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13 Best Blue-Gray Paint Colors

Explore our expert picks for the best blue-gray paint colors from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams.

A living room is painted with a blue-gray paint color

For many years, neutral gray and greige paint was everywhere. Everyone wanted Agreeable Gray (Color review article) walls and colors like Repose Gray (Color review article) (Sherwin-Williams) and Balboa Mist (Benjamin Moore color review article) were showing up in every influencer’s home. 

And while those colors are still popular (we recommend them to our online paint color consulting clients often!), we’ve also noticed a growing number of homeowners who want to add a bit more color into their homes. One of our favorite ways to do that is by using blue-gray paint colors.

Blue-gray paint colors are super versatile. They’re still neutral enough to be used in many spaces throughout a home – and potentially even as a whole-house paint color – but they provide a fresh burst of color that a typical neutral does not.

Looking for ways to add some subtle color into your home’s color scheme? Keep reading for our picks for the best blue-gray paint colors from light to dark.

*This post contains affiliate links for products I use and love. If you click on some links and make a purchase, I will get a small commission at no cost to you. This helps pay for the costs of the blog, so I can continue to offer great content to our readers.

About The Color Concierge

Sample Colors

We always recommend that you test paint colors (article) in your home because lighting can completely change a color, both on interiors and exteriors.  

In the old days, this meant we painted a large poster board with sample pots and a huge mess. 

Now we have a better way to test paint, with Samplize Peel-and-Stick samples!  

  • Samples pre-painted with 2 coats of real paint from the manufacturer.
  • Large 9” x 14” samples to see the color better in the lighting.
  • Delivered overnight
  • Colors are accurate
  • Less expensive than painting a large poster board with sample pots
  • No mess, and no toxic paint to dispose of

I use these in my color consulting practice for exact results. Discover Samplize peel-and-stick paint samples via the link below.

What is a blue-gray paint color?

Blue-gray colors are actually grays that have blue undertones. Some may have a lot of blue in them, while others may be more subtle. Either way, they’re a great way to start adding more color into your home.

Depending on where you read about blue-gray paint, you might get a different explanation. Here’s how we think about gray paint colors at The Color Concierge for anyone that is a color nerd like me:

Understanding Gray Paint Colors

There are three flavors (or undertones) of gray paint colors. In our practice we don’t define gray as an undertone or really see gray as a color. Instead, we think of gray as a muted version of its undertone: either green, violet or blue.

A graphic exploring the different undertones of gray paint.

Grays with green undertones are like the color of cement, moss, or warm rocks and stones.  Green-grays are always warm. Sometimes they can be so warm that they look almost like a beige color, but when you compare them with beige they are for sure gray. 

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray (Color review article) is a great example. On its own, it often looks like a beige. But when compared to Manchester Tan (Color review article) it is very clearly gray.

A graphic comparing BM Edgecomb Gray vs BM Manchester Tan

Grays with violet undertones are the color of elephants.  They don’t necessarily look purple, but it’s the color people most often associate as a gray color.  If you’ve ever painted a room “gray” and it looks like purple, that is what happened – your undertone is showing through.

A graphic comparing BM Collingwood to the color of an elephant

Grays with blue undertones (also known as blue-gray paint colors!) are the color of the sky. Sometimes we pick a blue-gray if someone wants a room painted blue but doesn’t want the color to glow too much on the wall.

Blue-Gray Paint Color Undertones

When it comes to blue-gray paint colors, there are warm blue-grays with a little bit of green in them and cool blue-grays that lean more toward violet.  

The comparison of BM Gray Cashmere (Color review article) and BM Stonington Gray (Color review article) below is a great example.

A graphic comparing the undertones of two blue-gray paint colors, Gray Cashmere and Stonington Gray.

And then we have more colorful blue-grays compared to muted, less colorful ones.

A graphic comparing BM Boothbay Gray vs BM Timber Wolf

With so many options for blue-gray paint colors, choosing one for your home can feel overwhelming. It’s not as simple as just choosing the color you like best. Instead, it’s important to learn more about any colors you’re considering so you can figure out the one that best complements the lighting, hard finishes, and decor of your room.

