More homebuyers are expressing that grays are their preferred interior paint color. Integrate the most popular gray hues into your offering of finishes to attract a wide range of homebuyers.

Gray walls exude a modern simplicity with a fresh yet familiar feel. They integrate well with natural views and are great complements to a range of furnishings.

With these qualities it’s no wonder that more homebuyers are turning to gray as an interior paint color. Join the continuing “gray is the new beige” trend by offering various grays as finishing options — you’ll increase buyer satisfaction and add value to your homes.

Here are the easiest ways to integrate grays:

1. Finding the right gray for your homes

Although the color gray is commonly associated with cooler, cloudy days, there are both “cool grays” and “warm grays.” Cool grays have more blue undertones, while warm grays are grounded in yellow and brown — similar to “greige,” a combination of gray and beige. Consider the following elements when you’re deciding between a cool or warm gray for interiors: flooring, cabinetry, lighting fixtures, wood trim (painted or stained) and the color of stone or brick in the house. The undertone of your interior elements should match the undertone of the grays you use. For example, cooler interior elements, such as certain stone and brushed nickel, pair well with cooler grays, while brick and gold are warmer and more easily integrate with warmer undertones, such as beige.

Once you find the right undertone, you can use a variety of gray shades within that undertone throughout your homes. Cool grays — like Repose (SW 7015) or Argos (SW 7065) — complement pure white trims and rooms with plenty of light. Warm grays — like Keystone Gray (SW 7504) or Curio Gray (SW 0024) — work well with wood trims. Whether you go warm or cool, grays will create a comfortable, clean environment that homebuyers are drawn to.

2. Use grays to add dimension to your homes

Gray paint can also help add dimension to the rooms of your homes, giving your walls more personality, so they won’t feel as bare. Go classic with gray walls and white ceilings, using Pure White (SW 7005) or Extra White (SW 7006). For your more taupe walls, use white ceiling paint such as Alabaster (SW 7008) or Creamy (SW 7012).

Or, for more impact, paint ceilings gray. Try a gray that’s two or three shades lighter than the wall color — like Light French Gray (SW 0055) — to give a smaller room a spacious feel. Select a darker gray paint for a high ceiling in a large room. It will create the illusion of a cozy space. Whether you choose gray on the walls or on the ceilings, it offers a crisper, cleaner look than beige. And because gray paint is offered with many different undertones, it can be the most neutral hue possible or give dramatic dimension — another great reason to add it to your palette.

3. Deliver your grays in high-quality paints that add value

Expanded paint palettes and a higher-quality paint? Now that’s a powerful combination. It will help drive up the value of your homes, and the profits for your business. Sherwin-Williams Cashmere^® Interior Acrylic Latex or Emerald^® Interior Latex Acrylic offer enhanced durability and washability, so your buyers will get a wall finish that withstands the rigors of everyday living. For more information on combining the power of an expanded color palette and higher-quality interior paints, read “Don’t Overlook Paint When It Comes to Profitability”.

Sherwin-Williams is here to help

With Sherwin-Williams Color Marketing and Design Services, we can help you refresh your interior palette selections, create color selection tools that highlight your upgrade offering, and create coordinating exterior color schemes that incorporate gray into your options.

Talk to your local Sherwin-Williams representative, or contact us to have a representative contact you.