It’s been awhile since I’ve done a Color Spotlight and there are so many color that I want to focus and highlight that I’m going to get back to doing the feature regularly. Today, I wanted to to a highlight one of the most versatile paint colors out there, Sherwin-Williams Mindful Gray.
Mindful Gray is a near perfect greige color with a beautiful mix of warm gray that is about is neutral as you can get. There are no strong undertones whatsoever like mauve, peach or green as you often see with similar colors.
In my book, there is hands down, no better cabinetry paint color than Mindful Gray because it’s a dark enough shade for contrast, the color is absolutely stunning and it will work beautifully with any color combination because of it’s transitional (warm/cool) base.
via Mawr Design
I use Mindful Gray on all my cabinetry throughout my home and I also recommend it more than any other cabinet color for my clients because it always looks amazing and it’s really the most dependable cabinetry color out there.
I used Mindful Gray on all the cabinetry and built-ins in my craft room (Repose Gray is on the wall).
I also used Mindful Gray on my built-in buffet in my dining room.
We used it also on our built-in bar, also in the dining room.
If Mindful Gray looks familiar to a lot of you, it’s because it’s one shade down on the same paint color card as Repose Gray. In fact, this whole color card is probably the best card when it comes to paint because all of the colors are near perfection and include rock star colors like; Sherwin-Williams Eider White, Repose Gray, Mindful Gray, Dorian Gray, Gauntlet Gray and Black Fox.
The Sherwin-Williams color strip number is 244.
Mindful Gray is also an all-around great color on walls, exterior homes and trim work. However, on walls, it is a rich darker color. Not super dark but if you want a rich greige, Mindful Gray is for sure a color to sample. Let me show you some examples.
In spaces with a lot of natural light, Mindful Gray does not appear as dark and it’s just a true beautiful warm gray:
via Mark Williams Design Assoc.
In spaces with less natural light, you can see, Mindful Gray is a more den-like rich color. Of course, it’s still a perfect warm gray but just a little darker.
At evening or dusk, with no natural light, Mindful Gray will look like this.
via Pulte Homes
If you’re looking for a wall color that is just a little lighter, Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray is the next color up on the color card and it’s one of the best colors out there and you can see my Color Spotlight here highlighting Repose Gray.
Here’s Repose Gray, so you can see the difference:
As with all paint colors, it’s always best to paint a poster board in the color and tape it to the wall (or cabinetry) to see how it looks and it it’s perfect for your space. You’ll love both Sherwin-Williams Mindful an Repose Grays!
If you want to look back at some of my past color spotlights, you can find them here.
What colors have you guys been loving lately? I would love to know and maybe feature on upcoming Color Spotlights!
Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers!
Cyndy
Trish says
I wish you would do a similar post on wall to wall carpeting. Other than the walls the floor is the next biggest space for those of us without wood or tile floors. Carpeting is expensive so we will live with our choice for many years as you can’t change it like paint!
Cyndy says
I think that’s a great idea Trish and thanks for the suggestion! I have a client project coming up with carpet and I will do a post on our research and favorites! Great idea! Thanks for your note and stopping by! 🙂
Terry says
Love these grays as well. What trim color do you think works best with this color card?
Cyndy says
Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White is what I always recommend for my clients. It’s especially beautiful with the colors on this strip. Thanks for your note Terry!
Joanne says
That’s my favorite strip! My kitchen cabs are Eider White and I have various colors from that strip around our home. 🙂
Cyndy says
That’s awesome Joanne! I think it is the best color strip out there, honestly. It’s about as neutral as you can get without any strange undertones and each one of these colors is so stunning! I bet your Eider White cabinets are beautiful! 🙂
Christine Barton says
Can I use regular white For doors and trim and ceilings with mindful gray on the walls ?
Amy Czuba says
My home has all wood trim, in a mid tone wood stain. Would these colors work well against wood, not painted, trim?
