Picking out the right paint color sometimes feels like looking for a needle in a haystack. This is especially applicable if you want a gray without clearly visible undertones. But it doesn’t have to be so if you decide to use Benjamin Moore’s Stonington Gray.
I’m excited to show you how this color performs and how to work with its LRV and undertone. Sit back, relax, and go on this ride with me before deciding if Stonington Gray is ideal for your decor.
Table of Contents
When to Choose Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray
There’s a certain quality about Stonington Gray that makes it the darling of gray paint colors. While it’s not the brightest gray, it’s also not as muted as you would expect considering its LRV. This quality makes it unique and malleable for different decor styles.
New living room color
If you have a large living room or are working on an open-floor concept, Stonington Gray is one color that can tie everything together. Use it as the main color and throw in vibrant hues and soft pastels to complete the look.
Upgrading a small room
Small rooms are typically not difficult to decorate, but you must also know that some paint colors tend to make them look even smaller. Brighter neutrals like Stonington Gray lend small rooms a spacious appearance while adding elegance to the mix.
Perfect whole-house color
If you’re not keen on picking different colors for different rooms, consider Stonington Gray as a whole-house color. It accommodates many shades, so you can add other colors to the decor by using them on feature walls, accessories, and furniture.
I’m not just talking about this paint color because I like it. There are many sides to it, and I want you to see its versatility so you can fully maximize it. Let’s go further to learn more about Stonington Gray.
What Color Is Stonington Gray?
The name Stonington is that of a place. A few towns bear the name, including Stonington, Connecticut. The name means ‘stony town’ and was first coined in 1666, according to recent memory.
This name may point to the exact shade of this paint color, although there’s a crucial difference. That difference is the undertone that changes it from the usual stone color to something unique.
Benjamin Moore’s Stonington Gray is a medium silvery gray paint color with enough neutrality to fit any decor. It can act somewhat as a bride between different color schemes.
A Snapshot of the Specifications of Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray
A chart is one of the easiest ways to summarize the specific details of this paint color, or any other one for that matter. So, let’s see these details to help you understand it better, including the LRR and undertone.
| Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray | |
| RGB | 202, 203, 197 |
| LRV | 59.36 |
| Undertone | Blue |
| HEX Code | #CACBC5 |
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray: Understanding the LRV
You may be new to this, but LRV is the light reflectance value of color, measuring the amount of light the color reflects on a scale of 0 to 100. Black typically has an LRV of 0, while white has an LRV of 100.
The scale for paint colors is not exactly the same since there’s no true black or white. They use a scale of 2.5 to 94, indicating the brightness or dullness of any paint color of choice.
Benjamin Moore’s Stonington Gray has an LRV of 59.36, making it slightly above average. That means the paint color reflects light but not a lot of it. It may look slightly muted in a room with low light.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray: Examining the Undertone
Every gray paint color has undertones, no matter how minimal. Some reveal their undertones quicker than others, which makes it easy to determine what they are.
Stonington Gray is one such color and has a blue undertone that can quickly read blue-green in some lighting conditions. Some call it a blue-gray because of the obvious undertone.
However, the undertone doesn’t make the color crisp or icy. It only gives it a little color to keep it from looking bland. Most times, though, Stonington Gray looks pretty neutral, revealing no undertone.
This is Stonington Gray with no obvious undertone, but it looks great with the blue floor.
And here is the same paint color looking more blue-gray than the actual gray paint color.
Sometimes, Stonington Gray leans a little toward violet, although this doesn’t always happen. You may notice a smidge of purple in this room due to the lighting.
How Does Lighting Affect Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray?
Lighting is, perhaps, the most important factor affecting paint colors, including Stonington Gray. It can make any paint color take on a different shade or reflect the hues of vibrant colors around it. Lighting can also brighten a deep color or make it look darker than usual.
This hallway has a lot of natural light, and Stonington Gray has never looked brighter. The color almost looks like an off-white or a pretty light gray than the actual color.
