Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray SW 7017

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Last Updated on August 26, 2026 by Cate

Sherwin-Williams Dorian Gray SW 7017 is a medium-depth warm gray paint color with subtle greige undertones that create a rich, sophisticated look. Darker than popular shades like Agreeable Gray but lighter than charcoal, it offers beautiful depth without making a room feel too dark. Dorian Gray works well in living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, cabinetry, and exteriors, pairing beautifully with crisp white trim, warm wood tones, black accents, and natural stone for a timeless, versatile finish.

STATS

• LRV: 39
• HUE FAMILY: CIE-L*Ch(ab) = 69.499 4.758 96.016°
• HUE FAMILY – YELLOW
• Color Collections: Senior Living Cool Foundations, Acute Care Cool Foundations, Living Well – Renew, Top 50 Colors

LRV

LRV, or Light Reflectance Value, is a measurement commonly used by design professionals that measures how much light a surface reflects or absorbs. LRVs range from 0-100, with 100 being pure white and 0 being pure black.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LRV: Light Reflectance Value: What Do Those Numbers Mean?

Dorian Gray has an LRV of 39. This indicates that it will not reflect much light.

Knowing a color’s LRV is helpful; however, it is 100 percent not the end-all, be-all. Remember to take into account the other elements of the space you are painting. For example, the amount of light, type of lighting, and the fixed and decor elements. These, along with LRV, play a critical part in how a paint color will look in your room.

WHAT COLOR IS SHERWIN WILLIAMS DORIAN GRAY?

Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray is a mid-toned gray paint color. Not too dark nor too light.

It is elegant and has a good amount of depth. It’s also quite soft and sophisticated.

It also has no particularly strong undertones pulling it one way or another, as you see in some other gray paint colors. Though Dorian Gray may flash or show some undertones in certain lighting situations. Overall, It’s a terrific, versatile gray paint color that stays relatively neutral for the most part.

WHAT UNDERTONES DOES DORIAN GRAY HAVE?

Dorian Gray has slight purple undertones. But stop right there before you dismiss Dorian Gray as a paint color option.

Near neutrals in this hue family tend to shift in imbalanced light.

Undertones are just perspective, so in imbalanced lighting, you may see Dorian Gray show a bit of purple. Whereas, if you have daylight/lighting that’s evenly balanced across all lightwaves, it will appear as a neutral medium gray.

I always suggest sampling a paint color in the room you plan to use it in. That is the only way to see how the light (balance or not) will affect the color. It will also let you see how the color truly looks in your space.

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IS IT A WARM OR COOL PAINT COLOR?

Dorian Gray is considered a warm gray paint color. It comes from the yellow hue family, which is where that bit of warmth comes from. But it’s only a tiny bit of warmth. It’s definitely not the warmest gray you will find.

If you are ever struggling to figure out whether a paint color is warm or cool, grab a paint color with a tone you are familiar with.

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SHERWIN WILLIAMS DORIAN GRAY AND LIGHTING

Lighting is one of the main factors that affects how a paint color looks. It can virtually change how any color looks. That’s a big deal when you are trying to choose the right paint color. So, it’s best to be familiar with the lighting situation in the room you are choosing a paint color for.

North-facing rooms – North-facing rooms tend to have light that looks cooler and even somewhat bluish. Lighter paint colors will appear a bit muted, while bolder, darker colors will pop and embrace that cooler light.

South-facing rooms– South-facing rooms tend to have consistent warm light throughout the day. Warm and cool tones work nicely with south-facing light. This light intensifies colors, so darker colors will seem brighter while softer colors will look like they are gleaming.

West-facing rooms– Light is cooler in the morning and warmer or brighter in the afternoon/ early evening. Early evening is when West-facing rooms have the best light. Warmer tones might feel overwhelming because of the red-orange light they cast. However, if the room is used mainly in the mornings, the colors won’t appear as intense because of that cooler light.

East-facing rooms– Light is warmer or brighter in the mornings and cooler in the afternoon/evenings. An east-facing room’s bright morning light is more yellow-orange toned. A warm palette will help balance the lack of natural light in the evening.

WHAT IS THE BEST TRIM COLOR TO USE WITH SW DORIAN GRAY?

I am a sucker for a white trim color. It’s classic, simple, and clean. Plus it really pops. Dorian Gray is a great color to pair with a white trim. Since it is on the darker side, the colors contrast beautifully, and as I said before, it pops.

You can opt for a bright white like SW Extra White for a fresh, clean, and crisp look. Or you can use a white with a touch of warmth like Alabaster. Both are beautiful options.

READ MORE: THE BEST WHITE PAINT COLORS FOR TRIM

That said, painting your trim white isn’t your only option.

You can also go monochromatic and use Dorian Gray for both the walls and trim. To slightly change the trim, choose a different sheen or finish. This will create a subtle difference between the wall and trim.

You can also go a bit bolder with a black paint color like Caviar or Tricorn Black. This will give you a bold contrast.

Finally, Repose Gray is a great option if you want more of a distinction between the wall and trim.

If you’re planning a painting project soon, these are the supplies worth adding to your cart first. A few good tools can seriously improve your results.

WHERE TO USE SW 7017 DORIAN GRAY?

IS SHERWIN WILLIAMS DORIAN GRAY A GOOD EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR?

Yes, Yes, Yes. I absolutely love Dorian Gray as an exterior paint color option.

With its depth, it can certainly hold up in the sunshine. It will not look as dark on the exterior as it would in say a bathroom. But it won’t look too light.

