15 Best Greige Paint Colors (with real photos!)

Are you looking for the well suited greige paint color but do not know where to start? This post covers the most popular greige paints as chosen by designers, homeowners and the top two paint companies: Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore.

the most popular greige paint colors in real rooms

I scoured the internet to find the best, real-life examples of each color in different rooms to help you narrow down your search. Paint colors can look very different on screen vs in person, at different times of day, different rooms/angles, cameras/editing, etc—so I have included a range of photos to help provide the most accurate representation.

As always, it is important to test out samples in person before committing to a color to see how it will look in your space! First, let us cover the basics:

What is Greige?

Greige is defined as a color that falls within the grey to beige range. Any warm gray or cool beige could be labeled as greige. Often, taupe and mushroom are used interchangeably with the word greige, although taupe typically carries purple/brown undertones.

What is LRV?

LRV, or light reflectance value, refers to how light or dark a paint color will look on a scale of 0 (black) to 100 (white). The darker the paint color, the lower the LRV number. The lighter the paint color, the higher the LRV number. This number is helpful when comparing paint colors, as photos can be deceiving.

The 15 Best Greige Paint Colors

Here are the most popular greige paint colors you will find today, from the best selling paint brands—Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore:

Sherwin Williams Greige Paint Colors

Sherwin Williams has the widest range of popular greige shades, and landed 11 of the top 15 spots on this list. Here is what you need to know about each of their most popular greige paints:

Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige– SW 7036 / LRV: 58

accessible beige paint on a sherwin williams deck

This hugely popular paint color is classified as a beige, but it genuinely walks the line between greige and beige. It is worth a spot on this list, as it is a Sherwin Williams best seller and of the most frequently used paint colors by designers and homeowners.

sherwin williams accessible beige on custom cabinetry in an office space — Accessible Beige on ourcustom built-ins

It has just the right amount of warmth to keep it out of gray territory, with neutral undertones that make it versatile and safe choice for any room. It is also one of my personal favorite paint colors of all time, and the color I chose for the trim, doors, and custom cabinetry in our own home.

sherwin williams accessible beige on doors and trim in a hallway with alabaster walls — Accessible Beige trim and doors with Alabaster walls in our home

Under warm indoor lighting, it leans more beige, while in cooler daylight, you will notice more of the gray undertones. Even still, it is one of the warmest colors on this list.

sherwin williams accessible beige on molding in a dining nook — Accessible Beige looking more gray in this dining nook by @haleythehomebody

Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray – SW 7029 / LRV: 60

sherwin williams agreeable gray paint deck

Agreeable Gray has been ranked the top selling Sherwin Williams paint color in recent years. It leans more towards gray on the gray-beige scale, and a great choice if you are looking for a true warm gray.

sherwin williams agreeable gray bedroom walls — Agreeable Gray in an unedited photo, via The Color Concierge

With an LRV of 60, it is a medium to light shade that works well in many rooms and lighting conditions.

sherwin williams agreeable gray bathroom walls — Agreeable Gray on bathroom walls, via Fridley Homes

sherwin williams agreeable gray kitchen cabinets — Agreeable Gray on kitchen cabinets, via Jen Naye

One reason this color is so popular is because of how versatile it is. Agreeable Gray has very neutral undertones, making it compatible and complementary to most flooring, trim colors and decor.

sherwin williams agreeable gray living room built ins — Agreeable Gray on built-in cabinetry, via The White Buffalo Styling Co.

Looking for more paint colors? Do not miss the most popular white paints in real rooms →

Sherwin Williams Memorable Gray – SW 7044 / LRV: 47

sherwin williams memorable gray on a fan deck

A true middle ground between gray and beige, Sherwin Williams describes Memorable Gray as “Impressively versatile. This light hue, with warm green-gray undertones, works in just about any setting. A popular choice for interiors and exteriors.”

sherwin williams memorable gray on kitchen cabinets — Memorable Gray on kitchen cabinetry, via Paper Moon Painting

With an LRV of 47, it is considered a mid-range color, and one of the darker greiges on this list. It is a popular choice for many rooms, including on walls, trim and cabinetry.

sherwin williams memorable gray in a laundry room — Memorable Gray looking more brown on laundry room walls, via Kathryn Salyer Design

Memorable Gray is also similar to Benjamin Moore's popular Revere Pewter, but a bit darker.

sherwin williams memorable gray on trim and doors in a bathroom — Memorable Gray on bathroom molding, trim and doors, via Highwater Bungalow

Sherwin Williams Anew Gray – SW 7030 / LRV: 47

sherwin williams anew gray on a paint fan deck

With an LRV of 47, Anew Gray is considered a darker version of Agreeable Gray, and another popular choice for a versatile and neutral warm gray.

