Are you searching for the perfect light gray paint to convert your home into a bright, peaceful haven?
Sherwin-Williams First Star might be exactly what you’re looking for.
This popular light gray creates a calm, fresh atmosphere while providing a versatile backdrop for furniture and decor.
With blue-green undertones and high light reflectance, this color brightens spaces without feeling cold or stark.
This adaptable gray alters throughout the day, appearing crisp in morning light and softening beautifully by evening.
It works with modern, farmhouse, or traditional styles, creating an open, airy canvas for your unique home design.
Understanding Sherwin-Williams’ First Star
This is a popular light gray paint color by Sherwin-Williams.
It creates bright and airy spaces that feel clean and peaceful.
Color Terminology
Let’s look at the technical details of this color.
These numbers help designers and painters understand exactly what this color looks like.
| PROPERTY | VALUE |
|---|---|
| LRV | 69 |
| RGB | 218 / 217 / 212 |
| Hex Value | #DAD9D4 |
You can use the RGB and Hex values when trying to match this color for online designs or when ordering things for your home.
Undertones:
- It has soft blue-green undertones
- It’s a light, cool-toned gray that feels fresh
- Not a stark white, but a subtle, gentle gray
Psychology of Off-White Colors
When you paint your walls with this color, you’ll notice it has a calming effect.
This color can actually change your mood when you enter a room.
- Cool light grays: It creates a feeling of calm and space
- Gray-based neutrals: Bring a peaceful, modern feeling to any room
- Light grays: Make spaces look bigger, brighter, and more open
- Benefits: Versatile in any light, hides marks, complements all decor styles.
This versatile gray is a good choice that won’t go out of style. It works as a perfect background for your favorite things in your home.
Why Choose Sherwin-Williams First Star (SW 7646)?
Sherwin-Williams First Star is a calming light gray that brightens up spaces while keeping them grounded.
It’s a go-to color when you want something simple that still has character.
1. Versatility
It adapts beautifully to changing lighting throughout the day.
In morning light, it shows its crisp gray side, while evening lamps bring out its softer tones.
This color works in bedrooms, living rooms, or even bathrooms.
If your style is farmhouse, modern, or traditional, it provides the perfect backdrop.
2. Key Features
Its neutral gray tone makes it a team player with most furniture colors.
Its LRV of 69 helps bounce light around the room, making dark corners brighter and low-ceiling rooms feel more spacious.
Unlike trendy colors that quickly date your home, this timeless gray will look stylish for years to come.
3. Durability
When applied in Sherwin-Williams’ Cashmere or Emerald finishes, the color resists scuffs and marks, perfect for busy homes with kids or pets.
The light gray color hides minor imperfections while maintaining its clean appearance.
A simple wipedown keeps walls looking freshly painted even after years of daily life.
4. Texture Patterns
This paint color creates a velvety, soft appearance that adds subtle depth to your walls.
Its blue-green undertones respond beautifully to changing light, creating gentle shadows and highlights throughout the day.
This color provides a consistent flow when used in connected spaces while allowing your artwork and furnishings to stand out as the focal points.
Room Color Recommendations: Sherwin-Williams First Star
This is a pleasant light gray that works nicely in every room of your home.
It changes slightly throughout the day, staying bright but calm in any lighting.
1. Living Spaces and Open Floor Plans
- Creates an open, airy feeling in living rooms, making your space look bigger while letting your furniture be the star of the show.
- The cool gray tone brings a peaceful vibe to your room, especially when natural light pours in through windows.
- For open homes, use the color everywhere to make rooms flow together, or mix it with slightly darker grays like Big Chill for some variety.
2. Bedrooms and Relaxation Areas
- Helps make your bedroom feel like a calm retreat where you can truly relax and unwind at the end of a busy day.
- The high LRV (69) bounces light around nicely, keeping the room bright during the day and soft and restful at night.
- Try this on all walls for a clean look, or pair it with soft blues like Misty for a gentle pop of color.
3. Bathrooms and Spa-like Retreats
- This beautiful color alters bathrooms into bright, clean spaces that feel bigger and more open than they actually are.
- The light gray tone provides a perfect background for towels, shower curtains, and bathroom accessories in any color.
- Pair with silver fixtures and some greenery to create a simple but stylish bathroom that feels fresh and spa-like.
Color Pairings and Combinations for Sherwin-Williams First Star
This is a gentle light gray with soft blue-green undertones.
Its Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 69 makes it a bright neutral that opens up spaces while adding a cool, calm feeling.
