HomeThe Best Paint ColoursBenjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams: Paint IdeasThe 4 Best Gray & Greige Colours: Kitchen Cabinets & Bathroom Vanities

The 4 Best Gray & Greige Colours: Kitchen Cabinets & Bathroom Vanities

Posted on September 9, 2020 by KylieMawdsley

PAINTED CABINETS: The Top 4 Shades of Gray & Greige 

Hands-down, gray is the most popular colour for cabinets these days (with navy blue coming in a hot second), but how on EARTH do you pick from all of those grays? Warm gray, cool gray, blue- gray, greige-gray, green-gray – HELLS BELLS! Thank goodness you have your own personal decorator tucked in your back pocket (and don’t worry, I don’t pinch…unless you ask nicely).

The best gray and greige paint colours for kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities. Sherwin or Benjamin. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, virtual online paint color consultant and DIY blogger

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Today we’re going to look at three of the best gray paint colours for cabinets and vanities. And there are TONS more that I’d love to explore with you, but these four are a great place to start your search…

1. BENJAMIN MOORE AMHERST GRAY HC-167

Amherst Gray is a solid, medium-toned charcoal paint colour with an LRV of 17, so it has some weight behind it.

Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray is the best gray or charcoal for kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities

Like ANY gray, Amherst Gray can AND WILL pick up undertones from its environment. But generally speaking, it will look like a nice, medium-toned charcoal paint colour that doesn’t have that typical taupe-purple undertone that a lot of today’s grays have. However, it can grab a wee wink o’ green at times.

And while this is a fireplace surround, not a cabinet, it’s a GREAT example of the undertone that can pop up in Amherst Gray…

Fireplace surround and builtin cabinets painted Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray, Revere Pewter walls, slate hearth. Kylie M Interiors Edesign

This next photo shows how neutral Amherst Gray can look, but don’t be fooled, it USUALLY picks up a more green than this…

Kitchen cabinets paitned Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray, driftwood marble backsplash with stainless steel. Design by Kylie M Interiors E-Design, Vancouver Island Decorating Services

See how wicked it looks with stainless steel appliances? Just agree with me, Tim says it’s easier that way (wink wink).

Open layout kitchen and dining room. Cabinets painted Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray, white quartz island and doorway beams in reclaimed wood and diy light fixture

See more of this project HERE

AMHERST GRAY CABINETS WORK GREAT WITH

PAINT COLOURS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO AMHERST GRAY

FULL Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray

2. BENJAMIN MOORE METROPOLIS CC-546

Metropolis is for those of you who want to take a slightly softer, warmer approach to painting your cabinets. I wouldn’t go so far as to say Metropolis is a SUPER warm gray, but it’s definitely warmer and more taupey (taupey not being a real word) than Amherst Gray. Metropolis has an LRV of 23.

Benjamin Moore Metropolis is one of the best grey paint colours for kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities

Metropolis can look gray, without the cool edge.

Benjamin Moore Classic Gray. Best gray for vanity or cabinets, Benjamin Moore Metropolis p and Bianco Drift bathroom countertop by Kylie M Interiors

See the before and after photos of this project HERE

This is the bathroom in our previous home with Benjamin Moore Classic Gray on the walls and Metropolis on the vanity.

METROPOLIS CABINETS WORK GREAT WITH

PAINT COLOURS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO METROPOLIS

  • for a touch less warmth, check out Sherwin Williams Dovetail
  • you can also go a bit lighter and softer with Benjamin Moore Escarpment

FULL Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Metropolis

Maple bathroom vanity cabinet painted Benjamin Moore Metropolis. Review. Kylie M INteriors E-design, online paint consulting

Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…

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 1-3 business days, 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

3. BENJAMIN MOORE KINGSPORT GRAY HC-86

Sure, it says ‘gray’ but this one really is more greige than anything as it sits in between gray and beige – slightly favouring the warmer side of things.

Benjamin Moore Kingsport Gray is great for kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities

If you’re looking for a warmer neutral, this one could work well for you. Kingsport Gray does the job of being a diehard ‘neutral’ with more warmth and softness than the previous options.

