Read all about Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray, plus see 16 real homes that use it!
Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray (HC-169) is a cool-leaning medium gray paint color with soft blue-green undertones that add depth and sophistication to your walls.
Do you know that moment when you can tell that it’s time for a change? When your home needs a makeover, but you don’t even know where to start with picking colors?
Or maybe you already have an idea of a general color you want to use. A beautiful gray, perhaps?
As you may have learned, choosing gray paint is not as easy as it may sound! Does the term “fifty shades of gray” come to mind? Given how many shades of gray there are on the market, there are likely more than fifty choices!!
I know firsthand how exciting it feels to update your home. At the same time, I also know how overwhelming it can be to try to decide between dozens of gray paint colors when all you REALLY want to do is say, “I’d like a can of gray paint, please!”
This paint series covers many beautiful hues to provide important information about each one in-depth. My goal is to help you eliminate shades that won’t work with your home or decor so you can shorten your list of color choices. When you’re choosing between fewer colors, making a choice is easier!
The latest addition to this paint post series is a gorgeous shade I can’t wait to show you: Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray.
What color is Coventry Gray?
Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray is a classic-looking gray that offers traditional color with stunning depth.
As a member of the gray family, it looks very neutral. In fact, many people say it’s a classic gray. The one gripe I have with that statement is that when people hear that, they interpret it to mean that there aren’t any undertones.
But gray paint ALWAYS has undertones! The appealing thing about Coventry Gray is that they are soft blue and green undertones that help create a “stormy” appearance.
Want the cliff notes for choosing the perfect color every time? Grab a FREE copy of my guide to help you avoid the paint color picking mistakes most people make!
FAQs about Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray
What other colors are similar to Coventry Gray?
Unfortunately, due to color blending variations, it’s nearly impossible to match a shade between different paint brands.
While Sherwin Williams doesn’t have an exact match to Coventry Gray, I recommend trying Sherwin Williams Tinsmith or Sherwin Williams Light French Gray as close matches.
Is Benjamin Moore’s Coventry Gray warm or cool?
Coventry Gray is a slightly cool gray with soft blue and green undertones. It won’t feel cold in a room, but it will look “moody” and help balance out bright natural sunlight.
Where should I use Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray?
This is a chic shade that will stun anywhere you use it. Consider using it for:
Cabinets
Kitchen
Kitchen islands
Accent wall
Living room
Bedroom
Bathroom
Laundry room
Home office
Kitchen
Exterior
What’s more, Coventry Gray fits well with coastal, farmhouse, modern, contemporary, traditional, and transitional styles of homes.
Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray Undertones
Coventry Gray is a soothing gray with subtle blue undertones that give it a soft, smokey appearance. There’s also just a hint of green that can peek through occasionally.
One note about undertones is that in some shades, they will appear much stronger than they do in other shades. In fact, sometimes, those undertones can be so strong that in certain lighting, you may see the undertone more prominently than the overtone.
That’s not the case with Coventry Gray. The blue undertones in this shade simply provide a soft yet stormy quality.
I have a tool that will work wonders to allow you to see exactly how your paint picks will appear on your walls, in your lighting, and with your decor. If you want a surefire way to prevent choosing a paint color that you end up totally hating once it’s all over your walls, use paint swatches (I love these peel-and-stick samples).
They are a cinch to reposition and won’t damage your walls. In fact, they’re SO helpful that they are my #1 tool to help eliminate frustration and wasted money (a win-win in my book!).
If undertones make your head ache, you’re not alone! Grab your no-cost copy of “5 Biggest Paint Choice Mistakes” Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
How Lighting Affects Benjamin Moore’s Coventry Gray
As the sun moves through the sky over the course of a day, natural light exposure changes, and that will make any paint color you choose appear different at various times of the day.
In fact, natural lighting can (and does) change so much that I warn against expecting ANY shade of paint to look the same in two different rooms or at varying times of the day (even in the same room!).
In the case of Coventry Gray, you won’t notice as much color shifting through the day as you would find with other paint colors. If you really want to see this color’s richness, use it in a room that has a mix of natural and artificial lighting.
