Are you looking for a neutral paint color that is refreshing and not dark?
Here is your color Light French Gray Sherwin Williams to make your spaces feel lighter. It is a mid tone gray with subtle undertones of soft purple and subtle blue undertones.
You can find this color by the code SW 0055.
At home Light French gray was one unforgettable experience to begin with.
I personally loved the presence of this color in my space. The space felt more luxurious and quiet.
I would recommend you to at least give it a try in your space.
Before diving deeper into this color let us first understand it thoroughly to avoid any imbalance with colors at home.
In this Light French Gray Sherwin Williams review we will be discussing the color in depth to give you a detailed account of this color.
Overview of Light French Gray Sherwin Williams
Light French Gray 0055 is basically a color that is a mix of warm and cool undertones. It is a balanced gray with leaning more towards cooler tones.
Simply talking of this color we can say, Light French Gray 0055 = gray + purple + blue
Below we have listed a table for further details given for the users to understand the color in a bit more detailed way.
| Category | Detail |
| Brand / Code | Sherwin-Williams SW 0055 |
| Color Family | Neutral Gray |
| LRV | 53 (Medium-Light) |
| RGB | 194 / 192 / 187 |
| HEX | #C2C0BB |
| Undertone | Subtle violet / cool-neutral |
| Tone Temperature | Neutral to slightly cool |
| Finish Options | Flat, Matte, Eggshell, Satin, Semi-Gloss, Gloss |
| Best Finishes | Walls: Eggshell/SatinTrim: Semi-Gloss |
| Lighting Reaction | Daylight: NeutralNorth Light: CoolerWarm Bulbs: SofterCool Bulbs: Crisper |
| Strengths | Balanced, elegant, minimal undertone shift |
| Drawbacks | Can look flat/cool in low light without contrast |
| Best Pairings | Whites (Pure White, Extra White), warm woods, navy, black |
| Style Fit | Modern, Transitional, Farmhouse |
| Best Uses | Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, cabinets, exteriors |
| Compared To | Repose Gray (warmer), Agreeable Gray (beige-gray), Mindful Gray (darker) |
| Popularity | Timeless and still trending in 2025 |
Why Choose Light French Gray by Sherwin Williams?
Light French Gray 0055 is a mid-tone gray that reflects adequate richness and provides the space with ample amount of light making the room more serene and refined.
This color stands out from others because of various reasons that have been listed below.
Versatility
Light French Gray 0055 is a color that looks fine in all times of the day where in broad daylight its blue undertone gets reflected whereas in the evening the purple undertone comes out evenly.
It works well with almost all spaces including bathroom,bedroom,living spaces and kitchen.
Durability
Want to prevent scuffs and bumps on your hallways? Light French Gray 0055 is here to save your day.
It is perfect for hallways and living rooms because of its undertones minor cracks or cuts are rarely visible.
Light Reflectance Value
With an LRV of 53, the color Light French Gray is here to brighten your spaces with elegance and warmth.
It exudes sophistication and pairs beautifully without being too reflective.
What are the Undertones of Light French Gray Sherwin Williams?
Light French Gray Sherwin Williams is a neutral gray with subtle undertones. The various undertones are Primary undertone and secondary undertone which have been discussed below.
Primary Undertone Purple
Natural lighting gives it wings to fly. Basically under good lighting the purple undertone pops out. This gives it a more enhanced look.
Secondary Undertone Blue
In lowly lit areas the soft blue undertone is visible.
What is the LRV of Light French Gray Sherwin Williams?
LRV basically stands for light reflectance value, meaning the amount of light a color reflects back. With an LRV as high as 53, Light French Gray 0055 reflects half of the light back.
This makes the color more vibrant and safe to use in spaces like living rooms,reading rooms where relatively more light is required.
Is Light French Gray Sherwin Willliams Warm or Cool?
Light French Gray 0055 is basically a color that shifts with natural or artificial lighting.
When bombarded with a lot of light it shifts towards mid gray to soft purple whereas in absence of proper lighting the color shifts to its blue undertone.
