Read all about Sherwin Williams Repose Gray, plus see 17 real homes that use it!
Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams (#7015) is a warm gray paint color that has taken the internet world by storm, with many bloggers and homeowners dubbing it the perfect shade of gray. However, how will you know if Sherwin Williams Repose Gray is right for your home?
If you’re someone who wants a gray that actually looks gray without that cold, stark vibe…you’re in luck. Repose Gray may be just what you need!
Is Repose Gray a true gray?
That’s actually a pretty challenging question to answer as everyone’s definition of what “gray” is differs quite a bit. However, if you are looking for the classic gray that’s smack dab in the middle of black and white…this ain’t it.
This gray is warm, while most “normal” gray shades are cool. However, how the paint looks on your walls may be warmer or cooler depending on the lighting, furniture, windows, and a million other details.
Whew! That’s a lot of room for variation between colors! That’s why I highly recommend you swatch your walls before committing to ANY color.
I guess that’s why the phrase “shades of gray” was coined! 😉
I originally started writing this paint color series to help answer questions I was getting from readers about particular colors. Then I realized that readers have the same questions about tons of different colors.
So I wanted to create a helpful tool that offers clear information about the small details of each shade you might be considering for your home so that you can feel confident in your color choices as you narrow them down.
And today, we’re taking a look at SW Repose Gray.
I’m going to spill the beans on this inoffensive greige paint color and give you all the information you could ever want (maybe even more!), so you can truly know whether Repose Gray is right for your home.
Before we dig in, if you are the type of person who never feels completely confident in choosing paint colors, then grab a free copy of “5 Massive Paint Picking Mistakes” to help you avoid the pitfalls! Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
FAQs about Repose Gray
What color is Sherwin Williams Repose Gray?
Repose Gray is a neutral gray, but it’s not really a TRUE gray. It has slight brown and taupe undertones that make it lean a little greige.
To give it a little context, it’s slightly warmer and less green than the popular Gray Owl from Benjamin Moore.
Is Sherwin Williams Repose Gray warm or cool?
Blue, green, and purple are cool-leaning colors, while yellow, orange, and red are warm-learning colors. Since Repose Gray has brown and taupe undertones, it leans warm but just slightly.
It’s not warm enough that it’ll make you feel cozy from the inside out, but it’s warm enough that it’ll never feel cold – even in cool blue lighting.
If, however, you decide you would rather use a cool gray, check out Gray Owl or Stonington Gray.
Where should I use SW Repose Gray?
Put this popular color to the test in ANY room of your home! It’s a very popular shade for a reason: it can stand out in all the best ways in the:
• Kitchens
• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Living rooms
• Hallways
• Laundry rooms
• Basements
• Exteriors
And if that wasn’t enough, this color’s adaptable nature makes it a great candidate for any home and decor style!
Sherwin Williams Repose Gray Undertones
Often, homeowners view undertones as a problem rather than a fact of life.
Undertones are inherent in colors because they are the result of the paint-mixing process. And since there’s no way to avoid them, I advocate for working WITH them.
With that in mind, I think it’s important to understand the undertones of any paint color you think you might like. That way, the process of picking a color gets easier, and you won’t have to deal with any surprises after you’ve painted your walls.
Let’s take a look at SW Repose Gray’s undertones. This shade lives in the gray color family, but just barely because its undertones make it straddle the line between gray and greige.
Repose Gray tends to shift and flex a bit more than some grays do because of its undertones. If you look closely, you will see some brown, a touch of green, and just a smidge of purple.
Don’t worry – your walls won’t look purple! But the hint of purple gives Repose Gray its depth and character that make it so popular.
NOTE: NO paint colors will look the same at varying times of the day or in two different places. But Repose Gray is even more of a chameleon than many gray colors are.
Use paint swatches to help you know EXACTLY how your lighting and nearby decor will impact the appearance of any color before you go to the expense and work of buying and painting.
My favorite type? Re-usable, re-positionable peel and stick paint samples from Samplize.
How Different Types of Lighting Affect SW Repose Gray
Different lighting situations play with undertones in varying ways. Here’s a basic idea of how you can expect Repose Gray to read based on natural lighting.