In warm light, Stonington Gray appears to be greige instead of gray, and there’s no hint of its blue undertone.
Without so much natural light, Stonington Gray can take on a darker shade, looking more muted than usual. However, it is not too dark or somber.
In warm yellow light, the paint color looks different, not as sharp or bright as you would expect.
The type of lighting you plan to use with Stonington Gray matters because it can make or mar your love for it. The same applies to the surrounding elements and other colors within the same decor.
How Does Stonington Gray Feel in a Room?
If you want a bright color that doesn’t look jarring but comes close to white, Stonington Gray is one to try. Its LRV doesn’t indicate that it is bright, but the color looks surprisingly light in bright lighting.
Stonington Gray can also make a small room appear bigger and brings an understated elegance to it. The color is fresh, airy, and smooth, accommodating different colors at the same time.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray: Warm or Cool?
Stonington Gray is a cool color because of its blue undertone. Blue is always a cool color, but sometimes, it doesn’t appear as cool as you would expect. This paint color is not crisp or icy but works well in a coastal-themed decor, which reminds you of warm beach sands.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray Color Strip: Lighter to Darker Exploration
If Stonington Gray is not the exact shade you want or there’s a need for alternatives, I’ve got your back. Here, I have lighter and darker options from the same color strip as Stonington Gray to make selection easier.
- Benjamin Moore Wickham Gray HC-171
- Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray HC-170
- Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter HC-172
- Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray HC-169
- Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray HC-168
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray Complementary Color
Pick any color and search for it on the color wheel; you’ll notice there’s a color opposite it. That’s not a random placement but a careful arrangement based on how colors relate. Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel, so they are usually easy to find.
However, because of the peculiarities of paint colors, it may not be so straightforward. Fortunately, I’ve picked the complementary color for Stonington Gray, which is a pale lavender shade with a hint of gray.
Benjamin Moore’s Misty Memories 2118-60 is close to this color, and so is Sherwin Williams Grape Mist SW 6548. You can choose one or the other if you want to try different brands.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray Coordinating Colors
Some colors perform excellently well when used together in a color scheme or decor. The paint world calls them complementary or coordinating colors. They share similarities that may be lost to the naked eye but become obvious when combined to create a seamless flow.
Lychee, Chantilly Lace, and Puritan Gray are three coordinating colors for Stonington Gray from the brand.
- Benjamin Moore Lychee AF-40: A surprisingly bright color in the white color family softened with a hint of peach.
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65: One of the most popular white paint colors that works well with almost all shades because of its neutrality.
- Benjamin Moore Puritan Gray HC-164: A medium gray with obvious blue-green hues that deepen and give it character.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray Color Palettes
The following are some color palette examples to try with Stonington Gray. Feel free to add or remove colors to fit your decor.
Contrasting Color Palette
- Decorator’s White OC-149: A cool white paint color with a hint of gray that matches the versatile Stonington Gray.
- Blue Heron 832: A violet-blue paint color grounded by a touch of gray that blends well with Stonington Gray while providing a bit of contrast at the same time.
- Damask Yellow CW-400: A bright yellow with a hint of creaminess and earthiness that brightens the decor while blending with the neutral Stonington Gray.
Monochromatic Color Palette
- Cos Cob Stonewall 1483: A relatively dark gray paint color with smoky green undertones that are a rich shade of the much brighter Stonington Gray.
- American White 2112-70: A much brighter shade of Stonington Gray that looks like a cool white but looks good as a trim color.
- Arctic Shadows 1559: A mid-tone paint color with a green undertone that deepens it to brighten lighter colors like Stonington Gray.
Coordinating Color Palette
- Puritan Gray HC-164: A medium gray with obvious blue-green hues that deepen and give it character.
- Chantilly Lace OC-65: One of the most popular white paint colors that works well with almost all shades because of its neutrality.