Cyndy says
Yes, this color strip is perfect with wood trim because of the balanced warm/cool undertones. However, since it’s a mid-tone stain, I would point you up the color card to either Repose or Eider White to give you more contrast. Mindful Gray would be too close your trim shade. I hope that helps! 🙂
Jennifer wheeler says
Love all your posts! I painted my house repose gray and just bought a gallon of chantilly lace for trim and cabinetry. Do you think it will go well with repose gray? I do not have a ton of natural light. I only have 1-2 small windows in each room and they are all tinted. Thank you!!
Bet Kapsalis says
Yes, mindful one of my favorites!!! Truly a beautiful, airy neutral!!! Love it. Makes decorating a no brainer!
Cecily says
What are your thoughts on pairing Mindful Gray or Repose Gray with BM White Dove? I am loving these neutral grays, but would like a more warm white on my cabinets and trim. Thanks so much for any and all advice, your website has been an invaluable in building and designing our new home!
Carol T says
How would Mindful Gray work as a wall color with taupe/tan countertops?
Miriam says
Considering gray is a neutral, it would work well with any color.
Jill says
I’m definitely challenged when it comes to seeing subtle differences in similar colors. We are about to start building a house and I’ve already chosen white cabinets (the white is similar to Sherwin Williams Greek Villa and Pure White) and Viscon White granite for the kitchen which is in an open space with the dining room and great room. The floor will be vinyl plank in a medium oak shade. I’ve looked at Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray, Requisite Gray, Anew Gray, Mindful Gray, and Versatile Gray. I want to be able to use some of my current accessories that are similar to Sherwin Williams Artichoke (6179), Oakmoss (6180), Stolen Kiss (7586), Salute (7582), and Wild Currant (7583). Which gray would you suggest? And should my trim match the white cabinets or would you suggest another shade?
Please help! Thanks!
petline says
Hello! Will like to know what ceiling paint works best with this paint(mindful gray)? thanks!
Rachel Collier says
Great article !! Due to limited funds I painted my kitchen cabinets 17 years ago. I love the results and they have held up beautifuly but it is time for a change in color scheme. I have been researching greys. I have stainless appliances and an earthy black matte counter top. I don’t want the risk of it looking too modern. I love earthy shades. The flooring is going to be black stone wood planks which encompasses taupe hues , grey and black. My dilemma is 1- not pulling pink/blue or green undertones and 2 – without a lot of natural light would it be too dark with the flooring. I am also adding white subway tiles as a backsplash. I would love your input.
Linda Justice says
Wondering what you went with. My kitchen has those colors and I have mindful gray cabinets and still love them after years of having them.
Veronica says
I am painting my cabinets mindful grey and need assistance picking out wall and ceiling trim color. What white paints coordinate with mindful grey?
Carol T says
I’ve tested several grays for my sunroon and decided I really can’t live with anything lighter than SW Dovetail. I already have room painted BM’s Kendall Charcoal, Chelsea Gray and Amherst. I have tried pale walls in the past but always went back to the dark side.
Brinda says
What do you think about these colors together?
Cabinets-Mindful Gray
Walls-Repose Gray
Accents-Dovetail
THANKS!! Love your posts!!
Tracey says
Did you go with this color combo? I’m thinking the same for cabinets (Mindful Gray) and walls (Repose Gray) in my master bathroom and would love to see what it looks like!
Briteny says
In the pulse homes what is the light color on trim?!? I don’t know what color to match mindful gray walls!!!
Vivian says
In a very small bath, is Repose Gray too close in color if I paint cabinets Mindful Gray and Decorators White trim?
Vivian says
In a very small bath, is Repose Gray on walls too close in color if I paint cabinets Mindful Gray and Decorators White trim? There is no natural light in this bath.
Cyndy says
Repose Gray is on the same color strip as Mindful, so in a small bath with no natural light, you would not get much contrast. I would point you to a two shade difference on the color strip for contrast. So maybe Eider White on walls and Mindful on cabinets. Or Repose on walls and Dorian Gray (two shades down) on cabinetry. That will give you the contrast you need and Decorator’s White is perfect on trim. I hope that helps! 🙂
Vivian says
My small bath with Mindful Gray on cabinets and Elder White walls turned out beautiful.. I used Dorian Gray in the bedroom, but was a little too dark, so SW added a quart of white to lighten the Dorian, and it is absolutely beautiful. Thank you!
