Content may contain affiliate links. When you shop the links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business.
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray (HC-170) is a versatile, medium-toned gray that works beautifully in almost any space. If you’re looking for a cool gray paint color that feels neutral but still has personality, this is one of my go-to choices.
Is it truly neutral? No, it has a subtle stormy blue undertone that can be apparent in cool natural light. However, it mostly looks neutral gray!
I find that this paint color is especially sought after in boy bedrooms – it’s the perfect medium gray that tends to work well alongside more masculine colors like navy blues, darker grays, deep wood tones, etc. In fact, when we first moved into our home, it was the color I chose for my two oldest boys’ bedrooms!
I’ve since repainted all the bedrooms as this type of cool gray no longer appeals to me, but it’s still a popular choice with many.
Where to Use Stonington Gray
- Bedrooms (especially boys’ rooms)
- Living rooms with white trim
- Bathrooms with navy or charcoal vanities
- Accent walls with cooler whites or blues
- Works best in rooms with moderate to bright natural light
What Undertones Does Stonington Gray Have?
Stonington Gray (HC-170) has a stormy blue undertone. It stays perfectly gray in most spaces unless it’s paired with a lot of white and cool (north facing or east facing) light, where it can look a little blue. Rarely, you may also see a flash of a purple undertone.
In my home, I also originally had my living room painted with Stonington Gray. It looked lovely paired with a crisp white trim color (we used BM Decorator’s White) but does equally well with stained trim, too.
What is the LRV of Stonington Gray?
The LRV of Stonington Gray is 59. This means it is not light and airy but has a bit of depth to it. However, a bright white trim really livens it up. It’s truly a medium shade of gray.
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is an indicator of the amount of light that is reflected by a color when it is illuminated by a light source. A higher value (closer to 100) means that a color will reflect more light back at you and a lower value (closer to 0) means that a color will appear darker, or absorb more light.
Is Stonington Gray a Cool or Warm Paint Color?
This is definitely a cool shade of gray because of the blue undertone!
If you are looking for warm grays, Sherwin Williams has a few popular grays including Colonnade Gray, Agreeable Gray, and Repose Gray and of course, Benjamin Moore has some great choices such as Revere Pewter, Edgecomb Gray, or Classic Gray to name a few.
Coordinating Colors That Pair Well with Stonington Gray
Stonington Gray truly works best with any other cool toned wall color so consider blues, green, and darker grays. You can’t go wrong with a classic shade of bright white, either.
I’m partial to pairing this with a rich navy like Sherwin Williams Naval or crisp whites like Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace.
What is the Lighter Version of Stonington Gray?
BM Gray Owl, BM Classic Gray, or BM Wickham Gray are all paint colors lighter than Stonington Gray that may be perfect for you if you’re looking for something lighter and brighter.
Stonington Gray vs Gray Owl
Stonington Gray is a cool gray with a stormy blue-purple undertone. On the other hand, Gray Owl has a green undertone that makes it appear warmer on walls, although it’s still a cool toned gray.
Stonington Gray is a great choice if you want more contrast and a slightly darker shade gray in a room. Remember, it can flash quite blue in rooms with cooler light. Conversely, in my experience, Gray Owl looks like a pretty fresh gray the majority of the time.
Stonington Gray vs Wickham Gray
Stonington Gray is more of a “traditional” gray than Wickham Gray, although similar. Wickham Gray is also much lighter and reflects more of the blue/green undertones.
Sherwin Williams Equivalent of Stonington Gray
A lot of people ask me for Sherwin William’s equivalents of my favorite paint colors, Stonington Gray included.
My answer is always to pick the color you like then get it mixed in the brand of your choice.
So, if you want to use Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray all you have to do is go to the Sherwin Williams store and ask them to mix up Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray for you.
They have access to all the color codes in their computers and can color match to their own brand of paints. I do this all the time (except for white paint colors, which don’t color match well!).
With that being said, Sherwin Williams Repose Gray is a great alternative. It doesn’t have the blue undertone that Stonington Gray has, and it’s got some warmth to it, but it’s about the same color saturation and one of my favorite paint colors.
