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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!
Hi Jenna,
I have a carrara marble look tile for my shower and medium gray flooring (more on the cool side). Would you recommend stonington gray in a north facing bathroom? I have a silver blue on the wall right now but I’ve redone the whole room into a master bathroom instead of a den and thought maybe i should stick to a cooler gray than blue.
Would Stonington work with intense white walls?
I want to paint stonington gray on accent wall in dining room and classic gray in living room. Would these be good together and contrasting enough. Thanks . What would u recommend to go with stonington gray or classic gray?
Classic gray can be oh so nice…if you have a LOT of natural light. We made the mistake of using Classic gray in our halls and bathroom where this don’t a lot of natural light and our lighting casts warm so the walls lean yellow. So in our basement where it’s quite dark, we used Paper White…ahhhh…nailed it!!!
Yes, that’s why I love paper white so much! It works so well in darker spaces!
Hi,,
I am having picking a white paint for my kitchen cabinets. I have a black countertop and plan on using white tile for the backsplash. What would you suggest? Thanks, Debbie
I am debating between repose and stonington for my windowless powder room. The vanity is vintage green with a marble top, the mirror is Mango wood and the tile is grey/white hex. Which color would you recommend?
Thank you
Repose Gray is probably the safer choice since it has a slight green undertone so will work well with the green vanity. Stonington may pull a little purple in that space.
Do you recommend Stonington Gray for the walls of an en-suite bathroom? A better gray for an en-suite that you’d recommend? Cabinets are a dark oak with a brown/beige speckled with darker brown countertops.
Any other colour recommendations?
Hi Janice, I think with the dark oak you’re better off using a warmer gray. SW Agreeable Gray would probably be a good choice!