Posted on May 9, 2023 by KylieMawdsley
The Top 13 Beautiful Shades of Blue-Green-Gray (blends)
You’ll be hard-pressed to find brands better than Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore regarding the most popular shades of blue-green-gray. Their ability to tap into the trendy end of things and the traditional means they are my ‘go-to brands’ when I’m doing my Online Paint Color Consulting.
And as far as trends go, no other color blend is more popular than blue-green. Call it turquoise, teal, robin’s egg, whatever the heck you want – I call it awesome.
These are just general blobs, not specific colors
BLUE-GREEN BLEND FUN FACTS
- Cool paint colors such as blue, green, and gray often suit south-facing rooms as they can balance out the warm light coming into the window.
- The darker your room is (or north-facing), the more colorful you’ll want your particular blend to be, as you’ll need it to shine through the shadows.
- The grayer your shade of colour is, the more subtle the undertones will be.
- Intense, bright sunlight can slightly wash out paint colors, so don’t be afraid to add some depth if you have a well-lit room! Remember, some colors can appear richer and more saturated when night comes than in the daytime.
- Blue-green blends are often seen as calming colors, great for bedrooms, bathrooms, and office spaces – especially counseling.
- Many GREEN-GRAY blends can pick up a subtle blue undertone depending on the type of green you’re dealing with (green-blue or green-yellow) and your natural and artificial lighting.
- Many BLUE-GRAY blends can pick up a subtle green hue, depending on the type of blue you’re dealing with.
- Blue-green colors look warmer than blue-purple ones (although both are traditionally cool). Not sure which type of blue is your fave? Check this out…How to Choose the Best Blue for You!
Shown above, Benjamin Moore Sea Reflections
1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SEA SALT SW-6204
Sea Salt is definitely in the TOP THREE regarding green paint colors. That’s right; Sea Salt is actually a green-gray blend. HOWEVER, it’s been known to lean blue, so I had to include it as one of my FAVES! The green and gray (and blue) combine to provide a subtly colorful, calm blend perfect for a relaxing spa-style bathroom or family-friendly space!
The LRV of Sea Salt is 64, so while it’s a light colour, it won’t reflect as much light into a room as you’d think.
WHY IS SEA SALT A POPULAR PAINT COLOR?
Sea Salt is one of the top choices regarding shades of green-blue-gray. However, it’s unpredictable, and you HAVE to get the SAMPLIZE peel and stick to see how it might act in your room (rather than relying on a small paint chip).
- If you don’t like blue, this is a risky color. If you don’t like green, this is ALSO a risky color!
- While Sea Salt is great for a single room, it’s not as nice for a whole home (too much of a good thing).
Now, all of this makes it sound like not such a great choice. THINK AGAIN! It’s about knowing what to EXPECT with Sea Salt, and once you understand what it might do, it’s easier to wrap your walls in it.
Color Review – Sea Salt Undertones, Ideas, & More…
The Ultimate Guide to LRV and Choosing Paint Colors
2. BENJAMIN MOORE SILVER MARLIN 2139-50
I LOOOVE Silver Marlin. This flexible, calming shade is perfect for many home styles. This is a subtle color with its blue-green blend and soft gray backdrop. And while it might not get as much attention as shades like Rainwashed and Stratton Blue (coming up shortly), many of my clients prefer Silver Marlin’s more subtle approach to color.
Silver Marlin has an LRV of 57, so it’s a light-medium tone.
IS SILVER MARLIN A POPULAR PAINT COLOR?
While Silver Marlin doesn’t get as much attention as others in this list, it is one of the BEST light-medium depth shades.
Why?
- Silver Marlin can easily look ‘bluer’ or ‘greener’ depending on your exposure, lighting, and interior finishings, making it quite the chameleon!
- This could work well if you like a nod toward colour without a 100% commitment!
3. BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY CASHMERE 2138-60
Gray Cashmere is a LIGHT mix of green, blue, and gray, with a bit more gray than not. It certainly won’t look like a plain shade of gray, but the gray works to calm the blue-green blend down quite a bit. And while it’s a blend of those three colors, it more often leans blue-gray than green-gray.
Gray Cashmere has an LRV of 65 – the highest on this page!
IS GRAY CASHMERE A POPULAR BLUE-GREEN-GRAY PAINT COLOR?
While many are inclined towards a GRAYER look with this type of colour (Benjamin Moore Gray Owl), it’s an awesome choice for those who want a whisper of color.
- Gray Cashmere is a popular bedroom and bathroom paint color with a relaxing vibe.
- While Gray Cashmere has noticeable colors, the overall approach is subtle and soft.
All about LRV and How It Affects Paint Colors
4. BENJAMIN MOORE MOUNT SAINT ANNE 1565
Mount Saint Anne is a gorgeous blue-green with a decent gray backdrop calming it down. The overall blend is calming, while still colorful enough to be interesting! Mount Saint Anne has an LRV of 42, so she’s solidly in the medium tones.
