Skip to Content

Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray (Is it a greige?)

Sharing is caring!

Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray is a beautiful greige medium-toned paint color. It’s a beautiful color that can really change depending on the amount of natural light a room receives. Today we will dive into all the details.

A laundry room and family room showcasing Worldly Gray.

Hello friends and welcome to another paint color review. Today I have a gorgeous neutral. I know, we talk a lot about neutrals here but they are so popular!

If you are looking for the perfect neutral then I have you covered. This one is gorgeous and not only is it a neutral but it also has a bit of spunk that will give your home some personality without taking away from all of your gorgeous decor.

*This post contains affiliate links. For more details see my full disclosure.

What Color is Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray?

Worldly Gray is a beautiful paint color that is a little darker than its counterpart Agreeable Gray. AG is one of Sherwin Williams’s most popular paint colors and one I use in most of my real estate clients’ houses.

Being a little darker gives it a touch more depth without being overpowering.

Now there are a lot of gray paint colors on the market and you might say, they all look the same.

But they are not the same at all.

There are subtle differences to each of them that make them so special. From LRV to undertones and everything in between.

Worldly Gray Stats

The first thing that is of import to knowing a color are the colors stats. This is what makes up the color. Here are the stats on Worldly Gray:

  • R – 206
  • G – 198
  • B – 187
  • Hex Value: #CEC6BB
  • Location Number:245-C1
  • Color Family(s): Neutral
  • Color Collections: Living Well (Unwind), Top 50 Colors, Top Interior Colors, Top Exterior Colors

As you can see this color lives in many of Sherwin Williams color collections. It works so well with others.

Here is what Sherwin Williams has to say about this color:

This warm gray breathes life into any room. Pair it with other warm tones to create a sophisticated yet comforting space.

Sherwin Williams

Is Worldly Gray a greige or gray?

Ah, the great debate amongst paint colors, gray, beige or greige? This paint color is a greige. That is because it is a gray with a lot of beige in it.

There are a lot of reasons why this is considered a greige. It all comes back to undertones.

What are the undertones of Worldly Gray?

Undertones are probably the most frustrating part of picking a paint color. Worldly Gray has green undertones which gives it that warmth, but it also has a touch of purple. I know, so confusing right?

The purple in the undertones will not make this color look purple on the wall. So if the last thing you want is purple on your walls don’t worry, you are safe.

The amount of natural light in your space will determine what kind of undertones you will see. Worldly Gray has green but many times it can look beige.

More on that in a bit.

Is Worldly Gray Warm or Cool?

Worldly Gray has green undertones, which will warm up the color. The touch of purple keeps it from becoming too warm (like a beige).

So the color can have the look of beige without being one. Confused yet? Yeah, I know.

Worldly Gray is a warm color because of the warm green undertones and the fact that it can lean a little towards beige.

Greige is the most popular type of paint color and Sherwin Williams has some of the most lovely colors. Greige is the combination of gray and beige.

This combination adds a ton of warmth to a room while still being gray, which can sometimes feel very cold.

Because this paint color is a greige it makes it a warm-toned paint color.

This family room has Worldly Gray on the walls and white sofas and chairs with dark wood floors.

What is the LRV of Worldly Gray?

LRV stands for light reflective value. It is a scale from 0-100 that measures the amount of light a paint color reflects.

Who know the study of paint colors was so scientific!

The LRV of Worldly Gray is 57. It straddles that line of being a light and mid-toned color.

That means that your walls will be light and bright but have a good depth of color. They will definitely not be close to white but they won’t take the limelight away from the other gorgeous features in your room.

How Worldly Gray looks in different light

The amount of light and time of day the light comes in your windows is extremely important when determining how a color will look in your space.

East and west-facing rooms get light only at certain times of the day whereas north and south-facing rooms are more consistent.

  • North-facing rooms have a light that tends to be a little cooler in nature and will come off slightly blue. Light colors will be a bit more muted or washed out while darker colors will be stunning.
  • East-facing rooms will have brighter light in the morning and less in the evenings. The evening light will be a bit cooler. In the morning with sunrise, the bright sun will be warm. Warm color palettes are great for these spaces because they will help balance the cool feel of the evenings.
  • South-facing rooms have consistent warm light throughout the day. The light really shows off the colors, dark will be very bright, and light colors will shine. Both warm and cool color palettes look good in a south-facing room.
  • West-facing rooms have warm light in the evening and cooler light in the morning. Basically, it’s the opposite of east-facing.

In the case of Worldly Gray you will find that rooms facing east and west will have bright light in the morning or evening but will look darker when the light isn’t shining in.

North-facing rooms with the cooler light will make Worldly Gray brighter and cooler, more gray than beige.

