Caroline
We tend to associate grey with blandness and neutrality, but it can actually be an amazing color choice.
There are also many shades of grey that can have different color hues and intensities.
To help you see what this color has to offer, we present you with 25 of the best shades of grey to choose from.
Here are our Readers Most Voted for Shades of Cool Grey
Cool Grey
RGB: 180, 180, 180
Hex: #B4B4B4
Common Uses: Offices and calm spaces.
Matches well with: Light blue.
Cool grey is a neutral color that has a mild bluish tint to it. It may not look like much on its own, but it can actually look amazing when paired with similar or even contrasting colors.
Even if used as a dominant color, it can be really effective!
Slate Grey
RGB: 112, 128, 144
Hex: #708090
Common Uses: Bedrooms or bathrooms.
Matches well with: Navy blue.
Slate grey is a darker shade that has a richer shade that also has a touch of blue to it. You could use this for a bedroom with a darker color scheme, or for a classy bedroom color scheme.
Steel Grey
RGB: 70, 130, 180
Hex: #4682B4
Common Uses: Water themes or calm spaces.
Matches well with: Pastel brown.
Steel grey turns up the blue hue even more for a shade that is rich and calming. It’s perfect for a water themed space or for any area that you want to be meditative and calming.
Ash Grey
RGB: 169, 169, 169
Hex: #A9A9A9
Common Uses: Office spaces or muted schemes.
Matches well with: Beige.
Ash grey is a bit more muted than the previous shades, and it’s definitely more grey than blue. It can still be great for spaces such as offices or rooms that have a lighter, more muted color scheme.
Smoke Grey
RGB: 105, 105, 105
Hex: #696969
Common Uses: Color accents and pairings.
Matches well with: Light blue.
Smoke grey is dark like its namesake, and this means that it could be a bit too dark to use dominantly in a space. As a color accent or pairing with a lighter, more vibrant color it can be very effective though!
Charcoal Grey
RGB: 70, 70, 70
Hex: #464646
Common Uses: Color highlights and décor.
Matches well with: Light beige.
Charcoal grey makes things even darker, and this makes it perfect as a color highlight. Even a stripe of this color on a lighter background can bring a lot of definition to a space.
Using it for décor elements and accessories can also add some dramatic contrast to a scene.
Slate Blue Grey
RGB: 106, 90, 205
Hex: #6A5ACD
Common Uses: Boy’s rooms or nurseries.
Matches well with: Pastel yellow.
Slate blue grey is another blue hue, which shouldn’t be surprising given the name! This shade is so rich and vibrant without being aggressive or overpowering.
It’s soft enough that it could be used for a bedroom or maybe even a nursery.
Dolphin Grey
RGB: 130, 130, 130
Hex: #828282
Common Uses: Adult bedrooms or living rooms.
Matches well with: White or beige.
Dolphin grey has the perfect name, as it really does remind me of a dolphin! It’s also a lovely shade that’s not too dark, not too light.
Pairing it with white or even a light beige would make for a great combination of colors.
Pewter Grey
RGB: 142, 142, 142
Hex: #8E8E8E
Common Uses: Offices or cold color schemes.
Matches well with: Light blue.
Pewter grey is a little darker than the previous shade, but it’s not too different. However, these small changes in hue can be very noticeable when applied to a larger surface or room.
If it’s too dark, then you could use it for some more minimal elements in your room or home.
Storm Grey
RGB: 113, 125, 126
Hex: #717D7E
Common Uses: Muted color schemes and décor.
Matches well with: Dark purple.
Storm grey has the same intensity as its namesake, and it can be a powerful statement in a room. If you limited this color to pillows, curtains and other similar elements then you can make a dramatic highlight of color in the room.
Granite Grey
RGB: 105, 105, 105
Hex: #696969
Common Uses: Offices or darker color schemes.
Matches well with: Dark blue.
Granite grey is another dark and intense shade that is slightly less blue than the previous shade. This would make it well suited to a more muted, monochromatic color scheme or set of décor elements.
Silver Grey
RGB: 192, 192, 192
Hex: #C0C0C0
Common Uses: Bedroom walls or décor.
Matches well with: Black.
Silver grey makes things much lighter for a really smart and elegant shade. You could use this either as a highlight in your color scheme or even make it the dominant color in a room.
It depends on your own taste, and you can do some amazing things with this color!
Blue Grey
RGB: 102, 153, 204
Hex: #6699CC
Common Uses: Boy’s rooms or playrooms.