3 Best Blue-Gray Paint Colors from Light to Dark

Start your search for the best blue-gray paint colors with these expert picks from The Color Concierge team. This list includes both Benjamin Moore blue-gray paint colors and Sherwin-Williams blue-gray paint colors, organized from light to dark.

Light Blue-Gray Paint Colors

Sherwin-Williams First Star

A swatch of Sherwin-Williams First Star, one of the best blue-gray paint colors.
Photo courtesy of Samplize.com

SW First Star (Sample) is a cooler blue-gray paint color. It is similar to BM Stonington Gray but a bit more muted, so it looks slightly less blue on the wall. We used this in a condo renovation in Michigan and it came out so beautiful.

With an LRV of 69, SW First Star is light enough and muted enough that it can be used in an open-concept space or even as a whole-house paint color if you want your home to have some color.

A bedroom is painted with Sherwin-Williams First Star, one of the best blue-gray paint colors.
A bedroom painted with SW First Star, photo by Color Concierge Client

If you are looking for a similar Benjamin Moore paint color, consider BM Horizon (Sample), another beautiful blue-gray for your bedroom.

Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere

Learn more about BM Gray Cashmere, one of the best blue-gray paint colors.
Photo courtesy of Samplize.com

BM Gray Cashmere (Sample) is one of the warmer blue-gray paint colors on this list thanks to its strong mix of green and blue undertones. With an LRV of 64.53, this color looks soft and colorful in rooms flooded with light, especially South-facing rooms. In cool, North-facing light the color looks more blue and it looks much grayer at night.

I love the way Gray Cashmere (Color review article) color changes throughout the day based on the light, moving from greener in the morning to bluer and then grayer in the late afternoon and evening.

A living room is painted with Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere, one of the best blue-gray paint colors.
An office painted with BM Gray Cashmere, photo by M. Marceny

For the Sherwin-Williams closest match, consider SW Moorestone (Sample), one of the Emerald Designer Collection colors.

BM Stonington Gray

BM Stonington Gray color swatch
Photo courtesy of Samplize.com

Stonington Gray (Sample) is one of the bluest light blue-gray paint colors on this list. It has strong blue undertones and in cool lighting, it can even be used in place of blue paint for a soft, muted look.

I have such a soft spot in my heart for Stonington Gray because it was the color of the house where my husband and I created our home.

With an LRV of 59.36, Stonington looks more neutral in bright light and can even be used as a whole-house paint color. I used Stonington Gray (Color review article) throughout my former home when getting it ready to sell. It’s a really versatile color that can change significantly in different lighting, so it looks different from room to room.

A living room painted with BM Stonington Gray
BM Stonington Gray living room, photo by J. Maynard

In my living room (pictured above) it looked like a soft, lovely gray. But in my basement (Article) (below), it looked very blue on the walls.

This basement room is painted with BM Stonington Gray, a blue-gray paint color and one of the best basement paint colors.
A basement painted with BM Stonington Gray, photo by J. Maynard

This flexible color is also a fan favorite. The closest Sherwin-Williams color is SW Fortitude (Sample), another color from the Emerald Designer Collection.


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Sherwin-Williams Gray Screen

A paint swatch of Sherwin-Williams Gray Screen, one of the best blue-gray paint colors
Photo courtesy of Samplize.com

This light blue-gray paint color from Sherwin-Williams has a gorgeous blue undertone that adds a lot of color, especially in cooler light. SW Gray Screen (Sample) is very similar to BM Stonington Gray and is a really gorgeous option for bedrooms, basements, and other living spaces.

A living room is painted with Sherwin-Williams Gray Screen,
SW Gray Screen living room, photo by Color Concierge Client

The closest Benjamin Moore color to SW Gray Screen is BM Pebble Beach (Sample). Check out the Pebble Beach photo below from one of our projects, spotlighted in the Pebble Beach Color Review and the Best Paint Colors for Basements (Article).