Marqui says
I LOVE everything about your posts here!! I’m struggling with wall and trim color from the kitchen throughout our home. What do you think would be a nice color to go against our Dorian Gray kitchen cabinets w/white backsplash? I would love to use a color on our walls that will allow the trim to really POP in white. Thanks!!
Jamie says
What if you switched your two favorite colors – and put mindful gray on the walls and repose gray on the cabinets? Or does the darker color need to be on the cabinets? Also, can you introduce champagne and gold accessories in rooms painted these colors or would that clash? Thank you!! Your article is a huge help 🙂
Cara says
I bought 6 gal of SW Mindfull Gray after looking at color swatches in my home. Painted a board to see how it would look. Was very satisfied so painted my 30’ x 30’ LR which has an 18’ foot expanse of windows overlooking a lake & 22’ ceilings. Have a taupe, cream muted gray tiled floor. Tons of beautiful natural light. Turns out the Mindful Gray looks slightly blue on my walls? I’m beside myself!
Cyndy says
Oh no! You must have a lot of natural light in the space, which will cause a gray to lean blue/cooler. If you plan on changing the color but want the Mindful Gray look, you will need to go at least two colors over into a warmer gray. The warmth will balance all that natural light and possible lake reflection. Maybe after a few days you’ll like the color?
Debbie lee says
the cabinet in mindful gray looks stunning is it finished in Semi gloss or satin?
Cyndy says
Hi Debbie! All of the cabinetry finishes are satin. I don’t ever recommend semi gloss for cabinetry, trim and doors. It looks so much better in a matte/satin in my opinion. I hope that helps! 🙂
Chuck says
Hi Cyndy, I am building a new house and just picked out the interior paint yesterday. We went with Sherwin Williams City Loft, but I am not sure it is the right choice, we have all white cabinets throughout the whole house. Here is a pic of the model home interior
https://ibb.co/e3XG7H
I don’t know if i will be having an accent wall (getting pricing on it) and the wood flooring will be a shade darker then what is pictured. We have light cream leather sofas as well. I was wondering if I can or should stick with City Loft since I think i would like something darker. If i go darker it will be through the entire house (unless i do an accent again)
My wife doesn’t want something depressing and dreary and i don’t want too light that I might as well have white (lol) any suggestions? What gray can we paint throughout the whole house that still looks like a nice gray Thank you!!!
Cyndy says
Just a word of warning Chuck, City Loft does have a very very slight violet undertone and in certain lighting situations (artificial light), I have seen it lean pink. Sherwin Williams Repose Gray or Mindful Gray (one shade down from Repose), has absolutely no strange undertones and both are very versatile in different lighting situations and absolutely stunning throughout a home. I would suggest that you sample both colors on a poster board and if she prefers the lighter Repose and you prefer the one shade darker Mindful, have the two colors mixed together 50/50 for a gorgeous compromise! I can promise you that you both would love it! I hope that helps and please keep me posted. 🙂
Chuck says
Cyndy,
Thank you for the reply and excellent advice! I forgot to mention in my original post that this color will have to be on the ceiling also, lol. Its an additional charge, of course, to do a separate color. I like your ideas of repose or mindful a lot and i. look forward to running both ideas by my wife and seeing which she likes! I’m assuming both will be acceptable on the ceiling as well 🙂
Thank you Cyndy!
Cyndy says
I hate to tell you Chuck but I would strongly encourage you not to do the same color on the ceiling. I’m afraid you will regret not spending the money to have a beautiful crisp flat white contrasting on the ceiling and making your space look larger and taller. Spaces with the same color on walls and ceilings will look a lot smaller than they are. You may be able to get away with it with Repose Gray, since it’s light enough but still, I worry you will really regret not doing it and the look. If it’s a ridiculous amount to paint your ceilings, you could always hire a painter after to come in and paint the ceilings for less money. However, it would be a paint with furniture in place, ect.. Good Luck and keep me posted.
