In honor of my brand new eBook I’m writing about my absolute favorite topic today… paint! I still can’t believe that after 4 months of hard work Inside the Paint Can will finally be launched on Monday… only 2 days, 1 hour, 39 minutes and 1 second from right now (but who’s counting?).
Of course when talking about paint the very first step is to pick the perfect color and gray is definitely my current favorite! Of course gray is derived from several different colors… blue, green, purple, brown… or black.
A gray that derives from black is the truest gray and doesn’t lean towards any one color! If you’re not sure what color your gray comes from take a look at the color strip… the darkest color on the strip will give you a good idea of the original color!
Easy peazy!
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BONUS: Freebie Alert!
Looking for a little color help? I’ve put together a quick, easy and FREE Printable of my Top 10 Neutral Paint Colors and their coordinating colors. So that you can pick a color with ease. It’s at the bottom of this post so don’t forget to hit download before you go… easy peezy lemon squeezy!
Score!
Of course my absolute favorite neutral gray is SW 0055 Light French Gray. It’s a gorgeous light bright option that looks perfect in 99.9 percent of rooms… but I’m not biased! It’s the perfect neutral gray paint color! Take a look for yourself!
Looking for the perfect white? Check out my favorite white paint color HERE!
Ready to Paint?! Don’t forget the painting supplies!
Well? Are you as smitten as I am with Light French Gray?
Let me know what your favorite gray is below!
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Here's a snapshot of our FAVORITE 10 Neutral Paint Colors... and their coordinating colors.
I’ve found you at the perfect time!! I am getting ready to paint my home! I may need help!
Jodi feel free to ask away, if you have a minute peek at my new EBook it’s filled with all my answers to DIY painters questions! Happilyeverafteretc.com/inside-the-paint-can Good Luck with your home, send me pictures! I love pictures!
What is the color undertone in the light French gray?
Patricia,
Since Light French Gray is a true gray it’s undertone is black. If you follow light french gray all the way up the color scale you’ll find it pairs with Tricorn Black which is a true black (like pitch black so we’re talking black black black here). I hope that helps!
I thought when finding and about undertone, they are asking what color it leave in different light (blue, green, beige etc). If that correct?
This really is a beautiful color. You can do so much with it. Love the pops of blue!
I am looking for the perfect white for my interior trim. I lean toward cool colors. What do you suggest?
I am a big fan of extra white which is the whitest white available… of course if that’s not your jam dover white has a touch of gold which makes it quite beautiful or pure white which leans a bit cooler. Good luck!
Hi, I am going with this color in all the main areas. The house is a craftsman, open concept with cathedral ceilings and bright white trim. Can you recommend some complimentary colors that would transition well from the main area to a den and bedroom? Thanks.
Try looking at Sea Salt, Lemon Chiffon, or Contented! All three are gorgeous with Light French Gray! Thanks for stopping by Darcy, good luck!
What is the dark gray color of your kitchen cabinets?
I’m actually not sure what color the cabinets are as I was looking at the wall color! They look like a dark cityscape… although I could be wrong! Good luck.
I’ve searched Sherwin Williams for Light French Gray. Apparently, it’s no longer available. I’m now very disappointed. 🙁
AJ, it’s definitely still available! Try searching Sherwin Williams Light French Gray the color number is 0055… it comes right up. We still have the color up on the color wall and sell it every day. Here’s the official page so you can see how it works on the Sherwin Williams site.
I saw it as a swatch at my Sherwin Williams store today!
What color grey did you use in this post?
Light French Gray! Good luck!
I’m getting ready to paint my walls for the first time in about 9 years. I have brown leather furniture in family room. And I live the light French gray. How do you think brown leather and gray would do together ?
Brown and gray are definitely both neutrals so they do go together. I would try a swatch of light french gray on one of the walls and see how it plays with your furniture and lighting in the room. If you love it then you’re good to go… if it looks a little too cool then try agreeable gray which has a hint of beige undertones and may pair nicely with your leathers. Good luck!
We just moved into a beige/brown interior house. My favorite wall colors tend toward grays. We chose SW alpaca for our walls. It is a “greige”. That plays well with grays, blues and browns. We are happy and have gotten lots of compliments.
What do you think about light French gray with cherry wood trim? Thanks!
Cherry wood has a bit of a red hint so I’d make sure to try a sample. Light French Gray is a bit cooler than cherry wood so you may try something like agreeable gray which should reflect those same tones. Good luck!
Will light French gray go with honey oak cabinets and flooring?
Thanks
Hi Betsey! Thank you so much for your post! Light French Gray looks lovely! Do you think it would go with Chelsea Gray? I have that color in my living room and as an accent wall in the hallway. I was thinking of painting the majority of the house Light French Gray!