A basement living room is painted with BM Pebble Beach, one of the best basement paint colors.
BM Pebble Beach Basement, Photo by M. Marceny

Medium Blue-Gray Paint Colors

Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray

A color swatch of BM Coventry Gray, one of the best blue-gray paint colors
Photo courtesy of Samplize.com

Coventry Gray (Sample) is a darker version of Stonington Gray. The two colors offer a similar, muted hue and work well in similar applications. Because Coventry Gray is darker, with an LRB of 48.18, I wouldn’t recommend it as a whole-house paint color. 

But in the right lighting, it can still look soft and lovely. I love the way it looks with the Carrara marble in this client’s primary bathroom, and the bedroom.

A wall painted with BM Coventry Gray, a blue-gray paint color from Benjamin Moore
BM Coventry wall paint, photo by Color Concierge client

The closest Sherwin-Williams color is SW Gray Clouds (Sample).

Benjamin Moore Boothbay Gray

A color swatch of Benjamin Moore Boothbay Gray, one of the best blue-gray paint colors
Photo courtesy of Samplize.com

BM Boothbay Gray (Sample) is a beautiful mid-tone blue-gray paint color perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms and even dining rooms like the one pictured below. With an LRV of 43.26, Boothbay Gray is darker than the light blue-gray colors featured and also has a much stronger blue color that leans toward green.

As a result, this blue-gray paint color helps warm up a space. In the dining room pictured below, it pairs really well with the dark, warm wood furniture and the white wainscoting.

A dining room is painted with BM Boothbay Gray and white wainscoting.
A dining room painted with BM Boothbay Gray, photo by Color concierge client

The closest Sherwin-Williams color to Boothbay Gray is SW Eventide (Sample), an Emerald Designer Collection color.

Sherwin-Williams Mineral Deposit

A swatch of SW Mineral Deposit paint
Photo courtesy of Samplize.com

SW Mineral Deposit (Sample) leans more toward the purple side of blue-gray. It is a cool blue with a mid-toned LRV of 43 and is just lovely. It’s dark enough that I wouldn’t use it for a whole-house color, but it would look beautiful in a dining room, bedroom, or office.

A dining room is painted with SW Mineral Deposit, one of the best blue-gray paint colors from Sherwin-Williams.
A SW Mineral Deposit dining room

The closest Benjamin Moore paint color to SW Mineral Deposit is BM Subway Tile (Sample).

Benjamin Moore Mount Saint Anne

A swatch of BM Mount Saint Anne paint, one of the best blue-gray paint colors.
Photo courtesy of Samplize.com

This mid-toned blue-gray is on the colorful side, with warm green undertones in the background. With an LRV of 41.9, this color has a lot of pigment but doesn’t look too dark on the wall.

I absolutely love this color for accent walls or even accent rooms. A Mount Saint Anne (Sample) dining room, for example, would be beautiful. In my client’s home pictured below this color looks beautiful as an accent wall in her office.

An office is painted with Benjamin Moore Mount Saint Anne wall paint, one of the best blue-gray paint colors on the market.
An office painted with BM Mount Saint Anne, photo by M. Marceny

This is a pretty unique color, but the closest Sherwin-Williams color to Mount Saint Anne is SW Breezy (Sample).

Benjamin Moore Nimbus Gray

A swatch of BM Nimbus Gray paint, one of the best blue-gray paint colors.
Photo courtesy of Samplize.com

BM Nimbus Gray (Sample) is a darker blue-gray paint color with strong blue undertones. This color is the perfect example of one we might choose for a client who wants a blue room but doesn’t want the color to overwhelm the space.

In our client’s bedroom featured below, the light was already cool. If we had chosen a blue paint color it would have been too intense. BM Nimbus Gray offered the perfect pop of color. We loved it so much we even painted the ceiling!

Bedroom walls and ceilings painted with Benjamin Moore Nimbus Gray.
BM Nimbus Gray bedroom, photo by M. Marceny

If you want a slightly warmer version of this color, the closest Sherwin-Williams color to Nimbus Gray is SW Dutch Tile Blue (Sample).

