Sherwin Williams Escape Gray SW 6185: Review & Inspiration

Have you recently looked at Sherwin Williams Escape Gray and wondered how to make it work? This paint color is not your usual green or gray, but if you love the more popular Evergreen Fog, you will also love it.

Picking out the right paint color for your decor is not always a walk in the park. However, you don’t have to do it alone, especially if Escape Gray is on your radar. Let me help you decide if this paint color is ideal for your decor and show you how best to use it.

I can’t wait to go on this journey with you. And without further ado, let’s get right to it.

When to Choose Sherwin Williams Escape Gray

Loving a paint color is one thing, but knowing when to choose it over similar colors is different. Does it work with the existing colors? Does it look nice with the lighting? Will you still like it months from now? I’ve got a few ideas on using Escape Gray for the best results.

Want an Evergreen Fog alternative?

Evergreen Fog is a classic green-gray paint color with slightly blue undertones. However, it can appear very muted or dark, especially in rooms with low light. If you want a brighter alternative, you won’t find a better one than Escape Gray.

Looking to add a bit of nature?

Although cool and not very bright, Escape Gray brings a bit of nature with its unique green tone. You can use it in a room with potted plants without making it look too green or dense.

Have an abundance of light in the room?

Escape Gray loves light because of its shade. It’s not the brightest green in the pack, but it serves its purpose. Use it in a room with a lot of light if you want to see its beauty.

These points should get you going if all you need is how best to use this paint color. However, there’s much more you’re yet to see about Escape Gray that will help you make an informed decision. Let’s get right to it, shall we?

What Color Is Escape Gray?

The name of this paint color sounds peculiar, doesn’t it? It’s as if it’s saying gray is too mundane and normal is boring. That may not be too far from the truth. Gray is a lovely color and one of the best neutrals.

But it’s used a lot, and many times, it doesn’t provide that hint of color you want. So, what if you can have a color that is ray but not entirely so? Enter Escape Gray; it gives a bit of gray and adds color to keep it from appearing bland. You still get your neutral but with a unique hue.

Sherwin Williams Escape Gray SW 6185 is a green paint color with great neutrality and versatility. It brings maturity and sophistication to any decor without compromising on color.

A Snapshot of Sherwin Williams Escape Gray Specifications

A chart detailing the specific characteristics of Escape Gray will go a long way to bring the color home to you. Certain aspects, such as LRV and undertone, are crucial to know when deciding on a paint color, especially one like Escape Gray. I’ll talk more about them later.

	Sherwin Williams Escape Gray
RGB	171, 172, 159
LRV	41
Undertone	Blue and gray
HEX Code	#ABAC9F

 

The LRV of Sherwin Williams Escape Gray

LRV is the light reflectance value of color and refers to, on a scale of 0 to 100, how much light the color reflects. Extremely dark colors like black don’t reflect any light. You can say they absorb it, their LRV is 0. On the other hand, pure white colors reflect all light, which takes their LRV of 100.

But paint colors don’t have pure black or pure white. So, the scale for paint colors is slightly different. It is 2.5 to 94, which allows you to see how bright or dull a paint color is.

Escape Gray has an LRV of 41, just slightly below the middle point. As paint colors go, this is a medium green paint color. So, it can’t reflect a lot of light.

The Undertones of Sherwin Williams Escape Gray

The uniqueness of this paint color comes from its undertones. Escape Gray is a muted green paint color, but part of its depth comes from its blue and gray undertones. You may not have known it, but blue and green tend to work well together.

Simply looking at the paint color, you may not immediately notice the blue in it. Its gray hue is more obvious, so it is easy to see. Here is Escape Gray in its natural appearance:

This next picture shows a bit of its gray and blue undertones, although they are not very much out there:

How Does Lighting Affect Sherwin Williams Escape Gray?

As I mentioned earlier, Escape Gray enjoys a lot of light if it must look pretty. Its peculiar hue means it may appear too dark or dull in low or cold light. You don’t want to use it in a room with a northern exposure because of the blue and gray in it.

