So you’ve been wandering through the endless sea of paint swatches, desperately looking for that perfect gray paint color for your kitchen. Well, Sherwin Williams Agreeable gray just might be the color for you. This versatile neutral gray has at one point been Sherwin Williams’ most popular color, and we absolutely love it. It seems like Agreeable Gray is one of those colors that’s being used everywhere, and that’s because it is- from living rooms to bedrooms, kitchens and even in commercial spaces.
But what makes this particular shade of gray so good? In this post, we’re going to dive into the reasons behind its popularity and why you should consider using it in your kitchen or anywhere in your home. We’ll compare it to other popular Sherwin Williams grays, discuss its versatility as both a wall and cabinet color, go over some agreeable gray coordinating colors, and address some common questions about this paint color. So, if you’re curious about the hype around Agreeable Gray, keep on reading.
Agreeable Gray
LRV: 60
Warm Or Cool: Warm Color
Paint Materials Needed: Purdy Brush, Purdy Roller Cover, Multi Purpose Primer, Paint Tray, Drop Cloth, Frog Tape
Pros
- Great main color
- It's a safe color choice
- It does well with dirt (Satin and up)
Cons
- Lighting exposes different undertones
What We Think About It
• It can be a foundational color
One of the coolest things about Agreeable Gray is that this color in particular can be the go-to paint color for your entire home. It’s a winner in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, inside, outside – you name it, it fits right in wherever you would like to use it. It’s light enough not to be overwhelming and dark enough not to appear white in environments with lots of lighting. It really seems to make white trim and ceilings pop when used together.
How does it look with kitchen cabinets? It looks fantastic. From white kitchen cabinets to oak wood kitchen cabinets with orange undertones Agreeable Gray will still be their best friend.
Agreeable Gray also looks great as a Kitchen Cabinet color, especially if your walls have a slightly darker paint color.
• It Covers Well
Something that we notice while using Agreeable Gray is that it actually covers very well (in Sherwin Williams paint). When you use Agreeable Gray with Sherwin Williams paint like Super Paint, it does a fantastic job of covering up previous colors, scrapes, and black marks on walls and cabinets. In most cases, just 2 coats are all you need, and you’re good to go.
• It's a neutral lovers dream
Agreeable Gray is at the top of the food chain when it comes to neutral colors to use in your home, especially the kitchen. It has sort-of the best of both worlds when it comes to neutrals. It has favorable undertones and it also allows for you to be very creative and use accents to feature and draw attention to your décor choices.
Also, there are plenty of different reviews and inspiration online and on social media for you to get a good sense of how it will look in your home. It’s one of those paint colors that has been used everywhere, so you won’t have to stress about whether Agreeable Gray is “in” or not. It’s a timeless color that has been and will be around for a long time.
• It Does Well With Dirt and Stains (Satin and up)
What We Don't Like About Repose Gray
Agreeable Gray has some things that we aren’t a fan of and we want to make sure that we give a balanced and honest review.
• It's Everywhere
Agreeable gray is a great paint color, no doubt about it, but there are times when you just want to have something that’s a little different than what everyone else has. We’re just nitpicking a little bit with this critique, we get it, but Agreeable gray has been so popular and its so great that it seems like everyone uses it.
Coordinating Colors
Extra White
For a clean and crisp look, SW 7006 Extra White is like the cream of the crop of the whites that Sherwin Williams has to offer. It has a high LRV (Light Reflective Value) and that makes it the best choice for a trim color and ceilings. Interestingly, Extra White is actually the base that is used to make 98% of all of the lighter colors that Sherwin Williams offers.
Extra white is a versatile color that can be used in any room of the house. It pairs well with both warmer colors and cool tones, which is why it looks so great with Agreeable Gray.
Incredible White
Incredible White is a bright white with gray undertones, making it a great match for Agreeable Gray. If you’re into a modern and sophisticated look, Incredible White is a great color to consider. One way to play with it is to use Incredible White for cabinets against Agreeable Gray walls. The gray undertones that it has adds a cool touch to this bright white, making trim and cabinetry really pop.
Coral Rose
SW 9004 Coral Rose is a nice light reddish color that does a really good job at adding a little pop to a room. It’s a subtle red color that can be a nice accent color and add a little life to a neutral color scheme, especially when paired with Agreeable Gray.
The combination of Coral Rose against the neutral gray of Agreeable Gray makes Coral Rose an excellent choice for those looking to introduce a pop of color into their homes without being overwhelming or too bold of a color.
Great for accent walls, decorative accessories, or even a wall behind a statement piece of furniture or a breakfast nook in a kitchen, Coral Rose gives a really nice contrast that breaks up monochromatic gray color schemes, adding a little bit of depth and visual interest to your home.
Other Agreeable Gray Color Palettes
These paint colors also coordinate well with agreeable gray.
Agreeable Gray Color Palette (1)
Agreeable Gray Color Palette (2)
Agreeable Gray Color Palette (3)
Agreeable Gray In Action
Kitchen Walls
But not only is Agreeable Gray really versatile but it also has the ability to pair well with stainless steel kitchen appliances and chrome finishes. This makes it a perfect color for homeowners with stainless steel appliances who are looking to update the look of their kitchen but don’t want to change their appliances just yet.