Benjamin Moore Timber Wolf

A swatch of BM Timber Wolf paint, one of the best blue-gray paint colors.
Photo courtesy of Samplize.com

BM Timber Wolf (Sample) is a gorgeous, medium blue-gray paint color with an LRV of 34.74. It reminds me a lot of the popular Chelsea Gray (Color review article), but has blue undertones instead of green. 

This color works really well for interior accents, such as accent walls, interior front doors or even kitchen cabinets. I love the idea of using BM Timber Wolf for lower cabinets with white cabinet uppers.

In the image below, a client’s home features a BM Timber Wolf interior front door, which matches with their lower kitchen cabinets. This color has soft blue undertones, and looks closer to a true gray than some of the other blue-gray colors featured.

An interior front door is painted with BM Timber Wolf paint, one of the best blue-gray paint colors.
An interior front door painted with BM Timber Wolf

This color is pretty unique. Sherwin-Williams African Gray (Sample) is the closest color, but it is cooler and leans even more toward blue.

Dark Blue-Gray Paint Colors

Benjamin Moore Britannia Blue

A swatch of BM Britannia Blue paint, one of the best blue-gray paint colors.
Photo courtesy of Samplize.com

BM Britannia Blue (Sample) is a rich, muted mid-toned blue-gray paint color perfect for an accent wall or accent room. With an LRV of 18.06, it can be used as an interior or exterior paint color.

Britannia Blue (Color review article) is a warm blue-gray thanks to the softest of green undertones. While it is a fairly muted hue, it still looks plenty colorful on the wall.

A dining room is painted with Benjamin Moore Britannia Blue wall paint
A dining room painted with BM Britannia Blue

Britannia Blue is actually a lighter and more colorful version of Sherwin-Williams Granite Peak, shown next.

Sherwin-Williams Granite Peak

A swatch of BM Granite Peak paint, one of the best blue-gray paint colors.
Photo courtesy of Samplize.com

SW Granite Peak (Sample) is one of my favorite blue-gray paint colors for accent walls and accent rooms. If there were a perfect accent wall blue color, Granite Peak would be it. 

Granite Peak (Color review article) is very similar to BM Britannia Blue, but it is darker (with an LRV of 14) and has truer blue undertones that lean violet instead of green.

This master bedroom looks so beautiful with SW Granite Peak walls and ceiling.

A bedroom is painted with BM Granite Peak on the walls and ceiling.
BM Granite Peak bedroom

Sherwin-Williams Cyberspace

A swatch of Sherwin-Williams Cyberspace paint, one of the best blue-gray paint colors.
Photo courtesy of Samplize.com

SW Cyberspace (Sample) is one of my favorite dark blue-gray paint colors. With an LRV of 6, it’s such a dark color that, in some lighting, it can look black. But in reality, it’s a very deep blue color.

Cyberspace (Color review article) has plenty of deep charcoal hues mixed in, helping to make the color feel muted and softer on the wall. In our color consulting practice, we’ve used Cyberspace many times, from exterior paint for siding to interior accent walls, cabinets, and bathrooms.

My master bathroom, pictured below, looks gorgeous with Cyberspace walls, natural wood flooring, and a white vanity.

A Sherwin-Williams Cyberspace bathroom wall with white vanity
A SW Cyberspace master bathroom

The closest Benjamin Moore version of Cyberspace is BM Westcott Navy (Sample).

Best Ways to Use Blue-Gray Paint Colors

Blue-gray colors are so versatile there’s not much you can’t do with them. But we certainly have our favorite applications. 

  • Light blue-grays work really well as calming bedroom paint colors, but can also be used as whole-house paint colors if they work with the home’s lighting and hard finishes. 
  • Medium blue-grays are perfect for whole-room accents within a home, like dining rooms, offices and bedrooms (Article). 
  • Dark blue-grays make beautiful accent walls and can also be used for cabinetry and even as exterior paint colors.