sherwin williams anew gray on kitchen cabinets — Anew Gray on kitchen cabinets, via Tobi Fairley

Sherwin Williams describes it as a “mellow, mid-tone gray that works in every room. Its warm stone undertone exudes a quiet energy, even in dim lighting.”

sherwin williams anew gray in a bathroom — Anew Gray on bathroom walls, via Country Dog Homes

If you are looking for a warmer greige, Anew Gray will appear too cool in most lighting conditions. It definitely leans more towards gray than beige.

sherwin williams anew gray in a bedroom — Anew Gray on bedroom walls, via Lisa McDougald Design

Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray – SW 7641 / LRV: 53

sherwin williams colonnade gray paint color deck

Colonnade Gray narrowly made this list, as I personally consider it more of a gray paint color, but it is often classified as a greige. Here it is on a living room fireplace and walls, with a mix of natural and artificial lighting:

sherwin williams colonnade gray living room — Colonnade Gray on living room walls, via Marilyn Kimberly

Below, it appears warmer and lighter on kitchen cabinetry, in a professional (edited) photo:

sherwin williams colonnade gray kitchen cabinets — Colonnade Gray on kitchen cabinets, via Richard Harp Homes

I tend to trust unedited phone photos more when searching for the most accurate representations. Here, you can see how gray it looks with some natural light:

sherwin williams colonnade gray dining room — Unedited photo of Colonnade Gray on dining room walls, via Ash Bea Style

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray – SW 7632 / LRV: 62

sherwin williams modern gray on a paint deck

Modern Gray is another color I would label as more of a gray than a greige or beige. It is the lighter sibling of Colonnade Gray, with an LRV of 62.

sherwin williams modern gray dining room — Modern Gray in a light-filled dining room, via Rainier House

If you search for photos of Modern Gray online, you will find many of them looking quite gray like this:

sherwin williams modern gray living room wall — Modern Gray walls, via Rainier House

But then you will come across a photo like this, where it looks very greige:

sherwin williams modern gray foyer staircase — Modern Gray appearing more greige in a foyer, via Jones Paint

Here is another unedited phone photo in a room with little natural light. You can see the range of tones from dark to light, and it definitely still has some warmth to it.

sherwin williams modern gray living room — Modern Gray in a living room with low natural light, via Interiors by Holly

If you are looking for a light warm gray, this one is definitely worth sampling to see how it will appear in your space!

Sherwin Williams Natural Tan – SW 7567 / LRV: 65

While this color is technically grouped into the tan family, do not let the name fool you—it can lean very griege under certain lighting conditions. I recently chose this color for the doors and trim throughout the Hacienda Hideaway, and had to include it on this list after testing it out in person.

sherwin williams natural tan hallway — Natural Tan in a hallway, via Home Bunch

I found Natural Tan to be a lighter, and slightly warmer version of Accessible Beige. It also pairs beautifully as a subtle contrasting trim with SW Alabaster walls.

sherwin williams natural tan dining room wall — Natural Tan in a dining room, via xo Macenna

Natural Tan is also a great choice for exteriors. You can see how it looks painted on brick, below:

sherwin williams natural tan brick exterior — Natural Tan on exterior brick, via Laffco Painting

Sherwin Williams Well suited Greige – SW 6073 / LRV: 42

sherwin williams well suited greige color swatch fan deck

With an LRV of 42, Well suited Greige is the darkest paint color on this list. Sherwin Williams calls it a mid-range gray with red undertones, though it looks more beige in many examples online.

sherwin williams well suited greige living room — Well suited Greige in a living room, with mixed lighting, via BR Interior Designs

This color can also be classified as a taupe, with very brown undertones. It is definitely one of the warmer paints that can still be considered greige.

sherwin williams well suited greige living room walls — Unedited photo in natural lighting, via Cheri Quite Contrary blog

If you are looking for a mid-range taupe or beige that is not too warm, I would recommend grabbing a sample of Well suited Greige.

sherwin williams well suited greige bedroom — Well suited Greige in a bedroom, via Highland Homes

Sherwin Williams Popular Gray – SW 6071 / LRV: 61

sherwin williams popular gray color card fan deck

Described as a light gray with a “clay undertone”, Popular Gray is a lighter paint color that lands right at the intersection of gray and beige.

sherwin williams popular gray bathroom walls — Popular Gray on bathroom walls, via Home Bunch

You will see it range between gray and beige in various photos online, depending on lighting. Notice the mix of natural and overhead lighting below, compared to the natural light alone in the last photo:

sherwin williams popular gray living room — Popular Gray on living room walls, via Echelon Custom Homes

This color does have noticeable pink-purple undertones in certain lighting, so it is especially important to test out a sample to see how it looks in your room before committing.