However, like many of these shades, Mount Saint Anne is unpredictable and can look more blue or more green, depending on the space it’s in (as shown in these next two photos)…
The above examples show why it’s SO IMPORTANT to sample carefully, to see how these colors settle in your home with your unique lighting and finishes.
WHY IS MOUNT SAINT ANNE POPULAR?
- Mount Saint Anne is super popular for a calm coastal look.
- While it can be a touch cool for a north-facing room, it’s a great way to balance out the warm sunshine in a south-facing room.
5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS RAINWASHED SW-6211
Rainwashed is a blue-green-gray that favors blue more than green, with the gray falling back quite a bit.
The LRV of Rainwashed is 60, making it a light-depth blue-green paint color.
WHY IS RAINWASHED A POPULAR SHADE OF BLUE-GREEN?
- Rainwashed has a decent amount of color in it, so it will add life to a room without being too punchy.
- Rainwashed has a fresh but calming, soothing look as the gray softens it up.
- It’s SUPER popular for both beachy and modern farmhouse-style homes!
FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Rainwashed
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Quietude (a bit darker)
6. BENJAMIN MOORE GIBRALTAR CLIFFS 1587
Hot DAMN, I love this color! Gibraltar Cliffs is a gorgeous choice for a soft, slightly West Coast vibe! It blends blue and gray with a minor green coming through to soften it up.
Notice in the above photos how the color can rise or fall back depending on the light it’s getting.
Gibraltar Cliffs has an LRV of 30, so while it’s slightly darker, its color rises nicely, especially when hit with a dash of natural light!
WHY IS GIBRALTAR CLIFFS A POPULAR BLUE-GREEN PAINT COLOR?
- It’s great for a whole room if you have enough light
- It’s gorgeous as a feature wall with gray, soft cream, or off-white walls
FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Gibraltar Cliffs
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 DAY, depending on the location.
- They’re more affordable than the sample pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling.
Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE
7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS EARL GREY 7660
Earl Grey is a GRAY with a reasonably noticeable, but not overpowering blue-green undertone. With its gray foundation, Earl Grey is a calm, coastal approach to gray.
BTW, did you know that I rely 100% on AFTER photos from my local and E-Design clients – Thank you for sending yours in!
Earl Gray on the shiplap fireplace – see the WHOLE room transformation HERE
Earl Gray is a medium-depth paint color with an LRV of 32. If you have a dark room, this LRV, combined with Earl Gray’s reduced undertones, could have it looking a bit flat and drab. Earl Gray does best in a room with adequate lighting to let it come to life!
IS EARL GRAY A POPULAR PAINT COLOR?
- While Earl Gray has its place, many people prefer the increased colour of Gibraltar Cliffs.
- Darkening Earl Gray can enhance its undertones slightly.
8. BENJAMIN MOORE WOODLAWN BLUE HC-147
Woodlawn Blue is a VERY popular blue hue. So many of today’s most popular blues have a lot of green in them – not this one. This is almost a true blue(with gray) and only has a small amount of green in it, which stops it from looking icy cold and helps it hold up a bit better in a north-facing room (which could look TOO cold with a real true blue on the walls).
WHY IS WOODLAWN BLUE POPULAR?
- Woodlawn has an LRV of 61, so it’s light but not SUPER bright.
- Woodlawn Blue is CALMING and great for balancing out the visual warmth of a south-facing room or a west-facing room in the afternoon.
- With its increased color (chroma), Woodlawn Blue is a good color for dark rooms.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is The Best?
Is Gray Still Trendy on Walls, Cabinets & Exteriors?
And because there are SO MANY MORE gorgeous shades to explore, here are some more!
NEED HELP? Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOR PACKAGES – let me make it easy for you!
9. SHERWIN WILLIAMS COMFORT GRAY 6205
Comfort Gray is more or less the light-medium version of Sea Salt. And just like Sea Salt, it’s a bit of a ninja, looking more blue-green in some rooms and green-blue in others!
WHY IS COMFORT GRAY A POPULAR PAINT COLOUR?
- Comfort Gray has an LRV of 54. Not sure what LRV is? Read here. This LRV means Comfort Gray has more meat on its bones, offering more contrast with white trim.
- Comfort Gray is a beautiful choice for a south-facing room to balance out those warm sunbeams!
- Some blue-greens are super forward with their color. Comfort Gray offers its color on a platter, without making it the WHOLE MEAL.
FULL Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray
While many of the colors in this next image aren’t on this list (as they’re too green or too gray), this should help you see how Comfort Gray compares to other popular shades…
10. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SILVER STRAND 7057
Silver Strand is a gorgeous blend of blue, green, and gray – although it USUALLY favors blue the most!
WHY IS SILVER STRAND A POPULAR PAINT COLOUR?
- Silver Strand has an LRV of 59, so it’s a light depth but has a bit more body than others. This works well if you have quite a bit of natural light.