- North-facing light – northern light is cool and blue-tinted, so this shade in a north facing room will bring out the purple undertones of Repose Gray.
- South-facing light – warm light from the south will make Repose Gray let out its warm side and read more greige.
- East-facing light – east-facing rooms have warm yellow light in the morning and cool, passive light in the afternoon. That constantly shifting situation will make Repose Gray appear warm and greige in the morning before shifting to its purple-tinted gray side in the afternoon.
- West-facing light – west-facing rooms have the opposite lighting situation of east-facing rooms because the light is cool in the morning but warm in the late afternoon and evening. Repose Gray will appear cooler and grayer in the morning and shift to its warmer greige personality later in the day.
Great Coordinating Colors for Repose Gray
Many colors shine when paired with Repose Gray, which helps boost its popularity even more (as if it needed any extra help)!
Here are some colors that create a beautiful palette when combined with Sherwin Williams Repose Gray:
- High Reflective White
- Anonymous
- Luxe Blue
- Eider White
- Sleepy Hollow
- Dovetail
- Dorian Gray
- Simply White
- Extra White
- Sea Salt
- Urbane Bronze
- Pure White
- Wool Skein
- Woven Wicker
- Passive
- Mindful Gray
- Krypton
LRV of Repose Gray (SW 7015)
If you haven’t heard of LVR before, it stands for Light Reflective Value. Basically, this is a fancy-schmancy scale that designers use to help determine how light or dark a shade will appear, based on how much light it reflects rather than absorbs.
On a scale of 0 to 100, think of 0 on the scale as pitch black and 100 as a blinding white. Most people like a color that’s in a comfortable middle-range—around 60 seems to be a happy place for most people.
The LRV of SW Repose Gray = 58
That value makes Repose Gray a mid-range color that leans more towards light than dark. It reflects a good amount of light and looks great in rooms that contain a lot of natural light.
LRV…what? Don’t worry, I’ve got you! Grab a FREE 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!⤵️
Repose Gray Compared to Other Colors
When you’re deciding between Repose Gray and another warm shade of gray, it can be hard to know which color you prefer!
Here are some of the most popular greiges and how they stack up against Repose Gray.
Sherwin Williams Repose Gray vs. Agreeable Gray
Agreeable Gray and Repose Gray are two of the most popular paint shades from Sherwin Williams.
At a glance, these colors look very similar, but a few differences pop up when it comes down to Agreeable Gray vs Repose gray.
First of all, Agreeable Gray is just a wink more on the warmer side than Repose Gray.
While both are warm gray colors with slight purple undertones, Repose Gray has a hint of warmth, while Agreeable Gray can look downright taupe in certain lights.
Further, Agreeable Gray has an LRV of 60, making it just a hair lighter than Repose Gray.
Repose Gray vs Mindful Gray
Mindful Gray is another pretty warm gray from Sherwin Williams. Again, these two shades have some similarities. In fact, Mindful Gray is the next shade down in the paint chip card/ paint strip on Sherwin Williams’ website.
Right off the bat, you can see that Repose Gray is a much lighter color. Remember how it has an LVR of 58? Mindful Gray comes in at 48 – so it definitely is a more saturated, darker color.
To me, Mindful Gray can read very taupe in certain lighting situations. It also has some pretty strong green undertones that will start to show.
This is particularly the case if you have a lot of warm-toned furniture like red-toned woods or a burgundy sofa, for example.
Sherwin Williams Repose Gray vs. Light French Gray
Light French Gray has more similarities with Repose Gray and differences. With an LRV of 53, it’s just a tad bit darker than Repose Gray, but both of these grays are in the mid-tone range.
What’s more, Repose Gray’s brown undertones make it just a bit warmer (and more greige) than Light French Gray reads.
Sherwin Williams Repose Gray vs. Worldly Gray
Worldly Gray is the most similar shade to Repose Gray on this list. With an LRV of 57, it will read very similarly in brightness.
However, where Repose Gray is warm and greige thanks to those brown undertones, Worldly Gray is even more so thanks to having more brown undertones and fewer green undertones.
