Equal parts stylish and sensible, gray is a design favorite. Count on us to find the best gray paint colors for your bespoke project.
From crisp light gray paint to the drama of deep charcoal, gray delivers a range of smart design options. Gray is also a classic paint color–and a perennially popular color choice for interior walls and home exteriors alike.
Warm + Cool + Most Popular Paint Colors
Here are some of our most popular shades of gray paint colors.
Edgecomb Gray
HC-173
Silver Satin
OC-26
OC-52
Stonington Gray
HC-170
Wickham Gray
HC-171
Gray Cloud
2126-60
Edgecomb Gray
HC-173
Stonington Gray
HC-170
Silver Satin
OC-26
Wickham Gray
HC-171
OC-52
Gray Cloud
2126-60
Revere Pewter
HC-172
Wish
AF-680
2112-50
Metropolitan
AF-690
Coventry Gray
HC-169
Silver Half Dollar
2121-40
Revere Pewter
HC-172
Metropolitan
AF-690
Wish
AF-680
Coventry Gray
HC-169
2112-50
Silver Half Dollar
2121-40
Thunder
AF-685
Chelsea Gray
HC-168
Amherst Gray
HC-167
HC-166
Steel Wool
2121-20
Boothbay Gray
HC-165
Thunder
AF-685
HC-166
Chelsea Gray
HC-168
Steel Wool
2121-20
Amherst Gray
HC-167
Boothbay Gray
HC-165
Gray Colors. Gray Luxury.
There is an undeniable sophistication to gray. Paired with almost any color, from scarlet to amethyst to sapphire, gray paint colors provide balance. Consider a combination of light and deep grays for a slick design element that doesn’t overwhelm the room.
Gray wall paint in higher sheen levels like semi-gloss or high gloss evokes a more luxurious vibe. Consider a high gloss silvery-gray paired with rich fabrics like velvet or silk. In addition to adding a design edge, glossy gray paint is durable and easy to clean.
Growing with Gray
A nursery in gender-neutral gray means the space can easily grow and evolve alongside little ones. Clean, pale grays like Collingwood OC-28 and Bunny Gray 2124-50 are also nice alternatives to white and off-white.
Gray is also a sleek choice for hallways, acting as a neutral portal that complements any color room.
What is an Undertone?
Paint colors are often created by using two or more colors. If there is a higher percentage of one color over the other, that creates an undertone.
Tackle undertones by…
- Stacking gray color chips on top of one another to see brightness levels and undertones.
- Bringing color chips home and layering them on your home furnishings.
- Buy a color sample and testing on walls in different lighting conditions.
Choosing Between Warm and Cool Grays
To narrow the wide spectrum of gray, consider warm and cool grays. Warm grays, or brown-gray—commonly known as “greige”—are enveloping and welcoming, while cooler grays like green-gray and blue-gray, are elegant and modern.
A room with northern light tends to reveal more of a paint colors’ blue and green undertones, so many homeowners opt for a warmer gray in those spaces.
Southern facing light is typically more flattering, opening the door for a wider range of grays in your space.
Exteriors Go Gray
Gray is a popular choice for any type of home exterior, providing a transformative effect on your façade. Gray seamlessly complements most classic roof colors, as well as brick and stone. Consider gray paint on doors, trim or shutters if you are not ready to go entirely gray.
Whatever gray paint color you choose for your home’s exterior, Aura® Exterior paint provides outstanding durability against even the harshest weather conditions–and comes with a lifetime-limited warranty.
“GRAY PROVIDES BALANCE TO ANY ROOM.”
How to Find the Perfect Gray Paint
What is the “perfect gray?”—It’s a question we get regularly.
Given the wide range of undertones in gray paint colors, choosing a gray can be daunting. Cement Gray 2112-60, Gray Owl OC-52 and Coventry Gray HC-169 are three of our favorite recommendations.
Livable in most lighting conditions, these colors work in any room, including living rooms and bedrooms, where gray is one of the most popular paint color choices.
