What kind of paint color is classic gray? Is it warm or cool?
Classic Gray is an off-white, warm gray with soft, muted, slightly feminine undertones. If you don’t like blue or green undertones, this could be the right gray for you!
Almost more important than the color itself, finding the best undertone for your home will make all the difference in the success of your paint choices.
My goal is to share my personal experience with Benjamin Moore Classic Gray to help you decide if it’s right for your home!
What is Classic Gray’s LRV?
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is an indicator of the amount of light that is illuminated by a light source. A higher value (closer to 100) means that a color will reflect more light back at you whereas a lower value (closer to 0) means that a color will appear darker, or absorb more light.
Classic Gray’s LRV is 74 – meaning it is classed as an off-white. Due to Classic Gray being so light – its probably not a good choice for a super bright room as it may wash out.
Classic Gray looks best in a medium lit room, where the light doesn’t wash it out and its color can really be appreciated.
What are Classic Gray’s Undertones?
Classic Gray has warm undertones of purple and sometimes a soft pink, however these are very subtle. Due to Classic Gray being an off-white – it may sometimes reflect other undertones depending on its environment. For example if you have a lot of greenery outside – it may flash ever so slightly green.
We used Classic Gray in two rooms in our home; our primary bedroom and our northwest facing living room. We started with the living room and after painting the room two shades of gray and then repainting the entire rooom we finally settled on Classic Gray and we LOVE it! I love how light and bright it makes our considerably dark living room.
Dresser | Bench | Lamp | Curtains | Vase | Stems | Curtain Rod
Why is choosing gray paint so hard?
When it comes to choosing paint colors, most of us simply take a trip to the closest home improvement store, gather as many paint sample cards as possible and head home to stare at them for hours. While this may be a great place to start, the only foolproof way to know if the paint will look good in a room is to test it out. So once you’ve narrowed down your selections, I recommend buying a sample and paint swatches on all four walls in a room, not just one little area.
This way you can see it throughout the day in all lighting conditions – from bright sunny mornings to gloomy overcast afternoons. You’ll be surprised how paint can take on a different look throughout the day.
Some brands have reusable peel-and-stick paint samples you can order that allow you to move them around. These are a convenient alternative that don’t require any painting supplies and won’t leave behind texture on the walls. Oftentimes, popular colors are available for purchase in-store – for all of you that need instant gratification!
Rug | Coffee Table | Gallery Frames | Olive Tree | Floral Pillow | Blue Vase | Curtains
Final Thoughts
If you want a really light, bright and fresh color, Classic Gray truly is a classic. It adds soft warmth in any room you paint with it. It looks modern and clean, and works with any decorating style.
