Essential Gray

Essential Gray by Sherwin Williams is a neutral mid tone color. It will usually read neutral in most homes rather than a sharp pure white.

Essential Gray sits in the red or pink family. Its hue is about 20°, which keeps it in that range on the color wheel.

Brightness is about 48%. Saturation is around 4%. Lightness (HSL L) is roughly 73%. Hue is close to 20°. The hex value is #bcb8b6. The RGB value is 188, 184, 182.

Essential Gray has brightness around 48%. It sits in the middle, so it can work in both darker and brighter rooms if you balance the lighting.

You can match Essential Gray with simple whites for trim and ceiling, or with nearby neutrals from the same brand. The similar colors and complementary colors on this page are a good starting point for pairing.

Essential Gray works well as an accent on one or two walls, in cozy rooms, or in spaces with stronger daylight where a deeper color will not feel heavy.

Essential Gray is softer than a pure untinted white. The neutral undertone and mid tone color feel more gentle on the eye, so it tends to look calmer and less stark on large walls.