I feel like gray paint colors were so incredibly overused a few years ago, but then a lot of people accidentally chose cool grays to paint entire rooms and instead of a trendy living room, they got a nursery and kind of swore off the color. But now cool gray is having a resurgence. We learned from our mistakes–and these blue gray tones are showing up in the best best ways. I’m deeply inspired and wanted to share a few favorites with you.
1. Boothbay Gray by Benjamin Moore used in Rachel Parcel’s entry. The color is captivating. It has so much depth and is a welcomed surprise for a front door–right?!
2. Studio McGee used Platinum Gray by Benjamin Moore on their office cabinets and the slightly cooler tone feels light and fresh!
3. @amberinteriors used Manor House Gray by Farrow & Ball for these playroom shelves and it’s the perfect backdrop for the toys and accessories–right? I love that it feels warm and cool in areas and those chameleon paint colors stay interesting for a long time. It’s so good!
4. Mawr Design nailed the perfect grayed out greenish-blue cabinet color for this laundry area. Sherwin Williams Oyster Bay, mixed with that floor tile–I’m swooning!
5. @natashalevak brought the trend into the kitchen painting base cabinets Water’s Edge by Benjamin Moore for just a hint of color.
6. I’ve shared this image before so it’s no secret I’m a fan of @ispydiy’s use of Silver Celadon by Behr on their doors and trim. It’s sophisticated and interesting and just right.
7. Most of these examples have been on doors or trim because that’s where trends are going right now, but @benjaminmoore shared this photo of Metropolitan (their color of the year) on the walls and I’m here for it.
8. @jhinteriordesign shows how to do this light cool gray right. The cooler tones work if you’re aware of what they are and how to use them. Like playing them up as a pale, gray, blue-green with coordinating accents.
9. Francois_et_moi used International Gray by Kilz on this beadboard entry and mixed it with complementary golden colors to play up the blues! Genius!
10. Room For Tuesday mixed two gray-blues in her bathroom and the tone on tone is sophisticated and sweet–but not too sweet.
Lesson learned? If you’re looking for a perfect blue–look to the grays. And if you’re looking for the perfect gray, I mean, maybe check out the cool tones. I love it especially for trim and doors!
23 COMMENTS
Amaia
3 months ago
I really wanted to change my room into color gray. and you post helped me how. thanks for posting!
Elizabeth Martinez
3 months ago
I have a east/ west facing house. I am painstakingly trying to find a soft gray whole house paint color
Everything I have tried is too blue or green or muddy looking. Is there a gray paint you can recommend that is a really nice shade for whole house color? Any suggestions is greatly appreciated.
Julia
3 months ago
AUTHORI have recommended Benjamin Moore’s Olympic Mountains to so many. It’s more of a light greige but is seriously gorgeous in every space.
Hannah Hewitt
3 months ago
We just painted the exterior of our house with magnetic grey by Sherwin Williams and LOVE it. I think it looks great in both bright and low light. A grey/ blue that can pull green but doesn’t look muddy.
Maureen
3 months ago
Color wheel question- sort of. I want to do the contrast trim with a greyish- but we have a huge sectional that leans purple grey. I love the metropolitan color and celadon. Since they’re not yellowy- would they down play the purple hint fro
the grey sofa?
(Why can’t I wrap my head around this 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️)
Julia
3 months ago
AUTHORYes! Cool tones will warm up your sofa. You want to steer clear of yellow-y tones surrounding it.
Savannah Perry
3 months ago
I love these colors..mostly because I am partial to the ocean! Do you have white shades your recommend with these colors? For example would #1 or #2 work with Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore? Do you do any design work for others? I looked on your website but didn’t see anything?
Julia
3 months ago
AUTHORI’m using Alabaster by Sherwin Williams everywhere right now.
Heidi
3 months ago
We painted our kitchen cabinets BM Moonshine! I was going for a warmer gray, although you describe it as cool. 🤷♀️ Anyway, all our natural light really lightens up the color; We’ve had family say we have a “white” kitchen, which is NOT what I was going for. 🤦♀️
Jenna
3 months ago
I was just wondering if my blue-grey living room needed a new colour and now I am glad to see it does not!
Sara Lyn Smalley
3 months ago
Perfect Timing!!!! We just bought our first house and are doing a total remodel (thank you indoor smokers…not). I have been looking at grays to paint the trim in our house and I am loving all these options!!!
Meg
3 months ago
This is soooo timely! We are getting the entire exterior of our house painted and I have been looking at gray-blues! I’m overwhelmed with samples and my house looks like it has spots with all of my “testing” 😂. Any color you recommended for an exterior with shutters?!
Heidi
3 months ago
Holy cow, I have this same question! Except we have red-orange brick to consider too. Needing the perfect gray-blue exterior color and a coordinating color for shutters and front door!
Meg
3 months ago
Same with the red orange brick 😂! Are we neighbors?! LOL
Katie
3 months ago
These colours are my fave! We painted our living room BM Moonshine when we bought the house almost three years ago. It’s the perfect compliment for the white tin ceiling and light-toned hardwood floors that are both original to our 1890’s home. It feels so welcoming.
Julie
3 months ago
Ooh ! I wish I saw this post a few months ago . We did board and batten in our rec room . I love the color but turned out more blue than I wanted .
Will use this for painting restroom cabinets though !
Kate S.
3 months ago
Interesting so many of these were on doors. That seems like a trend in and of itself.
Megan
3 months ago
Oh these are so beautiful! I’m more of a fan of green-grays, personally, but these are some great examples of blue-grays that work.
M
3 months ago
I love cools grays, and painted the main living areas in my condo Sherwin Williams Evening Shadow
Shannon
3 months ago
I love all of these blue grays you posted. I am looking for a bathroom color that has no natural lighting with no windows. Any suggestions? Do you think a blue gray would work well for that? All of these are shown in natural lighting, so it’s hard to know how it would fare without any. Have you ever painted a room like this?
Julia
3 months ago
AUTHORI’m pretty sure Room For Tuesday’s bathroom (the last one) has no natural light.
Tracy
3 months ago
Hi Julia! I’m pretty sure #9 is from Francois et Moi. I have that picture saved and love it! Your blog is my favorite and I look forward to reading it everyday!
Julia
3 months ago
AUTHORThanks you so much! I updated it!