While South-facing rooms with the warm light will make the room look more on the beige side rather than gray.

The best way to know if a paint color is right for you would be to sample it in the space and look at it over the course of several days in different lights to determine if you like it.

How to know if Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray is for you?

Every paint store will whip up a sample of any color you want. You can paint this color on your wall and look at it over the course of a few days in different lights. But then you are left with that paint can.

I prefer to use Samplize. This is a website that you can order a 12×12 inch sample of any paint color you want! It’s peel and stick so you can put it on your wall and look at it the same way as you would with a paint sample. The great thing is when you are done you peel it off and throw it away! No mess and no leftover paint cans to dispose of.

I think this is the best way to test paint colors in your home.

What are some coordinating colors to Worldly Gray?

Worldly gray looks amazing with just about any color. I know that I might say that a lot about colors but this is a neutral paint color. Neutral means it coordinates well with others!

That being said, there are certain colors that look better with Worldly Gray than others.

Personally, I really like pairing it with:

  • blues
  • blue-grays (yes they are cool and work well with Worldly Gray)
  • whites
  • dark charcoal grays
  • greens
  • wood tones

Worldly gray looks amazing with all kinds of wood tones but if you have honey oak you really should consider this color. Honey Oak cabinets can be so tricky to pair with other colors.

What is the best white trim color to go with Worldly Gray?

According to Sherwin Williams, Shoji White is the best coordinating white paint color for Worldly Gray. Here you can see them side by side.

This is a side by side of Shoji White and Worldly Gray.

I also like Pure White. It’s a crisp white with a touch of warmth to it.

This is a side by side of Pure White and Worldly Gray.

Sherwin Williams Krypton Whole Home Color Palette

Get this free whole home color palette for Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray and you will also be part of the At Lane and High Community! You will receive weekly newsletters on new posts and you can unsubscribe anytime.

What is the Benjamin Moore equivalent to Worldly Gray?

There is no exact equivalent to a paint color, they all have very specific colors that make them unique. But if you are looking for something that is as close to Worldly Gray but from Benjamin Moore then I suggest you check out Revere Pewter.

Revere Pewter is the closest you will get but I highly suggest getting a sample before you decide. No two colors are the same.

Where to Use Worldly Gray?

You can use Worldly Gray anywhere. Personally, I think this color really shines in a well-lit room. It has more depth of color than some of its counterparts so it really adds a lot of personality.

That being said here are my favorite places to use this color:

  • Living rooms
  • Entryways
  • Kitchens – especially kitchen cabinets
  • Bedrooms
  • Bathrooms
  • Exteriors

Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray in Real Homes

Let’s take a look at Worldly Gray in real homes so you can see how different lighting will change this gorgeous color.

Worldly Gray in Laundry Rooms/Mudrooms

Who wouldn’t want to do laundry in this beautiful room! You can see how the warm greige paint color goes with the cold gray in the floor tile and the countertops.

I also love how it looks with the white cabinets. Simply gorgeous!

Worldly Gray in an Entryway/Hallway

This hallway has Worldly Gray on the walls and with all the natural light it really looks like a light color!

Everything is neutral, from the floors to the walls to the furniture. Except for the throw pillows. Notice how well the paint color goes with the tropical blue!

Worldly Gray in the Family/Living Room

This gorgeous neutral family room with pops of blue is so cozy looking. That’s one thing I love about Worldly Gray, it feels like the room is giving you a hug.

Worldly Gray in the Kitchen

A kitchen with Worldly Gray on the cabinets, marble counters, a light wood flooring with a striped rug.
Source: Bria Hammel Interiors

You can see how wonderful Worldly Gray looks on Kitchen Cabinets. It looks fabulous on walls but see how nice it looks on the cabinets!

Here you can also see how well it looks with the wood tones and the marble in the counters.

Worldly Gray in an Office

A feminine home office with Worldly Gray on the walls, a gold framed push pin board on the wall with white furniture and pink accents.
Source: Atta Girl Says

In this feminine home office, you can see that Worldly Gray is the perfect neutral backdrop for all the pops of pink.

I love how well it goes with white. The white really gives the greige a bit of depth without taking aways from the decor.

Worldly Gray in the Bedroom

A neutral bedroom with worldly Gray on the walls, white bedding and a picture of a horse on the wall.
Source: @shumanmabeunteriors

This room doesn’t get nearly as much natural light which really brings out the warmth in the paint color. It’s also a little bit darker and really shows well with the neutral bedding and dark warm wood tones.

Worldly Gray in the Bathroom

A bathroom with Worldly Gray on the walls, a free standing bathtub, a shower with white subway tile.
Source: Boyer Building

Kitchens and Bathrooms tend to be very cold, hard rooms because of all the hard surfaces needed in those spaces. If you use a warm paint color on the walls it helps soften the coldness of the room and warm it up.