Dianne says
Love your posts and pictures. I have just painted my newly remolded master bath in Comfort Grey. Do you have any color suggestions for the Master Bedroom? I will also be adding new carpet in the bedroom which is also a dilemma. The new floor in the master bath is wood-look planked tile in soft greys, grey blue, with the same colors in a pebble tiled shower with a hint of subtle green. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Melissa says
We just purchased a new home and will be painting the entire home. We have a two story great room with a wall of windows so we decided to go with the Mindful Gray throughout with the dining room and office in either Acier or Dovetail. We will be painting all trim, molding and doors the Decorators White, as suggested in this article. We were wondering which white would be recommended for the ceilings? Thank you for your help!
Josh says
Contemplating doing Mindful Gray kitchen cabinets, with Origami White Walls and Extra White trim. Do you feel that would be a solid combo?
Becky says
I have been through many gray paint samples. I want a true gray without blue, purple undertones.. The latest I have tried are Repose and Mindful. Repose is too light and Mindful too dark! Help!
Cyndy says
If you like the undertones of Repose and Mindful Gray, have the colors mixed together 50/50. If you have the samples of the two colors at home, you can take two tablespoons of Repose and two tablespoons of Mindful and mix them together in a disposable bowl and test. I can’t tell you how many times I have mixed two shades together because my client liked the colors but one was too light and the other was too dark. Keep me posted!
Victoria says
Hi, I love your home and photos. What are your thoughts on Agreeable Gray? I have a new home with cream colored trim and interior doors and someone recommended Agreeable Gray to go with cream trim. thanks!
Erica says
Hi Victoria. What color did you choose for your walls with cream trim? I have antique white trim and was wondering what color would look good with it. Any suggestions would be great!
Susan says
I just painted my kitchen island Mindful Gray, It is so gorgeous! In my house, Mindful Gray reads a tiny bit greenish, but I like it that way. The surrounding cabinets, trim and fireplace were painted BM Chantilly Lace; the ceiling is BM Super White. I considered Repose Gray for the walls, but when testing, it seemed too cool on my walls. I wanted a very pale taupe gray , so went with BM Balboa Mist. My white oak floor was refinished with a darkish gray fumed finish and all is perfect together. I couldn’t be happier!
Andrea Tokheim says
Hi there! I love this blog. Such great info. I have a very small (5′ x 4′) master bathroom and am trying to decide between Repose or Mindful. I feel like the Repose is a little too light but afraid Mindful will be too dark or make the room look smaller. Any thoughts?
JD says
Mix the two 50/50, do mindful at 50-75%, or check out Colonnade gray.
JKP says
I have mindful gray on our main floor of the house, colonnade gray on the second floor and repose gray in all of our bathrooms. I think that all of those grays are great soothing colors but depending on how much there is sunlight coming into the room, repose gray can look very very light and I’m actually considering changing our master bathroom color to mindful gray to give the walls little bit more definition. There honestly isn’t much of a difference between mindful gray and colonnade gray except the latter one looks a tad more taupe in my view, not much though.
Sonja says
Hi there my walls are agreeable grey would an accent wall of mindful grey look good next to it?
Vivian says
Your post on Mindful Gray has helped me sooooooo much! I’m considering Collonade Gray SW for my family room with Decorator White BM trim. Any thoughts you have on Collonade Gray?
Cyndy says
Collonade is a gorgeous color and I love it mixed with Decorator’s White trim. I think you will absolutely love it! Just sample it on the wall first just to make sure you like it in your lighting. Good luck and I’m so thrilled that my post was able to help! 🙂
Cyndi Craven says
Hi Cyndy… first, thanks so much for your wonderful posts! I really enjoy them.
