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    Home » Blog

    17 Best Gray Paint Colors for the Living Room

    Published: Apr 12, 2024 · Modified: Feb 21, 2024 by Morgan · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Are you looking for the best gray paint colors for living room? Take a look at our comprehensive list to find the best gray shades on the market.

    Gray has been a stable paint shade for decades. It’s subtle yet interesting. It’s also a perfect neutral shade that complements every piece of furniture and decor.

    Having said that, picking the right gray shade isn’t easy. You must pay attention to the undertones, the LRV, and most importantly, the color palette you’re going for.

    So, keep reading this guide to learn all about the best gray paint colors for living room and choose the one that fits your needs. Let’s dive in!

    Best gray paint colors for living room

    Best Gray Paint Colors for Living Room

    Repose Gray SW 7015

    • LRV: 58
    • Undertone: Warm

    We can’t mention the best gray paint colors without listing Sherwin Williams’ Repose Gray.

    SW Repose Gray
    SW Repose Gray

    Designers and interior enthusiasts alike adore this shade. It can lighten any living room while still having enough gray pigment for a dynamic touch.

    This paint simply looks fantastic paired with wood, colorful accents, or on its own. Though it can be unpredictable depending on the lighting, it’s a gorgeous shade nonetheless.

    La Paloma Gray 1551

    • LRV: 45
    • Undertone: Neutral

    From the Benjamin Moore Classics collections, La Paloma Gray is as versatile as gray paint colors get.

    Benjamin Moore La Paloma Gray
    BM La Paloma Gray

    It might seem faint and bland. However, this color transforms according to lighting.

    So, you’ll get a warm, cozy gray in the afternoon, and a neutral shade under fluorescent light.

    The best part about this Benjamin Moore color is that it’s truly neutral. It fits right into any color palette you prefer, whether you’re bringing back the blues or going for earthy neutrals.

    Agreeable Gray SW 7029

    • LRV: 60
    • Undertone: Warm

    Agreeable Gray is one of the best-selling hues at Sherwin-Williams for a reason. This paint complements every room, including your living room!

    agreeable gray sherwin williams
    SW Agreeable Gray

    Accordingly, Agreeable Gray will make painting and decorating your home an effortless process.

    There’s no need to choose a color palette for each room. Instead, one color will elevate your entire house.

    Furthermore, your furniture won’t require upgrading, as Agreeable Gray will blend seamlessly with every piece.

    Moorstone SW 9630

    • LRV: 63
    • Undertone: Neutral

    Moorstone is the ultimate serene gray shade. The reason this paint works flawlessly in living rooms is due to its brightness.

    Sherwin Williams Moorstone
    SW Moorstone

    That said, the gray pigment still shines through, adding an alluring feel to your home.

    You might believe that gray walls only go with colorful furniture and plenty of accent pieces. However, Moorstone defies the rule.

    While it’s a subtle gray, it’s incredibly gorgeous. This paint can act as the focal point of your living room.

    Silver Bullet N520-2

    • LRV: 56
    • Undertone: Neutral

    Are you looking for a gray shade that you can use on your living room walls, ceiling, doors, and trimmings?

    Silver Bullet by Behr is exactly what you’re looking for. The elegant and subtle paint isn’t dull at all.

    Behr Silver Bullet
    Behr Silver Bullet

    In contrast, Silver Bullet, as the name implies, will give your house a remarkable shimmer.

    From keeping your living room classic by pairing this shade with white to sprucing up your minimalist interior, Silver Bullet just works.

    Flannel Gray N520-3

    • LRV: 42
    • Undertone: Neutral

    Another magnificent paint by Behr is Flannel Gray. This darker gray will provide a cozy vibe to your living room without overwhelming the walls with brown shades.

    Behr Flannel Gray
    Behr Flannel Gray

    Equipped with Behr’s one-coat hide guarantee, Flannel Gray is an opaque gray that provides a flawless, smooth finish.

    Regardless of how you choose to pair Flannel Gray, The result will be an elegant, modern living room that will always be in style.

    Apparition 860

    • LRV: 57
    • Undertone: Warm

    If you’re looking for a warm gray paint with an optimal finish that works for every room, Apparition is the shade for you.

    Benjamin Moore Apparition
    BM Apparition

    This simple paint fits every interior style, from eclectic to vintage.

    Apparition can be mistaken for a soft beige in sunlight. Yet, this deceiving shade belongs to the gray color family.

    You can spice it up with a vibrant accent such as violet, or let it do its subtle magic on its own.

    Intrepid Gray SW 9556

    • LRV: 76
    • Undertone: Neutral

    Who said gray paint is dull? Intrepid Gray can brighten up any space, including living rooms that get less sunlight.

    Sherwin Williams Intrepid Gray
    SW Intrepid Gray

    Alternatively, this shade can be indistinguishable from white in natural light but appears as a stunning true gray in fluorescent lighting.

    A part of Emerald Designer Edition paint by Sherwin-Williams, Intrepid Gray has a superior finish.

    You only need one coat to give your living room a one-of-a-kind, flawless appearance.

    SW passive living room

    Pale Oak OC-20

    • LRV: 68
    • Undertone: Warm

    Can’t decide between beige and gray for your living room? Fortunately, you don’t have to compromise. Thanks to Benjamin Moore’s Pale Oak, you’ll get the best of both worlds.

    benjamin moore pale oak color swatch
    BM Pale Oak

    The taupe shade promises timeless style, no matter what your interior style looks like.

    While this is a greige shade, you can still transform it to a cooler gray by using cool-toned light.

    Smoked Truffle CSP-145

    • LRV: 25.9
    • Undertone: Cool

    Benjamin Moore is an expert at creating unorthodox shades that double as ideal neutrals, and Smoked Truffle is no exception.