My Honest Review of Light French Gray Sherwin Williams
It’s been three years since I last interacted with this color Light French Gray 0055 and I can vouch for this color blindly. This has been one of the most beautiful, toned down colors that I have used for quite some time now.
Let’s see how this color performed at home to give you a more detailed review of this color.
Initial Impression of the color
At first cite a nearby store that has the color Light French Gray SW 0055.
Since it is readily available, you will not encounter any issue there.
After having gone through the shade card thoroughly you might have noticed reasons why it stands out with other mentioned colors.
Its soft undertones are quite visible after an undebated swatch test.
Please go through a swatch test as soon as possible on the area that is being set to be painted Light French Gray by Sherwin Williams.
I did a swatch test on all my spaces where I wanted to use this color.
Best Applications at Home
I have personally enjoyed the color while painting my house Light French Gray SW 0055.
I although wanted it in most of my spaces but majorly I have used it in my reading room,hallway and kitchen space.
For my reading room I required a space that is well lit and provides me space to read and work without getting stressed.
With an LRV of 53 Light French Gray Sherwin Williams reflects enough light to make that happen.
I was very impressed by this color’s soft and soothing texture. It worked well in my reading space.
Hallways are anyway meant to be highly lit spaces, at least I wanted mine to be one.
Thus I went for this color that provided all the pre-requisites needed to be selected as a paint color for my hallway.
I have used wooden accessories to enhance the area even better.
Things to consider
Undertone sensitivity
Under different lightings it can appear visually different in spaces used.
Since it has the capacity to change its undertone in accordance with the light falling on it, it becomes necessary to go through a sample swatch test.
Cold outlook
Warm decor is one way to beat the blues quite literally. The blue undertone can become quite uninviting and can transform the room dull.
Which is why it is important to complement the room with proper lighting and suitable decor.
Expensive
Please do keep in mind the amount that is really needed for your space. This will help you in understanding the cost of the paint needed.
Depending on the color that you demand, the number of coats will also add to the cost.
Practical applications of Light French Gray Sherwin Williams
As I have already discussed above, my own experience with the color and how well it worked out for me.
Below I have mentioned more such spaces to help you understand its practical applications other than what I have already mentioned.
Cabinets and Furniture
Alabaster SW 7008 is one of the finest colors to complement Light French Gray 0055.
The undertone shift sensitivity somewhat gets balanced because of the color SW 7008. Cabinets painted SW 0055 look royal and elegant.
Wooden furniture and accessories would be cherry on the cake that would highlight the color even more.
Bedroom
For bedrooms you need a more cozy and comfortable vibe. There are two colors that can be taken into consideration.
One is Accessible Beige(SW 7036) and another is Pure White (SW 0075). These can be complimented by golden accessories or brass fittings.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are resting spaces which can be accentuated by statement walls with the help of colors especially like Charcoal or Iron ore by sherwin williams.
The coordinating colors complement the main color and even can get enhanced because of the bright reflecting light of Light French Gray 0055.
Living Room
Depending on the way you want it to look like the colors may vary. I have personally used lighter shades to keep my space well lit. And in order to do that we require lighter tones to fight the blue hue undertone.
The living room can be made more spirited by adding accessories which are of glazy mustard yellow or golden in color.
Kitchen
For your kitchen to look more organized and elegant go for Alabaster (SW 7008) as I went with mine. It is unabashedly one of the most lovely color combinations to go with.
Kitchen Cabinets painted SW 0055 will really accentuate the ambience of the space.making it look more vibrant and bright.
Exterior
Wooden furniture is going to go really well with the color Light French Gray 0055.
The exterior look for light french gray basically depends on many other factors like the backdrop of a space,furniture and accessories.
Mauve color can be a beautiful option to augment the ambience with its soft essence.
Difference between Light French Gray Sherwin Williams and Light French Gray Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore Light French Gray is a lighter shade compared to Light French Gray Sherwin Williams. With an LRV of 73.67 Light French Gray by Benjamin Moore reflects more light than that of Light French Gray which is 53.