Thanks much!
Kim
Hi Kim,
I think it depends… would the two colors touch? They would coordinate from room to room but they definitely have different undertones so I’d be careful if they’re going to end up right next to each other. Try a sample and see how the undertones work together.
Good Luck!
Thanks Betsey, that makes sense! Much appreciated!
Hi Betsy,
I truly hope you can help me! I’m building a new home and the builder is using City Loft SW7631 on the walls and ceilings. It’s a nice color, but it wouldn’t have been my 1st choice and I definitely prefer white ceilings. But at this point, I’m not repainting the entire home.
I have a trey ceiling in the master bedroom that I want to paint gray. I’ve picked up over 30 paint chips and, I’m so frustrated with what color “gray” to go with. My bedroom furniture is almost black, with all white bedding, and white flowy window panels with silver/gray thin lines. I’m really torn between, light french gray or anew gray for the tray and perhaps the walls as well. My biggest concern is with the ceiling being City Loft, will light French Gray match?
Thanks for any suggestions you may have.
Renee
Renee,
It looks like you’re having fun with all the different greys! I wouldn’t normally pair light french grey with city loft since city loft has a bit of beige to it and light french gray is a true gray. The whites in the room with a true gray will only leave the city loft looking dingy instead of off-white. Anew gray has a bit of beige to it as well and will read as a neutral gray in the space… while I love light french gray in your case I would go with anew gray. Let me know what you pick!
Thank you so much for your response, Betsey. So, if I really want to go with the Light French Gray, I would have to get my ceilings painted white, correct? Why do builders paint the walls and ceilings the same color, especially if it’s not white. It would be quite expensive to repaint my entire home. I am so bummed about this. City Loft is not a bad color, but I can’t find anything that looks right with City Loft ceilings.
Thanks again,
Renee
You don’t HAVE to paint your ceilings repainted but for the look you’re going for it would look better painted a nice crisp extra white. Unfortunitely every builder is different and typically they paint the ceilings and trim white but it sounds like your builder was going a little off book. Of course, your options at this point all revolve around that City Loft ceiling. So you can paint the walls the anew gray we had talked about or paint the ceiling. The other option would be to paint the ceiling solely in the bedroom…. extra white and city loft are not far enough off that it would mess up the flow from room to room but it would help the light french gray look more at home in the bedroom. Good luck!
Thanks Betsey – I think I will go with the light french gray on the walls and only paint the ceiling in the master suite white. I was worried how this would flow with the remainder of the home, but since you feel it would work, I’m very happy.
Thanks so much for your help!!!! You are awesome!
You’re welcome… let me know how it works! I’d love to see pictures!
Hello, we are have our home repainted in a gray and having a hard time deciding. Like SW Dovetail Gray but need a SW perfect white paint to pair with it…..recently had roof replaced with a darker gray. I want a warm inviting look…..house faces west and has a lake setting. Do you have any combinations of gray and white you would recommend. The shutters will be a dark gray to tie in with the roof. Thanks G
What do you think of Repose grey?
I love repose grey but it definitely has undertones! It can look a little beige in certain lights… or slightly purple. Make sure you take a sample to check the lighting… it can be beautiful under the right conditions!
This has helped me so much to decide which color gray to use. I have a old home and it’s in dyer need of sprucing up. I’m going to try the French grey for sure in kitchen, dining room and livingroom. I have dark birch cabinets and want so much to paint them too, is there any suggestions in if I should or shouldn’t paint old wood like that, they are big doors with no handles on them .. I love the grays,
I am in urgent need of help!!! I really want a true gray paint color for my living room and kitchen. My cabinets are Espresso stained and dark wood floors. Do I have to go with a warm gray with dark brown cabinets? I”m thinking about SW Knitting Needles, Silverplate or Light French Gray. Any thoughts on these colors or suggestions? I”m buying samples and need to make a decision within the week.
PLEASE HELP !!!!!
Tiffany,
With Espresso cabinets I would stay away from knitting needles and silverplate that tend to have a little blue tint when paired with brown. I would try Light French Gray since it’s a true gray it should read as a gray even though it is on the cooler side. I would also try a sample of agreeable gray which has a bit of a beige undertone and pairs well with dark woods… and typically reads as a true gray under the same lighting. Good luck!
Hi, my kitchen cabinets are painted Sw dove tail. I would love to paint my kitchen as well as my 1st floor which is an open floor plan. What color gray would you recommend that will compliment my kitchen cabinets( a friend gave me a sample of lights French gray and it looks light blue next to my cabinets?)? I would really like a light true gray. My master bedroom/ bath are knitting needles and I love it.