—Andrea Magno
COLOR & DESIGN EXPERT
Gray Colors. Gray Luxury.
There is an undeniable sophistication to gray. Paired with almost any color, from scarlet to amethyst to sapphire, gray paint colors provide balance. Consider a combination of light and deep grays for a slick design element that doesn’t overwhelm the room.
Gray wall paint in higher sheen levels like semi-gloss or high gloss evokes a more luxurious vibe. Consider a high gloss silvery-gray paired with rich fabrics like velvet or silk. In addition to adding a design edge, glossy gray paint is durable and easy to clean.
Growing with Gray
A nursery in gender-neutral gray means the space can easily grow and evolve alongside little ones. Clean, pale grays like Collingwood OC-28 and Bunny Gray 2124-50 are also nice alternatives to white and off-white.
Gray is also a sleek choice for hallways, acting as a neutral portal that complements any color room.
What is an Undertone?
Paint colors are often created by using two or more colors. If there is a higher percentage of one color over the other, that creates an undertone.
Tackle undertones by…
- Stacking gray color chips on each other to see brightness levels and undertones.
- Bringing color chips home and layering them on your home furnishings.
- Buy a color sample and testing on walls in different lighting conditions.
Choosing Between Warm and Cool Grays
To narrow the wide spectrum of gray, consider warm and cool grays. Warm grays, or brown-gray—commonly known as “greige”—are enveloping and welcoming, while cooler grays like green-gray and blue-gray, are elegant and modern.
A room with northern light tends to reveal more of a paint colors’ blue and green undertones, so many homeowners opt for a warmer gray in those spaces.
Southern facing light is typically more flattering, opening the door for a wider range of grays in your space.
Exteriors Go Gray
Gray is a popular choice for any type of home exterior, providing a transformative effect on your façade. Gray seamlessly complements most classic roof colors, as well as brick and stone. Consider gray paint on doors, trim or shutters if you are not ready to go entirely gray.
Whatever gray paint color you choose for your home’s exterior, Aura® Exterior paint provides outstanding durability against even the harshest weather conditions–and comes with a lifetime-limited warranty.
“GRAY PROVIDES BALANCE TO ANY ROOM.”
How to Find the Perfect Gray Paint
What is the “perfect gray?”—It’s a question we get regularly.
Given the wide range of undertones in gray paint colors, choosing a gray can be daunting. Cement Gray 2112-60, Gray Owl OC-52 and Coventry Gray HC-169 are three of our favorite recommendations.
Livable in most lighting conditions, these colors work in any room, including living rooms and bedrooms, where gray is one of the most popular paint color choices.
—Andrea Magno
COLOR & DESIGN EXPERT
Questions?
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Frequently Asked Questions
When touching up a hole repair, why do I notice a difference, why is the color different?
Paint ages and loses sheen over time, so even within 3 months of painting, the wall is now less shiny than the touch up, meaning it will stand out more. In time the touch up will dull down and blend in a little, but the touchup must be applied lightly in order to keep the wall looking as close to uniform as possible.
Should I do two coats?
You should always do two coats for the following reasons:
-Uniform color - if you only do one coat there is no guarantee that the color will be uniform if the previous color is showing through due to improper film build.
-When doing a color change you should definitely not rely on one coat, depending on what you’re changing to, 2 coats is usually enough.
Do I need to prime?
Priming is necessary when you have new drywall/drywall mud to seal it so that it doesn’t absorb more paint than is needed. Also if doing a color change from dark to light 1 coat of primer might be recommended in order to achieve the desired color.
Why do I need to wait for the paint to dry?
The re-coat window is necessary to ensure that your 2nd coat doesn’t re-wet the first coat. Applying paint too early can just re-activate the previously applied coat of paint, meaning that you don’t get a proper two coat film build, and so it doesn’t cover as two proper coats.
How long do I wait to be able to wash my walls
Most paints require 28 days to full harden and cure, giving you maximum durability for the product. only ever wash your walls with warm soapy water, avoiding bleach or ammonia based cleaning products.