In Search of The Perfect Gray

I've been searching the world of paint for the perfect gray to go on our master bedroom and bathroom walls.  Now, what constitutes "the perfect gray" depends on who you ask.  Some want warmth, others want an icy gray with blue undertones.  Then, there are grays with green or purple, yes purple, undertones.  Huh?  Isn't gray just...gray?  Oh, if only it were that easy.  Throw in the fact that the lighting and existing finishes in your room will affect the color and it can all seem so overwhelming.  

 

So how do you find the perfect gray for you?  

 

Here's my method:

You buy a hell of a lot of teeny-tiny samples and you paint swatches all over your wall until you find THE ONE.  

 

For me, this is the only way to guarantee I'm going to get the exact color I want.  I've got to see actual paint, not those itty bitty paint chips, in the actual space it's going in to know that it's right.

Once you paint several different grays side-by-side, the undertones will really start to jump out at you.  You'll look at a swatch that, a moment ago, you would have sworn on you life was gray and now, next to other grays it is clearly reading blue.

Today I applied my final round of gray swatches and am happy to say I have finally found MY perfect gray.  Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore.  It's warm, very neutral, not too dark and not at all blue.  Finally!

For now I've got all the projects I can handle so I won't get to painting these rooms for a couple of months. At least now I know what color my bedroom and bathroom will be.  Now I just have to convince the boyfriend we should spend a weekend painting.  I have a feeling I'm going to have to buy a really nice bottle of scotch.

 

Gray walls and bedrooms were made for each other.  Check out these images of gray bedrooms from DecorPad.