If undertones make your head hurt, you’re not alone! Grab your free copy of 5 Biggest Paint Choice Mistakes Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
More Colors to Consider
“Okay, Repose Gray is sounding great, but I might still want to keep my options open,” you say. We got you! Make sure to check out some of the other gray and greige shades in our paint exploration series!
- Drift Of Mist (Sherwin Williams) – a medium to light greige.
- Shoreline (Benjamin Moore) – a light gray-leaning greige.
- Worldly Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a popular mid-toned greige.
- Alpaca (Sherwin Williams) – a cool, taupe-leaning greige.
- Anew Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a soft, light to medium warm greige.
- Chelsea Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a velvety rich medium to dark gray.
- Dorian Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a warm, neutral medium gray.
- Agreeable Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a warm mid to light greige.
- Revere Pewter (Benjamin Moore) – a dark (perhaps overused) greige.
- Eider White (Sherwin Williams) – could be called either an off-white, or a light-gray.
- Dolphin Fin (Behr) – a light, neutral off-white with similar color qualities to Repose Gray.
- Lazy Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a medium gray with blue undertones.
17 Real Life Homes Using Sherwin Williams Repose Gray
All this color comparison stuff is helpful, sure, but what I really like is to see how this color looks on a real wall. Anyone else? Thankfully, I was able to scour the Internet and find 17 real homes that use Repose Gray for you to explore.
While this isn’t a substitute for swatching on your own walls, this should at least give you a good enough idea as to if you even want to buy the paint sample. 😉
Repose Gray Dining Rooms
Picking a shade for your dining room can be pretty daunting. I mean, what shade are you supposed to use when you want to make your “homemade” Thanksgiving dinner really pop? 😉
In all seriousness, a dining room with Repose Gray can be an unobtrusive, pretty backdrop to all your gatherings and fun events. Here are some examples so you can see what I mean.
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.
1. Stays Warm in Natural Light
First of all, can we have a moment of appreciation for those incredible windows? As you can see, this room from CASS Design Co gets a good amount of natural light.
This space also gets a lot of reflected light bouncing off the green outdoors, so it gives the paint just a teeny touch of a green undertone.
2. Softens a Bold Space
When paired with black accents, Repose Gray is able to soften and warm the space to keep it from feeling stark. See how black and gray work together in this space from Rain on a Tin Roof.
Repose Gray Kitchen Examples
Curious about how a Repose Gray kitchen might look? Look no further!
Whether you want a hint of color to counterbalance your white cabinets or the perfect cabinet paint color, Repose Gray could be the answer.
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).
3. Be Still My Wood-Beam Loving Heart
Jackie of finding_lovely NAILS this kitchen design, I think.
The Repose Gray kitchen cabinets with their gorgeous brass hardware are the perfect match for the rustic wood beams in this amazing nook. Cool undertones of this paint counterbalance the warmth of the beams in the most magical way.
4. Another Wonderful Wood Beam Pairing
There are a few reasons why I particularly like this image from Black Custom Homes.
First, it gives you a great idea of what a Repose Gray kitchen will look like when the room isn’t flooded with tons of artificial light (can you say gorgeous?).
Second, the paint works perfectly through this entire great room.
And third, this space has the shade painted as the wall color and the ceiling color, creating good flow and making for a cozy space.
5. Creamy Neutral Paint Color
This homeowner at @southshorecolonial took a chance and painted her kitchen island Repose Gray SW 7015. It turned out absolutely fabulous!
The white countertop helps lighten the paint up even more, particularly when contrasted with the patterned floors.
6. Smooth Transitions
How pretty is this entryway into Home by KMB’s kitchen?
I know it’s not technically in the kitchen, but now that so many homes have an open floor plan, finding the right transition color can be quite a challenge. The gray looks like the perfect lead-in to the kitchen space.
Repose Gray Bedrooms
I had a friend years ago who had the hardest time choosing a paint color for her master bedroom.
She swatched over a dozen shades of gray onto her walls, only to watch in horror as each turned a weird shade of baby blue.
My friend became paralyzed by the decision of choosing paint and kept swatching more and more colors… Finally, she gave up and painted her room off-white.
