Last Updated on January 1, 2024 by lindseymahoney
One of my favorite paint colors to add to a room is a shade of blue-gray. A lighter blue gray creates a fresh and breezy atmosphere, while darker blueish gray colors add warmth and coziness to a room.
If you are itching to add a little color to your home but are afraid you will choose the wrong color, a blue gray paint color is the perfect place to start!
In the past, I have used light blue gray paint colors as well as dark blue gray colors and I love them all.
I tend to use this color in bright rooms that have a lot of natural sunlight (southern or eastern-facing rooms).
The cool undertones neutralize the warm light from the sunlight and the room feels perfectly balanced. Today I am sharing 10 versatile blue gray paint colors to consider for your home.
Popular Blue Gray Paint Colors for Your Home
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When choosing a paint color for your home, I always recommend testing the color in the room to see how it looks during the day and night.
Test a color sample on multiple walls to see how it looks throughout the day – it can be surprising how different a color looks at home!
Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore
LRV 8
This moody shade continues to be Benjamin Moore’s most popular blue paint color. It is part of their historical collection and looks fabulous on the exterior of homes as well as the interior.
If you are looking to pull in some nautical vibes, this paint color is a great option without feeling too kitschy. I used Hale Navy in the half bathroom of our third home and it turned out so well.
This was my first foray into dark paint colors and it gave me the confidence to experiment with darker colors in other rooms.
*Check out the rich and moody paint colors blog post for recommendations on dramatic paint colors for your home!
Outerspace by Sherwin Williams
LRV 12
I used Outerspace (SW 6251) in our large master bedroom and it was exactly what this space needed!
With such a large footprint, this moody blue helped to create a cozy atmosphere, perfect for any bedroom. I used the same color on the trim and doors to create a seamless look throughout the room.
Adirondack Blue by Behr
LRV 23
Adirondack Blue is one of Behr’s most popular blue paint colors. This muted blue looks beautiful on kitchen cabinets or is a great option for bedrooms.
Good Jeans by Clare Paint
LRV 29
Good Jeans is a medium, grayish blue with a close resemblance to your favorite denim jeans.
Emily Henderson used this warm blue in her basement bathroom and it really brought some life into this once white and boring bathroom.
Cobblestone Path by Benjamin Moore
LRV 37
Cobblestone Path is a delicate blue gray color that is named after its similarities to cobbled streets in centuries-old cities. This hue is a part of Benjamin Moore’s classics collection and I can see it working with any design style.
Krypton by Sherwin Williams
LRV 52
Krypton (SW 6247) is a beautiful light blue with slate gray undertones and is part of the Sherwin-Williams minimalist collection.
This lighter shade is a great option for coastal designs in light and bright rooms.
Mizzle by Farrow & Ball
LRV 53
While this is technically a greenish gray color, it definitely has a hint of blue, too.
This soft hue was created to look like the West Country evening skies when there is a mix of mist and drizzle. This soft blue-green color looks beautiful on the exterior of a home or welcoming guests at the front door.
Smoke by Benjamin Moore
LRV 56
Smoke is a medium gray paint color with blue undertones.
Jillian Harris used this color on the cabinets in her laundry room and holy cow does it look beautiful! The entire design feels so fresh and clean, which is exactly how you want your laundry room to feel!
Skylight by Farrow & Ball
LRV 58
When I began planning our guest bedroom refresh, I knew that a pale blue gray color would be perfect.
Similar to our master bedroom, it is a large room that gets a lot of natural sunlight throughout the day. I chose Skylight, a pale and traditional blue, for the feminine guest bedroom makeover.
This Skylight, by Farrow & Ball creates are relaxing and serene space for our guests to enjoy.
I also decided to paint the bookshelf the same light blue-gray as the walls.
Because I painted the nightstands white and the dresser was already white, I was concerned that a painted white bookshelf would start to fall into “farmhouse style”.
Painting the bookshelf the same color as the wall allowed me to paint the dark brown bookshelf for a more subtle look.
Upward by Sherwin-Williams
LRV 57
Sherwin-Williams chose Upward as their 2024 color of the year and for good reason.
This coastal blue is the perfect pop of color for your walls while still acting as a neutral. Pair this blue gray color with crisp white to complete the comfortable and stylish look.
Moonshine by Benjamin Moore
LRV 67
If you are looking for a lighter blue-gray color option, Moonshine is for you.
It is a muted off-white paint color with rich, blue gray undertones. JH Interior Design uses this paint color on the trim in the bathroom of her Iowa City project. It adds just the right amount of contrast to the white subway tile and compliments the gray claw foot tub.
Where can I use the blue gray paint color in my home?
Blue gray paint colors can truly be used in any room of your home, but I tend to use it more in bedrooms and bathrooms.
I love houses that have blue exteriors or beautiful blue doors welcoming their guests. I could also be easily convinced of blue kitchen cabinets, I just haven’t had the opportunity to try it yet!
Bedrooms and Bathrooms
If you are thinking about selling your home in the next 3-5 years, a soothing, light blue paint color in the bathroom could increase your property value by as much as $5,000, according to Zillow.
In the bedroom, potential home buyers like deeper blue-gray colors that help you wind down from your day.
What does Light Reflective Value (LRV) mean?
LRV tells us how much light a color absorbs on a scale from 0 to 100. The lower the number, the less light the color will reflect and will therefore feel darker. The higher the LRV number, the more reflective the color, making a space feel lighter and brighter.
What is an undertone?
A paint undertone is the color you don’t see that can cause the main color (tone) to feel warm or cool. Warm paint colors have yellow, beige, or pink undertones. Cool paint colors have green, purple or blue undertones.
Is blue gray paint a warm or cool color?
Blue gray paint colors are considered cooler colors. Check out the color wheel below.
When I use blue-gray paint colors, I prefer to use them in rooms with more direct sunlight to balance the cool undertones.
When a cool color is used in a room without a lot of natural sunlight (northern facing) you run the risk of a room feeling cold and uninviting. This is not always the case, but something I am aware of when choosing colors.