I just want to say that I absolutely love everything about this site …. You are fabulous! I have searching for colors for what seems like forever. I love the light french gray and I was wondering what your thoughts were on it going with my blue and cream area rug? I have a cream chair and ottoman, a mid gray tone sofa. In my kitchen ( which is small ) I have black stainless , which are a beautiful smokey, grayish black. I am alo painting the cabinets … I’m thinking a bright white. There is also a two sided brick gas fireplace floor to ceiling ….. 8 1/2 ft that is white and I’m thinking of painting it also. Any suggestions? Again, this site and your choices are perfect.
Thanks for stopping by Nancy! I would say that with the black stainless and smokey gray feeling light french gray would be beautiful… especially if you paint the cabinets a bright white. I would put up a large sample and see how it looks in the different lights (morning, noon and evening). I would also put up a sample of repose gray which has a brown base and looks wonderful with cream. With all of the cream in your room the light french gray might be a bit too stark. Depending on your lighting one of those should be beautiful. Good luck!
Hi! I have cognac kitchen cabinets and sane color wood floors. I was thinking of go8ng with a Mindful gray or Dorian gray. What do you think. I would love to post picture of kitchen but unsure how to. Thanks in advance!
I’ve been looking for just the right gray for years! A neighbor offered to shore me her home and give me a sample.
It is Light French Gray. I love it! Finally found the right color for my home!
Now what is the best white for the trim??
Extra White! I love the contrast and it looks so crisp and beautiful next to the gray.
Hi i am looking for a gray to paint my wall and have very high slanted ceilings that i want to paint a shade lighter. Do you think this will work or stay with white? I also have dark wood floors and brown leather sectional. thanks
Hi there! New house is painted with Grayish in the family room and Proper Gray in the formal dining room. The kitchen connects the two rooms and I have no idea what color would coordinate. My floors are dark wood and the cabinets are natural maple with steel gray granite counters. Can’t decide if I want to go lighter or darker. Any suggestions for pairing those two colors? They don’t touch but are side by side.
I bought this bedding quilt set and am trying to figure out a gray color to paint my walls like this one. Do you think Light French Gray would work? Whoops! I can’t seem to attach the bedding colors…..they are white and like a “steel” blue color…..to see a picture of it, it’s Stone Cottage Micro Mink Quilt Set (blue) and Stone Cottage Burch Quilt Set (White). Please help!!! I’ve tried several paint color samples and can’t find the right one. Thanks!!
Hi Kris, I pulled up pictures of the bedding set and I do think light french gray would work. It is hard to get a good idea of the true color from a photo online though so make sure to get a sample bit of paint and see how it looks in your room. Good luck!
Hi Betsy, I’m thinking of painting my basement Lt. French Gray. What color floors would you suggest? A darker gray or something that has dark gray, light gray mixed? Also what color accent would work? I was thinking turquoise, something that will pop. The furniture will be something basic like black. I painted my laundry room Rainwashed by Sherwin Williams but that room will be closed off behind doors. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks
Can light French grey be used with warm tones as accents? We are looking for a grey and leaning towards this one but have light khaki colored couches and medium brown/grey wood floors… not sure if we should be looking for a warmer grey?
Hi Julie! Depending on the colors in the rest of your room light french gray can work with warm tones… but it really depends on your accents. If you have a lot of whites and blacks in your space (curtains, rugs, pillows) I say go for it… they should balance out nicely. However if most of your accents are warm toned as well (think the brown and cream family) I would go with a warmer gray like repose gray. It will still read as a neutral but it will blend in with those softer tones. Good luck!
I have white cabinets, white Calcutta quartz counter top. I have one long wall a beautiful kingingston blue(dark). Will French grey look too cool with the white & blue. I have worldly grey on wall now but too beige & dull with white & blue.
hello! we are in the middle of a bathroom full remodel. We are doing a costume vanity and can pick any Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams Matte color for the vanity. I am wanting to do a dark gray (possibly Chelsea?) for the vanity and a light gray for the wall (Light French gray) Do they pair nicely together with undertones etc.. would love to hear which dark and light gray combo you love! Thanks ?
I’m painting my master bath. We have white trim and white vanity. I painted a sample of light french gray on the wall and it looks darker than expected, but has the right tones. Does Sherwin Williams make a lighter version of light french gray or is there a lighter gray that you would recommend? I’m wondering if the small sample paints are more concentrated which is making it appear darker than pictures I’ve seen.