- While Silver Strand is a blend, it’s MUCH more likely to favor the blue, softened quite a bit by the gray, with the green playing a smaller part.
- Silver Strand can be a great choice if you want a WINK of color, but aren’t ready to commit on a large scale.
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Silver Strand
11. SHERWIN WILLIAMS LATTICE 7654
Lattice is a light blend of gray, blue, and green – just a whisper of colour for those not ready to commit fully!
WHY IS LATTICE A POPULAR PAINT COLOUR?
- Lattice has an LRV of 61, so it’s a great light depth and ALMOST on my sweet spot!
- Lattice can just as easily favor the blue over the green OR the green over the blue, giving it TONS of flexibility.
- Overall, Lattice is one of the GRAYEST blends on this page.
BTW, Lattice is QUITE similar to Sherwin Williams Front Porch if you want a color to compare it. Sometimes, it’s that subtle tweak of undertones that does the trick!
The 16 Best Paint Colors with Oak or Wood Cabinets & Trim
12. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SILVERMIST 7621
Silvermist is one of THE most beautiful blue-green paint colors – I get asked about it ALL the time in my Online Paint Color Consulting! And while it looks a bit grayer and calmer in this next photo, in MANY rooms, you can expect it to have a bit more chroma (color)…
Silvermist is muted enough to be calm, thanks to its gray backdrop, but has enough color to add interest and personality to your walls.
IS SILVERMIST A POPULAR BLUE-GREEN BLEND?
With its LRV of 47, Silvermist has more meat on its bones than many others. And while it has its place in many homes due to its PLACEMENT in the fan deck, I think it gets missed a lot!
- Silvermist’s LRV of 47 puts it on the slightly darker side of the light-medium range, making it great for ONE room but not a whole home.
- Whether Silvermist caters to its blue side or its green one is hit-and-miss!
- If you love the idea of a soft blue-green on your front door, Silvermist is a good one to consider.
FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Silvermist
13. BENJAMIN MOORE BEACH GLASS 1564
I’ve DEFINITELY saved the best for last if you’re looking for a shade that caters to blue with a polite nod toward gray and green.
Beach Glass has been around for a long time for a good reason. Sitting right above Mount Saint Anne in the fan deck, Beach Glass has a similar approach, but its higher LRV leaves a softer impression on your walls.
Beach Glass has an LRV of 50, so it’s on the slightly darker side of the light-medium range but BLUER and lighter than Silvermist.
WHY IS BEACH GLASS SO POPULAR?
- Beach Glass is the type of depth that adds GREAT personality to your walls without overwhelming them with colour.
- I also think Beach Glass was well named, as even its name suggests a relaxing mood!
14. BENJAMIN MOORE STRATTON BLUE HC-142
Stratton Blue is a stunner if you want a color with a bit more meat on its bones, both in depth and color!
Stratton Blue has an LRV of 38, so while it’s hitting the medium depths, it’s not a heavyweight by any stretch.
WHY IS STRATTON BLUE SO POPULAR?
- It’s gorgeous on the inside or outside of a front door (or even an entire exterior!).
- Great feature wall color.
- Stratton Blue also works well for an ENTIRE room.
- With its commitment to color, Stratton Blue works well in dark rooms as its chroma helps it rise against shaded or dark areas.
Get your SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK samples of Kylie M’s recommended colors from this post!
PEOPLE ALSO ASK…
WHAT IS SHERWIN WILLIAM’S MOST POPULAR BLUE-GREEN PAINT COLOR?
According to SAMPLIZE Peel & Stick, Sherwin Williams Sea Salt and Rainwashed are the two most popular shades of blue-green. Whether it’s their depth or their exact blend of green, blue, and gray, these two calming, spa-inspired colors often pop up on walls, but not so much on cabinets or exteriors.
Just remember to watch Sea Salt, particularly, as it’s known to swing WILDLY between blue and green – you’ll want to sample it and see where it lands in your home!
The 10 Best Paint Colors to Create Calm & Reduce Stress
WHAT PAINT COLORS GO BEST WITH BLUE-GREEN BLENDS?
Blue-green blends can be pretty flexible, and enjoy being in a palette with cream paint colors and warm off-whites such as Benjamin Moore Ballet White and Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White. These warm-cool combinations can add energy to a space. Blue greens also enjoy some warm shades of gray and greige, including colors like Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray and Revere Pewter.
In this next photo, Benjamin Moore Imperial Gray (another gorgeous shade) plays well with the more muted approach of Benjamin Moore Silver Satin in the dining room.
So there you have it – just a few of the BEST blue-green paint colors!
READ MORE
Sherwin Williams Upward: Color Review (Color of the Year 2024)
The TOP 12 MEDIUM DEPTH Blue Paint Colors
The 10 Best Paint Colors to Create Calm and Reduce Stress
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog
Not sure which is best for you and your home?
Check out my Online / E-Design Paint Color Consultations!
