Repose Gray vs Edgecomb Gray: The Comparison That Actually Helps You Decide

Beril Yilmaz
8 hours ago
9 min read

Repose Gray and Edgecomb Gray both get shortlisted for the same brief - a warm neutral that reads as gray without tipping cold. They sit five LRV points apart, which sounds negligible on paper. On the wall, the gap that actually matters is the undertone: Repose Gray carries a violet-brown base that can drift toward lavender in the wrong light, while Edgecomb Gray leans on a beige-tan undertone with only a faint green note that rarely surfaces at all.

I have specified both across UK and international projects, and the decision usually comes down to which risk a client is more willing to live with. Repose Gray is the more confident, more color-forward of the two. Edgecomb Gray is the one that almost never surprises you.

This guide covers how each colour actually behaves under different light, where each one belongs, and the specific test that will tell you which your room needs.

At a Glance

	Repose Gray	Edgecomb Gray
Brand	Sherwin-Williams	Benjamin Moore
LRV	58 - a true mid-tone, deeper and more assertive than Edgecomb Gray's lighter reading	63 - noticeably lighter than Repose Gray, sitting closer to a soft off-white than a true gray
Colour category	Committed warm gray - reads clearly as a colour, not a soft off-white	Restrained warm greige - balanced enough to avoid reading as beige or gray specifically
Undertones	Violet-brown - the brown grounds it in warm light, but the violet can surface as lavender in cool or artificial light	Beige-tan primary, with a faint green note that only shows in poor or artificial light
Character	Confident and grounded; holds its gray identity in bright rooms but needs warmth to stay balanced in dim ones	Even-tempered and dependable; the least directional of the two, which is exactly its appeal
North-facing	Risky - the violet undertone is most likely to surface without warm light or warm materials to hold it back	Reliable - the beige-tan base holds steady without the violet risk Repose Gray carries
South-facing	Excellent - warm sunlight grounds the brown base and keeps the violet fully in check	Warm and settled - the colour deepens slightly toward beige without becoming yellow or heavy
Open-plan	Moderate - performs well if light is consistent across the space, less reliably if zones shift from warm to cool	Strong - the balanced undertone travels consistently across zones with mixed light and material temperatures
On walls	A true mid-depth gray backdrop with real presence - reads as a colour choice, not a neutral default	A soft, settled greige backdrop that recedes rather than announces itself - the calmer of the two on a full wall
On cabinets	A long-standing favourite for painted cabinetry; needs 15-20+ LRV points of contrast from adjoining wall whites	A dependable, low-risk choice across most kitchens; pairs cleanly with a wider range of stone and hardware finishes
Use together?	Not typically paired directly - the two sit in different colour families across brands and read as alternatives, not partners	Not typically paired directly - the two sit in different colour families across brands and read as alternatives, not partners
Trim for each	Sherwin-Williams Pure White for a clean, only-slightly-warm contrast that will not fight the violet undertone	Chantilly Lace OC-65 for crisp contrast, or White Dove OC-17 for a softer, more enveloping trim relationship
Style fit	Transitional, modern farmhouse, open-plan contemporary interiors	Traditional, transitional, contemporary, organic modern - genuinely style-agnostic
Architect's pick	When the brief wants a true mid-tone gray with real depth and the room's light is bright and consistent	When the brief wants warmth and neutrality together, and the room's light or use case is unpredictable

Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray SW 7015 - What It Really Looks Like

Repose Gray has an LRV of 58, which puts it firmly in the mid-tone gray category rather than the soft-neutral range Edgecomb Gray occupies. The base carries brown for grounding and violet for its distinctive coolness. In good, warm light the brown wins and the colour reads as a composed, sophisticated warm gray.

In cooler conditions the violet has room to surface. North-facing rooms, overcast days, and cool-temperature bulbs can all pull Repose Gray toward a faint lavender cast. It is not a dramatic shift, but it is the single most common complaint from people who chose the colour sight-unseen from a swatch.

It does not hedge. Repose Gray reads as an intentional gray in every light condition - it simply asks the room to meet it with either strong natural warmth or warm-toned artificial lighting to hold the violet in check.For how Repose Gray compares to a lighter, more forgiving Sherwin-Williams greige in the same range - Repose Gray vs Pale Oak guide covers exactly where the extra depth becomes an asset and where it becomes a liability.