I need help with choosing a ceiling color please. I have SW Dover White cabinets and would like to trim the entire house, including doors, in the same color. I also would like to paint our ceilings Dover White. My painter says it will not look good. The walls are Accessible Beige. Any thoughts??
Hi Ericka, If you do the cabinets in dover white and the ceiling, doors, trim etc it will all blend together. It won’t look bad so if you’re set on it then go for it… It just won’t look as good as the contrast between dover white cabinets and a whiter option for the ceiling and trim. I would use dover white for the cabinets and extra white for the trim, ceiling and doors. Then you’ll have a beautiful contrast between the cabinets, wall and trim, Good luck!
Hello! I recently painted the cabinets in my bathroom light French gray and love them! I am planning on painting the walls sea salt. Would you agree that these two colors would work together? Also, I would love to paint my kitchen cabinets as well. I was thinking light French gray for the cabinets, however, my countertops are cream with a gray hint in them so I am wondering if you would suggest maybe the repose gray for the cabinets or maybe a cream color? I am also struggling on the wall color then. I have oak hardwood floors in my kitchen. Thanks for your help!
Hi, do you suggest the alabaster white as a trim base board color with this grey walls? I know you like extra white, but would this be a second choice ?
This is the flooring we are putting in:
https://www.mohawkflooring.com/luxury-vinyl-tile/detail/26497-253979/Defined-Style-Crema
Thanks for your time and expertise !
If you’d rather have a slightly off white than yes alabaster is a wonderful choice! I have seen alabaster as the cabinet color with light french gray for the walls many times… alabaster as trim works beautifully!
So glad I found this page I’m just about to paint my kitchen. I going with light French grey, my kitchen cabinets are white. What color do you recommend for the ceiling and the baseboards?
I am painting my walls light French gray and I would like to paint my fireplace wall a different color. Do you have any suggestions on what would look well together? I have charcoal gray furniture.
I would try Sea Salt or Oyster Bay (Oyster Bay for contrast!) it’s a nice neutral but still gives a pop of color.
We have decided to use light French gray for our entire upstairs, but my husband would really like a slightly darker shade downstairs. So you think asking SW to darken it by a certain percentage is a good idea?kasey Is there another shade that would pair well (there is one wall where they will be side-by-side. Also, we’re putting in new flooring, and can’t decide what a good wood color would be with our walls. Ideas????
Hi! Im trying to decide between light French Gray and Krypton and North Star.I painted my powder room granite peak. I have a mostly white kitchen. The cabinets are called Dover by Schrock and they look different throughout the day. I have navy blue couches in one room and pebble(grayish beige) dining room chairs.
I loved the granite peak so much in the powder room so I thought if I stayed on that color strip it might work.
My wood floors are medium and have warmth, my kitchen floor is a slate gray. I mixes of warm and cool tones so I’m having a very hard time deciding!!
Can you help?
Thank you so much for sharing these pretty color combos.
Come to WEDDINGINVITESPAPER and see how beautiful colors work on wedding invitations.
You’ve mentioned that Extra White would be best for trim with Light French Gray. Would you choose Extra White for wainscoting under Light French Gray? I saw your post about Alabaster being a great white paint, and I was considering using that for the wainscoting under Light French Gray but it may be too creamy? Would Extra White be best?
Do you have either color in the rest of your home? If you have bright white trim in other areas of your home I would go with extra white for the wainscoting. If you have more of an off white color then I would go with alabaster. Good luck!
I am thinking about painting my home light french grey. My home has a open floor plan do you think it would go with espresso cabinets in kitchen and dining table?
I love light french gray with a dark wood… I think it would be beautiful with espresso!
This blog is awesome!!! I am building a house and have to choose all my colors. I was thinking of going with light french gray for the foyer/living room/kitche/halls, and using dorian grey in the dining room and study (to make these spaces darker and more distinguished). Trim would be extra white, and doors painted a black color. Do you think this would blend well? Or should I use mindful gray for the main ealls and dorian gray for the dining room/study to stick with brone undertones throughout?
You will have less of a transition if you go from mindful gray to dorian gray but the undertones will match. Think about whether you’d like more of a contrast or a transition. Either combination would work so it simply depends on what you’re looking for. Good luck!
Thanks for your advice! My husband really likes Dorian Grey over mindful grey or light French grey. If we did Dorian grey all over the main walls (foyer/living room/kitchen/hallways), do you think this would be too dark? And what would you recommend then to do as a different grey for the dining room study? Could Acier grey work for dining room and study— or is that too dark? I want to stick with greys but somehow distinguish the study and dining room with a different grey. Like you said I would rather have a transition between rooms rather than a contrast, so I was thinking Acier Grey to just go one shade darker in the color palate. Then I was also thinking black fox for the doors and extra white for all the trim. What do you think about this? Thanks!!