The undertones of Benjamin Moore Light French Gray are warm,soft gray along with beige whereas the undertones of Light French Gray by Benjamin Moore are soft purple and blue.
| Feature | Sherwin-Williams Light French Gray (SW 0055) | Benjamin Moore Light French Gray |
| LRV | 53 | 73.67 |
| Undertones | Subtle violet / cool-neutral | Warm beige |
| Tone | Medium-light, slightly cool | Light, warm gray |
| Best For | Modern / contemporary interiors | Traditional / cozy spaces |
| Lighting Sensitivity | May appear cooler in dim light | Maintains warmth under most lighting |
| Overall Look | Balanced, versatile, elegant | Brighter, warmer, inviting |
Light French Gray Sherwin Williams : A Detailed Comparison with Other Colors
Below we have a comparison table for colors most resonating with Light French Gray.
Let us see how repose gray, Agreeable gray and Sea Salt differ from Light French gray 0055.
Light French Gray Vs Repose Gray
Repose Gray(SW 7015) is slightly lighter than Light French Gray (SW 0055) because of its higher light reflectance value. The LRV of Repose gray is 58 whereas the LRV of Light French Gray is 53.
The undertones of Light French Gray are soft purple and blue while the undertones of Repose Gray are warm gray with hints of green.
Light French Gray Vs Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray (SW 7029) is low in depth with higher light reflectance value as compared with Light French Gray Sherwin Williams(SW 0055).
The LRV of Agreeable gray is 60 while that of light french gray 0055 is 53.
The undertones of agreeable gray are beige and greige tilting more towards the warmer undertones.
The undertones of Light French gray are soft blue and purple.
Light French Gray Vs Sea Salt
Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams (SW 6204) is a color that reflects a lot of light.
The LRV of Sea salt by sherwin williams has an LRV as high as 63 while the LRV of Light French Gray is 53.
The undertones of Sea Salt are muted green-gray with blue undertones.
The undertones of Light French Gray include slight blue and subtle purple.
Coordinating colors paired with light French Gray Sherwin Williams
Coordinating colors are those colors that balance the overall outlook of a space.They are basically to enhance the main color.
Say suppose we are talking about Light french gray Sherwin Williams coordinating colors, in my opinion it goes well with a lot of lighter and brighter shades like Alabaster (SW 7008).
The various coordinating colors are listed below
Whites
- Pure White (SW 7005)
- Extra White (SW 7006)
- Alabaster (SW 7008)
Neutral / Gray
- Repose Gray (SW 7015)
- Mindful Gray (SW 7016)
- Agreeable Gray (SW 7029)
Accent Colors
- Navy / Deep Blue (SW Naval)
- Black / Charcoal (SW Tricorn Black)
- Muted Green / Sage (SW Evergreen Fog)
- Soft Blush / Mauve (SW Intimate White)
Conclusion
Light French Gray Sherwin Williams is a color that can be termed as a that changes according to the shift in lightings.
So when received adequate light the subtle purple undertones are visible while in a dimly lit area the color tilts towards its blue undertone.
My own three year experience with the color Light French Gray(0055) was absolutely refreshing and I would 10/10 recommend the color.
Paint your space and see for yourself how the color turns out in your experience.
We have already discussed the various practical applications of this color for your better understanding of the hue.
I have mentioned some coordinating colors which will help you gain a more wholesome tour of Light French Gray Sherwin Williams.
Try incorporating the color in your homes and let us know how you liked it.
FAQs: Light French Gray Sherwin Williams
There are many colors that may appear similar to Light French Gray 0055, which are March Wind SW 7668, Argos SW 7065, Silver Tipped Sage SW 9642 and Autonomous SW 9557. Another color that seems to be almost like Light French Gray 0055 is Silver plate SW 7649.
The undertones of Light French Gray include a primary undertone that is soft purple that pops out in adequate lighting whereas the secondary undertone is subtle blue.
Light French Gray Sherwin 0055 is a color that shows undertone sensitivity. Which basically means that it changes its color according to the light received. It tones down to soft purple in adequate light and in dimly or low lit areas the color seems to shift towards Blue.
There are multiple Coordinating colors that go well with this color and they are Alabaster (7008), Pure white(7005) and with neutral pairings like Repose Gray(7015), Agreeable Gray(SW 7029).
