Grays are the palette of modern decor, and I totally get why. From deep charcoal to soft slate, dark gray shades have become incredibly popular – and for good reason.
They look clean, stylish, and work well in almost any room.
If you’re thinking about painting your home in a dark gray color but aren’t sure which one to choose, I’m here to help.
In this blog, I’ve rounded up some of the best Sherwin-Williams dark gray paint colors to make your decision easier. I’ll break down each color’s undertones, warmth or coolness, and where it works best.
Plus, I’ll share some tips along the way to help you feel confident in your choice.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Choosing a Dark Gray Color
- Dark gray in small spaces: It can make a compact room feel even smaller.
- Dark gray in large spaces: Ideal for filling up a big room. Warm-toned grays can make the space feel cozier, while cool-toned ones keep it open.
- Lighting matters: Dark gray needs a well-lit room. Poor lighting will make it appear even darker. Always test the color in your home before making a commitment.
- Test before applying: Always conduct a swatch test to ensure the color complements your home’s theme and doesn’t clash with other colors.
- Dark gray in different areas: Great for exteriors, accent walls, or studies, but may feel gloomy if overdone. Pair with lighter colors to balance it out.
If you want to paint all the walls in a dark gray color, add contrasting trims to give it structure. All dark walls can make for a moody interior, and if you want to embrace it, go for it. Make a statement out of it.
Sherwin-Williams Charcoal Gray Paint Colors
Sherwin-Williams offers rich, bold options that bring depth and elegance to any space.
1. Mindful Gray Sherwin-Williams 7016
This is one of the top choices for gray colors from the Sherwin-Williams Collection. It has an LRV OF 48. LRV is the Light Reflective Value; the higher the LRV value, the more light it reflects.
Hence, the lighter or brighter the color, the lower the value, the less light it reflects, and therefore the darker the color. With a 48 LRV, this is not a light-toned gray.
However, do not mistake this gray for being too dark. This gray falls somewhere in the middle. You can easily use this in your home, on your walls. This color is also great for an accent wall.
When discussing color undertones, mindful gray doesn’t have a noticeable undertone. This shade has a gray undertone. There is just the slightest hint of green and blue undertone, but those are barely noticeable.
Mindful gray is categorized as a warm color. However, it has just the right amount of cool undertone to balance out the warmth, so it doesn’t appear overtly warm. You will notice its warm undertone once you place it beside a cool-toned gray.
No matter what color you choose, lighting can alter its appearance, so before selecting a color, test a small sample in your home to see if it works.
Mindful gray is a very versatile color, and you can use it in your rooms, kitchen, living room, or on the exteriors of your house.
2. Dorian Gray SW 7017
If you’re a fan of natural grays, Dorian Gray is the perfect color for you. While this is not a light gray color, it is not too dark. In our opinion, this is just the right amount of dark gray for your interiors.
With an LRV of 39, this color is darker than Mindful gray, and this, too, is a warm-toned gray. This gray had a yellow hue. Do not freak out! This doesn’t mean that what you will get is a yellow-gray color.
When it comes to the undertone, this color has a purple undertone. This undertone will only be visible under some kinds of lighting.
But in good lighting or daylight, you will see a neutral gray. So you don’t have to worry about a dominant purple undertone showing.
Remember first to sample the paint in your home. As we mentioned before, lighting makes a huge difference.
3. Sherwin Williams Dovetail SW 7018
So far, we have examined grays that, although they are dark, are still medium-grade dark. Now we are tipping the scale towards more prominent dark grays.
And Dovetail is certainly a great recommendation for a dark gray color. With a slight blue undertone, the dovetail is a charcoal gray color. Against white trims, this color will pop in contrast, which is why it is a great combination.
This color has an LRV of 26, which is pretty low in the range. This means this is a darker color that reflects less light. Dovetail, again, belongs to the yellow hue family of colors.
A dark gray, this color has a masculinity to it, with some added softness.
This color exhibits a gray undertone; there is also a hint of a brown undertone, which categorizes it as a warm color.
Of course, the color appears differently in various types of lighting, so it’s a good idea to patch-test it before you begin painting.
You can choose to paint this color in different sheens, such as glossy or flat. Both of these will look distinctive.
4. Sherwin Williams Pavestone Gray SW 7642
We love this gray for your living room or your bedroom. This particular shade is again a warm gray color. With an LRV of 32, this gray belongs to the medium depth range.
It stands right in the middle of it. This is not the brightest color, but you were looking for grays. We’re assuming brightness was not your preference.
As beautiful as this color is, we wouldn’t call it a true gray. You see, paver stone carries a warmth, and it has a hint of a green undertone that can show up in some lighting.
This color is best paired with Sherwin-Williams Pure White or Benjamin Moore Oxford White.