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray HC-173 - What It Really Looks Like

Edgecomb Gray has an LRV of 63, five points lighter than Repose Gray, and the undertone tells a genuinely different story. The primary note is a warm beige-tan, with only a faint green-gray hiding underneath that rarely surfaces except in poor light.

This is what makes Edgecomb Gray the more forgiving of the two. It does not commit hard to either gray or beige, which is precisely why it works across such a wide range of light conditions and material palettes without creating problems.

In north-facing rooms it holds its warmth without drifting cool the way Repose Gray can. In strong southern light it settles slightly deeper into beige rather than swinging toward any single undertone. Your room will tell you which one it needs, but Edgecomb Gray asks fewer questions of the room to begin with.For the comparison of Edgecomb Gray against a close Sherwin-Williams equivalent at nearly the same depth - Agreeable Gray vs Edgecomb Gray guide covers the balanced-warm-cool distinction between the two brands' most popular greiges.

The Real Difference Between Repose Gray and Edgecomb Gray

The simplest way to explain it: Repose Gray is a warm gray that can turn cool. Edgecomb Gray is a warm greige that almost never does.

Repose Gray sits at LRV 58 with a violet-brown base that depends on warm light to stay grounded. Edgecomb Gray sits five points lighter at LRV 63, with a beige-tan base and only a faint green note that stays dormant in most conditions. The five-point LRV gap is real but modest - the undertone behaviour is where the two colours genuinely part ways.

Because these come from different brands and different undertone families, they are not typically specified together on walls and trim - each functions as an alternative to the other, not a partner. Where a client has narrowed the brief to "warm gray, not beige" and needs a same-brand alternative once Repose Gray has been ruled out for a specific room, the Repose Gray vs Alabaster guide covers how Repose Gray performs against a lighter Sherwin-Williams neutral in the same north-facing conditions that challenge it here.

Not sure which one works for your room? A colour consultation is included in all our design packages - book directly here.

When to Choose Repose Gray

Choose Repose Gray when the brief wants a genuine mid-tone gray with real presence. These are the conditions where it is the right answer:

South or west facing rooms with strong, consistent natural light. Open-plan spaces where the light stays even from one zone to the next. Kitchens and living rooms where a warm gray, rather than a beige-gray, is specifically the brief. Rooms with warm wood floors and warm-toned trim that can hold the colour steady.

Avoid Repose Gray in north-facing rooms without a warm-light plan, and avoid it under cool-temperature LED bulbs, which amplify the violet cast the fastest. There is nothing ambiguous about how it reads once the light works against it.

When to Choose Edgecomb Gray

Choose Edgecomb Gray when the room's light or use case is genuinely unpredictable. These are the situations where it outperforms Repose Gray:

North-facing rooms where a violet-leaning gray would be a real risk. Open-plan spaces where the colour needs to work across different zones and material temperatures. Whole-house schemes where consistency matters more than depth in any single room. Any room where Repose Gray has already tested too cool or too purple in the client's actual light.

Edgecomb Gray is also the better starting point for anyone new to greige, since it rarely needs the warm-light correction Repose Gray sometimes does.

How the Pairings Differ

For Repose Gray on walls, Sherwin-Williams Pure White on trim keeps the contrast clean without overcorrecting toward a cool or bright white that would expose the violet undertone. Avoid overtly warm, creamy trims, which can make Repose Gray look muddy rather than composed.

For Edgecomb Gray on walls, Chantilly Lace or White Dove on trim both work reliably - Chantilly Lace for a crisper, more defined edge, White Dove for a softer, more enveloping warm-white relationship.

For flooring, Repose Gray needs warmth nearby to stay grounded - warm wood tones and warm stone hold the violet undertone in check. Edgecomb Gray is considerably more forgiving and handles a wider range of wood tones, from warm oak through to cooler bleached finishes, without the same risk.

For hardware, both colours suit brushed nickel and matte black. Repose Gray is more particular about warm brass, which can occasionally clash with the violet note in mixed light. Edgecomb Gray pairs comfortably with brass, bronze, and nickel alike, another reflection of its more balanced undertone.

