Sherwin Williams Gray Screen
Not the darkest of grays, but certainly not the lightest, Gray Screen sits firmly in the middle of the road when it comes to light or dark gray paint colors.
This popular hue is a favorite of homeowners, but just because it’s trendy, is it right for you? Find out with my full color review!
What color is sherwin Williams Gray Screen?
Gray Screen is a gray paint color with a blue undertone. Sometimes the blue undertone in Gray Screen comes across as a little violet.
This paint color works best in rooms that have cooler bluer undertones. Gray Screen is not a color to consider with a room that has earthier finishes (cream, brown, beige, gold, red, etc).
Is gray screen warm or cool?
Anytime a paint color has blue undertones, like Gray Screen, it is most definitely a cool paint color.
Is Sherwin Williams’ Gray Screen right for your home?
Gray Screen is not for you if you only chose it because you found a picture online and fell in love with the color. If this is what you’ve done, don’t worry, there’s hope…let’s walk through together how to decide if this particular gray will work for you!
Make sure Gray Screen goes with your fixed elements
If you’ve read my paint color reviews before you know the first thing to do when deciding on a paint color is to go around and decide on all of the undertones in your home first. Anything that is not easily changed is considered a fixed element so make sure to note the undertones in it.
If you have classic wood floors (medium brown wood stained) you don’t need to worry about your floors matching paint colors, as it will go with everything. If you have cherry, gray or orange wood floors you’ll need to make note of those undertones. Take note of your carpet/tile, your couch, your countertop, your cabinets, etc.
If you have cooler blue undertones in you fixed elements, you’re on the right track selecting a bluish gray paint. If you have a mix of blue and some green undertones, you’ll likely be okay if you select Gray Screen, but you’d be better served to choose a gray with blue-green undertones like Wickham Gray or Moonshine.
If you’ve identified anything other than blue or green in terms of undertones, Gray Screen is out for you, but find other gray hues in my full post on best gray paint colors for your home.
Evaluate Gray Screen with other colors if you have an open concept
Don’t forget to make sure Gray Screen will work with whatever colors you already have or are planning on if you live in an open concept space.
For example, the other day, I saw a home that had just refinished their bathroom in a gray with a green undertone and it opened up to a primary bedroom that had bright yellow walls. Those two colors did not work together whatsoever, and it made the entire area look drab even though it was just redone!
Just like with undertones in furniture and fixed elements, paint colors used next to each other will need to coordinate with matching undertones for best results.
Test out the color first
Making sure undertones work is a great first step but before you make the final call, make sure to test out the color. The best way to do this is to get those peel and stick (but keep the sticker portion on) paint samples and place them behind a white poster board. See the below picture for how you would test out a wall color.
Which trim color goes with Gray Screen?
A true white paint color like Chantilly Lace works best with Gray Screen. Just like every gray color has undertones, every white paint color has undertones, too. Don’t just select any ol’ white to go with Gray Screen (or any color, for that matter). In the world of white you have ultra bright white, which has blue undertones, then you have white free of undertones, then you’ve got off-white and cream.
The absolute prettiest pairing for Gray Screen is a true white, free of undertones. So, Chantilly Lace or High Reflective White would be two great options.
Gray Screen vs. Repose Gray
Gray Screen and Repose Gray are neck and neck in terms of overall color depth–Gray Screen has a Light Reflective Value of 59, and Repose Gray has a LRV of 58, but as you can see in the visual, they are two totally different colors.
Repose Gray and Gray Screen are both considered cool paint colors. Repose Gray is very complicated though, as it has multiple undertones, with the most prominent being violet, and secondary undertones of blue.
Gray Screen vs. Passive
Gray screen has a light reflective value of 59, while Passive has a LRV of 60, so not too much discernable difference there, but when you place them side by side, you can really see the difference.
Gray screen has a much more pronounced blue undertone to it, whereas Passive’s blue undertone is more muted. If you need a gray with a blue undertone, but don’t want it to read too blue, Passive is a great choice.