Here’s how you can expect Coventry Gray to appear based on different types of natural lighting.
- North-facing light – cool northern lighting will cause Coventry Gray to appear more like a cool, true gray.
- South-facing light – warm yellow southern light will soften this shade and may wash it out a bit.
- East-facing light – eastern light is warm and yellow in the morning and shadowy later in the day. Coventry Gray will appear a little softer in the morning and shift toward a true gray.
- West-facing light – with cooler light in the morning and very warm light later in the day, you’ll likely notice the opposite scenario (of eastern lighting) play out. Coventry Gray will begin the day showing off its cool, neutral gray side and shift toward soft gray later in the day.
Great Coordinating Colors for Coventry Gray
Coventry Gray is a beautiful neutral that works well with other neutrals as well as white, black, dark blue, yellow, green, and pink.
If you need a few specific colors for inspiration, check out these shades that safely pair with Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray:
- Chantilly Lace
- White Heron
- Steam
- Temptation
- Yorktowne Green
- Silvery Moon
- Amherst Gray
- Britannia Blue
- Hale Navy
- Cloud Cover
- Rain
- Smokey Blue
- Decorator’s White
LRV of Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray (HC-169)
LRV is an abbreviation for “light reflective value.” Why do you need to know this? It’s a helpful way of measuring how much light is reflected by a shade. LRV is a reliable and objective indicator of how light or dark a paint shade will appear in your home.
LRV ranges from 0 – 100. A color with an LRV of 0 is pure black. On the opposite end of the spectrum, an LRV of 100 is the brightest, purest white.
The LRV of Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray = 48.18
This LRV value means that BM Coventry Gray is a medium-depth color. It has rich saturation that won’t look too dark like a deep shade can. But it also won’t lose its identity by washing out in bright lighting.
LRV…what? Don’t worry, I’ve got you! This no-cost guide will help you avoid the paint color picking mistakes most people make! Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
Coventry Gray Compared to Other Colors
People tend to compare Coventry Gray with three other similar colors. It’s time to compare and contrast this hue with a few other popular shades to highlight the unique qualities of each one. Let’s dive in!
Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray vs. BM Stonington Gray
Let’s begin by comparing Coventry Gray to Benjamin Moore’s popular Stonington Gray (HC-170).
With an LRV of 59, it’s noticeably lighter than Coventry Gray, and its green undertones are more prominent, making Coventry Gray appear bluer when you compare them side by side.
Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray vs. BM Gray Owl
Benjamin Moore Gray Owl (OC-52) has an LRV of 66, which means it’s quite a bit lighter than Coventry Gray.
What’s more, because of the saturation difference, Coventry Gray and Gray Owl actually pair well together rather than being similar enough to potentially replace one another.
Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray vs. BM Metropolitan
Benjamin Moore Metropolitan (AF-690) comes just a hair lighter than Coventry Gray, with an LRV of 51.
Also, its green undertones have the effect of warming this shade up a little, even though it’s still a cool-leaning shade. When you compare them side by side, Coventry Gray will read cooler and grayer.
More Colors to Consider
Gah! Choosing new colors can take some work! If you just aren’t ready to commit to Coventry Gray with confidence yet, check out these other popular options.
- Repose Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a warm-leaning mid-toned gray with beige undertones.
- Silver Drop (Behr) – a pale and flexible greige.
- Smoke (Benjamin Moore) – a light-medium smokey blue.
- Dorian Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a medium-depth warm gray with brown undertones.
- Silver Satin (Benjamin Moore) – an off-white with a hint of gray.
- On the Rocks (Benjamin Moore) – a medium greige with slight green undertones.
- Mindful Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a beautiful mid-toned gray with taupe undertones.
- Shoreline (Benjamin Moore) – a light gray-leaning greige.
Feeling lost? I gotcha, boo! Get a zero-cost copy of my new guide to avoid the paint color picking mistakes people make! Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
Real Life Homes Using Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray
Ok, the information download portion of this paint exploration journey is complete! Now that you’re armed with knowledge about this shade and how it behaves, it’s time to SEE it in real life.
Here are 16 real-life homes and spaces using Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray for you to see!