Pros and Cons
Pros of Stonington Gray
- Beautiful medium gray with a fresh feel
- Works in both modern and traditional homes
- Pairs well with white trim and navy accents
Cons
- Can lean blue in cool light
- May feel too cold in dark or north-facing rooms
Don’t Forget…
Don’t forget – no matter what you’ve read or photos you’ve seen online, it’s really important to sample paint colors in your home before committing!
Samplize provides real paint samples that are easy to move around your home, and cheaper than buying a gazillion paint pots! It’s the only way I buy paint samples.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a cool gray with subtle blue undertones, especially noticeable in low or northern light.
It looks great with crisp whites, navy blue, dark gray, and cooler-toned wood finishes.
This paint works well in bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms—especially those with good natural light.
Final Thoughts on Stonington Gray
Still deciding? Check out Gray Owl for something lighter and brighter, or Repose Gray for a softer, warmer feel that works in just about any room.
And don’t forget — always sample first. You can grab a Stonington Gray Samplize peel-and-stick sample here to test it in your space before committing!
I have maple cabinets and maple floors in my kitchen. I have one accent wall and loads of light. What is the best color do you think for maple cabinets? I like gray with blue undertones but rather warmer than cooler. Your suggestion is greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
Hi Deborah, I would aim for a blue/gray that has some green in it. That will keep it warmer. Something like Bm Silver Marlin would probably work well because. If you’d like more color, then maybe BM Woodlawn Blue or Wedgewood Blue would work nicely but they are much bluer. If you want to stick to a warm gray then SW Repose Gray is always my favorite!
My huband and I chose Stonington Gray but we are debating as to what kind of finish we want. What do you recommend> Thanks!
I like a matte finish but eggshell is the most popular as it’s a bit more durable 🙂
Great article, very informative! Thanks for your input :)
Thanks for the amazing info! We are in a new open concept home and I’m thinking Stonington Grey for the main open area and up the staircase. The kitchen is off the main living room, white cabinets, white subway tile. Wanting some ideas for a pain color to contrast with the Stonington. Wondering about BM Oxford gray.
I think that would be beautiful! The blue in the Oxford Gray will work wonderfully with the blue undertones in Stonington Gray :-)
Hi very informative post I have used Stonington Gray before in my old house and loved it. Now I’m debating about painting my already painted wood floors that color. Need to repaint the walls a white. What white would you recommend for the walls to go with Stonington Gray floors? This is an attic bedroom with lots of angled ceiling’s but gets a fair amount of light if that helps. Thank you
Hi! Thank you for all the awesome information. We are painting our master bedroom Stonington Gray. We have dark brown furniture. What color would you recommend doing the carpet? I was either going to do a lighter gray carpet or a cream carpet?
Also we were thinking about accent colors to be hale
navy by Benjamin Moore? Would that be a good accent color for this color scheme? Thank you for your time and input. Looking forward to hearing back.
Hi! I would stick to a warmer oatmeal type color (even with a bit of gray through it). You probably don’t want all gray as it may make the room feel a bit cold. The warmer carpet will work nicely with the brown furniture, too. Hale Navy or SW Naval look awesome with Stonington Gray!
Painting my family room Stonington gray. I’m also painting my oak built-in cabinet white but I am having trouble picking the white paint color. I want to paint the cabinet the same color as the baseboards. Can you please suggest some whites that would work well? The room is west facing. Thank you 🙂
Hi Judy! I really like BM Decorator’s White. It’s a nice bright white that doesn’t come across cold even in the morning when it’s a bit darker in a west facing room!
Hi, I’m wanting to paint my walls Stonington Gray, with white trim. What Benjamin Moore gray would you suggest for the kitchen cabinets? I am leaning towards a light to medium shade. Thanks!
Hi Judy! Will there be a lot of Stonington Gray visible in the kitchen? If so, you’re going to want to have enough contrast that the cabinets don’t blend into the wall color. I would lean towards a medium-to dark toned gray such as Chelsea Gray or Amherst Gray