What Is a Good Gray Paint Color for a Den & Dining Room?

Deep Gray

• A deep gray creates a muted and formal environment in a room. This color should only be used in larger dens and dining rooms with lots of natural light, because this color in small or dim rooms could become oppressive and make the room seem small and dingy. The depth of tone in deep gray can be modified by mixing it with white paint until the exact hue that you want is achieved. If you tint the paint, be sure to mix enough to do the entire job all at the same time, so you won't have mis-matched batches on your walls.

Light Gray

• The lighter tones of gray can range all the way to tints that are barely distinguishable from white. These hues can create a bright effect that is similar to white and off-white paints, but with subtle differences that make the color feel more grounded and subdued. These lighter tones are appropriate for smaller dens and dining rooms that you want to feel more spacious. The lighter tones will also be more effective than darker ones at reflecting light around the room and brightening up dim corners.

Blue Tints

• Gray colors can be tinted toward any part of the color spectrum to create interesting accents in their tones. Blue-gray mixes are ideal for dining rooms or dens that feature both blue and gray furniture or accessories. The mixture of colors in the wall paint will help to bring everything together within the room and create a cohesive feel to the color scheme. A gray paint with just a hint of blue resembles the color of a battleship, while greater amounts of blue move the color toward the hue of a morning sky.

Lilac Overtones

• Many people aren't aware that lilac and gray have similar color roots, because the two colors are so distinctly different when presented at full strength. A mixture of gray and lilac can create an intriguing and subtle color that changes under different light conditions. A dining room that has been painted with gray paint that has lilac overtones can be brought to life by a bouquet of lilacs or lilac-colored flowers on the dining table.