When painting your kitchen consider using Agreeable Gray with white kitchen cabinets and light-colored countertops. Or for a more traditional feel, if you have wooden cabinetry, Agreeable Gray works as a great backdrop to draw attention to your cabinetry, showcasing the beauty of the wood.
Adding colorful accents such as throw rugs, towels, or even a few potted plants can really make your kitchen stand out and give it a fresh, updated look. And the best part is, with Agreeable Gray as your main wall color, you can easily switch up your accent choices whenever you feel like changing things up because Agreeable Gray is such a versatile color.
Kitchen Cabinets
Agreeable Gray on kitchen cabinets is possibly one of our most favorite applications for this color, especially when used with modern kitchen cabinet styles like shaker style cabinets.
If your kitchen has lots of light, (natural light or artificial light) that’s where you can expect Agreeable Gray to really stand out on kitchen cabinets, especially when paired with lighter colored countertops. We’ve seen it paired with quartz and marble countertops, giving a really nice complementary, blended-in look.
But don’t let the light color of Agreeable Gray make you feel like it only has 1 application, it also looks stunning in kitchens with darker colored countertops. The contrast between the lighter gray cabinets and darker countertops makes them really pop and adds character to your kitchen.
Kitchens can be very busy places and depending on your lifestyle, kitchen cabinets can be prone to dirt and smudges. The good news is Agreeable Gray’s light tone doesn’t show dirt or smudges as easily as white colors do, making it a solid practical choice for busy kitchens. This doesn’t mean you won’t ever need to clean them, but rather you can hold off for a week or two before things get too messy. Easier maintenance is always a win in our books!
Agreeable Gray Undertones
One interesting thing about Agreeable Gray’s undertones is how it can show various undertones based on lighting. The undertones of Agreeable Gray are heavily influenced by the color of your kitchen lighting, the color of key design elements like kitchen floors and countertops, and the amount of light it gets.
The most prominent undertones for Agreeable Gray under what we can call “typical lighting”, which is like the standard light brightness and temperature you’d see in most kitchens, is a brownish-beige.
Agreeable Gray can also show subtle green undertones so its perfectly normal and very common that in one setting, you might pick up on those green undertones, while in a different lighting setup, you might notice more of the brownish-beige undertones. Don’t worry, you’re not going crazy, that’s just the way Agreeable Gray is.
Use Paint Samples
One of the things that can be really frustrating about paint colors in general is how they can change so much when put under different lighting situations So it’s a smart move that before you go to the paint store and buy Agreeable Gray, you should definitely buy paint color samples so that you can make absolutely sure that Agreeable Gray has undertones that you can deal with.
Agreeable Gray VS. Repose Gray
Agreeable Gray
Repose Gray and Agreeable Gray are both super popular paint colors that are used everywhere in a home, and once you see them in action, it’s crystal clear why they’re so beloved.
Agreeable Gray, is actually the best-selling color from Sherwin Williams (according to their website) and this is just more evidence proving how well gray paints work universally for any space. It’s like everyone’s favorite choice.
Agreeable Gray is a super versatile shade of gray that works well with all sorts of lighting conditions, and décor styles, which is why it’s a solid option for many kitchens. BUT, is it the best choice for your kitchen? Well, maybe, it depends.
Repose Gray
Repose Gray is just a tad lighter than Agreeable Gray, giving your kitchen a touch of airiness or openness depending on the lighting. Agreeable Gray, on the other hand, leans towards a warmer gray tone.
Repose Gray can sometimes be seen as more of a “true gray” due to its undertones. So, if you’re after a gray paint color that falls into the ‘true gray’ category, Repose Gray might be the way to go for your kitchen.
Which color is better?
FAQ
Does agreeable gray look more gray or beige?
Agreeable Gray is actually a mixture of both colors, gray and beige BUT, in most situations Agreeable Gray will look more gray than beige.
Does agreeable gray ever look blue?
No. Although it’s true that in certain lighting situations, Agreeable Gray can show very slight blue undertones, it will always look way more gray than blue. On the other hand, a color like SW 7071 Gray Screen can definitely look blue.
Is agreeable gray a timeless color?
Can agreeable gray look green?
Yes, Agreeable Gray can give off greenish-gray undertones in certain lighting. That’s just how that particular gray works.
Does agreeable gray go with oak cabinets?
Absolutely. Agreeable Gray actually works really well with the wood tones of oak cabinets.
Painting Tips
- Always use 2 coats for repose gray
- Use a primer if you're doing a major color change
- DO NOT use cheap rollers and brushes. It can ruin your paint job
- DO NOT SKIP THE PREP WORK. Prep is the most important part of your project.
Final Thoughts
To sum it up, hopefully this post has given you enough insights for you to see why Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray is a great choice for your kitchen or any other place in your home. Its versatility can open up endless design possibilities and it has the ability to blend in seamlessly with any décor style you may like.
Of course you should test paint colors before you buy them, but if you’re on the lookout for a paint color that not only complements but enhances your kitchen’s style, Agreeable Gray could be just what you need.