A quick note here: don’t forget to consider picking the right paint finish…it’s not only about getting the color right! We have an in-depth explanation of choosing sheens here.
Bedrooms in BM Coventry Gray
In general for bedrooms, and low-traffic areas, flat paint is fine. If you like something with a bit of shine (and more ease of cleaning) opt for eggshell or satin.
1. A Classic Gray for a Classic Space
The Modern Farmhouse highlights just how timeless this gray is. It reads perfectly neutral with barely a hint of undertones.
2. Totally Neutral in Teen Room
When you have fun decor colors and pieces that you want to highlight, like Love Your Room did, consider BM Coventry Gray. It plays the role of passenger to perfection, allowing fun colors to take the driver’s seat.
3. Leaning Blue against Surrounding Decor
With the right lighting and surrounding decor, you can draw out those blue-green undertones as Nesting with Grace did here. I love the soothing yet moody vibe they lend this space.
Coventry Gray Living Rooms
4. Creamy Contrast with White Moulding
This shade is what I would call the “Goldilocks” gray – it’s not too light, and it’s not too dark. It’s just right, as Color Forte shows us in this room with low levels of passive, cool light.
5. Pairs with Wood Accents
Freshly Completed chose well by using Coventry Gray in this room. Since it only leans a tad cool, the warm brown tones balance it out so that it reads completely neutral.
Kitchens using Coventry Gray Paint
For kitchens, eggshell or satin are popular finish choices for walls. For cabinets consider semi-gloss or high gloss for the most durable finish (and a gorgeous glow).
6. Pulls Everything Together
I see a hint of blue in this kitchen from Sweet Sanity! The cool-toned lighting and blue accent pieces pull out the subtle, soft undertone in this fun farmhouse kitchen.
7. From Light to Dark in Modern Space
The warm and bright natural light exposure in this kitchen from @smithericksondesigns completely supports the fun yet monochromatic color scheme. I’m loving those playful gold accents!
8. A Complement to Farmhouse Style
Courtney M. Browning made a great choice with Coventry Gray for a balanced and neutral color. It does the hard work of tying everything in this kitchen together without you even noticing how hard it’s working.
Ben Moore’s Coventry Gray Office Spaces
9. Ideal Paint Color for Any Room
This office space from @whitecliffdesigns is showing off Coventry Gray’s blue undertones! Although it still reads neutral, I love the subtle, moody vibe this room has going on!
10. Light and Airy Interior Color
The Inspired Room shows us how much Coventry Gray can wash out in bright lighting. Notice that there’s still plenty of saturation to contrast well with the white accents.
Coventry Gray Entry and Hallways
11. Gorgeous Gray Interior Doors
Shannon Gold Design made an inspired choice on her interior door in this entryway. Coventry Gray provides just the right amount of contrast to the other colors without being too bold in this space.
12. Great with a Pop of Color
If you love colorful decor palettes, you need a main color that will highlight rather than detract from them. Sue at Home couldn’t have picked a better gray here!
13. No Blue Undertones in Sight
This exterior example from Studio Z Architecture shows off the beautiful neutral quality of Coventry Gray. It’s a gorgeous color for exteriors!
14. Appears Much Lighter on Painted Floor
My Old Country House used Coventry Gray in a fun way: on the floor! I can’t stop looking at the eye-catching pattern.
15. Modern Yet Classic
Classic. Timeless. Chic. What other words can be used to describe this bathroom from Dyna Builders? How about “wow?”
16. Beautiful with Brick
Pewter and Sage knew that Coventry Gray would make that brick fireplace practically jump off the wall (visually speaking, of course)! It’s dramatic and beautiful.
Now that you’ve had a chance to see Coventry Gray in action, have I convinced you to grab a peel and stick paint sample and give it a shot?
I hope you love the chic, timeless vibe that Coventry Gray can help create!
Pin this paint color for later! And if you use this paint shade, leave a comment on the pin! That helps others decide if they want to try this color, too!
Ready to show those boring, bland walls who’s the boss at home? This no-cost guide will help you sidestep mistakes that almost everyone makes when it comes to picking paint! You’ll be on your way to perfect paint promptly…pinky swear.
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