sherwin williams popular gray living room walls — Popular Gray on living room walls, via Suzanne Vickers Construction

Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray – SW 6072 / LRV: 48

sherwin williams versatile gray color swatch on fan deck

As the name suggests, Versatile Gray is a true versatile color that works well in a variety of spaces. It is a mid-range color with an LRV of 48, and can appear both gray and taupe depending on the room and lighting.

sherwin williams versatile gray bedroom — Versatile Gray in a bedroom, viaKelly Nan

Because of its pink-purple undertones, it can be classified as a 'taupe', so you will definitely want to try out samples in person to see how it looks in your space.

sherwin williams versatile gray walls — Versatile Gray leaning more beige, via Home Bunch

Versatile Gray is also a popular choice for exteriors, as it is not too dark or light, and hits the sweet spot between gray and brown.

sherwin williams versatile gray exterior siding — Versatile Gray on exterior siding, via Laffco Painting

Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray – SW 7043 / LRV: 57

sherwin williams worldly gray on a paint deck

One shade on the fan deck lighter than Memorable Gray, Worldly Gray is a soft neutral greige that leans more into gray.

sherwin williams worldly gray bathroom vanity

It is a great choice for everything from cabinetry, to walls, and exteriors. I chose it for our exterior window and door trim (paired with Sherwin Williams Oyster White):

sherwin williams worldly gray exterior trim

If you are looking for a lighter soft gray that is not too warm, I would highly recommend grabbing a sample of Worldly Gray to test out in your space.

Benjamin Moore Greige Paint Colors

While Benjamin Moore does not carry the largest selection of popular greige paint colors like Sherwin Williams, there are a few that are hugely popular and widely used by designers, bloggers and homeowners. Let us dive in!

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray – HC-173 / LRV: 63.09

Benjamin moore edgecomb gray swatch on a fan deck

Edgecomb Gray (also known as Baby Fawn) sits next to Benjamin Moore's most popular greige on the fan deck, Revere Pewter. It is a great choice for a subtler and softer greige that works well in any space. You will find examples online where it leans more gray and others more beige, but it is a true middle ground.

Benjamin moore edgecomb gray doors and trim — Edgecomb Gray on doors and trim, via Making it in the Mountains

It has minimal undertones, making it one of the most neutral and safe greige paint colors for any room.

Benjamin moore edgecomb gray foyer walls — Edgecomb Gray on foyer walls, via Young House Love

It is also a well composed choice for mushroom colored cabinetry:

Benjamin moore edgecomb gray kitchen cabinets — Edgecomb Gray on kitchen cabinets, via MV Custom

If you are looking for a safe, tried and true greige in a lighter color range, definitely pick up a sample of Edgecomb Gray to try out in your home!

Benjamin Moore Natural Cream – OC-14 / LRV: 64.78

Benjamin moore natural cream swatch on a fan deck

Though grouped within the Creams, Natural Cream is a light greige at heart. It is also one of Studio McGee's tried and true paint colors, as beautifully displayed on this McGee Home ceiling below:

Benjamin moore natural cream ceiling — Natural Cream bedroom ceiling, via Studio McGee

Natural Cream is one of the lightest colors on this list, and can even pass for a dark ivory in some lighting conditions:

Benjamin moore natural cream kitchen cabinets — Natural Cream kitchen cabinets, via Emma Courtney Home

It is also one of the colors I considered for our Hacienda Hideaway kitchenisland, though I ultimately landed on Creamy White instead:

Benjamin moore natural cream samplize swatch

After ordering samples in person, I think the photo below is the most accurate real-life representation. You can see it looks a bit darker compared to the first two photos, as shown on the lower cabinets in this kitchen:

The variations you see on screen are another reason that it is necessary to order samples before committing to a paint color! I personally find Samplize the easiest and most cost effective way to test colors.

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak – OC-20 / LRV: 68.64

Benjamin moore pale oak swatch on a fan deck

The lightest color on this list, Pale Oak is another best seller that leans slightly more gray under most lighting conditions. With pink-purple undertones, it can also fall into the 'taupe' category.

Benjamin moore pale oak foyer walls — Pale Oak foyer walls, A Thoughtful Place

It is a well composed choice for subtle contrast trim, as seen below paired with white walls:

Benjamin moore pale oak wall molding — Pale Oak wall molding, via House of Jade Interiors

The lighter tone of this color makes it a safer and less committal option if you are looking to test the greige waters. It also makes a great neutral backdrop that will complement almost any decor style.

