Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray: How to Choose?

So, you are stuck between two amazing colors: Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray. We have all been there where we confused one for the other, and nothing is wrong with that. But is there a difference between the two paint colors? Let’s take a look.

Modern Gray SW 7632 and Agreeable Gray SW 7029 are both warm gray paint colors. But the primary difference lies in their undertones. While Modern Gray has pink-purple undertones, leaning more toward taupe, Agreeable Gray has beige undertones with a wink of green.

You will also find out as we go on that there are other simple but significant differences between these colors. They are pretty similar but are unique in specific areas. Before we get carried away, let’s look at the best times to use each gray paint color.

When to Use Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray

Picking paint colors is not as easy as it looks. This is especially true if the colors are as similar as Modern Gray and Agreeable Gray. And because they are so close together in appearance and tone, you may have difficulty determining when and where best to use each one.

So, when is the best time to use Modern Gray in place of Agreeable Gray or Agreeable Gray instead of Modern Gray? Come along with us.

Use Modern Gray if:

• You are not a fan of green hues peeking through your gray paint
• You need a brighter gray than the usual
• You do not mind a noticeable pink in your gray paint color

Use Agreeable Gray if:

• A muted gray paint color is your style
• Green in your gray paint does not bother you
• You do not mind a warm gray reads slightly cool in certain lighting

Agreeable Gray is the most popular gray paint color from Sherwin Williams. Some may call it the best and most popular paint color. Because of this, Agreeable Gray is usually the first choice when we look for mid-tone grays. However, Modern Gray is similar color and works as well as Agreeable Gray.

If you want a slightly cooler-looking gray between these two for your decor, opt for Agreeable Gray. this may have to be something to do with the wink of green in it. The more dominant undertone is beige, which makes it primarily warm, but in a north-facing room, it may read a little cool.

Modern Gray is undeniably warm because of the pink-purple undertones, which means it has more red than green and blue. It is also the brighter of the two gray colors because of a higher LRV, but more on that later.

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray: A Visual Perspective

What do these colors look like side by side? It may be easier to tell whether or not there is a difference between them if you can see them in real-time use. So, let’s look at Modern Gray and Agreeable Gray in pictures.

This picture features Modern Gray in a dining room:

And here is Agreeable Gray in a well-lit bedroom:

Although Modern Gray is used with artificial lighting, it is still the obviously warmer gray out of the two. The undertones are not readily obvious in Modern Gray, but Agreeable Gray shows some of its beige undertones.

Agreeable Gray may reveal more hues when used in artificial lighting or with different elements. When used in a north-facing room, you may notice a hint of green, which may make the color slightly picky. The beautiful thing about this color is that it is versatile; it blends with warm and cool color schemes.

Use Modern Gray if your decor requires a clearly warm gray and you do not mind pink undertones. As with many gray colors and other light neutrals, Modern Gray looks amazing with wood tones. But opt for Agreeable Gray if you are torn between warm and cool grays with great versatility.

A Swift Comparison: Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray

Knowing where and when to use Modern Gray or Agreeable Gray is only one step in the right direction. There are other details that make up every paint color, and we believe you can make an informed decision if you are armed with this information. Ready? Let’s go!

	Modern Gray	Agreeable Gray
RGB	214, 206, 195	209, 203, 193
LRV	62	60
Undertones	Pink-purple	beige-green
HEX Value	#D6CEC3	#D1CBC1

 

Emotional Effects: Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray

Gray is one of the commonest neutrals and is used in almost every decor. The primary reason is that it blends well with every color, much like white and black does. So, it forms the perfect backdrop for the rest of the colors and accessories without clashing colors.

However, what most people do not understand is that gray is significant in how they feel. Bland grays without any other visible hues can create a moody environment and dampen feelings. But when a gray paint color is warm and inviting, it changes the game, making other colors vibrant and lifting the mood.

That is what you get with Modern Gray and Agreeable Gray. Because of their similarities, they both evoke feelings of warmth and relaxation. They turn a house into a home with their presence, making it a space where you feel welcome. You will find a better balance with Agreeable Gray because it only has a subtle warmth and can turn slightly cool.

LRV of Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray: Which Reflects More Light?

Every color can reflect light at different degrees. Some can do it more than others. This refers to the LRV of any color, and it means the light reflectance value. From a range of 0 to 100, a color can absorb or reflect light. The higher the value, the more light it reflects. And the lower the value, the more light it absorbs.

There are no absolute blacks with an LRV of 0 and no absolute whites with an LRV of 100. Since every color has a bit of an undertone because of the infusion of red, blue, and green, the range for paint colors is between 2.5 and 94.

