Looking for the perfect medium gray paint color for your home? Let’s talk about Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray and if it might be right for your home!
Many people are afraid to commit to a bold color in their home and instead prefer to stick to neutrals.
Gray is a great paint color choice because it’s neutral and pairs well with so many other colors.
However, it can be tricky finding a gray that’s not too dark or too light, and one without various undertones.
Dorian Gray is a popular paint color because it is one of those grays that is fairly consistent across many spaces!
Let’s talk about Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray, it’s undertones and best uses, and my favorite Dorian Gray color palette!
Dorian Gray, Sherwin Williams, SW 7017
Dorian Gray is a medium gray paint color with warm brown undertones, making it a great neutral choice. Its color can feel warm, relaxing and fresh.
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Dorian Gray.
Color Family
Dorian Gray is in the gray family.
Light Reflectance Value
39
Light Reflective Value is the measurement of how much light a color bounces around. This is on a scale of 0 to 100 with 0 being pure black and 100 being pure white.
With an LRV of 39, Dorian Gray is a mid-toned gray. It will look lighter in rooms with lots of light and darker in rooms with less light.
RGB Colors
R: 172 G: 167 B: 158
RGB describes the amount of each color – red, green, and blue – present in a color. This is on a scale of 0 to 255 for each color. This is basically the color mix to make the color!
Hex Code
#aca79e
Undertones
Dorian Gray has warm brown undertones, along with some very slight purple undertones.
The warm brown undertones will be more apparent in south-facing rooms with more natural light. The slight purple undertones may show up in north-facing, cooler rooms.
It’s very important to swatch colors on your wall to make sure they look good – day and night – in your actual space before committing.
Click here to get removable peel & stick paint samples to easily swatch with!
Best uses
Dorian Gray is neutral enough to work as a whole house paint color. It can also be paired with a lighter neutral paint color and used as an accent color.
- Living rooms
- Bedrooms
- Kitchens
- Bathrooms
- Home exterior
- Interior doors
- Cabinets
- Furniture
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Dorian Gray.
Similar Colors
- Behr Winter Rye
- Benjamin Moore Sea Gull Gray
- Sherwin Williams Chatroom
- Sherwin Williams Hibernate
- Sherwin Williams Smooth Stone
- Sherwin Williams Functional Gray
Coordinating Colors
As a neutral paint color, Dorian Gray pairs well with virtually any paint color. Dorian Gray pairs especially well with with greens, blues, lighter or darker grays, and warm whites.
Mid-toned greens:
- Jasper Stone
- Halcyon Green
- Marine
- Calico
- Vintage Vessel
Mid-toned blues:
- Denim
- St. Bart’s
- Smoky Azurite
- Meditative
- Refuge
Warm whites:
- Alabaster
- Westhighland White
- Cold Foam
- Whitetail
- Shell White
Trim Colors
With its warm brown undertones, Dorian Gray pairs well with warm white paints for trim.
- Sherwin Williams Alabaster
- Benjamin Moore White Dove
- Behr Cameo White
Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray color palette
Want to use this paint color in your home? Instantly upgrade your home’s aesthetic with our exclusive paint color palette. Unlock the perfect trim color and six stunning accent colors, a combination of neutrals and bold hues for an instantly harmonious space!
Get your perfect paint color palette by clicking here!
Click here to get a peel & stick sample of Dorian Gray.
Dorian Gray FAQs
Here are some common FAQs about Dorian Gray.
Is Dorian Gray warm or cool?
Dorian Gary is a warm gray paint color.
What are the undertones of SW Dorian Gray?
SW Dorian Gray has warm brown undertones and some very subtle purple undertones.
What is the difference between SW Dorian Gray and SW Repose Gray?
SW Dorian Gray has an LRV of 39, and Repose Gray has an LRV of 58, which means Repose Gray is much lighter than Dorian Gray.
Dorian Gray has warm brown undertones, along with slight purple undertones, and Repose Gray has stronger purple undertones.
What paint colors go with SW Dorian Gray?
As a neutral gray paint color, Dorian Gray pairs well with virtually any paint color, including greens (Jasper Stone or Halcyon Green), blues (Denim or St. Bart’s) and warm whites (Alabaster or Westhighland White).
What is the difference between SW Dorian Gray and SW Mindful Gray?
SW Dorian Gray has an LRV of 39, and Mindful Gray has an LRV of 48, which means Mindful Gray is lighter than Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray has warm brown undertones, along with slight purple undertones, while Mindful Gray has subtle green and blue undertones.
Still not sure what paint color to choose?
My Paint Color Formula ebook walks you through the painless process of expertly testing paint swatches to ensure you have the perfect color for your home.
The best way to sample paint? Samplize!
Get peel-and-stick removable and reusable paint samples here!
Thanks for reading!
Meg Hemmelgarn is a freelance writer and home decor + DIY blogger who loves to talk about paint colors. She and her husband are currently renovating their third fixer upper. You can see their projects on her blog, Green With Decor.