Help!!! My new sofa is a dark turquoise and I was thinking of painting my whole house light French grey I’m facing west I live in a small townhouse and want seething neutral and went out of my comfort zone and got a colour sofa in stead of grey or navy
Dark turquoise sounds amazing… I love that pop of color! Light french gray should be amazing with turquoise as they play nicely together. Of course, if you’re unsure put up a swatch of the color on the wall and see what it looks like in your space!
It really looked blue on my wall. What about Greige. Agreeable grey. I don’t want a blue undertone
By the way you are amazing
Light French Gray is a true gray so if it’s looking blue on your wall that tells me your light/accessories/room has a blue color to it. You’ll want a gray with an undertone across the color wheel from blue to help it look neutral! Yellow is across from blue so you’re looking in the right direction with agreeable grey (it has a beige/yellow kind of undertone). Give agreeable grey a try and perhaps useful gray. Good luck!
I have painted my kitchen and living area light French gray with extra white trim. The dining room is next to the kitchen with no door separating them. I’m thinking about painting it Sea Salt but it connects with the front foyer. Do you think that will look ok?
Hey Ann, Sea salt actually works beautifully with light french gray so I say go for it! They’re both neutrals and flow nicely without contrasting harshly. We have light french gray in our hallway and office and sea salt in our bedroom… so you know I’m a fan! Good luck!
Hello!
Can you recommend any Sherwin-Williams color that is close to the cabinets in the first picture?
We’re wanting either a grey as shown there or are also open to a medium to deep grey such as what is shown but with a slight blue undertone.
Thanks in advance!
It looks a bit like Grizzle Gray but you may also try Web Gray and see what you think! Good Luck!
I need help! I’m trying to pick a grey color for a west facing formal living room that has wood ceiling with beams and also a large brick fireplace that takes up one whole wall. The work has yellow undertones and the brick has pinkish undertones. Any suggestions for samples we should try?
I absolutely loved your article. It’s been so helpful and I just have one question.
My new home has white paint throughout!
I’m planning to paint my whole interior light French gray. When you paint your walls; do you paint the ceilings the same color too? Thank you
Neng
Hi hon! Typically you’ll want to paint your ceiling a light bright color (people often go with white) to brighten up the space. Painting the ceiling a color will visually bring the ceiling down and the room will appear smaller. That can work in large rooms but we want most rooms to appear bigger! If you’re doing light french gray on the walls I would go with extra white on the ceiling so you have a good contrast.
This is so helpful! I have a dark blue accent wall in my living room and am looking for a gray to put on the other 3 walls. I have a dark gray couch, and medium tone gunstock wood floors along with a Blue accent chair. I have tried repose gray, gray screen and was thinking about trying Light French Gray…what do you think? The repose gray looked more brown on my wall and warmer while the gray screen was reading a bit blue and cooler. I’d love your thoughts. Thank you for sharing!!!
I am getting ready to paint my kitchen walls and cabinets. It is a pretty small kitchen so I wanted to try and make it appear larger. I wanted a lighter gray on walls and darker gray on cabinets. I was settled in gauntlet gray for cabinets and repose gray wall. My hubs thinks gray on gray will look terrible. Then I stumbled on this article and I am afraid these grays may appear blue. I am not going for a blue or brown undertone. I would rather stay with the black. I thought about painting doors a charcoal black. What is your opinion on these grays?
Oh I love reading all these. I’ve had such a hard time picking the right gray with no under tons, for my kitchen, dinningroom and livingroom. I think now I’m going to go with the light French gray. Thank you thank you thank you.. one more thing I’d like to paint my kitchen cabinets, they are old birch large wood doors with no handles.. everyone says not to paint them
But they are so dated and dark.. not that I don’t like dark but my question is should I paint them a darker gray or leave them alone?.. I love all the advice.. thank you
Hi Betsy, What great information! I just picked up a sample of light french grey. It is beautiful. My problem is I have a very open living/dining and kitchen with vaulted ceilings. My kitchen cabinets are painted Revere pewter and I feel the french grey is to light. They said they could darken it 25,% and keep the same undertones. Is that true and have you ever done that? Thank you so much!
Julie Knudtson
Julie,
Yes you can definitely darken it and go from there… 25% sounds about right. If you darken it any more than 50% you may as well go with the next color of the color chip! Good luck with your kitchen, sounds beautiful!
Is there a color that is a true grey lighter than light French gray? It is just a tad to dark.
Not that I know of but you can always got light French gray at 50% and it will be lighter ( you can have then mix it any percentage you like )