Two True Gray Paint Colors
We can recognize "true blue" in all forms.
But TRUE GRAY is another thing entirely.
No fear, I am here to steer you clear of the disloyal, fickle grays that will turn on you.
Turn green or blue or taupe or even violet on you!!
Read on to learn how to choose a gray that will give you what you signed up for and two tried & TRUE colors that you can take to the alter ~ without them altering.
I have been doing lots of color research in the gray tones for our renovation. Have you seen the BEFORE videos? Clearly more than paint is needed, but that is the start of the really fun part!
My palette is white, grey, black with splashes of gold. Modern Farmhouse glam for my 1886 Folk Victorian.
Gray or is it grEy - I kinda like grey myself.
Isn't this gorgeous ala' the always stunning Vibeke Design. True gray - done right! To get gray right, you need to understand how it will read on the wall.
Understanding Gray Paint
So you want a true gray paint color?
Well, there truly isn't a TRUE gray, but I have two that get as close as you can get.
Let's first learn why gray finds it so hard to be true.
It is not really just gray that "goes changing" on you. It is all neutrals.
Every neutral color on the paint wheel has a recognizable undertone. The key is recognizing that and it when choosing the best grey for your home.
The undertones of gray are blue, green, violet and taupe.
These undertones will rise to the surface, so to speak, depending on the elements in your room.
Gorgeous use of Stonington Gray in a predominantly blue room via House Beautiful.
The undertone of your gray needs to work well with what you have going on in the room. You don't want the undertone & elements to clash. Recognizing this & working with the undertone can make a chameleon gray work beautifully for you.
If your furnishing are cool in tone stay away from a grey with taupe/brownish undertones.
If your furnishing are warm in tone stay away from a gray with cool blue/violet undertones.
This is a guide to understanding what is going on with gray paint - armed with this information you can make the perfect choice.
But this choice needs to be made in the context of your room. Get chips, get samples & experiment.
Or go with one of these true as true can get for a gray paint grays.
If you are searching for a lovely ethereal gray either of these are the easy choice.
Benjamin Moore Silver Chain # 1472
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray # HC-170
Stonington Gray is a shade lighter than Silver Chain. It is the paint color in the photo above. See that it reads gray, even in a room with so much blue.
Silver Chain stays true too despite the furnishings. I love it against crisp white trim as we just did in our girls' bath. Want to see the BEFORE ? YIKES!! Bathroom reveal in a few weeks!
We love Silver Chain so much, Lara has picked it for her bedroom walls.
Knowledge = power - or in this case, knowledge = the perfect gray paint!
Knowing what is going on underneath with gray paint makes the decision on which one to use easier.
Picking one of my two true grays makes it even easier.
Are you a fan of gray or grEy paint?
Want to talk more about paint colors, the magic of paint, 3 perfect neutral wall colors and more?
Listen to my Podcast episode on Paint. Yep, I have a podcast along with Anita from Cedar Hill Farmhouse and Yvonne from Stone Gable. Click the little arrow to listen to the paint episode
If you like what you hear, go to Decorating Tips and Tricks, our website to listen to all of the episodes. You can subscribe for free from itunes or any other podcast directory. I think you are going to love it - lots of advice, tips and loads of laughter!
Let me give you one more painting tip - get yourself My Paint Saint. It is the all in one touch up painting solution.
You pour in your paint, seal it up air tight and never have to clean the brush. The brush is melded into the cap. What a money, time & space saver! No more rusty cans of oxidized paint cluttering up your garage/basement. Get your My Paint Saints here.
** Kelly **