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Chat soon,
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2019, UPDATED FOR YOU IN 2023
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Caribbean Teal!! Bold color but so gorgeous.
I’m considering painting a couple of the walls in my living room what I would call a peacock sort of blue so this post is timely for me. That Caribbean blue might work.
These are beautiful colors. I think it is really hard to get blues right.
I love the whites with a hint of colour especially since I’m in a small flat. Sea salt looks like my favourite.
Me too! Now Sea Salt is definitely not a hint of colour, she’s a bit more powerful than that – but nonetheless, she is lover-ly!
I so love Sea Salt! Sadly it turned out light blue in the area I wanted it. Thank goodness I tried the sample out first. Back to the drawing board.
I know, it is such a sneaky bugger isn’t i! So it’s probably more about your exposure/lighting than it is about the colour – and short of removing your window there’s not much you can do about that! If you want a more green colour check out BM Hollingsworth which is quite pretty, but it’s definitely more green…
~Kylie
These are all really pretty! And yours tips about the light your room gets were really helpful. That variable always seems to mess me up. And I love the extra you threw in at the end—now I’m racking my brain for what/where I can paint it. Thank you!
Thank you Brooke! Yes, I get excited about colours and just have to get painting sometimes, which is why our home has lost sq footage with the coats of paint on the walls 😉
~Kylie
Hi! I’m looking for a color in the intensity or tranquility or silver strand that is clearly favoring light sage green w blue/grey (not yellow!) undertones. Any suggestions?
Curious about the color behind the iron bed in your title picture.
I’d really appreciate your feedback!
Oh Chantelle, thank you! I do have to be careful that I don’t cross any lines (which is why my Mom is my editor 😉 I’m glad you liked it, come back soon!
~Kylie
Thanks to you, Miss Kylie, we have a beautiful new master bedroom and bath. Loved the information you provided and especially your encouragement to use color! And your choice of whites (the hardest color to choose) was perfect. We took your advice on tweaking colors by mixing 2 gals SW Comfort Gray with 1 gal Sea Salt for the bedroom then used straight Sea Salt in the bath. It turned out lovely….prettier than I thought possible. Thank you so much!
I love your advice and boat loads of helpful information about the ranges of flexibility within one color. One cannot go into a big box store and get this information. I’m from Omaha, Nebraska and have an apartment with only North-facing rooms. Thank you for all your tips. !
I love the Caribbean teal!!! So tired of gray! I love rich colors with white trim. Changing all my dingy cream trim to white and what a difference it’s made! May buy a sample of that teal. Great post!
Hi Kylie. I know it’s 2017 and not sure if you’ll get this but we had to redo walls after a flood in the basement. We have a forest green love seat & couch. I want to paint 1 feature wall that will calm the green of the furniture. I understand that one should choose a shade that compliments the green. I really like California Teal but wondering if there’s something less intense but still a warm blue/green?
Thank you,
MARIE
Hi Erin, it sounds to me like Sea Salt could look beautiful for you! With less natural light the gray might come up a bit more than not, but it’s still got that gorgeous green/blue to hold it up.
Kylie,
I am impressed with your blog and familiarity with colors. Perhaps you can help me solve a color mystery? I wanted to paint my house the same color as this house in the below link. (I have a similar style home with shingles and same roof – GAF Pewter Gray) I paid two color consultants who told me it was SW foggy day and SW St. Barts. I can assure you those are not the right colors. I was informed by another credible source that it is BM Philipsburg Gray. That was not the color either. After a last minute color change, I selected SW Juniper Blue for my house color, but unfortunately that is not the color either. At this point, I just want to know what the color is, since I have been studying these pictures for so long. What do you think?
https://www.houzz.com/photos/4144082/Spring-Lake-Seaside-Colonial-Jersey-Shore-Home-traditional-entry-new-york
Hmmmmm, you’ve intrigued me. Okay, so here’s what I know about paint colours on exteriors. a) they tend to look a good 1/2 tone lighter once they are applied 2 coats on the large scale and b) the undertones tend to come up more on the large scale compared to the smaller sample. So, I can assure you it is not Foggy Day or Philipsburg Gray, both are FAR too blue for that. ST Barts is better, but too colourful. Now I see that Juniper Blue is a stain colour and it strikes me as being a bit too blue. That being said, you ARE looking at an oil dipped stain effect on those shingles and you can see in a few of the photos it comes up lighter/varied a bit. A few of the photos look a bit more green, a few a bit more blue/gray, so it’s about finding a colour that is ‘similar’ knowing you simply won’t get a match without knowing the exact stain brand/dip.
So, let’s see…in the photos, the best spot to see the ‘real’ colour is up near the ceiling line, where the natural light doesn’t hit it as much. If the exposure if this home faces a different way from YOUR home and where you’re looking at your tester, this can make a BIG difference. For example, the north facing side of a home may look slightly more grayed out while a south facing might have more ‘colour’ to it. Another challenge is I can BET you that this photo was edited. The floor looks MUCH too bright – this is easily done and most designers/photographers do it to clear photos up and tweak them. Anyway, I usually talk too much.
