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Paint Home Decorating Design Dilemma

What’s a lighter Agreeable Gray?

5 years ago

I’m in the throes of paint decisions and am struggling with something similar to Agreeable Gray, but a bit lighter. We’re moving into a new home and while we like AG for the space, I think that the lack of natural lighting makes it a smidge too dark. I’ve read so many threads on here warning about cutting colors and advising to instead just find another color - but alas, that’s proving quite difficult.

Does anyone have a recommendation for something just like Agreeable Gray, but a bit lighter (without picking up purples?). Staring at these swatches and accumulating an army of Color-To-Go jugs is driving me bananas. Please help save (what’s left of) my sanity.

Featured Answer

PRO

Flo Mangan

5 years ago

Good for you resisting cutting a color! I too like Modern Gray for the lighter look you want. Do a good sample board and test in your light conditions.

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Comments (11)

PRO
Beth H. :
5 years ago
you'll have to try samples, but BM Pale Oak is a nice shade.
amking2005 thanked Beth H. :
wmsimons85
5 years ago
Maybe also check out SW Modern Gray it’s lighter than AG. I just used it in a space.
amking2005 thanked wmsimons85
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keep going with agreeable gray?
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It don't look real bad the ceiling looks a little darker on my phone and the wall is lighter it's not the color of the cabinets and it's not the color of your countertop but the ceiling looks like it matches your countertop I had walls painted the same color as my cabinets in my old house it made my room look bigger
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Reba
5 years ago
I just painted with sw assessable beige .. it is a grey & beige .. love it!
amking2005 thanked Reba
salonva
5 years ago
I used Modern Gray in the home we sold ( I also used accessible beige which was similar ). I got so many complements on that color. I am happy to see others recommend it too. It's a very soft color but definitely got some lovely presence- definitely not dark or dreary.
amking2005 thanked salonva
amking2005
Original Author
5 years ago
Looks like I’m off for a few more samples! Modern Gray seems like it might be a great fit - but I’ll give Accessible Beige and Pale Oak a whirl too since they’re not really coming across as overly beige.

Fingers crossed! Thanks everyone!
PRO
Flo Mangan
5 years ago
Accessible Beige is decidedly beige.
Courtney
5 years ago
I’m not sure what undertones you’re going for, but we did Benjamin Moore Hazy Skies lightened 50%... and we couldn’t be happier... it’s a chameleon of a color... sometimes it’s light and airy, at night it pulls more green, other times it’s more gray. At 50% its very close to Benjamin Moore Halo.... but I think it has more depth than Halo.
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
5 years ago
I had the same issue, wanted a certain color but a little lighter. I went to the paint store and asked for their full color fan, located the color, and picked one off the array that was a little lighter.

Just adding white can change the character of a color. Its something you can try but you can get unexpected results due to the nature of pigments and light.
Holly Stockley
5 years ago
Flo, you are a woman after my own heart. :-) Cutting colors is sometimes just painful. I think they often get "brighter" more than they get "lighter." And sometimes that's just not what you want.

OP, did you look into some of the whites/offwhites, like Eider white:
Robin Morris
5 years ago
We just painted our whole interior Pale Oak. It is lovely.

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