Top Exterior Gray Paint Colors
professional paint color consultant breaks down her most used grays
If we’re being honest, “Fifty Shades of Gray” is a gross understatement. There are at least one million shades to choose from, and they each have different undertones, light reflective values, and color families. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with endless options and factors to consider. When choosing an exterior paint color, “gray” is a classic (and slightly vague) choice that is certainly a great place to start. That’s why our team of interior designers put together a list of tour top gray paint colors for your exterior paint project.
Where To Begin
Unless you’re a professional paint colorist, you probably didn’t realize everything that affects how your exterior paint color will appear on your home. The direction your home faces, its surrounding topography, and even your neighbors’ home choices can cause your paint color to appear differently than you may have envisioned.
As an interior design firm in Knoxville, Tennessee, we staff professional paint color consultants to ensure our clients are selecting the perfect shade for their home. With full-service design projects, our Rowan Hall colorists choose colors for our projects that tie everything together, but when our clients simply desire a professional opinion for their own color change project, we are happy to help with that as well.
We put together a list of our most-used gray paint colors, but if you’re left with more questions than answers, we’re here to help! Contact us today to schedule a paint consultation for your project. We’ll help you narrow down the best options for your project, and leave you feeling completely at ease about your decision.
Our Most-Used Grays
Sherwin Williams Repose Gray (SW 7015) 
Sherwin Williams Repose Gray (SW 7015) is a soft gray-greige with just the right amount of warmth. Versatile enough to cover the entire home inside and out, it appears much brighter as exterior color and more calming and subdued as an interior color. A perfect exterior choice for those searching for something just a touch darker than a classic off-white, Repose Gray can be brightened by pairing with white or accentuated with darker grays to appear as a true gray outside. To achieve the same tone in a lighter shade of off-white, use Eider White (SW 7014).
All: The Harper House
Sherwin Williams Dovetail (SW 7018) 
Sherwin Williams Dovetail (SW 7018) is a truly classic gray. Balanced in tone and brightness, it achieves a neutral hue with just enough warmth to avoid appearing blue in any lighting. It has enough depth to translate as a gray in bright sunlight while also being light enough to avoid veering into charcoal territory. Dovetail harmonizes with any color palette, cool or warm.
Top Left: This House of Dreams; Bottom Left: How to Nest for Less; Right: Elegant Painting
Sherwin Williams Peppercorn (SW 7674)
Sherwin Williams Peppercorn (SW 7674) is a dark gray with a true neutral tone. Balanced between warm and cool, Peppercorn has the depth and neutrality to create a timeless exterior or be used as a versatile accent color. Another of Sherwin Williams’ Top 50 Colors, Peppercorn’s deep hue can be utilized to create a striking contrast against any bright color, a bold focal point, or rich, neat trim.
Top Left: The Destiny Formula; Bottom Left: Heritage Custom Painting; Top Right: Houzz; Bottom Right: West Magnolia Charm
Sherwin William Gauntlet Gray (SW 7019)
Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray (SW 7019) is a dark gray with greige undertones. Largely neutral with just a hint of warmth, Gauntlet Gray translates visually as a classic charcoal. In bright sunlight it appears lighter and warmer, while in shade it looks deeper and more blue. It pairs beautifully with other warm neutrals while maintaining the versatility of a truly neutral-toned gray when interacting with color.
Left: MAGZHOUSE; Top Right: Robert Thomas Homes; Bottom Right: Kylie M. Interiors
Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray (SW 7068)
Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray (SW 7068) is a dark gray with cool blue-green undertones. Like our other gray exterior suggestions, Gauntlet Gray and Peppercorn, Grizzle Gray falls into the charcoal family, but it embraces the cold side of these deep, sophisticated grays. Complex and moody, Grizzle Gray appears more blue or cool green-gray in shadow and neutral gray in direct sunlight. It’s a perfect choice for those who want something deep and cool that skirts the line between flatter, neutral grays and grays that translate as blues or greens in natural light.
Left: Elegant Painting; Top Right: Mary Dowdy via Pinterest; Bottom Right: Elegant Painting
Call in the Experts
Choosing the perfect paint color is a weighty decision that will transform your home one way or another. The right choice will elevate your home in a flash, but the wrong color will be painful (and expensive) to reverse or live with. Before you call in the paint crew, make sure your choice is the right one! Consult with our team, and we will make sure you make this change with confidence.
If you’re local to Knoxville or our surrounding areas, we will come to you! We can also consult on your project virtually. Contact us here or give our office a call at 865-585-2945. We can’t wait to bring your vision to life!
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