So, I started at Underseas which is like a green with some blue/gray and it felt TOOOO green. So I tweaked things over to SW Moody Blue. Hmmmm, this is feeling good. When I compare this little sample here https://www.pinterest.com/pin/149392912614666061/ to the photo, I feel like they make a pretty good connection. I still think you might need a WINK more gray in it, but I think it’s on the right track. Then there’s Benjamin Moore Stonybrook which has the right green/blue/gray blend, but it might be just a stitch too gray.
And if you are going absolutely crazy I’ll leave you with the thought that it COULD be a custom colour. On a small scale you can make a colour custom simply by darkening/lighting it by 25% – 50%. On a large scale, you can do things like ‘add more black/red/blue/white’ to get the tone you want. So, this could EASILY be what they’ve done and would explain why you can’t find it!
Ahhhh! I did a bit more snooping in the comments and see that they said ‘colour is a custom order from BM paints’. See, you aren’t losing your mind!
They also say that it’s Phillipsburg at one point which I can pretty much guarantee it isn’t. What you can do also is go into the Benjamin Moore stain guide and look at Hamilton Blue and Normandy. On the left it’s solid colour stain on the right is semi (which is what they did on the house based on several of the photos). Those 2 colours look similar to the photos. http://media.benjaminmoore.com/WebServices/prod/bm_stain/pdf/ArborcoatColorCard_chip_spread.pdf
I hope that helps and you HAVE to let me know how it goes – hopefully these colours will atleast get you a bit closer!
~Kylie
Hi, Kylie. I have to choose pain for my office at work, and can’t try colors. I just have to choose. Ack! It’s a window less office – 8 x12. There’s slatted florrescent lights, and I can’t hang overhead, so I’m thinking about removing outside bulbs and using floor and other lighting options from IKEA. The carpet is dark gray. I haven’t picked out furniture yet, but I’m thinking about white and grays with bold blue/green accents. My favorite colors are deep royal blue and edgy green. I don’t want that on my walls, but thinking about for my accents. Any thought on paint color. I was looking at Sea Salt, Reflection, Tradewind., and Silver Strand. It’s the sight unseen part that’s tough.
Hi Jan! Unfortunately due to the amount of emails/questions I get in a day I’m unable to answer personal questions. I would have to refer you to my E-design, where I do have the Quick Consult option as well! I give as much info as I can for free on my site, but if that doesn’t work I recommend the e-design so I can get up close and personal with photos/questionnaire. If that interests you, here’s the link… https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
Hi Kylie,
I’m looking at repainting my living room sea salt. It is east facing with only one large picture window, so not much natural light. Will sea salt work well in an east facing, low light room?
Thanks,
Marcie
Author
Hi Marcie, well Sea Salt can work well anywhere, it just depends on what LOOK you are going for. Sea Salt is well known for going greenish in one room (which it’s foundation suggests it SHOULD) but then in another room it goes blue/gray! With a more shadowed space I would imagine that it might go a bit more green/blue in the morning and then more gray/blue in the afternoon when the sun is opposite.
I hope that helps!
~Kylie
What a helpful post! I found your site while trying to determine whether Rainwashed would look too pastel/beachy/candy for the first floor of our new home, which is a mixture of dark wood floors and ivory carpet. I’m trying to decide between Rainwashed, Copen Blue (which is a bit more blue and instense), and a match to Restoration Hardware’s Silver Sage, which is slightly more grey than Rainwashed. I love Rainwashed on a large test swatch, but for some reason when I do a google image search for it, the rooms mainly look pastel minty rather than the green/grey of my swatch! I’m not sure who to believe, the test swatch or Google image… any advice is appreciated!
Author
Hi Abby! I just was at a clients home last nite who has Rainwashed in her office and it’s SO pretty! It doesn’t strike me as pastel minty at all, but sometimes it’s about ‘perception’. If you’re instincts have you worried though, it might be smart to look to a slightly more gray option…womens instincts are usually pretty good on these things 😉
~Kylie
BM grey wisp cc 670 is a spectacular grey green blue colour. Have it in my mudroom and my laundry room. Cabinets in both rooms are BM balboa mist with oxford white cc 30 on all my trim. I absolutely love this blue gray green as it is fresh and bright but soft and changes depth of tint in different light levels. The “chip” does NOT do it justice, you have to put it on a wall to really appreciate it.
Author
I totally agree, Gray Wisp is a stunner! You should send photos!!!!!
I am new to your site and am loving it. All this color talk is helping me understand why I choose my colors with a blue in them. What are your thoughts on painting the ceilings the same light gray color as the
walls.
THanks, Mary
Author
Hi Mary! I have a few thoughts on that…
1. If the ceiling is flat yes, if the ceiling is textured? no.
2. If the room has reasonably good lighting from the exterior – yes. If it’s shaded? No
3. If it’s a lighter gray, like atleast 65+LRV then yes, if not, then no.
I hope that helps!