Here are color pairings that work great with it.
Complementary Trim Colors
Picking the right trim color can really change how a color looks on your walls.
These colors work especially well with the color and can highlight its cool undertones.
- Extra White (SW 7006): This bright, clean white creates a crisp contrast with it. It is perfect for trim in rooms where the walls and woodwork stand out.
- Ellie Gray (SW 7650): A medium gray that’s just a bit darker than the paint color, giving you a subtle layered look when used on doors or built-ins while keeping the space feeling calm.
- Deep Forest Brown (SW 9175): A rich, dark brown that makes a bold statement when used for window frames or door trim, adding warmth and depth to a cool-toned room.
Before finalizing, test small areas with each color pairing to see which best showcases it in your home’s lighting.
Creating Cohesive Color Schemes
This perfect neutral works beautifully with many other colors to create a pulled-together look throughout your home.
Here are three different color schemes for the color
| SCHEME | MAIN WALLS / AREAS | TRIM / ACCENT / CEILINGS | OTHER ROOMS / ACCENTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monochromatic | First Star (SW 7646) | Big Chill (SW 7648) | |
| Warm | First Star (SW 7646) | Dovetail (SW 7018), Agreeable Gray (SW 7029) | Accessible Beige (SW 7036) |
| Cool | First Star (SW 7646) | Sea Salt (SW 6204), Misty (SW 6232) | Silverplate (SW 7649) |
NOTE: All colors shown are Sherwin-Williams paints. Colors will look different depending on your lighting, so always test samples on your walls before buying full gallons.
Coordinating with Furniture and Decor
This is a warm color that complements almost any furniture and decoration.
Its cool, light gray tone creates a perfect backdrop for showcasing your favorite things.
1. Wood Tones
This Benjamin Moore color looks great with all kinds of wood, from dark to light. Dark woods like walnut create a dramatic contrast against light walls.
Medium woods like oak add warmth while keeping rooms bright.
Light woods like maple or pine create a fresh, modern feel when paired with this soft gray.
2. Metals
Silver and chrome fixtures look crisp and clean, enhancing their cool undertones.
Black hardware creates sharp, modern lines that stand out beautifully on these light gray walls.
Bronze and copper add unexpected warmth, balancing its cooler tone, creating an interesting mix that feels both fresh and cozy.
3. Decor
Blue and green fabrics look right at home with this, bringing out its subtle blue-green undertones.
Yellow, coral, and soft orange accents pop against the gray background, adding energy to any room.
Natural elements like plants, wicker baskets, and light stone bring texture and life to spaces painted in this versatile gray.
Similar Paint Colors: Perfect Alternatives to First Star (SW 7646)
All these colors work well in many different rooms.
They create bright, open spaces that feel welcoming and clean.
1. Big Chill (SW 7648)
- Slightly darker gray with stronger blue undertones
- Lower LRV (62) gives a bit more depth while still keeping rooms bright
- Creates a cooler, more defined look that works great in bedrooms and bathrooms
2. Eider White (SW 7014)
- Warmer gray with slight purple undertones
- Similar LRV (73) but feels softer and creamier
- Creates a cozier feeling that’s perfect for bedrooms and living rooms
3. Incredible White (SW 7028)
- Warmer light color with beige undertones instead of blue-green
- Creates a cozier, more traditional feeling while still keeping spaces bright
- Looks especially good in rooms with warm wood tones and natural textures
Final Words
Sherwin-Williams First Star truly stands out as a versatile light gray that can work wonders in any home.
Its cool undertones create a peaceful atmosphere.
From living rooms to bedrooms, bathrooms to kitchens, this adaptable shade complements various wood tones, metals, and accent colors.
Pair with Extra White trim for a crisp look or colorful accents for personality; it provides the perfect backdrop for your home story.
Ready to create a space that feels both fresh and timeless?
This perfect neutral might just be your new favorite neutral!
Have you used this paint color in your home?
We’d love to hear about your experience – drop a comment below and share your thoughts!
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Alex Guerrero, a graduate with a Fine Arts degree from the Rhode Island School of Design, has been a visionary in the world of color and design for over 15 years. His professional journey began in the heart of the fashion industry in Milan, where he developed an acute sense for color harmonies and trends. Alex joined our team in 2018, offering fresh and innovative perspectives on color utilization in various spaces. Renowned for his ability to blend contemporary trends with timeless elegance. Outside of work, Alex is an accomplished painter and a volunteer art therapist, his artistic talents further enriching his professional insights.