SW Modern Gray has an LRV of 62. As a gray paint color, this means it is slightly higher than the middle point, as 50 is the mid-point. It also means the paint color can reflect a relatively good amount of light without being too bright.

SW Agreeable Gray has an LRV of 59. Although it is the cooler of the two paint colors, it does not reflect as much light as Modern Gray. As with the other, it is above the middle point of 50, so it throws light back into a room but not as much as Modern Gray.

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray: Are Their Undertones Similar?

The undertones of any paint color make it either warm or cool. In some cases, there are barely-there undertones, which makes such a color a versatile neutral that can work with both warm and cool color schemes.

However, in the case of Modern Gray and Agreeable Gray, each has detectable undertones. As a result, they are warm colors. Also, they do not have similar undertones, which is the distinguishing mark between them.

Modern Gray has pink-purple undertones, which give it a slightly brighter and warmer appearance. Pink and purple are in the red color family and tend to be warm, although there are slightly cool pinks and purples. In this case, they are warm.

On the other hand, Agreeable Gray has beige-green undertones. At first glance, you will notice only a slightly warm beige peeking through. But in rooms with cool color schemes or a specific exposure, a hint of green appears.

A Closer Look at the Undertones of SW Modern Gray

To help you understand what these colors look like with their undertones, we picked pictures that reveal them. The next picture shows Modern Gray used in a hallway with a slightly pink cast to it.

A Closer Look at the Undertones of SW Agreeable Gray

As mentioned, Agreeable Gray has beige undertones and reveals a bit of green sometimes. But this living room still being decorated shows mostly beige undertones and looks warmer than usual.

Although Modern Gray is used mostly with artificial light in the picture above, it is still a solidly warm color. It also shows more brightness than Agreeable Gray in the picture above, with the sunlight throwing warmth into the room.

Both paint colors are ideal for small and large rooms. Your choice will depend on the existing decor or what you plan to use with them if you are yet to decorate. Elements in a room can significantly change the result of the paint color on your wall, especially if undertones are pretty obvious.

Also, both colors pair well with white and other neutrals. However, as much as we like white paint colors, note that some are warm, while others are cool. Warm colors are usually more forgiving, so you may try to pair these grays with cool or warm whites.

But it is best to keep the color scheme the same in one room. In other words, use warm whites or other colors with these grays.

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray: Are They Warm or Cool?

SW Modern Gray and SW Agreeable Gray are both warm gray colors due to their undertones. Gray is typically a cool color, but as we can already see, there are warm grays. However, Agreeable Gray is slightly cooler than Modern Gray, showing promises of having a cool cast in certain lighting.

While both colors are versatile, you may find that Modern Gray performs better as a warm gray than Agreeable Gray. Unless you are not a fan of the pin-purple undertones, use Modern Gray in a room without enough or direct sunlight to maintain some warmth.

You can also use Agreeable Gray for the same purpose because of its warm beige undertones. But it may look too green for your decor at some point, especially with changing lighting conditions and surrounding elements. But we will show you the best complementary color for these grays for an excellent combination.

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray: Complementary Colors

When you pick a paint color, there is usually a range of other colors that work well with it. However, a specific color on the color wheel is the best complementary color, and sometimes, it may appear like the polar opposite. Never mind that; they still look amazing together.

The best color with which to complement Modern Gray is a light cyan blue. And the closest to it from Sherwin Williams is Upward SW 6239. It is a light blue paint color with a gray cast that perfectly blends with the gray of Modern Gray. Also, the blue color matches the slightly purple hue in the warm gray.

The same complementary color applies to Agreeable Gray because of its similarity to Modern Gray. You can also try Sherwin Williams Aleutian SW 6241 because it is pretty similar to the first complementary color.

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray Color Palette

Apart from complementary colors, every paint color also has matching colors and contrasting colors. There is a wide range of hues you can blend with Modern Gray or Agreeable Gray, and we want to show you some of them.

Color Palette for SW Modern Gray

Moth Wing, Snowbound, and Insightful Rose are some of the best colors to add to the color palette of Modern Gray. However, these are only coordinating colors, so you may want to add one matching color and one contrasting color for some versatility.

• Moth Wing SW 9174: It is a medium beige with hints of gray with enough neutrality to pair well with Modern Gray
• Snowbound SW 7004: As a cool white paint color with gray tones, Snowbound is a contrast for the warm Modern Gray but blends because of the gray cast
• Insightful Rose SW 6023: A dusty rose paint color that fully complements the pink-purple undertones in Modern Gray

Color Palette for SW Agreeable Gray

As with Modern Gray, Agreeable Gray works well with coordinating, contrasting, and matching colors. You can create a monochromatic color palette if that is your style. Try Sea Salt, Fawn Brindle, and Naval for starters.