I just had the exterior of my 1949 tiny brick ranch painted in SW Dorian Gray (bright white trim, black shutters, and red door), and absolutely love it. I sort of fell in love with that whole color strip during the process.
My living room gets tons of light, mostly from north and west, and has lots of white trim and window treatments so I’m looking for a color with some depth. Your post here with these great pics of SW Mindful Gray are pushing me strongly in that direction. I’m going to get a sample today.
Thanks again… what a great service you are to the color obsessed of us out here! 🙂
Cyndi
sharon and Gary Wassmer says
I painted my laundry room Mindful gray..love the color BUT, I have no window and flouresent lighting which has give me a Gurple gray laundry room…I am assuming I need a warm bulb or daylight to resolve this problem???
Cyndy says
Oh no.. Yes, a warmer or daylight light bulb should help. Strange that you’re getting a “gurple” color.. To me, that tells me that the lightbulb you’re currently is one of those with a purple cast to it. My husband switched out all the lightbulbs in our home one time with those purple ones and all my walls had purple casts! Ugh!! Good luck!
Ashley says
I love your colors and style! May I ask where you got the large piece of wall art that’s next to the buffet in your dining room? Does it have a name by any chance? 🙂
Stephanie Gregory says
I am going to use Mindful Gray in 2 bedrooms. Can you please tell me what type of Sherwin Williams paint you recommend? There are so many varieties! Also, which sheen do your recommend?
Jacey Butler says
Hi there! I’m currently building our house and we just picked out our paint colors. There is only moderate natural light and no lighting installed yet. We decided on Mindful Gray for kitchen cabinets and Alabaster for walls, trim, and ceiling. Do you think these will go together? My other choose for walls, trim, and ceiling is Pearly White. Thank you!
Cyndy says
How exciting! Have you sampled both of these colors in artificial light yet? I know your lighting isn’t installed but you could test in your home at night to see if you like these colors. Alabaster is a warmer white but beautiful. These colors would be beautiful together but I did want you to know that Alabaster is a warmer white. I would encourage you to sample just to be sure. 🙂
Sadie says
Hello there, we are currently building a new house, I’m have my island peppercorn my Cabinets white any suggestions on a wall color? we have lots of natural light.
I have dark floors and white trim around the windows and floor boards. I would love a shade of gray that does not pick up green, blue is ok. I want something warm but not to dark. HELP!! My contractor says I have a week ( enter scared face here)
Jae says
Thanks for the write-up! I just bought another home I’m fixing up. I had hardwoods put on most of the main level in Jacobean. Dining room & 2 story foyer get loads of natural light. Living room doesn’t appear to get much light because of the attached screened in porch. The only room we didn’t change floors is the kitchen, because the kitchen is brand new! It is bright & gets great light. Light gray tile floors, stark white cabinets, subway tile in varied shades of gray, and moon white granite (white/gray with big specks of plum). I thought repose gray might work throughout but my husband prefers to bring in more color with mindful gray. What are your thoughts? I love purples & we’re not afraid of color but we we’re leaning towards grays because of what’s already in the home. Do you have suggestions for 1-2 colors that might work throughout? Thanks!
Tammy Bainter says
HI – we are looking at either Repose or Mindful Gray for our walkout basement. What would be the best color for a coordinating accent wall?
GS says
Great Article and lovely photos that look nothing like the room I am painting. It’s a very small outdated bathroom I cannot afford to remodel so it has a medium dark varnished vanity with a light beige stone look top. I would say the wood on the vanity falls into the warm red/yellow oak color. The floor tile is a very light cream with sort of a pale gray/green/violet taupe in the grout (it’s hard to pin down the color – looks warm in some light and more taupe at other times) and the wall tile is basic shiny medium tan. AKA Awful and quite the challenge!! There are some warm wicker basket type accents throughout the room. Faucets and hardware are matte silver/chrome in color. All trim is SW Pure White. Really struggling to find the right hue to counteract all the beige and warm hues, so I don’t want to continue it on the wall color but finding it very hard to select a gray that will compliment the room without looking like a 5th wheel. Warm grays look too muddy, cool grays look too blue – others look pink or violet. I don’t know if I should dive in and go dark (the room does have a full size south facing window with bathroom style privacy window glass) or should I stay extremely light which seems boring/milktoast. I am really at a standstill on this one. There is an adjacent hallway that has 2 bedrooms and an office (which I just recently painted BM Silver Chain), the bathroom is the 4th room. So many room coming off a small hall means there is a lot of white trim. The hall and bedroom colors will be the next hurdle so before I go forward with the bathroom color I think I have to consider all the rooms. My BM Silver Chain sample does not do anything in the bathroom. Can you even point me in a direction to begin targeting the hue and depth to consider in samples because I am totally lost and at a standstill. Thank you in advance.
