Gentle Grays Interior Paint
Selecting Sheen for Your Color
The selection of finish depends on the desired mood, aesthetic and functional goal of the room you are painting. For a highly sophisticated look, paint both walls and trim in one hue, either using the same finish on both surfaces, or using a lower sheen on the walls such as a matte. Opt for a semi-gloss or high gloss on the trim for subtle contrast.
Matte
A matte paint delivers a soft, contemporary appearance.
Semi-Gloss
Higher sheens, like semi-gloss, are easy to clean, making them great options for cabinets or doors that are frequently opened, closed and in general, touched a lot.
High Gloss
A higher gloss offers dramatic highlights, making a painted room feel more formal.
Grays: Equal parts stylish and sensible
What is the “perfect gray?” Livable in most lighting conditions, these colors work in any room, including living rooms and bedrooms, where gray is one of the most popular paint color choices.
Choosing Between Warm and Cool Grays
To narrow the wide spectrum of gray, consider warm and cool grays. Warm grays, or brown-gray—commonly known as “greige”—are enveloping and welcoming, while cooler grays like green-gray and blue-gray, are elegant and modern.
A room with northern light tends to reveal more of a paint colors’ blue and green undertones, so many homeowners opt for a warmer gray in those spaces. Southern facing light is typically more flattering, opening the door for a wider range of grays in your space.
The appearance of wall colors tends to shift throughout the day. Paint colors are especially prone to taking on different tonalities from morning to evening, under both natural and artificial lighting conditions. We suggest that you purchase a color sample of the shades you like best and test each one before you decide on a final color.