• Sea Salt SW 6204: It is a mild green paint color with a hint of gray and blue that brings out the beauty of the green in the warm gray
• Fawn Brindle SW 7640: A neutral paint color whose green-gray undertones are ideal for pairing with Agreeable Gray
• Naval SW 6244: With gray-green undertones, Naval is perfect for the slightly cool Agreeable Gray as a contrasting hue.

We are so excited to show you real images of these two gray paint colors and how they work on different surfaces. Come along with us as we explore the paint colors on cabinets, exteriors, interiors, and other places.

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray on Cabinets

Paint colors can bring old and abandoned cabinets back to life. Even the smallest coat makes all the difference. Let’s look at Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray on different cabinets.

SW Modern Gray on Cabinets

We carefully picked cabinets painted in Modern Gray under artificial lighting to show you how warm the color can be. It also shows how much it can change in various lighting. Take a look.

SW Agreeable Gray on Cabinets

As a light color, Agreeable Gray can look almost off-white in certain lighting. This next picture is a beautiful representation of the color in a warm-toned kitchen.

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray on Exterior Walls

Gray is not the first choice for entire walls in the exterior of a house. But it will surprise you to know that Modern Gray and Agreeable Gray are some of the best grays for the exterior. Need proof? Check out the next couple of pictures.

SW Modern Gray on Exterior Walls

In this gorgeous exterior, Modern Gray looks bright and light. And pairing it with dark window frames is one of the best ideas.

SW Agreeable Gray on Exterior Walls

Agreeable Gray also looks bright and white on this house, especially with the sun directly on it. With dark trims and window frames, this paint color looks spectacular.

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray on Interior Walls

The commonest place to use gray paint colors is on interior walls. When they perform well, we think about other places where they may work as well. So, let’s see what Modern Gray and Agreeable Gray look like on interior walls.

SW Modern Gray on Interior Walls

We picked a Sherwin-Williams picture to show you how the paint performs, especially with more saturated hues around it.

SW Agreeable Gray on Interior Walls

This bedroom is well-lit with natural sunlight, and coupled with the neutral hues, makes the paint color look pretty cool.

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray in Artificial Lighting

Lighting conditions can make or mar the beauty of any paint color, especially those that easily change. If you are planning on using artificial lighting regularly with these colors, it is best to see how they appear.

SW Modern Gray in Artificial Lighting

Modern Gray looks almost like a tan paint color in this next picture. This is because of the lighting and exposure of the room.

SW Agreeable Gray in Artificial Lighting

In contrast, Agreeable Gray looks brighter than usual in this bedroom decor. It is exposed the artificial lighting, although the exposure may be different from that in the picture above.

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray in Natural Lighting

The paint colors look different in natural lighting, and we want you to see if you prefer them this way. The hues are more obvious, and the decor looks fantastic and warm.

SW Modern Gray in Natural Lighting

Here, Modern Gray is used around a gray-white brick fireplace, and it enhances the tone of the paint color. It also looks bright and white.

SW Agreeable Gray in Natural Light

Agreeable Gray also looks bright in this picture, almost similar to Modern Gray. The only difference is that there is a wink of green in the color, as opposed to the slightly pink hue in the Modern Gray picture.

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray vs Agreeable Gray with Vibrant Hues

Saturated and deep colors can change the perception of lighter colors. How does this affect Modern Gray and Agreeable Gray? You are about to find out.

SW Modern Gray Paired with Vibrant Hues

This sitting has SW Riverway on the accent wall and the rest is Modern Gray. the contrast is striking and sophisticated.

SW Agreeable Gray Paired with Vibrant Hues

This next image also shows a similar contrast, but this time, the vibrant color is more blue than blue-green. It also has a hint of gray.

Lighting Conditions

We have talked extensively about how lighting conditions affect paint colors, bringing out different colors in them. Because every paint color is made up of red, green, and blue, there is always a bit of color different from the main hue. This applies to black and white as well.

However, some have minimal undertones, which makes them easier to work with than other colors. While Modern Gray and Agreeable Gray both have noticeable undertones, they are not excessively obvious. Nevertheless, we can see from the pictures that lighting can make them appear brighter or more muted.

Conclusion

If you are a fan of medium grays or warm grays akin to greiges, try Modern Gray or Agreeable Gray. While they look similar, Agreeable Gray is the more popular of the two colors because of its versatility. But why have decor like everyone else when you can be unique?

Follow our guide to create a color palette for each paint color, adding contrasting, complementary, and matching colors for a striking look. Consider your home a blank canvas on which to get creative, and remember that we can’t wait to see your style. Happy painting!