What is Cadet Gray?
Cadet Gray is a light gray color that got its name from being used as a color for military uniforms. It is a neutral gray color that has a very slight blueish tint to it. Cadet Gray is often considered a cool toned gray since it has that hint of blue in it.
The exact shade of Cadet Gray can vary slightly depending on the brand of paint or dye used to produce it. But in general it is a pale gray color that is slightly cooler and bluer than a plain medium gray. It is lighter and brighter than a dark charcoal gray, but not as light as a pale silver gray.
Some key facts about Cadet Gray:
| Color Family: | Gray |
| Hue Family: | Blue-gray |
| Hex Code: | #91A3B0 |
| RGB Values: | R: 145, G: 163, B: 176 |
As you can see by the technical values, Cadet Gray leans slightly toward blue tones over pure gray. But it maintains enough gray neutrality to be considered a true gray rather than a blue.
History of Cadet Gray
Cadet Gray gets its name from being used as a uniform color at military academies. The term “cadet” refers to a trainee at a military academy. So Cadet Gray was the specific shade of gray used for uniforms at places like West Point in the United States.
However, the use of Cadet Gray expanded beyond just military trainees. It was adopted as a uniform color by various police and fire departments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its methylated and dignified look made it a popular uniform shade.
Cadet Gray became less prominent in uniforms in the mid-20th century as more departments switched to darker navy blue shades. But it is still used or referenced today in many uniform guidelines as a traditional color.
Beyond uniforms, Cadet Gray expanded into other uses as well. Its cool and subtle mood made it popular for house paints, automobile colors, and consumer products. Compared to harsher grays with strong blue undertones, Cadet Gray had a softer and more neutral appearance that appealed to wider audiences.
So while Cadet Gray has its origins in the military and uniform services, its use spread much further once the shade became known. It continues to be a popular neutral gray color in many spheres today.
Cadet Gray vs. Other Grays
Cadet Gray is often confused with similar gray shades like silver gray, platinum gray, and pewter gray. Here are some key differences:
| Silver Gray | Lighter and brighter with no blue undertone |
| Platinum Gray | More metallic and cool toned |
| Pewter Gray | Darker and may have hints of brown |
Compared to these other grays, Cadet Gray is more subdued in lightness, maintains a cool blue leaning, but stays solidly in gray territory unlike near blue hues like platinum gray.
It also is distinct from charcoal grays that have much darker and bluer profiles close to black. Cadet Gray retains enough lightness to feel like a mainstream medium-toned gray.
Within the gray color family, it provides a nice balance of light/dark, cool/warm, and softness/saturation. That’s why it emerged as such a widely appealing shade of gray.
Cadet Gray Decor
Because Cadet Gray reads as a neutral backdrop color, it is very versatile in home decor and design. Here are some popular ways it is used:
– Paint color – Cadet Gray is light enough to not feel gloomy but saturated enough to provide character. It can work in almost any room but is especially popular for living rooms, bedrooms, and nurseries.
– Textiles – Try Cadet Gray in upholstery, pillows, rugs, and curtains. It adds a cool sophistication without going too dark. Pair with navy blue and cranberry red for a bold look.
– Cabinets/furniture – Kitchens and bathrooms benefit from Cadet Gray cabinets or accent furniture. The gray shade provides an updated but classic look.
– Accessories – Use Cadet Gray in vases, trays, throws, and other accent pieces to pull the color through the room in subtle ways. Metallics in pewter and silver go well with it.
Paint is often the first choice for using Cadet Gray. But integrating textiles and decor accessories in Cadet Gray adds new dimensions and harmony to a space.