Best Trim and Ceiling Colors for Interior Blue-Gray Paint

I usually prefer brighter whites to pair with blue-gray wall colors. Some of the best options for trim, ceiling, and doors or cabinets include BM Chantilly Lace (Color review article), BM Simply White (Color review article), SW Pure White (Color review article), and SW Extra White (Color review article).

Can You Use Blue-Gray Paint for Exteriors?

Yes, absolutely! We especially love using medium and dark blue-gray paint colors for exterior projects. Some light blue-grays could work well as blue exterior paint (Color review article), while others may appear too stark or cold in the bright sunlight.

The home below features SW Cyberspace siding, which looks brighter and bluer outdoors.

Blue house with SW Cyberspace and green front door
SW Cyberspace siding with BM Chelsea Gray trim and entry with BM Split Pea front door

Sample the Best Blue-Gray Paint Colors

Click the links below to sample these paint colors via Samplize:

A series of 13 paint swatches of blue-gray paint colors.
  1. SW First Star (Sample)
  2. BM Gray Cashmere (Sample)
  3. BM Stonington Gray (Sample)
  4. SW Gray Screen (Sample)
  5. BM Coventry Gray (Sample)
  6. BM Boothbay Gray (Sample)
  7. SW Mineral Deposit (Sample)
  8. BM Mount Saint Anne (Sample)
  9. BM Nimbus Gray (Sample)
  10. BM Timber Wolf (Sample)
  11. BM Britannia Blue (Sample)
  12. SW Granite Peak (Sample)
  13. SW Cyberspace (Sample)

Key Learning Points

Choosing the best blue-gray paint colors for your home isn’t always simple, but it doesn’t have to be complicated either. Keep these key learning points in mind when choosing colors for your home:

  • Blue-gray paint colors are actually grays with blue undertones. Their undertones can lean toward green or violet and they may be more muted or more colorful.
  • Blue-gray paint colors are perfect for bedrooms, dining rooms, offices, and accent walls. They can also work well for cabinetry and exterior siding colors.
  • Pair blue-gray colors with brighter white trim and ceilings, such as BM Chantilly Lace, BM Simply White, SW Pure White, and SW Extra White.

Don’t forget! Always test your paint colors (Article) before painting a whole room! The easiest way to sample basement paint colors (and any paint color for that matter) is via SAMPLIZE. Their peel-and-stick paint samples are easy to use and true to color.

With Samplize you can easily see how different shades look on your unique wall.NEVER, EVER use paint matches from a different brand than the one specified.  Results are poor, and there are no standards for the sheens.  Even though your painter may genuinely believe it can be done, don’t do it. See results from paint matching here.

Online Color Consulting

Still need help picking the best blue-gray paint colors?  Discover our Online Color Consulting Packages.

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A collage of images of spaces with blue-gray wall paint.

About the Author

Michelle Marceny, principal designer and founder of The Color Concierge, a paint color consulting company in Denver, Colorado.

Hi, I’m Michelle Marceny, founder, owner, and Principal Color Designer at The Color Concierge. I believe a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a space. The Color Concierge was born out of my drive to help clients fall back in love with their homes. My clients trust me to help them find the perfect paint color for their home – whether it’s a whole-house paint color scheme or ideas for a single room. 

Since The Color Concierge was founded in 2017, we have completed over 3000 color consultations, both online and in-person.  I am a Certified Color Expert with 7 years of experience creating interior and exterior color palettes throughout North America.



We love your comments! Please note that the blog is meant as general advice, and it is not possible to give out specific answers to your paint questions. If you want more specific advice, our Online Color Consultations will help you pick your paint colours. Thank you for your understanding. 

2 Responses

  1. What can you tell me about Sherwin-Williams Shitake? I am thinking of using it in my living room whivh has Southern exposure, and I have very dark brown wood furniture (not black).
    I’ll be very grateful for your thoughts.

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Meet Michelle

Driven to help clients fall back in love with their homes with intentional paint color schemes. She started the company based on her passion for color and its ability to make a house a home.

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