~Kylie
Hi Kylie! I’ve enjoyed reading your blog! Lots of really helpful info!
What are your thoughts on BM Palladian Blue? I noticed you mentioned it in the section on SW Rainwashed. …I happened upon Palladian Blue years ago and painted my mother’s dining room in it. It goes very well with antique decor. Now I’m thinking about painting my bedroom in it. I’m going for the look you display in the bedroom pictures under BM Woodlawn Blue and Wedgewood Gray – which are colors I’ve thought about too.
Thanks for your help! =)
Author
Hi Kristen! I do like Palladian Blue. It’s an interesting one, but I do find it’s best for south or west facing rooms as sometimes in north or east it can feel a touch too cold…but yes, it’s LOVELY with antiques – well done!
~Kylie
I need to paint the exterior of my house . I would like a sagey gray green that doesn’t shift too much to blue or gray and won’t over power my low ranch style home. We have dark brown trim and a dark brown roof with white soffits and fascia. I’ve tried many shades and they all look too blue, gray , are too dark or muddy. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
Author
Hi Pam! When it comes to personal questions, especially ones that involve some important details like exact colour of roof/any stone/brick/exposure/etc… I would TOTALLY be guessing, which wouldn’t do you any good! If you would like me to see some photos of your home and it’s features, you can check out my E-design where I have packages exactly for this situation! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
Pam, I’m looking for the same exact color for the same style house! Did you find one that worked for you?
Hello Kylie,
I have been trying to find a gray paint that doesn’t turn purple. I have had three Sherwin Williams color consultants come out to my house. They have said my house is difficult because the colors change from one wall to another. I would like a light gray for my main area. (living, dining, kitchen and entry) I am trying to find something that looks good with my counter tops. The first two ladies said my counters had warm grays in it and the third lady said it looked cool. The first consultant came out and we just looked at swatches. The second lady recommended Worldly Gray and it turned out looking purple during the day and mauve at night. The latest lady recommended I try Useful because she says I need more green undertoned grays to help with the purple and blue that seems to come out on my walls. It looks green on the sample chip and I’m concerned it won’t look gray.
My hubby has changed out all the light bulbs to natural light that is about 4,000 k and 60 watt equivalent. Is that okay? I have bought at least 25 different shades of gray. Colonnade looks blue/gray in my main living area but tan in my bathroom. I like the softness of Colonnade but I’m concerned it will look purple if I lighten it because Modern Gray looks purple to me. Repose and Agreeable are the only two Sherwin Williams paints that I went to Home Depot and had them make a little sample of. Do they look the same as having Sherwin Williams make them? Repose looks blue as blue can be. I would love for Repose to work because I have painted a bathroom and bedroom with Mindful. If I lighten Mindful will it go blue like Repose? I lightened Knitting Needles to 80% and it went blue.
I NEED help. Picking a paint color has passed being fun. I am so stressed and overwhelmed. My painter would like to start on the new color in three days and I don’t know what to do.
Author
Hi Christina! sounds like you’re spinning in gray circles. You’ve figured out the hard way that there is no perfect gray. Gray will have undertones of blue, purple or green. These undertones can be enhanced by exposure, interior light, etc…(and those are awfully cold temp bulbs you have in there). One of grays most NATURAL states, looks like a blue or purple undertone. To cut this back, you need to make a warm gray or greige – which can still create purple/green. So, it sounds to me that if you don’t want blue, green or purple, that gray is just a risky endeavour for you given your interior light, countertop, possible exposure. You also have to make sure that you’re sampling the right way, and not just painting samples right on the existing wall colour as this can GREATLY influence your perception of a colour. It needs to be on a poster board with white around it, to give a visual break between the existing colour. There won’t be a gray that does the same thing in the day and the same thing at nite – unfortunately that’s just not how paint works, so it’s about finding the one that generally works most of the time. This is best shown via Collonade looking lovely in one space and tan in another – this is gray and greige doing its thing!
So, I want you to take a deep breath and a great big gulp of wine and look at SW Gossamer Veil, which I’ve found to be one of the the more neutral grays – it WILL STILL flash cool undertones, but perhaps less than the ones you’ve been looking at. You can also look at Edgecomb Gray which is a greige with an almost creamy backdrop. I know this is stressful, if those don’t work – check out my E-design and maybe I can make some sense of it for you. I think you’re at the point where you’re overthinking things (easy to do, I do it in my home ALLLLL the time)… https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
~Kylie
Christina: I am sure since this is 2 years old you have solved your problem. But I will still share what I did with this dilemma. I chose 2 colors next to each other on the color strip. On walls that got intense sun I used the darker color. On walls that didn’t get much or any light, I used the lighter paint. My painter thought I was nuts until he was finished and then realized that day or night the colors of the walls looked uniform as if they had all been painted the same exact color. There was NO variation when the light hit the walls. The bad thing is I am now considering painting AGAIN a slightly different color. :>(((((
Hi Kylie. Thank you so much for getting back to me. I meant to say that Worldly gets really taupey at night. I guess taupe and purple are the undertones I’m not liking. Do you still recommend the same colors mentioned above? I just want to find a gray color that will look good with my counters ( https://m.lowes.com/pd/Silestone-Alpina-White-Quartz-Kitchen-Countertop-Sample/999921066 ) and my carpet has brown and blue in it but it looks more brown/tan to me.
