Use this list of the best greige paint colors to help you narrow down your paint color selection and make picking just one color much easier!
Gray? Beige? I get it. The indecision can be paralyzing. What if I had the perfect alternative?
Enter: greige – that perfect blend of gray and beige that helps you get “unstuck” when you’re stuck between gray and beige.
Greiges have become wildly popular among designers and homeowners over the last several years. They’re neutral, versatile, modern-looking, and gorgeous.
Some greiges will lean gray while others will appear more beige, and with dozens of options on the market, it can still be challenging to find “the one.”
But, don’t worry, because I’ve got you covered! Today, I’m sharing the best of the best…the creme de la creme of greiges. Because, for you, only the best will do. 😉
Let’s jump right in!
Best Greige Paint Colors FAQs
What is the most popular Sherwin Williams greige?
I’d have to go with the wildly popular and gorgeous Agreeable Gray.
This warm greige leans slightly gray and has a hint of yellow undertones to warm it up. It looks stunning anywhere and will give your home an updated feel.
Why should I choose greige paint?
I can give you three reasons right off the bat:
1. They’re hugely popular because they make looking beautiful effortless.
2. Greiges are the new classic. These colors may be the “new kids on the block,” but they aren’t going anywhere, which makes them excellent choices for updating your home. You won’t have to paint again in a year or two when the color falls out of favor.
3. They’re perfectly neutral and wonderfully versatile, so they work in any home and with any decor.
Where is the best place to use the color greige?
Greige being a neutral means it can work well in almost any space or situation. This includes:
– Entryways
– Home Offices
– Bedrooms
– Living Rooms
– Kitchens
– Bathrooms
– Hallways
– Accent Walls
Is greige still popular / on trend?
As of the publication of this article in late 2022, greige is still very popular and in style. That said, I’ve never been one to advocate for decorating your home because of a trend.
Instead, choose a paint color (or anything in your home, for that matter) because you really love it and it fits with your personal sense of style. If you stick to that rule of thumb, trends can come and go, and you’ll be happy in your home no matter what!
Greige Paint Undertones
Here’s a quick design lesson. The “mass tone” (or “overtone”) is the primary paint color that you see (red, blue, etc.). Undertones are slight differences in the mass tone that distinguish one shade from another. For example, the hint of green in a particular greige paint is an undertone.
Greige paint colors can have an extensive range of undertones, with red, yellow, or pink undertones causing the shade to lean warm. Conversely, greiges with blue, green, or purple undertones will lean cooler.
Like whites, greiges can look very different in various lighting exposures, thanks to undertones. Use large paint swatches to test any colors you like before you buy them, so you have a chance to vet those undertones before committing!
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!⤵️
Greige Paint Lighting Considerations
I mentioned above that lighting can significantly impact how greiges will read. Here’s a general idea of what you can expect.
- North-facing rooms have cool-toned natural lighting, which will make all colors look slightly darker and could draw out any cool undertones.
- South-facing rooms have bright warm lighting, often making colors look lighter and softer.
- West-facing rooms have cool light in the morning but much warmer light later in the day. This makes colors look muted in the morning while warm undertones overpower in the evening.
- East-facing rooms face the opposite scenario. For both east and west rooms, I recommend choosing your paint color based on how it appears during the time of day when you will use the space the most.
Are you already feeling a little lost? Let me help you get back on track. Grab a free copy of my guide to help you avoid the same paint color picking mistakes most people always make!
More Colors to Consider
If this list doesn’t have what you’re looking for, there are plenty of greige paint color options, including these lovely “honorable mentions.”
- Anew Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a light to medium warm greige and overall great neutral.
- Worldly Gray (Sherwin Williams) – warm, chameleon greige with mild green (and occasional purple) undertones.
- Modern Gray (Sherwin Williams) – light, warm taupe-leaning gray that looks terrific nearly anywhere.
- Amazing Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a mid-toned, warm greige.
- Gray Owl (Benjamin Moore) – a beautiful true gray paint color.
And to move you quickly from paint zero to hero, I have a great, free resource for you. Grab a copy of 5 Massive Paint Mistakes to Avoid…because when all else fails, as long as you stay away from these 5 cardinal painting sins, you’re probably doing A-OK!
The 9 Best Greige Paint Colors
No matter what your home or decor style is, one of the colors on this list should fit the bill! I’ve collected both warm and cool options to provide a range of possibilities.
With each color, I offer a brief description and a photo example to show how it can look in real life.
NOTE: I have published more in-depth paint color reviews on these colors. If you want to learn more about any of them (such as color pairing ideas), just click through the links!
And remember that picking a color is only one battle. To win the paint picking war, you also need to make sure you choose the correct finish (flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, etc).
To learn how to choose the right sheen for your paint project, check out this article.
