Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray SW 7017

Looking for a paint color that is both timeless and on-trend? Look no further than Dorian Gray by Sherwin Williams! This medium gray is a popular choice with interior designers and home decor enthusiasts, thanks to its ability to complement any decorating style. Whether you’re looking to paint your home office or give your bedroom a makeover, this versatile shade will add sophistication and style. Keep reading for a full review of this paint color, plus tips on how to use Dorian Gray in your next home project!

Sherwin Williams’s Dorian Gray can be described as a “true gray” paint color but can also fall into the greige column. It has just the right amount of depth and neutrality, making it a perfect choice for any room in your home. This shade is a popular “all over” paint color that can be used on walls, cabinets, trim, and even a home’s exterior! When paired with white trim, Dorian Gray is a beautiful canvas for a variety of decorating styles.

It’s true that gray paint colors are considered neutrals but not all gray paint colors are created equal. I think Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray is a beautiful neutral paint color. This shade will add warmth to any room, thanks to its slight brown undertones. When used on walls, Dorian Gray can make a small space feel more intimate and inviting. In larger spaces, Dorian Gray makes a space feel open and serene. Using the shade on the walls, trim, and ceiling really creates a coziness that I can only describe as a warm blanket for your home. Let’s get into the full review of Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray.

How Light or How dark is Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray

The first thing we want to know when looking at paint colors is how light or dark will this color be on my walls. Well, in terms of lightness and darkness, in my opinion, Dorian Gray is a true medium gray scale. If there were a gray color that read “true” gray, it would be this one. Gray as a paint color is a whole spectrum and it can be challenging to find the perfect, “true” gray. I think you would be safe with Dorian Gray. This paint color is neutral and versatile making it perfect for any room in your home. 

What is the LRV Value?

The Light Reflective Value or LRV of Dorian Gray is 39. LRV is a good tool to use to determine how light (100 being high reflective white) or dark (0 being black) a paint color is. The operative word here is light. Light Reflective Value means how much light is reflected. The lighter the color the more light can be reflected. This paint color is lower on the scale but is still considered a medium paint color.

What Undertones Does Dorian Gray Have?

A quick word about undertones, undertones are a perspective. You may determine the undertones to be slightly different.

Dorian Gray has slight brown and purple undertones but its base color is true making undertones not so noticeable. In some lighting situations, the color may notice slight green undertones. 

Is Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray a Cool or Warm Paint Color?

The color profile of Dorian Gray is a solid warm gray. The lack of significant cool undertones and the prominence of the brown undertones make Dorian Gray so warm that in some crowds it might even go by griege instead of gray. You can feel confident in this gray paint color if you are looking for a warm, medium gray.

What Paint Sheen Should I Use for Paint Color?

For almost all paint colors, I recommend an eggshell finish in living spaces and flat finishes in any other space. High gloss sheens, anything semi-gloss and above, can create a shiny element to the wall.

What are Some Other Medium Gray / Greige Paint Colors?

Dorian Gray vs. Benjamin Moore Cape May Cobblestone

Similar to Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray, Cape May Cobblestone is a warm gray paint color that some consider a griege. This color is in the Benjamin Moore Classics collection. It has an LRV of 39.53 so, it’s a solid medium color and a great alternative to Dorian Gray if you want something a tad richer.

Dorian Gray vs. Sherwin Williams Repose Gray

If you are looking for a slightly lighter paint color, Repose Gray is a very popular one that is considered light to medium gray. Its LRV is 58 which is about 20 points lighter than Dorian Gray. Repose Gray is another fantastic neutral paint color option.

Dorian Gray vs. Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray

Another alternative to Dorian Gray is Mindful Gray. It’s another really popular gray color that’s slightly lighter than Dorian Gray but not as light as Repose Gray. Its LRV is 48 making it a pretty good middle point between the two colors. If you decide that Dorian Gray leans to the darker side and Repose Gray is too light, you might find your Goldilocks color in Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray.

Dorian Gray vs. Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray

Agreeable Gray is another one of Sherwin Williams’ best-selling paint colors. With an LRV of 60, it’s lighter than all the others and probably should be considered more of a griege or a medium beige than a gray but with gray in its name, it has to be included here. If you want something that is almost a for-sure homerun, grab a sample of Agreeable Gray. It doesn’t have “agreeable” in the name for nothing.

What Trim Color Should I Use with Dorian Gray

If you are looking for white paint colors for trim I would consider a warm white so a paint color without any cool undertones. My favorite trim color is Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace. Sherwin Williams Alabaster is another trim color that goes well with warm tones. I think walls and trim covered in Dorian Gray would be a gorgeous combo if you want to try a trend that is going strong right now. Matching the wall color to the trim is sometimes a little bold but I absolutely love it when done well and with Dorian Gray, you can do it well.

Paint Color in Real Space

Let’s begin with Dorian Gray in this elegant bathroom. With little natural Dorian Gray really pops in this space. While this paint color is a medium to dark gray, here it appears much lighter. If you have a space that is smaller, with little to no natural light, using a darker paint color can really help the walls pop.

Dorian Gray really pops here with the contrast of the white shiplap in Aimee’s dining room. I think this is a great example of how dark Dorian Gray can look in a space with natural light while maintaining that true gray color. I also want to mention how beautiful the paint color looks with medium and dark wood tones.

Bonnie painted her primary bedroom Dorian Gray and it is a great example of how lovely this color is in a bedroom space. This color creates a beautiful backdrop for such a serene space.

I think it’s important to see how SW Dorian Gray looks on walls and also on furniture. Linda painted the top portion of her walls Dorian Gray and used the same color on the chest in her entryway. Once again this paint color is showing how true gray it is. It’s an old reliable if you ask me.

One of the best uses for this paint color has to be for cabinetry. If you want to try painted cabinetry but are interested in gray cabinets instead of the very trendy white cabinetry, try Dorian Gray. Talking about the cabinetry in her laundry room Tammy said, “It is a great griege color that goes with everything.”

I love to see how a paint color transforms from interior to exterior. This gorgeous exterior is painted Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray. It’s elegant and timeless which tells me that this is a color that you cannot go wrong with.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, Dorian Gray by Sherwin Williams is a beautiful paint color that can work in any room in your home. It’s perfect for those who are looking for a versatile paint color with warm undertones that can work in a variety of lighting situations.