But if she had only seen these Repose Gray bedrooms, she may have saved herself a lot of heartache.
Don’t forget the finish! For bathrooms the perfect sheen is either an eggshell or satin. Why? We’ll tell you in this post about paint sheen.
7. A Truly Gray Space
This bedroom from Redeeming Hampton is stunning! Repose Gray reads as a lovely medium gray in this cool lighting.
The wood floors help tone down the tendency to flash purple undertones.
8. No Purple Undertones in Sight
As you can see, Repose Gray can also become quite a soothing tone, making this bedroom by @juliachristinehome the perfect space to curl up and catch some well-earned rest.
9. Can Balance Darker Hues
If you have bedroom furniture that’s in darker shades, similar to this example from @katelyn.broom, Repose Gray can help lighten your space.
I think this is particularly true when it’s paired with white ceilings for an extra lift!
Repose Gray Living Rooms
You’ve seen a few examples of Repose Gray living rooms above, particularly when they are open to the kitchen or part of a great room.
But these images will give you even better examples of this Sherwin Williams paint color so you can decide if it works for your family’s gathering space.
10. The Perfect Gray
This living room from Home Taylored looks absolutely incredible with Repose Gray on the walls.
It’s airy and bright with a hint of color, which works very well as the backdrop to that gorgeous statement art piece.
And the white and khaki-colored furnishings help keep the overall palette of the space very airy and light.
11. Bridges Gray and Brown Tones
If you have yet to be convinced that the right paint can change your life, take a look at the before and afters of this room on Coastal Kelder’s blog.
Repose Gray creates a cozy, warm space…you’d never guess there was a lime green somewhere underneath.
12. Cool Contrast to Dark Colors
Here’s an example from @oursmithhome of how you can use Repose Gray in an open floor plan.
I love how it creates totally different looks in the living room with the cream accents vs the dark kitchen cabinets.
Repose Gray Bathrooms
Don’t forget the finish! For bathrooms the perfect sheen is either an eggshell or satin. Why? We’ll tell you in this post about paint sheen.
13. Chic Gray Master Bath
Thistlewood Farms picked a winner with Repose Gray in this farmhouse-style bathroom!
The abundance of natural light washes out this shade just enough so that it contrasts with the white paint on the trim and looks ultra-chic.
14. Pretty for a Powder Room
A powder bath is typically a small space. To keep it from feeling too claustrophobic, paint the walls in a warm neutral like Repose Gray, like @jesseklickman shows here.
Repose Gray Laundry Rooms and Mudrooms
15. Perfectly Paired with Shiplap
The Lived-in Look’s mudroom gives you the opportunity to set the tone for your home. Think of it as a space that welcomes you back, like a mom waiting with her arms wide open. Too far? Probably.
But I dig how the paint looks a tad darker here, probably because there isn’t natural light filtering through.
16. Dramatically Darker in Low Light
Many laundry rooms like this one from Lizzy Designs Blog lack an abundance of natural light.
This example gives you a great idea of the warm undertones, and how saturated Repose Gray can appear in artificial lighting.
Repose Gray Exteriors
17. A Cute Neutral Color Cottage
This home photographed by Elizabeth Lauren Jones shows how incredible Repose Gray can look as an exterior color choice.
Reading all gray without a hint of purple, it’s perfectly neutral and absolutely gorgeous.
18. Gray on Gray Exterior
And another lovely Repose Gray exterior. This one with darker gray shutters painted in Dovetail. Door color is Black Fox (also by Sherwin Williams).
There you have it – everything you need to know about popular Sherwin Williams Repose Gray, including real homes that use the shade masterfully. If you’re looking for a warm greige, this is one color you do not want to ignore!
I hope this has given you a little color inspiration, and perhaps made you a bit more ready to pick up that paintbrush in your own home!
But remember, sample first so you do not regret later! Order a peel and stick paint sample of this color by clicking the button below ⤵
Pin this paint color exploration post for later!
Ready to show those boring, beige walls who’s the boss at home? Grab my free guide to help you sidestep the mistakes that almost everyone makes when it comes to picking paint! You’ll be on your way to perfect paint promptly…pinky swear.
Leave a Reply