1. Benjamin Moore Classic Gray
This warm, light greige paint has subtle green undertones. With an LRV of 74.78 (Light Reflectance Value, rated on a 0-100 scale with 0 being pure black, and 100 being pure white), this shade falls in the light range and can wash out in bright light exposure.
Classic Gray (OC-23) is a timeless and versatile greige paint color that can add just the right hint of color when white isn’t the right fit.
It also happens to be my favorite shade of greige on this list.
Check out the soft, subtle hue that Classic Gray offers in this bedroom (which happens to be in my first home in Alexandria, VA). It’s a chic, restful shade and oh-so-gorgeous color!
Like this shade? Me too. If it’s a color you’re seriously consider, be sure to sample first! I highly recommend these mess-free, re-usable, re-positionable peel and stick paint samples ⤵
2. Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray
Agreeable Gray (SW 7029) is aptly named because it’s willing to play nice with many other colors. It has some flex, thanks to its mild green undertones, and it will shift between leaning gray or beige based on the warmth of the light exposure.
With an LRV of 60, it falls in what I consider the “perfect range” because it offers lovely saturation that won’t wash out in bright lighting.
Notice here that Agreeable Gray leans gray in this entryway and dining room space from Maison de Pax. But it has enough warmth that it’s very “agreeable” with the warm wood tones.
Like this greige? Grab a sample!
3. Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
With an LRV of 63.88 and soft neutral gray-green undertones, Edgecomb Gray HC-173 reads warm and versatile when playing with other colors. Pair it with White Dove, Hale Navy, Kendall Charcoal, Chantilly Lace, etc.
Witt Construction presents a great example of the coziness of Edgecomb Gray. This shade leans very gray in shadows, but shifts to warm beige in the light.
4. Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist
Balboa Mist (OC-27) is a warm neutral greige paint color with slight taupe undertones that give it depth and flex.
With an LRV of 67, it’s a medium-light color that will give your walls good saturation and contrast with your trim without looking too dark. It will lighten considerably in bright light, but it won’t wash out and appear white.
This before and after dining room makeover from Susan Alison Interiors shows off those beautiful taupe undertones. Balboa Mist can hold its own in the light while allowing the colorful decor to catch the eye.
But be aware! Balboa Mist has some surprising undertones, so it’s one that you’ll definitely want to sample before you commit.
5. Benjamin Moore Pale Oak
In my opinion, Pale Oak (OC-20) is one of the most underrated greige paint colors. It’s a smidge warmer and lighter than Balboa Mist, but it’s not as popular as other shades because of its mild purple-pink undertones.
With an LRV of 70, it will tend to wash out in very bright natural light, but otherwise, it reads like a gorgeous soft greige.
This example from A Thoughtful Place Blog puts a visual on what I was saying about Pale Oak being underrated. This shade is stunning and neutral!
6. Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige
Accessible Beige (SW 7036) is one of the most popular beige paints that Sherwin Williams offers, and it is actually a greige paint color.
With an LRV of 58, it provides excellent saturation in any room of the house, and it’s surprisingly warm given its gray-beige-green undertones.
The lighting and decor in this bedroom from A Lovely Living draw out those beige and green undertones, which give this room a warm, inviting vibe.
7. Sherwin Williams Repose Gray
Repose Gray (SW 7015) has a similar LRV to Agreeable Gray and is another popular greige.
However, its warm brown undertones are subtle, so it tends to lean gray while maintaining a soft quality that keeps it from feeling cold. Pair it with Simply White, Sea Salt, Urbane Bronze, Pure White, and more!
Thistlewood Farms shows exactly what I mean in this gorgeous and airy laundry room.
8. Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray
Mindful Gray (SW 7016) is darker than Repose Gray and has similar undertones, although the beige tends to be a little stronger.
With an LRV of 48, it will hold its own very well in brightly lit rooms, but it could seem a little too dark in rooms with low light.
Mindful Gray is doing a dance with the warm gold and red decor colors in this room from This is Our Bliss, so you can see the greige and hints of pink-purple near those pieces.
9. Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
Some people will disagree with me here, but I think that Revere Pewter (HC-172), which many proclaim as a primary go-to greige paint color for any home, is overused.
With an LRV of 55.51, it’s just too dark to be used that widely. However, Revere Pewter can be the perfect fit if you’re searching for a cool, gray-leaning greige.
The Turquoise Home made great use of Revere Pewter and highlighted why it’s so popular.
That wraps up my collection of the best greige paint colors. Thanks to their versatility and depth, they make an excellent choice for many homes and are widely loved by designers and homeowners.
I hope this guide helped you narrow down your list of possibilities significantly!
Since greiges can vary A LOT, remember to make color swatches and use them to see how a color behaves in YOUR home!
Pin these greige paint colors for later! And if you use one, leave a comment on the pin…that helps others decide whether they’d like to try one of these paint shades as well!
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.
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