Architect's Verdict - Repose Gray or Edgecomb Gray?

For most homes - particularly those with unpredictable light, north-facing rooms, or open-plan layouts spanning several exposures - Edgecomb Gray is the more reliable choice. Its balanced undertone performs consistently without needing the room to compensate for it.

Repose Gray is the right call when the brief specifically wants a true mid-tone gray with confidence and depth - and when the room's light can support it. In a bright, south-facing open-plan space with warm wood and consistent daylight, Repose Gray has more colour presence than Edgecomb Gray will ever deliver.

Edgecomb Gray is the right call whenever the room's light is mixed, north-facing, or simply unknown at the planning stage. It is the greige that does not need the room to meet it halfway.

The test I always use, specifically for this pairing: paint a large sample of Repose Gray on the room's most north-facing wall, and check it under both daylight and your evening bulbs. If it still reads as a composed warm gray rather than drifting toward lavender in either condition, it has passed and the room can support it. If any hint of purple shows up under cool artificial light, move to Edgecomb Gray without retesting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Repose Gray cooler than Edgecomb Gray?

Yes, in certain light - Repose Gray's violet-brown undertone can drift toward a cool lavender cast in north-facing rooms or under cool bulbs, something Edgecomb Gray's beige-tan base rarely does. In warm, bright light both read as composed warm neutrals, but Repose Gray is the more light-dependent of the two.

Can I use Repose Gray and Edgecomb Gray in the same house?

It is unusual, and not recommended on adjoining surfaces. The two come from different brands and different undertone families, so they read as alternatives to the same brief rather than a coordinated pair. Most schemes use one or the other throughout, not both together.

Which is better for kitchen cabinets?

Edgecomb Gray is the more practical choice for kitchen cabinets in most kitchens, since its balanced undertone works across a wider range of countertop and hardware finishes. Repose Gray works beautifully in bright, warm kitchens, but needs 15-20+ LRV points of contrast from the surrounding whites to avoid feeling heavy.

Does Repose Gray look purple on the walls?

In cool or low light, it can lean that way - the violet undertone is subtle but real, and cool-temperature bulbs or north-facing exposure are the most common triggers. In warm natural light the brown base dominates and the purple cast is rarely noticeable. Always test with a large sample patch before committing.

Which is better for a north-facing room?

Edgecomb Gray handles north-facing rooms far more reliably than Repose Gray. Its beige-tan undertone stays settled in cool light, while Repose Gray's violet note is most likely to surface exactly under those conditions. If the room is north-facing and the light is uncertain, Edgecomb Gray is the safer starting point.

What is the LRV of Repose Gray vs Edgecomb Gray?

Repose Gray has an LRV of 58 and Edgecomb Gray has an LRV of 63. The five-point gap means Edgecomb Gray reflects noticeably more light and reads as the lighter, airier colour of the two - but the bigger difference between them is the undertone behaviour, not the reflectance value alone.

Final Thought

Repose Gray and Edgecomb Gray are both excellent warm neutrals. The choice between them is not about which one is objectively better - it is about how much light-dependence your room can tolerate.

If your light is strong and consistent, Repose Gray will reward you with genuine mid-tone depth and colour presence. If you have any uncertainty about exposure or bulb temperature, Edgecomb Gray is the more forgiving and ultimately more dependable choice. Buy sample pots of both, paint large patches on the room's most north-facing wall, and check them under daylight and your evening bulbs before deciding. The purple risk in Repose Gray, if it exists in your room, will show up within a day.

Want a complete colour scheme built around Repose Gray or Edgecomb Gray? Our design packages cover full palette selection, finish recommendations, and 3D visualisations - see our packages.

About the Author

Beril Yilmaz is a qualified architect and interior designer based in the UK. She runs BY Design And Viz, a design platform covering paint colour reviews, interior design guidance, and residential design projects. Beril has specified both Repose Gray and Edgecomb Gray across residential projects in the UK and internationally - Repose Gray in bright, south-facing open-plan spaces with warm wood and consistent daylight, Edgecomb Gray in north-facing rooms and whole-house schemes where light conditions vary across the day.