How Lighting Affects Mindful Gray Undertones (And Why It’s Never Just One Color)
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After painting our kitchen cabinets with Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray (SW 7016), I quickly realized this popular neutral isn’t as simple as it looks on the swatch. I shared a quick video tour below our kitchen during various lighting scenarios so you can see for yourself!
Depending on the lighting, it shifts from warm greige to cool blue-gray, so understanding its undertones ahead of time is key!
Is Mindful Gray Warm or Cool? (Spoiler: It’s Complicated)
Mindful Gray wants to be neutral. It really does, but depending on your lighting and what it’s up against, this color walks a fine line between warm and cool.
In our north-facing kitchen, it definitely leaned cooler (almost bluish-gray). Not icy, just enough to give it a crisp feel, but in other spots (like my friend’s south-facing dining room), it looked more taupe.
Mindful Gray reads cooler in north-facing rooms and warmer in south-facing spaces.
(Sourced from: Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray Review)
It’s not moody exactly, but it does have a personality.
Watch this video below and let me know what you think.
Mindful Gray Undertone Shifts in Different Lighting
This is where things can get a little confusing.
Mindful Gray can show hints of:
- Blue in cool, low-light rooms (like our kitchen nook)
- Green when it reflects certain flooring tones or forested window views
- Beige/taupe when paired with warmer wood tones or brass hardware
Here’s what we saw at our place:
- Kitchen cabinets (north-facing): Blue-gray, very soft and subtle but cool-toned.
- Hallway built-ins (artificial lighting): True neutral gray.
- Trim in a sunlit room: Soft warm greige with taupe leanings.
And yes, the same paint. No filter. No trick lighting. I looks totally different right?
Tip: Swatch it on a large piece of poster board and move it around your space during the day. You’ll save yourself a few “what the heck” moments!
Personally, using poster board is the easiest and least messy way to test paint colors. Our house was already a disaster zone as we were refinishing the floors and remodeling the kitchen at the same time, so painting directly on the cabinets didn’t bother me.
BUT if you’re trying to keep things clean and avoid extra chaos, I’d go with Samplize peel-and-stick samples or just paint a poster board yourself.
Related: Visit this post, Mindful Gray Paint Review, to see how how it reflects natural light well with an LRV of 48. This helps in dim rooms, but the undertones still shift significantly.
Paint Our Cabinets Mindful Gray: Honest Opinion
We used SW Mindful Gray on our kitchen cabinets, and while we love the final look, it took some trial and error to get there.
What we love:
- It has depth without being dark.
- It pairs beautifully with white trim (we used Westhighland White, lightened by 25%).
- It feels calming and clean without going cold.
What to watch for:
- The undertones shift a lot depending on your flooring and light.
- It may not be the best fit if you already have cool grays or stark whites in your space.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a true gray with just enough warmth to avoid feeling sterile, this is it! Just swatch, test, and trust your lighting.
Bonus: Want To See More In Real Life?
Check out our full kitchen makeover and cabinet transformation here: Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray Review
And let me know, have you tried Mindful Gray in your space? What undertone did you see?
Mindful Gray might be one of the most flexible cabinet paint colors out there, but that flexibility means it requires a little more planning.
As with any paint color, do not go by what you see on the internet! I can 100% guarantee that the color will look completely different in your space vs what you see in someone else’s home.
Let me know if you have used it in your home! I would love to see some pictures 🙂
Our Favorite
More Kitchen Cabinet Posts
I have lots of posts from our own kitchen renovation to help you get the perfect finish on your kitchen cabinets! Check out these resources to simplify your project & answer your burning questions.
- Grey kitchen cabinets with white quartz countertops (before and after)
- Best kitchen cabinet paint
- How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Professionally
- Best DIY Paint Sprayer for Your Kitchen Remodel
- How many coats of paint should you do when painting kitchen cabinets
- Best grey kitchen cabinet paint colors
- How Much Does It Cost To Paint Kitchen Cabinets
- Updating A Kitchen Without Removing Cabinets
- How to choose kitchen cabinet hardware to match decor
- Mindful Gray Paint Cabinet Review
- How High To Hang Kitchen Cabinets
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What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.
