Why is classic gray looking beige?

5 years ago

We are building a new home and had to pick paint colors without seeing samples on the walls and before any flooring was down. I tried to play it safe by choosing classic gray for the majority of the house. Now that it’s painted I’m freaking out with how beige it looks, particularly in this room. We’ll have light gray carpet and white curtains and obviously less natural sunlight. How do you think this will change the look of the walls?

Featured Answer

eastautumn

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I do think the colors will look a little different once you have your flooring in and the walls are reflecting light from the floor, but Ben Moore "Classic Grey" is more of a warm beige-gray than a cool gray in most lighting. I don't like cold grays, so personally I think it looks great, but I can see why you're concerned if your carpeting is a cool gray. Did you look at the paint samples propped vertically next to your carpet samples before choosing to go with those colors? I also think your other colors look great, but then I like warm whites...

Someone else may be able to advise you on what type of lighting might give you more of the affect you were looking for when you chose your paint colors.

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Comments (7)

Anne LaPorte
Original Author
5 years ago
I also did cloud white in a playroom downstairs (hardwood will be a light/medium maple). It looks super yellow too?? :(
Anne LaPorte
Original Author
5 years ago
Another picture of the Master bedroom. Same day/time, just different phone camera. This one looks REALLY beige. Nothing I can do about the paint colors now, just hoping someone can comment if the colors will start to look different once flooring and furniture is in!
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Anne LaPorte
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks! No we didn’t have the option to hold up paint colors next to flooring samples when we picked everything. It was very scattered and cut short due to the start of the pandemic so I just had to go with what I thought would work together. Yes hopefully the gray carpet cools the room down a bit, or maybe it will make the paint color even warmer?
Fanny Gauvin
5 years ago
I just paint my house classic gray and it really look like a beige!
eastautumn
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Yep, it kind of is. If you compare it to some warm beige tones it's going to appear gray, but it is definitely not one of the cool grays that is trendy right now. I like it much better than those grays personally and find it.... classic ;)

We painted the exterior of our home "Nantucket Gray" which isn't really gray in the traditional sense, but a muted sage green. Just because "gray" is in the name of a paint color does not mean it will look gray in your space.

Anne LaPorte, how do you like it in your house now that your flooring is in? I hope you love it, or at least have grown to like it.
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Lori A. Sawaya
5 years ago
Nantucket Gray is my favorite exterior color. So pretty.