Benjamin moore pale oak foyer wall — Pale Oak entry wall, via My Simply Unfussy

Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter – HC-172 / LRV: 55.05

Benjamin moore revere pewter swatch fan deck

A favorite among designers and DIYers alike, Revere Pewter is one of the most popular paint colors of all time. It is also a go-to for many designers, including Amber Interiors:

Benjamin moore revere pewter kitchen cabinets — Revere Pewter kitchen cabinets, via Amber Interiors

It is a striking color on any surface, from cabinets to walls, furniture and trim. I genuinely love it used on contrasting doors and trim, as shown below:

Benjamin moore revere pewter doors and trim — Revere Pewter doors and trim, via Halfway Wholeistic

If you are looking for a greige that will stand the test of time, Revere Pewter should be at the top of your list of colors to sample!

Benjamin moore revere pewter foyer walls

Side by Side Comparisons

When looking for paint colors, I find it particularly helpful to compare different swatches side by side. The best way to do this is with real samples in your own home, of course, but seeing them online can help you start narrowing them down. This is always my first step when researching colors.

I have rounded up several real-life greige paint swatch comparisons below, in various rooms and lighting for you to compare. I hope you find these as helpful as I do!

popular greige and beige color swatch comparison — Comparing greige paint samplesfor the trim in the Hacienda Hideaway (I chose #8!)

benjamin moore greige color swatch comparison on walls — Benjamin Moore Greige Paint samples, via So Much Better with Age

popular greige and beige color sample comparison — Greige and tan paint samples, via Kylie M Interiors

greige color sample comparison on wall — via Houzz discussion

gray and greige paint color comparison on wall — via Evolution of Style

Tips for choosing the right paint color

Do your research. I start by searching online to find real-life examples and blog reviews (like this post!) to narrow down potential colors.
Do not trust renderings (or monitors). Ignore the computer generated “paint visualizer” rooms—online renderings do not translate to real-life results! Even real photos online will vary greatly, so find as many contrasting examples as you can and expect it to still look different in your space.
Order more samples than you think you need. There is nothing more frustrating than spending hours narrowing down a handful of colors, only to find that none of them are what you wanted. Play it safe and order lots of reusable samples(at least 6-10!) More likely than not, they'll come in handy again later.
Take your time when testing samples. Move the samples around to each wall, and study them from every angle, with the lights on and off, throughout the day and night. If one does not stand out right away, give it another day or two and start narrowing them down until a winner is chosen.
Consider your trim color/decor. It is critical to look at the paint next to your trim (or wall) colors, as well as your furnishings and decor. Many times, this will be the main deciding factor, and more important than your preference for the color on its own.

What is the best way to test paint colors?

Without a doubt, in my opinion, the best way to sample paint colors is with Samplize reusable peel and stick samples. I am constantly testing out new colors and looking for ways to streamline the process. Here is why I made the switch:

You can order samples without leaving the house, and have them delivered overnight.
They cost about the same (or less) than store paint samples.
They are made using actual paint, so they are a well suited match every time.
No mess to clean up, no extra paint cans to store in your garage, and no wasted paint!
It is SO much faster to stick them on the wall than to paint 2-3 coats and wait for them to dry.
You can stick them to anything—including molding, cabinetry, trim and textured walls, to see how they'll look on any surface.
You can store and reuse them for future projects. I file mine away in folders grouped by color family.

Greige and green are a well suited pairing! Look at the most popular Sage Green paints next →

Greige Paint Color Q&A

Is greige going out of style?

When used properly, neutral colors will never go out of style. While greige has been trendy for the last several years, there is a reason it remains a staple among interior designers. It is the well suited marriage of cool and warm, timeless and on-trend, and it can complement most any other color. If you do not want to fully commit, try a lighter greige (higher LRV) as an accent color (on trim, furniture, cabinetry, doors, etc).

What are some other greige colors?

There are countless more greige colors that you may want to consider. Here are a few less popular options worth looking into: Pashmina, Alpaca, Realist Beige, Analytical Gray, Taupe of the Morning, Dumpling, Limewash.

What are the most popular warm grays?

There are many popular grays on the cusp of greige, but slightly too gray to make this list. If you are looking for a warm gray, look at: Repose Gray, Gossamer Veil, Classic Gray, Balboa Mist, Mindful Gray, Dorian Gray, Functional Gray.

What are the most popular cool beiges?

If you are looking for a beige that falls just outside of the greige range, try: Canvas Tan, Clay Beige, Grant Beige, Balanced Beige, Kilim Beige, Sandbar, Jogging Path, Loggia, Manchester Tan.

most popular greige paint colors sherwin williams benjamin moore

Whew, I think that just about covers it! If you plan to use greige soon or anytime in the future, make sure to bookmark this page as a guide to help you get started. I find this detailed information invaluable in my own research, and I hope it has been helpful to you as well.

What is your favorite greige paint color? Let me know if you have any questions/thoughts in the comments below!