Grey is a very unique color. How so you might ask? Well to me grey can be moody and somber but in an uplifting way. If you were to ask a home owner what color they chose to paint their walls and they said grey you might think, really but grey is depressing, right? Not in the design world. The color grey is unique in that depending on the variation of the color it can take you and your room on an emotional ride. Deep, dark grey can be seductive and alluring while light grey can be cheery and graceful. Yes, I said grey can be cheery.
With that said, Grey, in my opinion is a perfect “go to” color. With all the many shades of grey to choose from, it leaves you an enormous amount of choices. Think of the tan neutrals of the early 2000s, we’re seeing a lot more grey now instead of these tans. A big part of that is due to the fact that grey also coordinates well with all the colors on the wheel. It is very easy to work with and depending on how dramatic you want your look to be will depend on the shade you choose.
This is the perfect example of a dramatic grey. The smoke colored wall with the matching dark grey couch draws you in. The simplicity of the decorations in this room is easily overlooked because the color choice is center stage.
Here is a similar color in a pantry/laundry room. The green chest pops off the wall against this sultry dark grey. This color is no doubt a bold choice that works very well.
For those of us looking to use grey in a more modern style home, look no further. The medium to darker shades of grey pair very well with bold hues like turquoise, tangerine, fuchsia, and cranberry, to name a few. In the photo below, the grey cabinets and painted floor add a nice touch of grey to the room; however one of my favorite places to paint is the ceiling. The ceiling is an underutilized canvas in our home, in fact any excuse I can find to put a decorative medallion around a light or paint a design around a fixture is in my mind a great way to add a small personal touch to your home. This is no exception. This raspberry sherbet color that graces their ceiling not only draws the eye up but it also adds a beautiful touch of color in what might otherwise be an unfinished room.
This color scheme is similar to the one I chose for a guest bedroom in my home.
I chose a lighter grey and found a great yellow and white striped duvet cover at West Elm. I put a darker grey throw blanket at the end of the bed and added a few yellow accents throughout the room and it really came together nicely. I was very pleased with the color scheme and it was honestly the first time I chose yellow, white and grey and now I’m hooked. Although the color is a bit darker it is in no way depressing, in fact there is something very calming about the color.
The lighter shades of grey can easily make their way into the homes of those of us with a country edge while still tapping into our modern needs.
In this living room, the cream trim and furniture look soft against the wood painted grey walls. By not using stark white trim and furniture the room seems to relax even more. I tried picturing this room in that famous tan I referenced earlier, now can you see how nicely grey can replace those typical neutral colors?
Another example is here in this light grey entryway. The color does not look forced; it doesn’t scream “I’m trying too hard!” It just works.
Choosing a shade of grey might be the easiest thing you’ll do. It is really hard to go wrong with grey because it pairs well with so many colors. So borrow some accent pieces from other rooms in your home until you find just the right color to compliment your shade of grey.
Until next time, Happy Designing!