Angie @the.painted.piano painted the exterior of her home with DG. First, her home is stunning, and second, the color looks absolutely perfect.

The photos show how Dorian Gray looks in both sunlight and on a cloudy day. Sunlight adds a bit of warmth to the color, while on a cloudy day, it looks more like a cool-toned gray.

Isn’t it wild how lighting affects the color?

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Find More Exterior Paint Color Inspiration:

• The Best Benjamin Moore Exterior Paint Colors
• Great Sherwin Williams Paint Colors for the Exterior
• Exterior Colors Combinations
• Inviting Exterior Paint Colors
• Paint Colors that go with Brick Exteriors
• SW Dovetail – A Great Exterior Paint Color
• SW Lazy Gray
• Boothbay Gray

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WHAT IS THE BENJAMIN MOORE EQUIVALENT TO SHERWIN WILLIAMS DORIAN GRAY?

For Dorian Gray, I found a Benjamin Moore color that is quite similar.

DORIAN GRAY PAINT DECK COLOR STRIP

WHAT COLORS GO WITH DORIAN GRAY?

Neutrals are usually the easiest colors to coordinate with. So, of course, SW Dorian Gray looks good with all sorts of colors.

I love pairing DG with a rich blue like SW Gale Force or a softer color like SW Sea Salt. It also looks lovely with green paint colors.

A few others that pair well with DG are:

1. EIDER WHITE
2. REPOSE GRAY
3. SERIOUS GRAY
4. SKYLINE STEEL
5. INKY BLUE
6. JASPER STONE

It’s also a lovely paint color to pair with light wood.

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DORIAN GRAY VS REPOSE GRAY

• Repose Gray has an LRV of 58
• Both paint colors are from the yellow hue family
• These two colors are on the same color strip in the Sherwin Williams paint deck
• Repose Gray, as well as Dorian Gray, can flash purple in certain lighting.

READ MORE: FULL REVIEW SHERWIN WILLIAMS REPOSE GRAY

DORIAN GRAY VS DOVETAIL

• Dovetail has an LRV of 26, A few points lower than Dorian
• Both colors are in the yellow hue family
• Dovetail is less saturated and darker
• These two colors are on the same color strip in the Sherwin Williams paint deck
• The colors also complement one another nicely.

READ MORE: FULL REVIEW SHERWIN WILLIAMS DOVETAIL

DORIAN GRAY VS MINDFUL GRAY

• 75.063    5.333   94.509°
• Mindful Gray has an LRV of 48, which is not too much higher than DG
• Both are in the yellow hue family
• These two colors are on the same color strip in the Sherwin Williams paint deck
• Mindful Gray is the lighter of the two colors.
• I wouldn’t use these two together since they are so close.

READ MORE: FULL REVIEW OF SHERWIN WILLIAMS MINDFUL GRAY

DORIAN GRAY VS AGREEABLE GRAY

• Agreeable Gray has an LRV of 60
• Agreeable Gray is lighter
• Dorian Gray can flash purple in certain light, whereas Agreeable can flash blue or green
• Agreeable Gray is more of a greige color and is a bit warmer

READ MORE: FULL REVIEW OF SHERWIN WILLIAMS AGREEABLE GRAY

DORIAN GRAY VS REVERE PEWTER

• Revere Pewter has an LRV of 55.1
• Dorian Gray is darker than Revere Pewter
• Revere Pewter can show green undertones in certain lighting
• Revere Pewter is the more saturated color of the two colors.

READ MORE: FULL REVIEW BENJAMIN MOORE REVERE PEWTER

DORIAN GRAY VS ANEW GRAY

• Anew Gray has an LRV of 47, higher than DG
• Anew Gray is the lighter paint color.
• Dorian Gray has less warmth than Anew Gray.
• Both are from the yellow hue family; Anew Gray leans a bit closer to yellow-red
  • Anew Gray has more of a greige feel to it.

DORIAN GRAY VS ELLIE GRAY

• Ellie Gray has an LRV of 40, 1 point higher than DG’s 39
• Ellie Gray is closer to the green-yellow hue family
• Dorian Gray is the warmer color of the 2
• Ellie Gray has less saturation, or color, than Dorian Gray.
• Dorian is lighter by a hair.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I can wholeheartedly say I think Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray is an amazing paint color. It checks all the boxes. It’s a neutral gray, and it looks gorgeous with so many other paint colors. It’s bold yet still soft and elegant, a truly beautiful addition to any room.

It is a bit darker gray, but honestly, it is not too dark for a bathroom or bedroom. Remember, if you have a room with little to no natural light and no views, a light paint color will never bring the room to life.

Don’t fear mid-toned or darker colors.

Using a paint color like SW Dorian Gray will give the room depth and character. Add texture and lighter colors to the space with decor, such as throw pillows, rugs, and blankets. Doing this will create a warm, inviting space.

Is Dorian Gray the best color for everyone? Certainly not. However, if you think it may be a color that will work in your home and want to see how it will perform, I say go for it and purchase a sample.

You must sample this (and every) paint color to see if it will work in your home. I know you are probably 100% over me saying this, but it’s the honest truth.

Never take someone’s word as to how a color will perform on your walls. They don’t live in your home with your lighting and decor. You need to see it with your own eyes, and sampling is the only way to do so.

Overall, I think Dorian Gray is a fabulous gray. There is a reason it made it to the Best Sherwin Williams Gray Paint Colors List.

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