Slate is usually a gray color, often with blue undertones, but it is not one fixed shade. Depending on the paint, stone, or fabric, it can lean blue, green, or purple and range from light to very dark. For decorating, identify the particular shade and its undertone rather than relying on the word “slate.”
Is slate more blue or gray?
Usually gray. Slate takes its name from the rock and is commonly described as an earthy gray that may have a blue cast. As Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, puts it, “slate, based on the rock material of the same name, is an earthy shade of gray that can range from deep to light.” Some shades look distinctly blue or purple; others have a green undertone.
Manufacturers use “slate” for different colors, not a shared paint standard. These examples show how much the name can vary:
| Color | Manufacturer description | LRV |
|---|---|---|
| Polished Slate 713 | Benjamin Moore describes it as blue with gray-green undertones | 14.91, per Benjamin Moore’s product specification |
| Slate Gray DEGR73 | Dunn-Edwards describes it as a midtone blue gray | 16, per Dunn-Edwards’ product specification |
| Slate Wall DE5797 | Dunn-Edwards describes it as dark slate blue | 8, per Dunn-Edwards’ product specification |
LRV, or light reflectance value, is a product-specific measure of lightness; these figures describe the named paints, not a universal slate color. Check a physical chip or sample in the room. Benjamin Moore notes that screen colors may differ and offers free chips, while Dunn-Edwards offers a color chip and wall sampler for viewing in home lighting. Benjamin Moore: Polished Slate 713; Dunn-Edwards: Slate Gray DEGR73; Dunn-Edwards: Slate Wall DE5797.
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16 ways to decorate with slate
Slate can enter a room as paint, stone, tile, textiles, or artwork. The following ideas are adaptable starting points, not rules: the exact shade, existing finishes, and the light in the room affect the result.
Use slate as an accent
- Anchor a sparse corner with a slate-toned mirror. A dark-framed mirror can give an empty corner or plain wall visual weight without committing to a large painted surface.
- Bring in slate through a decorative object. A small accessory or accent piece adds the color while keeping it easy to change.
- Choose visible slate-gray towels. In a bathroom, towels add a useful color accent without repainting or renovating.
- Hang art with slate tones. Slate-forward artwork can introduce the color in a contained area or connect it to other grays in the room.
- Try grayscale photography. Black-and-white or grayscale images bring in related tones more subtly than a large slate-colored wall.
Use slate on larger surfaces
- Paint one wall slate. A slate feature wall can make a statement while limiting how much of the color dominates the room.
- Consider slate across the room. A deeper, muted slate can create a cozy, sophisticated atmosphere when the shade works with the room’s light and finishes.
- Use slate gray tile in a bathroom. Tile can carry the color onto a practical surface while setting the room’s overall palette.
- Consider slate flooring in a high-use space. Slate flooring may suit kitchens, laundry rooms, and mudrooms; choose the specific stone or product for the intended application.
- Bring in actual slate or gray stone. Stone furniture or surfaces add natural variation rather than a uniform painted color.
- Pair gray stone countertops with wood cabinets. The stone can contrast with the warmth and grain of the cabinetry.
Build a palette around slate
- Pair slate with white. White can make a gray-blue slate read crisper and create a clear contrast.
- Use warm beige or sand. These warmer neutrals soften a blue-gray slate. Dunn-Edwards suggests beige or sand with its Slate Gray DEGR73.
- Add black for a stronger contrast. Black can deepen a scheme, while slate brings more variation than a simple black-and-white pairing.
- Use gold accents. A shiny gold detail can add warmth beside slate’s cooler gray or blue cast.
- Vary light and dark grays in a monochromatic room. Differences in depth and texture help keep an all-gray scheme from feeling flat.
- Add a brighter accent such as orange. Dunn-Edwards suggests orange with its Slate Gray DEGR73 for a livelier contrast.
The particular shade matters as much as the pairing. A blue-leaning slate, a greenish gray, and a deep slate blue will not behave identically beside the same finishes. Justyna Korczynska, senior designer at Crown Paints, notes that shades of slate and clay can change subtly with the light during the day, giving a monochrome scheme more variation than straight black and white.
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- FLAT SHEEN – Smooth Matte Finish: Soft, non-reflective look that hides imperfections. Ideal for bedrooms, living rooms, and low-traffic areas needing subtle elegance.
- STAIN & SCRUB RESISTANT: Built to last in real spaces, Evolve helps resist marks, scuffs, and water spotting, so your home continues to look polished and well-maintained.
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- PAINT + PRIMER IN ONE: Evolve’s paint-and-primer formula helps you get great coverage from the start, sealing your surface and reducing the extra work of multiple coats.
- AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE SHEENS, COLORS & SIZES: Choose from a curated palette of designer colors in Flat, Eggshell, Satin, and Semi-Gloss sheens to match any style, room, or project. Available in 1-Gallons & 5-Gallons.
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