What kind of light bulbs do you recommend?
I am thinking of doing your online decorating. What questions do you ask? Will you explain more about this process?
Thank you for your wisdom and time.
Hi Kylie,
I have a small 3 bedroom house with nicely lit rooms. I had the hallways repainted a few years back in a nice light green which doesnt stand out but definitely helps the house look happier and bigger. Now its time for the master bedroom/bath. I really want to find a good combo of a gray type color for the bedroom and a gray/blue/green type color for the master bath.
Could you recommend an awesome duo please?
I have been watching you videos and reading your blogs (fantastic by the way!) but the more I do the more colors I like…!
Agreeable Gray, Repose, Gray Owl to name a few…
Please help! I feel like im spending way too much time on this. I have white trims and i’d like colors that make rooms look well lit and bigger.
Thank you!
Author
Hi Orly, thank you for the note! When it comes to personal questions there are SOOO many things for me to consider, like flooring, exposure, furnishings, etc… otherwise I’m 100% guessing! If you’d like me to take a look at things I do have a fabulous and affordable E-design service and then you can get the answers you’re looking for! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
~Kylie
Have you ever tried Half Moon Crest (Benjamin Moore)? It pictures I’ve seen, it looks like a really pretty gray that leans slightly blue or green, depending on the lighting.
Author
Hi Rachel, I haven’t, but you’re right, it’s a soft gray with a blue/green undertone that is MORE likely to lean a bit more green than blue – just a bit!
Thanks for the reply! I always enjoy reading your posts. I’ve learned so much about paint colors since I found your blog!
Hi Kylie, we just painted our laundry room sea salt, and the main areas of the house canvas tan and neutral ground…I love it! Next up the master bedroom. It is an open floor plan to the master bath. Since I love sea salt, wondering how comfort grey will look. I read it goes well with dark wood tones, which we have. There is a decent amount of light, south facing. I am not drawn to greys. How do you think it will show in this scenario? Thank you!
Hi, what is the difference between SW comfort grey and BM Tranquility? I want a blue green, leaning more toward blue. Thank you.
I have a mudroom with a back door to the backyard. The back door is yellow. I wanted to paint the wall with the door Revere Pewter and then paint the other walls in the room a teal or turqoise color. What do you suggest?
Author
Hi Leo! When it comes to personal questions, I do refer to my E-design! I try to give as much helpful free info as I can on my blog and if that doesn’t help, it might be time for a closer look, otherwise, I’m totally just guessing as to what your room REALLY looks like. If you’re interested, the link is here, I’d love to help! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
Do you know which gray is paired with Gibraltar Cliffs in the photo above? The 2 colors look gorgeous together!
Author
LISA, I’m seriously JUST about to post a blog post about this colour – focused on our entryway, but you’ll get the gist. In a few weeks I’ll be putting out a colour review on it and the colour IS…SW Collonade Gray!
~Kylie
How will Rainwashed look on a north facing house throughout for a 1940”s renovated home?
Hi there, love your website! What is the grey color on the walls next to Gibraltar Cliffs?
Author
Thank you Celeste, that is SW Collonade Gray (mad love…)
Hi Kylie, I have enjoyed reading your blog and appreciate all the great information regarding paint colors. We have a summer home on the water. The majority of the house is painted Woodlawn Blue which I LOVE. I am considering repainting the master bedroom Wedgewood Gray. This room gets a great deal of natural light and is on the second level.
On the first floor, we have a bathroom that I would like to repaint. It has no windows. The cabinets are an off white to cream antiqued color. The granite countertop has some gray in it. I am considering gray cashmere, silver marlin or gray owl. Just wondering what you might think of my paint choices or even recommend something else for the bathroom or bedroom.
Thank you for your help.
Linda
Hello Kylie, I’m painting my kitchen cabinets in BM Collingwood and wanted to add a touch of grey blue to the island. what color do you suggest. I would like a spark of color, bright, not too dark as I have no windows in the kitchen :/ I appreciate your suggestions.
Author
Hi Yvette! It’s hard to toss one off the top of my head without seeing your countertop/flooring/backsplash as there are different types of gray-blue (ones that flash slightly purple and ones that can flash slightly green) and if you choose the wrong one, it would totally clash! Straight up, there is BM Gibraltar Cliffs which leans slightly, but I can’t tell you it will suit your products 🙂 If you’d like to do an Edesign, I have a package for cabinets and can look at photos and suggest ones that make sense!