Otherwise, the combination of green, blue, and gray will not look very pretty. Warm natural light is your best bet for this paint color.

Without direct sunlight, Escape Gray looks like this entryway in the next picture:

But sometimes, you may not have access to such light, so artificial lighting is your next option. Use bright white artificial light for it. Or try warm yellow artificial light if the whites are not available. The bottom line is to keep the paint color from being too dark or dull.

How Does Escape Gray Feel in a Room?

It is a sweet color that reminds you of nature on a cool evening. If you want that fresh, airy feeling of nature, Escape Gray is one color to try. It brings a serene and calming vibe, especially when paired with white or light gray. Throw in some splashes of blue to complete the look.

Sherwin Williams Escape Gray: Warm or Cool?

Escape Gray is a cool green paint color because of its blue and gray undertones. While a few other colors have a similar color and tone, the combination in Escape Gray is unique.

However, color is subject to perception, so what you see may be different from the view of someone else. Fortunately, a common denominator is that Escape Gray is a cool green-gray color with depths of blue that add sophistication.

Sherwin William Escape Gray Color Strip: Lighter to Darker Exploration

In the event that you find Escape Gray is not the exact shade you want, you don’t have to lose your cool. There are several options from the same color strip that allow you to pick a darker or lighter or darker alternative. Check the list below and make the ideal choice.

• Sherwin Williams Conservative Gray SW 6183
• Sherwin Williams Austere Gray SW 6184
• Sherwin Williams Escape Gray SW 6185
• Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog SW 9130
• Sherwin Williams Dried Thyme SW 6186

Sherwin Williams Escape Gray Complementary Colors

These are colors that are opposite each other on a traditional color wheel. It doesn’t matter whether or not they match; just check to see which colors face each other. It could be red and green, blue and orange, or yellow and purple.

Escape Gray is a shade of green that reads a little gray and blue. Therefore, it’s not your traditional green color. Because of this, the complementary color is not exactly red but a shade of lavender-gray with a bit more blue in it than red. And the closest color to it from Sherwin Williams is Berry Cream SW 9075.

Sherwin Williams Escape Gray Coordinating Colors

These are colors that pair harmoniously with each other in a color scheme. They may not have the same shade, but certain similarities make them work well together. When combined, they create a seamless and natural flow in any decor.

I’ve picked three coordinating colors from Sherwin Williams for Escape Gray: Elephant Ear, Aged White, and Ethereal White.

• Sherwin Williams Elephant Ear SW 9168: A saturated gray paint color with a warm undertone and pairs well with the neutral Escape Gray.
• Sherwin Williams Aged White SW 9180: The yellow hue in this bright white paint color is a great complement to the green Escape Gray.
• Sherwin Williams Ethereal White SW 6182: A bright white with a hint of gray that works as an excellent trim color when used with Escape Gray.

Sherwin Williams Escape Gray Color Palettes

Use a color palette if you want to get the best out of Escape Gray. Color palettes mix different colors that have similarities so that you can create a striking decor. You can create a contrasting or monochromatic color palette, but the tone must be the same for a pleasing flow of colors. Warm colors work together and so do cool colors.

Contrasting Color Palette

• Backdrop SW 7025: A deep brown paint color that lightens the shade of Escape Gray and adds a unique perspective to the decor.
• Creamy SW 7012: A warm white with slightly yellow undertones that work well with the green in Escape Gray.
• Frosty White SW 6196: A cool white that pairs well with the cool undertones of Escape Gray, especially as a trim color.

Coordinating Color Palette

• Aged White SW 9180: The yellow hue in this bright white paint color is a great complement to the green Escape Gray.
• Elephant Ear SW 9168: A saturated gray paint color with a warm undertone and pairs well with the neutral Escape Gray.
• Ethereal White SW 6182: A bright white with a hint of gray that works as an excellent trim color when used with Escape Gray.

