Earl Grey
We've categorized Earl Grey as a versatile Neutral because of its unique LRV profile. We have documented it across our network because it can add character and warmth to any space so effectively. Explore our collection of 16 room photos to see how it looks alongside coordinating accent choices.
Hex
#969A96
LRV
31.82
Earl Grey's Color Strip
Earl Grey is the sixth shade on this 7-color strip, sitting between Gris and Homburg Gray. The strip spans from Gossamer Veil at the lightest end to Homburg Gray at the deepest. Color strip 238 groups these shades together so you can see how each reads next to its neighbors.
Earl Grey in Real Rooms
Earl Grey has a medium LRV of 31.82 — it adds real depth and will read noticeably darker as natural light fades. It's neutral in temperature and , making it adaptable across different lighting conditions and room orientations. Grouped in the Neutral family, the photos below show it applied in a living room, bathroom, house, kitchen cabinets, misc, bedroom, home office, kitchen, front door, dining room, mudroom and patio.
3 Living Room Photos
The beauty of Earl Grey in a living room lies in its versatility with textures. It provides a smooth, matte-like quality that contrasts beautifully against plush velvet sofas or chunky wool rugs. It's a color that invites you to stay a little longer, creating an atmosphere that feels established rather than just decorated.
Sofa and accent pieces anchor this Earl Grey living room with sophisticated warmth.
@ciennedesigns
Walls painted in Earl Grey provide a neutral backdrop for layered living room furnishings.
@ciennedesigns
An Earl Grey accent wall creates visual interest in this comfortable seating area.
@elizabethlovesrealestate
2 Bathroom Photos
In a powder room, Earl Grey can be used floor-to-ceiling to create a dramatic, high-impact experience for guests. Because these rooms are small and transitional, they can handle the full intensity of the color's personality without feeling overwhelming.
Wall paneling finished in Earl Grey adds architectural depth to the bathroom.
@gotaccentwalldesigns
Shaker-style paneling in Earl Grey transforms the bathroom into a spa-like retreat.
@gotaccentwalldesigns
2 House Photos
Earl Grey is particularly effective on modern-style homes with flat planes and large windows. The color emphasizes the geometry of the house, using shadows and light to create a dynamic, ever-changing facade throughout the day.
Exterior siding in Earl Grey delivers understated elegance to the home's facade.
@home.body_interiors
Horizontal board-and-batten siding in Earl Grey gives this house timeless curb appeal.
@home.body_interiors
1 Kitchen Cabinets Photo
Earl Grey cabinets paired with a matching backsplash create a "monolith" look that is incredibly popular in contemporary design. It's a bold, seamless approach that makes the kitchen feel integrated into the home's overall architecture.
Kitchen cabinets painted in Earl Grey balance warmth and sophistication in the cooking space.
@amybakerdesign
1 Misc Photo
In walk-in closets or pantries, Earl Grey provides a dark, sophisticated backdrop that makes your belongings look organized and curated. It turns a storage space into a boutique-like experience every time you open the door.
Wooden furniture refinished in Earl Grey takes on a fresh, contemporary look.
@beautifully_reimagined
1 Bedroom Photo
For guest bedrooms, Earl Grey is a welcoming embrace. It's a universally appealing tone that feels clean and fresh for new arrivals, yet has enough "personality" to make their stay feel special and considered. It works across all seasons, feeling cool in summer and cozy in winter.
Earl Grey — cozy bedroom
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Home Office Photo
Earl Grey in an office encourages a "deep work" mindset. Its depth and maturity create an environment of gravitas, helping you take your own projects and ambitions more seriously through the sheer atmosphere of the room.
industrial home office featuring Earl Grey by Sherwin-Williams
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Kitchen Photo
On kitchen walls, Earl Grey adds a considered, intentional feel without demanding too much attention in a busy space. It holds its own against both warm wood countertops and cool quartz or marble, making it an incredibly flexible choice for the hardest-working and most high-traffic room in the house.
Sherwin-Williams Earl Grey in a modern luxury kitchen
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Front Door Photo
A front door in Earl Grey changes the entire read of a facade without requiring a renovation. The color is strong enough to register from the street but refined enough not to feel like a statement for its own sake. It's the "handshake" of the home.
Earl Grey paint in a stylish front door
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Dining Room Photo
The best dining room colors look different lit by daylight versus candlelight, and Earl Grey is one of them. It holds the room's warmth in the evening in a way that makes dinner feel like an occasion even when it's just a casual weeknight.
A boho dining room painted in Earl Grey
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Mudroom Photo
In a mudroom, Earl Grey provides a clean "reset" as you enter the home. It's a palette cleanser that helps you leave the stress of the outside world at the door, creating a transition zone that is both functional and beautiful.
Earl Grey color — traditional mudroom inspiration
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Patio Photo
On a deck or patio floor, Earl Grey provides a cool, sophisticated surface that feels modern and clean. It's a great way to update an old wooden deck, giving it a high-end "architectural" feel with just a simple change of tone.
Earl Grey — rustic modern patio
@mybudgetrecipes
Coordinating Colors
At LRV 73 vs 32, Eider White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 32, Rhinestone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 32 vs 8, Earl Grey is decisively the brighter choice.
Trim Color
At LRV 73 vs 32, Eider White is decisively the brighter choice.
Similar Colors
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 32 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 32 vs 29), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 32 and 31, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Stamped Concrete reads slightly lighter (LRV 35 vs 32), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 32 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 32 vs 32), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 32 vs 31), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 32 and 29, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Complementary Colors
A 4-point LRV gap (32 vs 28) makes Earl Grey the marginally brighter of the two.
Feathery Lilac reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 32), opening up a space where Earl Grey encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (32 vs 21) makes Earl Grey the marginally brighter of the two.
Earl Grey reflects far more light (LRV 32 vs 13), opening up a space where Vigorous Violet encloses it.
Lighter Colors
At LRV 54 vs 32, Silver Tipped Sage is decisively the brighter choice.