Dark grey bedroom walls feel quiet and wrapped, but the undertone decides whether they feel cold or warm. These six colors were measured from paintings and include three dark greys and three companions.
Quick answer
Use charcoal #4E4A48 on the walls or an accent wall, the light grey #D2D2D2 on trim and bedding, and warm it with brown #7C4A22 and gold #F8C373.
Every color on this page was measured from one of these public-domain paintings.
Shades of dark grey
#4E4A48LRV 7
Soft Charcoal
A deep neutral with an LRV of 7, the lightest of the dark greys and the best for whole walls. It was measured from Raphael's Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints, and it is a very close match for Sherwin-Williams SW 7020 Black Fox.
A very dark grey with a warm yellow undertone and an LRV of 3, good for a cozy bedroom with wood furniture. It comes from Salvator Rosa's The Dream of Aeneas.
The same paint reads differently in cool north light, warm south sun and under evening lamps. Find the column closest to your room.
Color
Neutral daylight
North light
South light
Evening lamps
Light Pewter
Warm Gold
Try these colors in a room
Pick which color goes on the walls, the big furniture and the bold piece. Floors, shadows and trim follow your choice.
The framed picture on the wall is Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints.
Which dark grey is best for a bedroom?
The three dark greys are close in depth but differ in feel. Soft charcoal #4E4A48 is the lightest at LRV 7 and has no clear undertone, so it works with the widest range of bedding. Graphite #373838 is darker and cleaner. Warm coal #363229 leans yellow and looks softer with wood.
For all four walls, soft charcoal is the easiest. For an accent wall behind the bed, you can go darker with graphite.
Choose warm coal if your bedroom has oak or walnut furniture, a cream rug or warm bulbs. If your bedding is white or blue, the neutral greys will look cleaner.
What goes with dark grey: trim, ceiling and floor?
Dark grey needs a light partner to keep the room from feeling heavy. The light pewter #D2D2D2, at LRV 65, works for trim, a ceiling or bedding. Its closest match is Sherwin-Williams SW 7661 Reflection.
If you prefer a quiet look, paint the trim the same grey as the walls. The edges disappear and the room feels more enclosed.
For floors, warm wood is a natural match, and the copper brown #7C4A22 shows the depth of a wood tone that works against charcoal. A light rug stops a dark floor and dark walls from merging. For a small accent, the warm gold #F8C373 can appear in lamps, frames or a pillow.
How does dark grey behave in bedroom light?
With an LRV under 10, these greys absorb most of the light that reaches them. In a north-facing bedroom they can look nearly black, especially in the corners.
In strong south light, the charcoal shows its true grey and looks a little lighter. Warm coal shows its yellow undertone and looks like a soft dark brown-grey.
Under warm evening bulbs, all three look softer and the room feels cozy. Cool bulbs make the neutral greys look colder. Plan layered lighting, with bedside lamps and a dimmer, because dark walls rely on lamps more than on the ceiling light.
Sheen also changes how dark grey reads. A matte finish looks deepest and hides small flaws, while eggshell reflects a little more light and is easier to wipe clean.
How should you test dark grey samples?
Dark greys can shift toward blue, green or brown depending on the light, so use a large sample. Paint a board at least two feet square with two coats.
Place it by the bed and near the window. Hold it next to your bedding, because a white duvet makes a grey look darker and a gray duvet makes it look lighter.
Check it in the morning, at midday and at night under your bedside lamps. Wait until it is fully dry before you decide. If two greys look alike on the board, pick the one with the undertone that matches your wood and fabrics.
FAQ
What is a good dark grey paint for a bedroom?
Soft charcoal #4E4A48, with an LRV of 7, is the easiest dark grey for whole bedroom walls.
Should I paint one dark grey accent wall in a bedroom?
Yes. A graphite wall such as #373838 behind the bed gives depth without darkening the whole room.
What colors go with a dark grey bedroom?
Light pewter for trim and bedding, copper brown wood and a warm gold accent.
Do dark grey walls make a bedroom feel smaller?
They can, because they absorb light. Keep the ceiling and trim light and add lamps.
Is charcoal or dark grey better for a bedroom?
They are the same family. Charcoal is usually a little warmer and softer, as with #4E4A48.
Save these colors
A card with every color on this page, its LRV and the paintings it comes from. Pin it, or take it to the paint store.
Painting images: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, public domain (CC0).
Colors measured by Light & Pigment. Paint names belong to their brands and matches are approximate. Colors look different on screen than on a wall, so always test a sample.
From Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints, Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)