Because this is a dark color, I would suggest painting it in a well-lit room, rather than one that receives poor lighting. This is a good color for the exteriors, too.
Just be careful of the green undertone. We suggest you mix the exterior with brick or stone walls.
5. Sherwin William Gauntlet gray SW 7019
If you want an undeniably dark gray, well, gauntlet gray is your color. For some reason, this gray even sounds like a dark gray.
It appears to have a black undertone due to its dark appearance, but it has a more brown taupe undertone.
It has an LVR of around 17(a little more than that), which means this color is fairly dark. This color comes in the medium-dark range.
Gauntlet gray is ideal for home exteriors and kitchen cabinets, and as an accent wall color.
When it comes to undertones, this gray has a violet(muted) undertone. There is just the barest hint of a green undertone, but it’s hardly noticeable. A good color to use with this gray is pure white.
This is beautiful paint for exteriors, but it can be tricky to coordinate with other colors. No need to panic. You need to use a sample and check if it goes with the colors and lighting in your house.
6. Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray SW 7068
If you have still not secretly outgrown the gothic phase, or if you are into a dark, brooding vibe, Grizzle gray is the color for you. This dark charcoal gray is a great choice for house exteriors or as an accent color.
A significantly dark-toned color, it has an LRV of 13. Now, with that low LRV value, you might think this color will appear black. Rest assured.
This color carries a cool green undertone that prevents it from appearing black. You will have a bold gray color for yourself.
This color pairs well with neutral bright colors. They pop against it, and the light colors add more relative depth to the gray.
Tip: Consider painting an accent wall in this color. Use that accent wall as a gallery wall to showcase your photographs or the art you have collected.
7. Sherwin Williams Web Gray SW 7075
If you’re looking for a versatile dark gray color that pairs well with cabinets, works on house exteriors, or makes an excellent choice for an accent wall, Web Gray is your color.
Web gray is a dark gray color that provides impressive depth.
This is a truly cool color, which exhibits a bold blue undertone. There is a suggestion of a green undertone, but it’s not as dominant.
We have discussed above how lighting can affect the tones of color, making them appear warm or cold. Regardless of the lighting, this gray will always appear cool-toned. It has an LRV of 13. Needless to say, this is a dark color.
It is recommended that you avoid using this color in spaces that receive less light. This is a dark color, and in a poorly lit room, it can appear too dark and compact.
8. Sherwin William Keystone Gray SW 7504
There is some discussion among people about whether to describe it as a gray color or simply as gray. To lay rest to the debate, keystone gray is indeed a gray color.
This is one of the perfect neutrals; the gray is in balance with the warm undertone.
This is another warm gray color. It makes a space feel a little soft(relative to blue-toned grays) and welcoming. One advantage of this color is that it is pretty versatile and works well in many spaces, complementing a wide range of colors.
It has an LRV of 29, which makes it fall in the middle of the medium range. It is an excellent choice of color for your bathrooms.
This color exhibits minimal undertones of violet and green. They are barely visible, so you don’t need to stress too much about them.
This is a great interior paint and works fairly well as an exterior paint. However, given that it is a warm gray color, in some bright lighting, the warmth will be prominent.
If that is not what you want, stick to painting the interiors with this paint.
Why Choose Grays for Your Space?
- Brighter colors can uplift a space, but dark grays add depth to a place. Dark gray is a bold choice. They showcase bold intentionality. They also work to enhance other light colors in contrast.
- One of the raisin grays is so popular for home decor because grays are very versatile colors. They can go well with most colors and can function as a good color choice for most homes. It is a color that doesn’t clash with most colors and is compatible with most other colors and decor.
- Bright colors are a great addition to any home, but they can be distracting color palettes. grays, however, add gravity and calmness to the space. This is one reason why you encounter them in studies and libraries.
- One of the reasons that grays are becoming the favorite color of modern decor is because they highlight texture. If you have a textured wall, matte cabinets, or a lacquer finish cupboard, the gray color will help bring out that texture. It will focus the eyes on itself. This is the reason a dark gray is such a great choice for an accent wall or paneled house exterior.
Conclusion
The Sherwin-Williams collection offers us a range of beautiful, dark gray colors suitable for both interiors and exteriors.
You can choose from a range of gray, from charcoal gray to beige-gray shades. There are neutral grays, warm grays, and cool-toned grays.
What we are saying is, if you want to use dark gray paint in your house, trust us, there is a shade there for you.
Keep in mind that when choosing a dark gray, you should consider the size of the room, the undertone of the color you’ve selected, and the lighting.
It is always recommended to test a few sample colors first, as colors can appear differently under different lighting conditions, regardless of the information you have about them or how they appear online or in-store.
Choose your favorite from the list above and get to painting!