Matches well with: Pastel yellow.
Blue grey is one of the most overtly blue shades we have seen so far in this collection of colors. It’s bright without being too overpowering, and it can be the perfect softer color for a bedroom or even a child’s playroom.
Mouse Grey
RGB: 109, 123, 141
Hex: #6D7B8D
Common Uses: Ocean themes and muted color schemes.
Matches well with: Deep purple.
Mouse grey has a lovely navy blue hue to it that makes me think of ocean or nautical themes in décor. It could be used in a beach house or simply a room that you want to have a cool, aquatic feeling.
Shadow Grey
RGB: 119, 136, 153
Hex: #778899
Common Uses: Bedrooms or living rooms.
Matches well with: Pale brown.
Shadow grey is subtle and muted, and it can be a more minimal color addition to your décor. Paired with a pale brown, it creates a soft yet very pleasing combination that can add some elegance to the room that you use it in.
Cadet Gret
RGB: 145, 163, 176
Hex: #91A3B0
Common Uses: Boy’s bedrooms or more muted décor.
Matches well with: Light blue.
Cadet grey is a midtone blue shade that is soft and delicate but still has a bit of intensity to it. You could use this as a great option for a boy’s bedroom or any décor with a more muted, calming feel.
Metal Grey
RGB: 188, 198, 204
Hex: #BCC6CC
Common Uses: Nurseries or playrooms.
Matches well with: Light purple.
Metak grey is so light and delicate, and it would not be at all overwhelming to use this as a dominant color. It could be great for nurseries or playrooms, as the soft coloring would help younger kids ot babies to relax and sleep.
Anchor Grey
RGB: 155, 155, 155
Hex: #9B9B9B
Common Uses: Living rooms or cool themes.
Matches well with: Pastel pink.
I really love anchor grey, as it’s a rich and yet still subtle color that can be used in so many different styles and contexts. It would pair well with lighter pastel colors like pink, green or beige.
Thunder Grey
RGB: 240, 240, 240
Hex: #F0F0F0
Common Uses: Wall color and nurseries.
Matches well with: Light pink.
Sometimes, you want a color to be bold and attention grabbing, while other times you want it to be soft and subtle. Thunder grey is in that second camp, as it is so light that you may not notice it at first.
This allows attention to stay on colors and décor you want in the forefront.
Moon Grey
RGB: 189, 189, 189
Hex: #BDBDBD
Common Uses: Bedroom walls and pool areas.
Matches well with: Light purple.
If the previous shade was a little too subtle for your needs, then you could consider moon grey. This is still a light shade, but it’s a few shades darker and will draw a little more attention to itself.
Arctic Grey
RGB: 211, 211, 211
Hex: #D3D3D3
Common Uses: Light color schemes and contrasts.
Matches well with: Light green.
Arctic grey makes things nice and soft again for a color that won’t overwhelm other elements of the room or décor. It can be paired with brighter colors for an interesting and stunning color contrast!
Misty Grey
RGB: 229, 229, 229
Hex: #E5E5E5
Common Uses: Nurseries and bedrooms.
Matches well with: Light pastel purple.
I love a nice misty day, and misty grey reminds me of these lazy, cozy days. I would use it in a room that is supposed to feel calm and inviting like a bedroom or living room.
It’s also soft and lovely for nurseries!
Concrete Grey
RGB: 132, 132, 132
Hex: #848484
Common Uses: Darker color schemes and meditative spaces.
Matches well with: White.
Concrete grey is the kind of darker shade that I would use for more minimal elements such as stripes, patterns and smaller accessories like pillows and ornaments.
It can be used for a great color contrast!
Sterling Grey
RGB: 128, 128, 128
Hex: #808080
Common Uses: Bedroom or living room walls.
Matches well with: Beige.
Sterling grey is another darker shade that is slightly lighter than the previous shade. It’s a subtle difference, but that difference may be just what you need when you want to fill the walls of your space.
Granite Blue Grey
RGB: 113, 135, 156
Hex: #71879C
Common Uses: Bedrooms or offices.
Matches well with: Dark pastel brown.
The final color we have for you is granite blue grey, a bluish shade that is intense and yet soft at the same time. It would be the perfect choice for a bedroom, office or any other cozy space.
In Summary
After seeing these 25 shades of cool grey, you hopefully have everything you need to make the ultimate cool and relaxing space. My personal favorite is misty grey because of how relaxed it makes me.
Some of these shades were light like that one while others were way more intense, so now it’s up to you to choose all of your favorites.