Monochromatic Color Palette

• Conservative Gray SW 6183: A light shade of green-gray that acts as a soft pastel in a monochromatic decor with deep colors.
• Dried Thyme SW 6186: Like the herb from where it gets its name, this deep green paint color is reminiscent of nature and has an organic feel to it.
• Austere Gray SW 6184: More gray than green, this paint color is just one shade lighter than Escape Gray but pairs perfectly with it.

Sherwin Williams Escape Gray with Similar Colors

Are there colors that are similar to Escape Gray? You bet there are, and I’ll show you how they compare below.

SW Unusual Gray vs SW Escape Gray

Unusual Gray has similar undertones with Escape Gray but is actually gray, not green. Its undertones are green and cyan, and it has an LRV of 38, making it darker than Escape Gray.

SW Evergreen Fog vs SW Escape Gray

Evergreen Fog is very popular with interior decorators because it can change with different settings. Called a chameleon color, it is considerably darker than Escape Gray with an LRV of 30, although they are both green-gray with blue in them.

Benjamin Moore Paint Color Equivalent to SW Escape Gray

Benjamin Moore doesn’t have an equivalent paint color to match Sherwin Williams Escape Gray. You will find a similar color but not an exact equivalent.

However, Benjamin Moore’s Cape May Cobblestone 1474 bears an almost uncanny resemblance to Escape Gray. Their RGB codes are nearly the same, which means they are interchangeable if you get them in the same type.

Where Can You Use Sherwin Williams Escape Gray?

As a pretty neutral color, Escape Gray fits just about any room. You can work it into your kitchen, living room, dining area, bedroom, bathroom, nursery, laundry room, foyer, and exterior.

What matters is your preference, but I want to show you real examples of places where this paint has been used.

Sherwin Williams Escape Gray on Kitchen Walls

If your kitchen cabinets are white, consider using Escape Gray as the wall color for a touch of uniqueness. Get inspiration from the kitchen below:

Sherwin Williams Escape Gray in a Living Room

If you do it right, Escape Gray may just be the best living room color. Check out the next picture for some ideas:

Sherwin Williams Escape Gray on Ceilings

It may not be your first choice, but Escape Gray looks great as a ceiling color. If you have white walls or trimmings, this color looks amazing at the top. But use it with good lighting to keep it from being overwhelming.

Sherwin Williams Escape Gray on Kitchen Cabinets

White walls pair well with many colors. So, why stick with the norm when you can try something different? Escape Gray looks good on cabinets, whether they are kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanity, or bedroom dressers.

Sherwin Williams Escape Gray in a Bedroom

You can use Escape Gray as a whole-room color or on accents only if you feel it’s a bit much. This next picture uses the paint color on the shiplap for a beautiful effect.

Sherwin Williams Escape Gray with Wood Tones

Escape Gray is proof that green will always look great with wood tones. Soft or light wood tones look spectacular with Escape Gray as the backdrop.

Best Trim Color for SW Escape Gray Walls

I’d pick white because of the muted hue of Escape Gray. Ethereal White or Pure White should do the trick if used minimally.

Best Ceiling Color for SW Escape Gray Walls

Again, I’d say white because it works with every color. It will also make Escape Gray look better than when you use another color. However, light gray may also work, although it may create a rather somber look. Stick with white to be safe.

Sherwin Williams Escape Gray on Exterior Walls

The brand recommends Escape Gray for interiors and exteriors. It won’t look dark or dull when used outside because of the abundance of natural light. Moreover, white trim color and window frames are ideal for it.

Sherwin Williams Escape Gray in a Bathroom

In a surprising turn, this bathroom has Escape Gray on the ceiling! You must agree that it looks stylish, doesn’t it?

Conclusion

Create a calming and peaceful space with Sherwin Williams Escape Gray SW 6185. It is a green paint color with blue and gray undertones and can turn a space into a haven if used right.

White works well with it, especially because of its muted tone and LRV of 41. But don’t restrict yourself to the conventional. Try something new and be a trendsetter.

If you have trouble creating a suitable color palette for Escape Gray, I’ve got you covered. Follow my guide on selecting the right colors for different palettes and start decorating. I hope to hear from you in the comments section, and share your awesome pictures with me!