Best paint colour for bathroom vanity or cabinets, Benjamin MOore Kingsport Gray with formica travertine counters. Kylie M Interiors E-design

Kingsport Gray is shown below with a beautiful (and affordable) Formica countertop. A soft and subtle way to neutralize a space, while giving a bit of personality.

Benjamin Moore Kingsport Gray painted vanity with Travertine 180fx Silver countertop and raised vessel sink by Kylie M Interiors

The NEW Era of Laminate Countertops and Why They Rock

KINGSPORT GRAY CABINETS WORKS GREAT WITH

PAINT COLOURS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO KINGSPORT GRAY

  • I love the slightly grayer approach of Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray
  • Sherwin Williams Mega Greige is also pretty, sitting a bit lighter than Keystone Gray

FULL Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Kingsport Gray

Benjamin Moore’s Best DARK Taupe & Greige Paint Colours

4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS GAUNTLET GRAY SW 7019

Gauntlet Gray is a wicked dark gray with a slightly warm, but VERY vague purple undertone.

Small oak wood kitchen cabinets before being painted. Budget friendly ideas.

Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray, white upper cabinets. Small kitchen makeover. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online consultant

GAUNTLET GRAY WORKS GREAT WITH

FULL Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray

PAINT COLOURS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO GAUNTLET GRAY

  • while Sherwin Williams Dovetail doesn’t have the same DEPTH, it is a similar-looking colour, just a bit lighter

READ MORE

Sherwin Williams 8 Best Dark Gray Paint Colours

How to Pick the Best Paint Colour for Your Cabinets

The 10 Best Gray and Greige Paint Colours by Sherwin Williams 

Paint Colour Review: Sherwin Williams Web Gray

The 4 Best Paint Colours for Your Kitchen Island or Lower Cabinets

Wondering which gray is best for your kitchen or bathroom? 

Check out my affordable Virtual Colour Consulting Packages!

edesign, virtual paint colour consulting. Kylie M Interiors Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams color expert. marketing (6)

Kylie M Interiors Edecor and Edesign

Originally posted in 2017, updated in 2020



Comments

  1. I absolutely LOVE the way you explain colors. Your posts are always so informative. I pin each of your color descriptions so I can keep the information. Wish you could explain ALL colors!!! If paint companies explained their colors the way you do it would benefit us all. Guess they make more money from our mistakes, lol!!

    Been wanting to move to more neutral colors, but they just don’t feel right even when I pick from those listed in the pictures I love. Just finished re-painting a newly planked wall for the third time and still don’t like it. My problem is I’m trying to use the pictures/decor I already have and they don’t work with the colors I want to use. Budget constraints limit changing things. Most of my stuff is either red/golds of Tuscan decor or creams/dirty greens of cottage/floral. Oh well, am using up a lot of old paint by mixing colors! I love greens and would like to get rid of any reds, perhaps I’ll try the golds next and see if that helps my stuff work.

    Keep up these excellent explanations!!

  2. Linda,
    Perhaps you should consider investing a few minutes of your time to take photos…and then a few dollars to get superb ideas from Kylie. it would ultimately save you a ton of time, money and grief! … AND produce results you will love…and will have learned from.

    1. Great questions Rose! My FAVOURITE paint for cabinets is Benjamin Moore Advance in Pearl finish. I’ve tried the semi-gloss, but I found it a bit too reflective/shiny. We have the pearl on our kitchen and bathroom cabinets and it’s just perfectly wipeable with a small amount of sheen. Generally speaking, I find semi-gloss in MOST brands a bit too shiny and I’m inclined to go 1 step down.

      Thanks for asking!

  3. Kylie ~ Is that the Soapstone Sequoia with the kingsport gray? What is the countertop in your bathroom? Love both! Great colors…thanks for the very informative posts. I enjoy every one of them!

    1. Thank you Valerie! With the Kingsport Gray, the countertop is Formica Silver Travertine which is a laminate. In our bathroom it is Caesarstone Bianco Drift which is a quartz that I’m MAAAADLY in love with. Hope that helps!

