The best grey paint colour is the one whose undertone suits your light. Farrow & Ball's Ammonite (274) is the safest choice: a light grey that is neither warm nor cool. Elephant's Breath (229) is a warmer mid-tone grey with a hint of lilac, and French Gray (18) is a soft grey that leans clearly towards green. Little Greene's French Grey (113) and Paint & Paper Library's Slate II (162) are excellent alternatives with a gentle warmth.
Grey has had a long run as the default neutral, and the greys that last are the complex ones: colours with enough warmth, green or lilac in them to feel alive rather than flat. The trouble is that those undertones only show themselves on the wall, and they shift as the light changes through the day.
Here is how the best-known greys compare, and which rooms each one suits.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Elephant's Breath (229)
Elephant's Breath, French Gray and Ammonite compared
- Elephant's Breath (229). One of Farrow & Ball's most recognisable shades, a mid-tone grey with a subtle lilac undertone. Farrow & Ball note that the lilac comes more to the fore in cooler light. Their complementary white is Strong White (2001).
- French Gray (18). Despite its name, French Gray leans heavily towards green. It takes its inspiration from colours popular in 19th century French decoration and, Farrow & Ball say, creates very relaxed-feeling rooms. It is also a sympathetic colour for exterior woodwork and front doors.
- Ammonite (274). A subtle light grey named after the fossils of England's Jurassic Coast. Farrow & Ball describe it as neither warm nor cool, which makes it superbly easy to use in any room. Farrow & Ball suggest pairing it with All White (2005) for a fresh, bright look.
In short: Ammonite for a calm, light backdrop that behaves itself in any light; Elephant's Breath for a warmer, deeper grey with more personality; French Gray if you like the softness of grey but want a hint of green.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: French Gray (18)
More Farrow & Ball greys
- Purbeck Stone (275). Part of the Easy Neutrals group alongside Ammonite: not too warm and not too cool. Farrow & Ball suggest pairing it with Cornforth White (228), Wevet (273) or Ammonite.
- Lamp Room Gray (88). A traditional blue-grey with a surprising amount of strength in smaller spaces.
- Pigeon (25). A stronger shade that Farrow & Ball suggest using on trim alongside the lighter Mizzle (266).
Greys from Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library
- French Grey (113). A classic, versatile grey with a subtle, balanced warmth. Little Greene suggest it everywhere from hallways to bedrooms, as a neutral backdrop or a statement colour. It also comes in lighter and deeper versions, including French Grey - Pale (161) and French Grey - Dark (163).
- Normandy Grey (79). A timeless grey stone that Little Greene describe as extremely easy to live with, in traditional or contemporary rooms.
- Slate II (162). A truly versatile warm grey and one of Paint & Paper Library's best-selling shades, from their Architectural Colours.
- Slate V (165). The deepest tone in the Slate family, with subtle earthy undertones. Used with lighter Slate shades it gives a confident tonal scheme.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Ammonite (274)
Undertones and light
Grey is more sensitive to light than almost any other colour, because there is so little colour in it to begin with. The undertone, whether warm, green, blue or lilac, is what the light picks out.
- North-facing rooms have cool, steady light that pulls greys bluer and flatter. Warmer greys such as Little Greene's French Grey or Slate II hold up better than cool ones, and Elephant's Breath will show more of its lilac.
- South-facing rooms warm everything up, so almost any grey will work, and cooler greys look crisp rather than cold.
- Rooms used mainly in the evening are seen by lamplight, which flatters the warmer greys.
Our guide to why a colour looks different at home explains how orientation changes colour.
Making grey feel considered
Grey looks its best when it is part of a scheme rather than a single flat wall colour. Use a lighter and deeper version of the same family on walls and woodwork, as Paint & Paper Library's Slate shades and Little Greene's French Grey family allow. Or use the complementary white Farrow & Ball suggest for each colour, which we list on every Farrow & Ball colour page, for the ceiling and trim.
Photo Credit: Paint & Paper Library; Colours Used: Slate II (162), Slate V (165), Hornblende (186)
Questions we are often asked
Which grey is the most versatile?
Ammonite is hard to beat, precisely because Farrow & Ball describe it as neither warm nor cool. Purbeck Stone and Slate II are good, slightly warmer alternatives.
Why does my grey look purple?
Some greys, such as Elephant's Breath, have a lilac undertone that shows more in cool light. Sample large boards and look at them morning and evening before deciding.
Is French Gray the same as French Grey?
No. Farrow & Ball's French Gray (18) leans towards green, while Little Greene's French Grey (113) is a grey with a subtle warmth. Both are lovely; they are simply different colours.
