Steely Gaze
With a focus on versatile and reflective tones, Steely Gaze (PPG0996-2) is a standout paint color in our database. It was selected for this featured gallery for its ability to provide a clean, timeless feel that works across various lighting conditions. See it applied across 10 real world scenarios and find professional pairing data below.
Hex
#cdccca
LRV
60.00
Steely Gaze's Color Strip
Steely Gaze is the second shade on this 7-color strip, sitting between Shining Scale and Statue Garden. The strip spans from Shining Scale at the lightest end to Summer Shadow at the deepest. As part of strip PPG0996, these colors are curated to work together — helpful when you're deciding how light or deep to go.
Steely Gaze in Real Rooms
Steely Gaze has a high LRV of 60 — it reflects a lot of light and will read pale and airy in most spaces.
1 Bathroom Photo
Small bathrooms amplify whatever color is on the wall, which makes the choice more consequential than it first appears. Steely Gaze has enough depth to register without closing the room in, and it plays well with white subway tile or warm wood accents.
Steely Gaze — wabi-sabi bathroom
@simplywalldecor
1 Front Door Photo
Choosing Steely Gaze for your entry is an exercise in restraint and elegance. It suggests a home that is well-cared for and curated, setting a high bar for the interior design before the door is even opened.
stylish front door featuring Steely Gaze by PPG
@simplywalldecor
1 Dining Room Photo
Pairing Steely Gaze with a white ceiling and high white wainscoting creates a classic, high-contrast look that is perfect for a traditional dining space. It brings a sense of architectural rhythm and formality that is hard to achieve with lighter tones.
Steely Gaze paint in a mid century dining room
@simplywalldecor
1 Bedroom Photo
Steely Gaze has a unique ability to make a bedroom feel larger yet more intimate at the same time. By softening the "edges" of the room, the walls seem to move back, while the warmth of the tone makes the bed feel like a safe, protected island in the center of the space.
A scandinavian bedroom painted in Steely Gaze
@simplywalldecor
1 Home Office Photo
For those who spend their day on camera, Steely Gaze is a highly flattering background color. It doesn't wash out skin tones or create weird reflections, providing a professional and "expensive" look for virtual meetings and presentations.
PPG Steely Gaze in a industrial home office
@simplywalldecor
1 Mudroom Photo
For smaller entries, Steely Gaze provides a "box" of color that defines the space. It tells you exactly where the "messy" zone ends and the "clean" house begins, using color psychology to manage the flow of the household.
Steely Gaze paint in a cottagecore mudroom
@simplywalldecor
1 Patio Photo
In sun-drenched climates, Steely Gaze is a practical choice that helps reduce the glare from the patio floor. It absorbs the harsh light, making the outdoor space more comfortable for the eyes during the peak hours of the day.
boho patio featuring Steely Gaze by PPG
@simplywalldecor
1 Kitchen Photo
Kitchens are often the noisiest rooms in the house; Steely Gaze provides the visual equivalent of acoustic dampening. Its steady, calm presence helps lower the "volume" of the room, creating a more pleasant environment for cooking and conversation.
Steely Gaze — classy kitchen cabinets
@simplywalldecor
1 House Photo
On the exterior, Steely Gaze holds up across all lighting conditions — crisp in full sun, rich and dimensional on overcast days. It pairs especially well with white trim, black window frames, and natural stone, giving the home a timeless, curated presence.
Steely Gaze color — eclectic house inspiration
@simplywalldecor
1 Living Room Photo
Steely Gaze works harder than it looks in a living room environment. Whether the space gets direct southern sun or stays north-facing and dim, the color finds its specific register — neither receding into the background nor demanding the spotlight. It acts as a sophisticated backdrop that makes every piece of furniture or art placed in front of it look immediately more considered and curated.
A mid century living room painted in Steely Gaze
@simplywalldecor
Expert Perspectives
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