Annie says
My bedroom which is actually 2 rooms was recently painted Mindful grey. I’m looking for colors I should use for the bedding and window treatments .
Cindy says
Hello Cyndy! We have dark wood floors throughout our house. Would you recommend Mindful grey kitchen cabinets? If so what would be a great wallcolor?
Cyndy says
Mindful Gray is a stunning mid-toned cabinet color. It’s one of my favorites on cabinets. I would recommend if you did that with the dark floors to go white on your walls to balance the dark floors/mid-toned cabinets. It will be a beautiful contrast but still keeping the space feeling airy and light. If you have a lot of natural light in the space, I would recommend Benjamin Moore Simply White. If you don’t have a lot a light, I would suggest Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White. I hope that helps! 🙂
Vivian says
Hi Cyndy, I love your post!!!! I have Mesa Brown kitchen cabinets. I love Colonade Gray and Mindful Gray. I can’t repaint my kitchen cabinets, so can either of these grays be ok with Mesa Brown cabinets. AND, is it true that Gray is now on its way out of new color trends? You are absolutely The Best Color Specialist on any reviews. Viv
Arleen says
Hi love your article! What will be the Sherwin Williams equivalent of BM decorator’s white? Thank you!
Kendall says
Hi!!
We’re building a home and the ceilings are very high. I decided on Repose grey walls, but I’m not sure what color to do the cabinets. Either lighter or darker? Eider white maybe or mindful? Open to other suggestions!! Thank you
Saadia A says
I wanted to do mindful gray on my walls for two story foyer with large window, living room , powder room, and dining area. However, I am not sure what shade of gray cabinets will go with that. I have no windows in the kitchen but it opens to my dinette area with the patio door.
Kendall Harrison says
Hello!
I need your help desperately!! We are currently building a home and I’ve been going back and forth on colors. We have very tall ceilings and decent light. We did repose gray throughout the house on the walls, but I need the perfect cabinet color. I’ve been going back and forth on mindful gray and Eider white cabinets in the kitchen. Just some info, but our island will be Tricorn Black and our butlers pantry will also be Tricorn Black. Most likely brass hardware and the “marble” white quartz counters and backsplash. What would you pick?? Thank you so much.
Barry Baker says
I have a craftsman style home and after your comments decided to paint the exterior 50/50 mix of SW Repose and SW Mindful Gray. I’m having trouble committing to a trim color. Do you have any recommendations? The shutters we are planning to use SW Dovetail. Thanks you for your great posts!
Barry
Debby Burroughs says
I used this blog post a little more than a year ago to paint kitchen cabinets Mindful Gray and walls Eider White. Now, I wonder about the stunning blue/periwinkle color you used on a round table in your craft room. What is that color and did you paint it or buy it already done?
Emily Biggers says
I have mindful gray in my bedroom and repose in most of the rest of the house. One bedroom is painted SW Aquitaine and one will soon be SW Quietude or another gray/green. I am trying to choose carpet for the three bedrooms – mindful gray, aquitaine, and some beachy color such as Quietude… Would you go w/ glossy taupe from Lowes? I tried Minecraft and some others that were more gray but they seem too dark. Do I want lighter or darker carpet? I assumed lighter to keep the rooms from looking smaller. They are already not big rooms. Thanks!!