Worldly Gray looks great in this space with all the white hard surfaces. It goes really well with the stainless fixtures!

Worldly Gray on the Exterior

The exterior of the home with Worldly gray on the straight siding, some lighter scalloped siding and a small portico over the french doors.
Source: Pinterest

I absolutely love the details on this home. The different types of siding give the home so much interest. And I love the little roof detail over the patio doors!

When you use a light color on the exterior of a home it can become washed out because of the natural light. That’s why using a mid-toned or dark color is so great because it gives your home a bit of color.

Worldly Gray looks amazing on the exterior of the home because it’s light enough to still be a great neutral but it’s dark enough that it doesn’t get washed out.

What You Need to Know if Painting on Your Own

If you are thinking about painting a room on your own then good for you! This is one of the easiest things you can do yourself and you will get so much satisfaction out of it. Just make sure you have the right supplies.

You need a good quality paintbrush and roller cover. This is the most important thing! If you don’t use high quality the finish will not be to your liking.

Here are some other posts to help you with your DIY paint project that you should check out before you get started:

Let’s Compare Worldly Gray to Other Similar Paint Colors

What is the difference between Worldly Gray and Revere Pewter?

A side by side of Worldly Gray and Revere Pewter.

The two colors that are most often compared are Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray and Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter. That’s because they look VERY similar.

Here are the subtle differences:

  • Revere Pewter is slightly darker with an LRV of 55.51 and WG is a 57. The difference here is very slight.
  • Revere Pewter has a bit more brown to it which makes it a bit warmer.
  • Revere Pewter can look a bit muddy because of the amount of brown in it. I can personally attest to this from my own experience in my house.

Try a sample of Revere Pewter from Samplize!

What is the difference between Worldly Gray and Agreeable Gray?

A side by side of Agreeable Gray and Worldly Gray.

Agreeable Gray is probably the most popular warm gray paint color from Sherwin Williams. There are some subtle differences between these two colors.

  • AG is a bit brighter with an LRV of 60 (WG is at 57).
  • They both have green undertones but as you can see when put next to each other Worldy Gray shows a touch of that purple.
  • Those purple undertones in WG allow it to be a bit cooler than AG, even though it’s still a warm-toned paint color.

Try a sample of Agreeable Gray from Samplize!

What is the difference between Worldly Gray and Accessible Beige?

a side by side of Worldly Gray and Accessible Beige.

Accessible Beige is a very unique color. It’s is considered a greige in some circles but most consider it a beige. Because of the slight gray in it you can see the similarity of it to Worldly Gray.

But there are some differences too. Let’s go into both:

  • Both of these colors have an LRV of 58 which makes them similar in darkness/lightness.
  • They are both warm colors but Worldly Gray has green plus a touch of purple which keeps it cooler than AB.
  • They can both be considered a greige, warm paint color, but Accessible Beige has more beige in it. When compared side by side you cans see it has much more beige than Worldly Gray.

Try a sample of Accessible Beige from Samplize!

What is the difference between Worldly Gray and Repose Gray?

A side by side of Worldly Gray and Repose Gray.

Repose Gray is another very popular greige paint color from Sherwin Williams. Here are some of the subtle differences between the two colors.

  • Repose Gray sits at a 58 in LRV while Worldly Gray is at 57. This is more of a similarity than a difference because one point doesn’t make that big of a difference.
  • Worldly Gray has green undertones with a touch of purple, Repose Gray has green undertones with a touch of brown.
  • Repose gray is a bit cooler than Worldly Gray while still being a warm-toned paint color.

Try a sample of Repose Gray from Samplize!

Recap of Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray

Well, there is a lot to say about this amazing color. First I want to thank you for stopping by to read another paint color review from me. It’s been so much fun diving into these great colors!

Here are the details in a nutshell on Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray:

  • LRV of 57
  • A light, mid-toned paint color
  • Worldly Gray is a Greige paint color
  • Undertones of green and a touch of purple
  • WG is a warm color
  • Is a great neutral that will go with many other colors
  • Looks amazing in any room of your home, even on the outside of it!

Other Paint Color Posts You Might Be Interested In:

Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray pin for Pinterest.

Hopefully, you have a better understanding of Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray and its uses. It really is a beautiful color that can add warmth and depth to any room in your home.

As a licensed Real Estate Agent and an avid home decorator, I strive to give my clients the very best I can when it comes to staging, selling, and decorating their homes. I have lots of experience with paint color choices and love to DIY my home so I can have everything just the way I want it. I share my ideas and projects with the world in the hopes that I can help others have their homes just the way they want as well.

I accept the Privacy Policy

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.