  4. Hi Ingrid! That cabinet was just via a building supplier in Surrey. The local builders are able to get these affordably as they order a lot of them! It was then painted with BM Kingsport Gray…

  5. Love your ideas and photos. Love the Amherst Gray. Just painted our vanities that color. Looking for a soft gray/white wall color. Most samples come off as blue. Any suggestions?

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  6. Hi Kylie, I have relied on your blog many times for advice and it is always so great! Do you think a bathroom vanity painted Kingsport Gray would work in an east-facing bathroom with Edgecomb gray walls? Just wondering if you think Edgecomb and Kingsport would compliment each other well.
    Thank you,
    Jill Anne

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      Hi Jill Anne, I can’t see that being a problem at all! It will just be a more soft, slightly lower-contrast look 🙂

  7. Hi Kylie, love your site! It’s been very helpful. I’m in the process of “neutralizing” my ensuite bathroom. It has a forest green counter and almond fixtures. I found a shower curtain (soft blue/greens, off white and a sandy color) with pattern and a bath mat which is a soft blue/green color which seem to work. I think I will paint the walls either revere pewter or gray cashmere by Benjamin Moore…leaning more towards gray cashmere….I also have tiled floors that are sort of a almond with almost a slight peachy color to them. I was painting the cabinets White Dove by Benjamin Moore, just because I have some on hand really, but find it a bit too white. Would you say either a creamier white or darker brown like Kingsport gray for the cabinets would neutralize those colors more?

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      Hi Amanda, off the top of my head without seeing photos I’m going to say a darker tone would be a bit better at blending 😉

  8. Hi Kylie – do you have a favorite Sherwin Williams gray color for cabinets? I’ve read so much about Dove Tail, but it looks like it has purple undertones in it. I really like SW Hammered Zinc, but haven’t read or heard any reviews on it. My kitchen will be painted Repose Gray. Thanks so much!

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      Hi Kacy! yes, Dovetail (in the world of gray) can lean that way (vaguely so, but yes, compared to blue or green undertones). For a medium toned gray, check out Classic French Gray 🙂

  9. Hi! In your opinion what is the best gray color to paint kitchen cabinets, with dark wood floors and tan walls? Thanks!

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      Hi Tracy! Tan and gray can be tricky as gray can have undertones that can flash with SOME tans. I might lean toward a warm gray (so it has some beige in it) and perhaps with a touch of green…if you’d like me to take a look at your home, you might like to check out my E-design it is affordable and fun – this way I can look at photos of your space and spend some time with it! There’s more to consider, such as exposure, amount of natural light, furnishings, etc…and I don’t like to just guess! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/

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  10. Hi Kylie,
    Getting ready to do a master remodel. We are keeping countertops and tile around garden tub which are a lighter tan. We will paint cabinets and do new floor and are wanting to do more of a taupe/gray feel. Ideas on cabinet paint color and floor color. I’m thinking of choosing cabinet paint color first and then moving on to choosing floor? Any ideas would be so helpful…. feeling overwhelmed!!

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  11. Loved your E-design help several years ago and have followed your blog all the time as I continue to update my house! Quick question, Kendall Charcoal. I painted my vanity that color. Can it go a bit green? Or is it because I have yellow light bulbs, dated cream linoleum, and cream counter top next to the vanity. (both of which will be replaced.) What white paint pairs well with it?

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      Oh you BET it can go a bit green, absolutely. As for teh best white, that’s ALLLL about the other finishes in your room and from the sounds of it, they won’t love a white so much (cream lino/cream counter). I mean, BM White Dove is a warm white, but even then…it could be a stretch :).

  12. Hi Kylie: Getting ready to do a slight make over of our basement. Took out the bar area and am replacing with Bottom cabinets along the wall in that space. The problem is with the walls. They are Muslim BM and the bottom is wainscotted with white knotty pine that has turned yellow orange over time. I do not want to paint the pine and have decided to calm down the pine with the proper cabinet color and maybe wall color. I am leaning towards a dark grey with a touch of brown not a purple or steel grey. I do not want green or dark navy cabinets as over time I may tire of them. Which grey would best neutralize the pine walls. Thank you. Lynda Cody

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