Chicago Grey
Chicago Grey · #BABAB9 · LRV 49 — neutral with no strong undertone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
What Color Is Chicago Grey, Really?
Chicago Grey reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Annie Sloan Chicago Grey behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Chicago Grey
Chicago Grey is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
How Lighting Changes Chicago Grey
Chicago Grey sits in the mid-range at LRV 49, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Most complaints about Chicago Grey are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Annie Sloan Chicago Grey directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | March WindSW 7668 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.1 | 49 | Color page → |
| Behr | Grape CrèmeUL250-10 · Behr | 2.2 | 50 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Coventry GrayHC-169 · Benjamin Moore | 2.1 | 48 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Granite Dust5006-1C · Valspar | 3.3 | 48.1 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Pigeon FeatherPPG0995-4 · PPG / Glidden | 1.1 | 48 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Pigeon FeatherPPG0995-4 · Glidden | 0.6 | 48 | Color page → |
Similar Annie Sloan Colors
The nearest shades to Chicago Grey within Annie Sloan's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #BABAB9 in HSL space. Pair Chicago Grey with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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