    Benjamin Moore Smoked Truffle
    BM Smoked Truffle

    This is the color to immediately elevate your home, giving it an unparalleled chic vibe.

    Smoked Truffle can also be considered in the green family.

    As the name suggests, this khaki hue brings a warm and earthy atmosphere into your home.

    Yet, the green-cleaning paint won’t overpower your living room. Instead, it’ll complement your furniture beautifully.

    Chic Gray PPU26-10

    • LRV: 60
    • Undertone: Warm

    Greige is the new black. Well, the first paint that comes to mind when mentioning greige is Chic Gray by Behr.

    Behr Chic Gray
    Behr Chic Gray

    It’s light enough to expand small living spaces. Moreover, the warm undertones add a minimalistic, elegant feel.

    This would be the perfect shade if you have wood flooring, or your style leans towards the traditional aesthetic.

    Still, if you want to spruce things up, Chic Gray is flexible, working with bright accents and darker floors.

    pale oak living room with charcoal gray accents

    Mercurial SW 9550

    • LRV: 61
    • Undertone: Warm

    Gray shades rarely have a dazzling effect. After all, they’re simple, neutral shades.

    Well, this isn’t the case with Sherwin-Williams’ Mercurial. This shade will give any room stunning depth while brightening the atmosphere due to a high LRV.

    Sherwin Williams Mercurial
    SW Mercurial

    While Mercurial has a warm undertone, it’s rather subtle. If you’re using fluorescent light or your living room doesn’t get plenty of sunlight, it’ll transform into a cool gray.

    So, if you get bored with the shade of your walls, you can customize the undertone of Mercurial by simply switching out your lightbulbs!

    Silver Dollar 1460

    • LRV: 44
    • Undertone: Neutral

    The first shade that comes to mind when mentioning true gray is Silver Dollar by Benjamin Moore.

    Benjamin Moore Silver Dollar
    BM Silver Dollar

    It’s a true neutral shade that’s modern and minimalistic, making it the perfect shade for your living room.

    This paint is the one if you’re still undecided on your living room palette.

    Whether you want to go minimalistic, add an accent wall, or go crazy with the decorations, Silver Dollar’s versatility allows you to do all that and more!

    Crushed Ice SW 7647

    • LRV: 66
    • Undertone: Neutral

    Crushed Ice by Sherwin-Williams is the jack-of-all-trades.

    Sherwin Williams Crushed Ice
    SW Crushed Ice

    It’s minimalist, neutral, complementary, and alluring, but not overwhelming. It’s the best solution to brighten up your living room.

    You’ll have no problem coordinating colors with Crushed Ice. It works with warm, cool, bright, and dark shades.

    So, if you frequently like to spruce up your living room decor, Crushed Ice would be your dream paint.

    gentle gray benjamin moore living room

    Gratifying Gray DC-008

    • LRV: 58
    • Undertone: Warm

    Behr’s Gratifying Gray is often considered a dupe to the iconic Repose Gray. It’s a head-turning shade that only requires one coat for maximum coverage.

    Behr Gratifying Gray
    Behr Gratifying Gray

    Gray might be a muted color. Still, don’t expect this paint to fade anytime soon.

    While Behr’s unique color fade protection is only available in exterior paint, their interior lines have similar premium quality.

    Dorian Gray SW 7017

    • LRV: 39
    • Undertone: Warm

    The ideal mid-toned gray has to be Sherwin-Williams’ Dorian Gray.

    sw dorian gray
    SW Dorian Gray

    The manufacturer is constantly choosing this shade as one of the top 50 paints. Accordingly, you can’t go wrong with Dorian Gray.

    Dorian Gray doesn’t just have a dramatic name; the shade is also rich and dark, making it the perfect base for an elegant living room.

    Keep in mind that since this paint is darker, it might not be suitable for smaller living rooms. In this case, it’s best to use it sparingly, only for an accent wall.

    Peppercorn SW 7674

    • LRV: 10
    • Undertone: Neutral

    The darkest gray on our list is Peppercorn. You shouldn’t be scared to go dark, though!

    sherwin williams peppercorn
    SW Peppercorn

    This shade will bring character, depth, and flair into any living room.

    Here’s the kicker: Peppercorn is the ideal balance between cool and warm-toned grays.

    You might be taking a risk on the darker color, but it’ll definitely complement your furniture, floor, and decor.

    Before you go

    When it comes to choosing a neutral shade for your living room, gray has to be the best option. It can be warm or cool, giving two completely different aesthetics.

    Furthermore, gray is one of the easiest shades to play with, as it complements every color palette.

    Once you understand the LRV and the undertone of the gray you’re looking for, picking from our list of gray paint colors for living room should be as easy as can be!

    Don't forget to sign up for my free Paint Color Planning Guide today. Together, let’s pick the perfect paint colors for your home!

    Still unsure which paint color is right for your space?

    Choosing paint doesn’t have to be stressful! My free Paint Color Planning Quick Start Guide walks you through the exact steps to confidently choose the perfect color — without the overwhelm, second-guessing, or endless swatch testing.

    👉 Click here to download the free guide!

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    My Paint Color Formula course walks you through the painless process of expertly testing paint swatches to ensure you have the perfect color for your home.

    Learn more about the Paint Color Formula here!

    The best way to sample paint? Samplize!

    Get peel-and-stick removable and reusable paint samples here!

    Thanks for reading!

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    Morgan

    Morgan is passionate about home decor and paint colors. She has been sharing DIY home decor tips since 2012 at CharlestonCrafted.com. From there, she learned to love paint colors, and the Paint Color Project was born in 2022!

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