- Lychee AF-40: A surprisingly bright color in the white color family softened with a hint of peach.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray vs Similar Colors
Let’s look at how Stonington Gray compares to similar colors and if they are better options than the one under review.
BM Gray Owl vs BM Stonington Gray
Gray Owl is lighter than Stonington Gray and has obvious green undertones. While Stonington Gray can show a bit of green sometimes, it is very small and rare.
BM Collingwood vs BM Stonington Gray
Collingwood looks lighter and slightly warmer than Stonington Gray. With its violet undertones, Collingwood looks different from Stonington Gray.
BM Revere Pewter vs BM Stonington Gray
Revere Pewter is obviously warm compared to the cool Stonington Gray. This warmth comes from its green undertones, whereas the blue in Stonington Gray makes it cool.
BM Harbor Gray vs BM Stonington Gray
Harbor Gray is slightly darker than Stonington Gray with a lower LRV. It may also appear cooler if they are paired.
BM Coventry Gray vs BM Stonington Gray
While both colors have blue undertones, Coventry Gray is darker than Stonington Gray. But you can use both in the same color scheme.
BM Nimbus vs BM Stonington Gray
Nimbus has an LRV above 60, making it slightly lighter than Stonington Gray. However, it’s a warm color, so they may not work well together.
Sherwin Williams Paint Color Equivalent to BM Stonington Gray
There’s no exact match or equivalent from Sherwin Williams to match Benjamin Moore’s Stonington Gray. Every paint color is unique, which is why similar colors have distinct differences when placed side by side.
However, Sherwin Williams’ Passive SW 7064 bears an uncanny resemblance to Stonington Gray. Their red, green, and blue (RGB) codes are almost the same, except that Passive has more blue in it than Stonington Gray. Tinsmith SW 7657 and Sweater Weather SW 9548 are also pretty similar to Stonington Gray.
Where Can You Use Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray?
The beautiful shade of this color makes it usable in any room, especially with bright lighting. Let’s see some examples to inspire you.
Best Trim Color for Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray Walls
White is usually a great choice, and you can try Chantilly Lace for this purpose. However, Stonington Gray is a light color, so you can try a darker gray for versatility.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray in a Dining Area
Do you see the hint of blue-green in Stonington Gray? It makes the room look warm and inviting, despite the neutral color scheme.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray on Kitchen Walls
If the cabinets are white or a dark color like navy blue, dark wood, or charcoal, Stonington Gray works well as the wall color.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray in a Bathroom
This paint color brightens the bathroom, blending with the rest of the decor. Light colors usually go well in bathrooms.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray in a Bedroom
If you’re skeptical about using a neutral theme for personal space, this bedroom is proof that you have nothing to worry about.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray in a Living Room
Here, Stonington Gray appears to show more green than blue, which may have something to do with the lighting.
Best Ceiling Color for Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray Walls
If you are adventurous, dark gray or blue looks great on the ceiling. But white is still the best option to make Stonington Gray stand out.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray in an Entryway
You won’t get bored with this paint color if you use it right, like in this entryway. The trim is Benjamin Moore’s Simply White.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray on Trim
The board and batten in this gym is graced by Stonington Gray, paired with white, and completely transform the room to a relaxing one.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray on Kitchen Cabinets
I love how light and creamy Stonington Gray appears on these cabinets.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray on Exterior Walls
Who doesn’t like a view, or French windows for that matter? This house looks even better because of the paint color.
Conclusion
Benjamin Moore’s Stonington Gray is one of the best gray paint colors on the market. It holds up well under different lighting, despite its LRV of 59.36. With a blue undertone, Stonington Gray is a cool color but neither crispy nor icy.
Remember to test every paint color with samples from stores before deciding on one. Colors tend to look different in real life and when dried on the walls than they do in photos or screens. You can follow this guide to create a palette to fit Stonington Gray and get the results you want.
Let me know if you have questions in the comments sections, and know that I’m rooting for you.
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