed reading this entire post. Thank you for any input. I purchased a queen iron headboard and was planning on painting it black, or I suppose I could keep it off-white.
Author
Hi Shelley! What about a colour like SW White Duck, which has a PASSIVE warmth and could work with tan carpet while adding a bit more warmth for that NE light? I also love BM Ballet White :). I’m assuming from the blog post you commented on that you were HOPING for a gray or greige, but in between tan carpet and NE exposure, those can be a tough sell! At the most MAYBE BM Edgecomb Gray… 🙂