Color Crush: French Gray In The Home

Is It Green Or Gray?

Despite the name, French Gray by Farrow & Ball reads more green than gray. Yet with gray undertones, the color fluctuates depending on the time of day, from a saturated olive green to a muted gray green. The color is inspired by French interiors of the 19th century, so it naturally carries a historic English feel. And while I personally see it utilized mostly on interiors, it’s also known for being a favorite on exterior doors, windows, and shutters.

How French Gray Reads In South, North, West, & East Facing Rooms

Paint colors will always look different from one home, room, and even wall to the next. Light, the surroundings outside, the color of the floors, and the direction of the room play a big role in how a color reads. It’s always best to test paint colors in the room you will be painting, but there are some general recommendations that may help you decide which room will look best with French Gray.

SOUTH: South-facing rooms with lots of natural light receive warm light, which subsequently enhances the warm undertones in paint colors. Depending on the intensity of the light and the time of day, French Gray reads as either a vibrant green with golden olive undertones or as a dull gray-green.

NORTH: North-facing rooms receive cool light and therefore amplify green or blue undertones in paint colors. French Gray can read as a dull green, a dark cool green, or even a blueish green, depending on the light and time of day.

EAST: East-facing rooms receive warm light in the morning and cool light the rest of the day. You may find that French Gray reads as a warm olive green in the morning, but as a gray-green or even blue-green as the light shifts.

WEST: West-facing rooms are the opposite of East-facing rooms, with cool light most of the day until the sun begins to set. French Gray may read as a dull gray-green or blue-green during the day, but it shifts to a warm, vibrant green in the evening.