~Kylie
I have SW moody blue on my north facing bedroom and love it however stumped on what color type would go in the adjoining south facing master bathroom….Thinking SWChina doll or lighter color on moody blue strip?
I have SW Creamy on all the trim throughout my house. In my bedroom I have SW Topsail, but the Creamy paint does not look right. Is it ok to have a lighter color trim in one room?
Author
Hi Betty! That doesn’t surprise me as Creamy is quite yellow and more in the off-white range, whereas Sea Salt will prefer something cleaner. I see NO problem doing a room with a different trim colour, especially since its a secondary room (being a bedroom). Take a look at SW Pure White 🙂
This is all so helpful!! I did a sample of Mount Saint Anne in my son’s bedroom (southeastern facing) and it looks beautiful, but I’m concerned that it’s a bit dark for a child’s room. Would you have the paint store lighten it up a bit with some white, or do you think that could change the character of the color? Thank you!
Author
Hi Meredith! Yes, it does have a bit more body to it, but if the room has some decent natural light coming in, it could be quite sharp with white trim! They could lighten it by say, 25% for you, which is a subtle shift, but sometimes just enough to do the trick. The undertones can shift slightly at 25%, but not drastically :).
Hi,
I’m having my whole house painted in a week and a half . The master bedroom at the front of the house faces north and is brightly lit with windows 8’ wide by 7’ tall. It’s now painted BM Palladium Blue which I think is too intense a colour but my husband loves it as it is. I think the problem is that when the door is open, as it usually is, you can see the bedroom from the kitchen, great room, dining room and entry hall because this is an open concept house. I’m tempted to go a paler blue green colour like BM Sea Foam or even switch to BM Soft Chamois which is what I’m doing for the rest of the house. In our last home Palladium Blue looked amazing in a south facing bright room but the room was separate from the rest of the house. I need help! Thanks,
Heather
Thank you for giving so much good information regarding the undertones of these paints and the colors they favor! We just bought a 100 year old home with craftsman details. I’m trying to figure out lighter tones that will work with the beautiful medium stained woodwork in the house. Though I prefer white trim, I can’t bring myself to paint over the wood in this home! I would love to see a blog about best colors that work with wood trim, since the darker trim obviously brings a darker feel to the room. I’m looking for lighter walls with some color. This did help a lot to see the colors in a room also. Thank you.
Author
Hi Linda, I DO have a blog post about that – sweet! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-best-paint-colours-to-go-with-oak-wood/ If you’re ever looking for anything, I do have a Google search bar that can take you to blog posts or the images that are attached to blog posts (it’s in the sidebar). I hope that helps!
Hi kylie I just love your style. I hope you read my comment and reply. I have the color wheat bread from behr, and agreable gray sw throught my first floor. Both colors are very similar. Now I am trying to choose a paint color for my family room which is located in the middle of the house, partially open to my living room, kitchen, and hallway leading to the master bedroom. I tried a lot of paint samples, but I can’t decide. I want a color that is complimenting the other paint colors I have in the house, yet different to give a twist. I am thinking of a green toned paint, but scared to clash with my furniture. I didn’t buy my furniture yet, so I am not sure what are the cokors, but definitely something neutral. what do you think? Any suggestions for a color that goes with any colors in the furniture?? I appreciate your help! It is much needed 🙂
Hello, I love BM Crystalline but it looks too dark for the room. Can you explain how to ask the store to lighten it up without changing the color?
Author
Hi Kathy! You would ask the paint store to lighten it by 25% for you. However, lightening a colour WILL change it’s LRV and can also shift the undertones, that’s the nature of lightening it!
Small north facing bedroom looks sad with light colors, even warm creams. Thinking a more saturated color could bring life. Next to sea salt (SW) and white wainscoting bathroom (LOVE it). Am I about to make a huge error? Peg
BM Aegean Teal curious! Named color of the year. What are your thoughts?
Author
You know, it’s BEAUTIFUL, it’s just tough. I like to see Colours of the Year that have a bit more mass appeal. If it can be used on a feature wall, island, front door, kitchen cabinets – that kind of thing, well, I’m ALL in. I just think Aegean Teal is a bit limiting, which means less people can use it!
Hello Kylie,
Great article. Have you ever considered Magnetic Grey? I have painted several rooms in my home in this grey/blue color. Some of my friends loved it so much they used it as well.
I used your consulting service for my front door and will be reaching out for advice on my sunroom.
Author
I DO love Magnetic Gray! It has such a moody look to it and can be gorgeous :). And I’m happy to help you with your sunroom! If for some reason my consults are sold out, just send me an email and I’ll try to squeeze you in 🙂
Hello Kylie,
Great article. Have you ever considered Magnetic Grey? I have painted several rooms in my home in this grey/blue color. Some of my friends loved it so much they used it as well.
I used your consulting service for my front door and will be reaching out soon for advice on my sunroom.
Thanks again.