Top Six Picks - Gray Wall Paints

White paint may seem like the safest option for walls, but sometimes you need a little bit of contrast with the trim to make a space feel complete and that’s where gray comes in. To some, I think gray can seem cold or too modern, but in reality, if you choose the right shades, gray paint adds a tremendous amount of warmth and depth to a space and helps amplify the rich tones in wood floors or furnishings. Today, I’m rounding up six of our go-to grays over here at DGI, three lighter options and three darker, moodier ones:

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

Gray Owl is the chameleon of gray paints. I tend to fall back to this paint time after time for a general wall color simply because it can register as a white in some scenarios while still adding a subtle contrast to a space. Given it’s warmer undertones, Gray Owl pairs really works nicely in spaces with crisp white trim and black accents. It can also pair well with both dark and light wood floors.

Farrow and Ball Dimpse

Similar to Gray Owl, Dimpse is a wonderful option for a general wall paint because it can read as a neutral color overall but adds contrast and depth. While Gray Owl trends warmer, Dimpse has cooler undertones and pairs nicely with rich, warmer wood tones or accents.

Benjamin Moore Ice Cube Silver

For projects with lighter wood floors or accents, you can bring out their warmth and richness with a cooler, almost blue gray. Ice Cube Silver is a wonderful option in those cases. While still rendering as a neutral, it adds a really subtle touch of color to a space making it feel brighter and slightly more casual.

Farrow and Ball Plummet

If you’re looking for an accent paint to add some drama to a space without being overpowering (think, in an entryway) Plummet is a wonderful option. A true, crisp gray, Plummet can compliment both warm and cool tones to add balance to a space. While it’s a wonderful option for accent walls, it can also add drama to a space when painted on woodwork in a glossier finish.

Behr Carbon Copy

There’s nothing I love more than a moody dark accent wall. Carbon Copy is a strong medium gray that pairs well with darker, warmer wood tones and pops really nicely against a crisp white trim.

Farrow and Ball Downpipe

Occasionally, we get a client that is bold enough to black out a room, creating an incredibly dramatic and moody space. In a bedroom, this can provide a relaxing, calming feeling to help you unwind at the end of the day. Painting the trim the same color as the walls can amplify the moodiness while still keeping it peaceful since there is less contrast in the room.

I hope these are helpful! Comment below with your favorite grays if you have some that weren’t mentioned here!

-dgw