Cadet Gray Paint Colors
When selecting a Cadet Gray paint, you’ll find variations between brands. Here are some top choices:
Benjamin Moore
– Pale Oak (1595) – A warm, beige-influenced Cadet Gray
– Gray Clouds (1593) – Medium Cadet Gray, slightly cool-toned
– Stonecutter (1599) – Dark, saturated version
Sherwin Williams
– Passive (SW 7057) – Light green-tinged Cadet Gray
– Online Gray (SW 7075) – True blue-gray Cadet Gray
– Gauntlet Gray (SW 7019) – Darker, strong blue undertones
Behr
– Silver Drop (PPU18-06) – Soft warm gray with brown undertones
– Platinum Touch (S-G-340) – Bright and cool-toned, hint of blue
– Night Harbor (S-H-660) – Deeper, slightly moody Cadet Gray
Valspar
– Rockport Gray (6005-1A) – Chalky, subdued Cadet Gray
– Lakeshore Fog (5003-1B) – Neutral light gray with hint of green
– Gray Screen (6006-9A) – Pure Cadet Gray, touches of blue
The key is to get color swatches and view them in your space before deciding. Lighting conditions can affect how a Cadet Gray reads. Stay close to the original muted, cool-leaning spirit of Cadet Gray for a hue that stands the test of time.
Combining Colors with Cadet Gray
A benefit of Cadet Gray is its versatility to coordinate with many accent colors. Here are some combinations to try:
Bright whites – Crisp true whites provide contrast and brightness against Cadet Gray. Try white walls, trims, and furniture against Cadet Gray colors.
Pewter or silver metallics – The cool-toned gray metal look complements Cadet Gray paint or accessories. Metallic silvers make the space feel contemporary.
Natural wood tones – Woods like oak, maple, and birch feel warm and welcoming with Cadet Gray. Select finished that pick up the grays in the wood grains.
Pops of color – Accent walls, pillows, throws and artwork in saturated hues contrast beautifully with muted Cadet Gray backgrounds. Try navy blue, maroon, teal and mustard yellow.
Soft sage greens – Analogous colors like sage provide enough chroma contrast against Cadet while still coordinating.
Creamy off-whites – For a subtle and soothing look, pair creamy whites and beiges with Cadet Grays. Keep the look all neutral.
Cadet Gray is known for being extremely versatile. But always sample your colors together before fully committing to a color scheme.
Cadet Gray in Fashion and Beauty
Beyond decor, Cadet Gray also appears in the worlds of fashion and beauty:
Nail polish – Many nail polish brands offer a Cadet Gray color. They provide a modern alternative to harsh black or stark white polish.
Clothing – Cadet Gray pairs especially well with navy blue, khaki, cream, black, and white. It provides lightweight visual contrast and depth.
Handbags – Leather handbags in Cadet Gray offer a vintage military look. Use metal trims and accessories to pick up its cool undertones.
Hair color – For women seeking a subtle “gray ombre” look, ask your colorist for Cadet Gray highlights blended into your natural brunette or blonde hair.
Suits – While black and navy suits dominate, Cadet Gray offers menswear tailoring a vintage yet modern appeal. Pair with white shirts and bold ties.
The muted nature of Cadet Gray makes it an easy color to integrate across neutral, professional, or military-inspired looks. In fashion and beauty, it straddles vintage and modern vibes.
Cadet Gray Car Colors
Cadet Gray has also been a popular automobile color over the years. Manufacturers that used various shades of Cadet Gray include:
– Ford – In the 1920s and 30s, Ford offered Cadet Gray as one of their standard color choices. The Model A and Model B could both be purchased in Cadet Gray.
– Chrysler – For their military-inspired Jeep models from WW2 era, Cadet Gray was a standard color option and matched military shades.
– GM – 1950s GM cars often came in Forecast Gray, a metallic flake variety of Cadet Gray. The Chevrolet Bel Air and Cadillac Series 62 both used this color.
– Toyota – Modern Toyotas like the Camry, Corolla, and Prius have included Cadet Gray metallic options that generally include blue or green undertones.
– Lexus – Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus uses Nebula Gray Pearl, a modern premium version of Cadet Gray.
Beyond these brands, aftermarket paint suppliers offer Cadet Gray shades so you can respray any model car in this cool retro hue. It provides a vintage vibe with a touch of modernity.
Conclusion
Cadet Gray is a versatile neutral gray with cool blue undertones. While the name evokes military and institutional uses, its subtle and sophisticated personality has made it popular far beyond uniforms. Whether you use it in your home, outfit, or automobile, Cadet Gray straddles the vintage and contemporary beautifully for a versatile gray that spans styles and trends.