What color is Mindful Gray?
Mindful Gray (SW 7016) is a warm, mid-tone gray: one step deeper than Repose Gray on the same Sherwin-Williams strip. It gives walls real depth while staying soft and warm.
Mindful Gray undertones
Warmth is moderate (yellow–blue +5.7) and green–red is neutral (0.0), so it is a balanced warm gray without the green-gray hint of Repose Gray.
Mindful Gray LRV and light
With an LRV of 47.7 it is a true mid-tone. It looks rich in bright rooms; in dim north rooms it can feel dark.
Deeper, cooler gray
Warm mid gray
Warm in the morning, deeper later
Gray by day, warm at sunset
Simulated from the manufacturer's color values. Always test a sample in your own light.
Best uses for Mindful Gray
Living rooms
Mindful Gray is a mid-tone gray (LRV 47.7), deep enough to give a living room real color. It works best in rooms with good daylight and with white trim to keep the space from feeling dark.
Bedrooms
In a large or bright bedroom it gives a calm, enveloping feel. In a small north-facing bedroom it can feel heavy; Repose Gray (SW 7015), one step lighter on the same strip, is the safer choice there.
Kitchens and cabinets
It is a strong choice for kitchen islands and lower cabinets with white uppers, and it hides everyday marks better than light colors. Brushed brass, black and nickel hardware all suit it.
Accent walls and offices
Its depth makes it a natural accent wall or home-office color, especially with white built-ins.
Exteriors
Sherwin-Williams lists it for exterior use. Sun lifts it to a medium stone gray, a classic body color with white trim and a dark front door.
When to avoid Mindful Gray
Avoid Mindful Gray in small, dim rooms where its LRV of 47.7 can make the space feel closed in. It is also too deep for a whole house that has little natural light. Its neutral, slightly warm balance looks gray-beige next to very cool blue-grays.
Mindful Gray color strip
LRV 58Mindful Gray
LRV 48Dorian Gray
LRV 39Acier
LRV 32Dovetail
LRV 26Gauntlet Gray
LRV 17Black Fox
LRV 7
Mindful Gray hex code, RGB and LRV
Sherwin-Williams lists Mindful Gray (SW 7016) as hex #BCB7AD, RGB 188, 183, 173 and LRV 47.698.
Colors that go with Mindful Gray
Eider White and Pearly White make soft trim; Homburg Gray is a deep accent.
Mindful Gray vs Repose Gray
Mindful Gray is the next step down from Repose Gray on the same strip: about ten LRV points deeper (47.7 vs 58.2) and slightly warmer, without Repose Gray's faint green-gray lean. Use Repose Gray on walls and Mindful Gray on an accent wall, island or exterior trim for a matched pair, or go darker still with Dorian Gray.
Mindful Gray on exteriors and cabinets
On siding, sun lifts it to a medium warm gray that pairs well with white trim and a black door. On cabinets it gives a grounded gray that suits white counters and brushed nickel or brass. To check whether a gray suits your light, see our undertones guide.
Colors similar to Mindful Gray
In Benjamin Moore, Thunder (AF-685) is very close (ΔE 0.5).
| Color | Brand | LRV | Difference (ΔE) | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viaduct SW 9567 | Sherwin-Williams | 50.2 | 1.2 | — |
| Pachyderm SW 9596 | Sherwin-Williams | 45.2 | 1.8 | — |
| Requisite Gray SW 7023 | Sherwin-Williams | 44.9 | 1.8 | — |
| Thunder AF-685 | Benjamin Moore | 47.6 | 0.5 | — |
| Pashmina AF-100 | Benjamin Moore | 44.2 | 3.3 | Review |
| Revere Pewter HC-172 | Benjamin Moore | 55.1 | 4.2 | Review |
ΔE is the CIEDE2000 color difference between the two manufacturer colors: around 1 is barely visible; 2–3 is visible when the chips sit side by side.
Mindful Gray FAQs
What color is Mindful Gray?
A warm, mid-tone gray (SW 7016) with an LRV of 47.7.
Is Mindful Gray darker than Repose Gray?
Yes. It is the next step down on the same strip (LRV 47.7 vs 58.2).
What is the Benjamin Moore equivalent of Mindful Gray?
Thunder (AF-685) is very close (ΔE 0.5).
Is it Mindful Gray or Mindful Grey?
Sherwin-Williams spells it Mindful Gray, SW 7016.
Is Mindful Gray warm or cool?
Neutral to slightly warm. Its green–red value is 0.0 and its yellow–blue value is +5.7, so it reads as a balanced gray with a hint of warmth.
Is Mindful Gray good for kitchen cabinets?
Yes, especially on islands and lower cabinets with white uppers and counters.
Is Mindful Gray too dark for a small room?
It can be. With an LRV of 47.7 it needs good daylight; in a small, dim room Repose Gray is the lighter alternative.