Flower Love
One of the most important renovation decisions is the living room color scheme.
What modern homeowners really like these days are gray color schemes, even if gray itself isn’t a color in the technical sense of the word.
However, this does not limit the number of color combinations with gray, as this fashionable shade that comes in several shades allows you to conduct bold and trendy experiments.
So skip leaning on the safe side with white and beige and choose colors that match gray.
Gray is currently the front runner among neutral shades, perceived as versatile and refined and rarely associated with gloom and sadness more than it used to be.
The black and white primer allows you to create multiple color combinations with gray and apply them to literally any room including the kitchen and bathroom.
Which colors go well with gray?
Image source: Atmosphere Interior Design Inc.
The mix of black and white makes gray neutral by definition. So you can use it for cool, warm, calm or dramatic settings.
Each color can be an accent color for gray, depending on whether you chose a pale shade to brighten the room or a darker one to spice up the ambience.
Gray color palettes are generally used for living rooms because they provide a stylish and formal feel.
However, keeping a room entirely gray can make it look dull. You should therefore think of colors that match gray and make the scheme more dynamic.
Sometimes a cute detail like a red lamp or a zebra rug is enough to make the room more playful and attractive.
At the same time, gray in combination with other neutral colors creates a calm atmosphere. So you can use it in the bedroom too.
How to use gray
Image source: Jeff Schlarb Design
Designers love gray, and that’s because they can bundle it into any decorating concept that needs updating.
In terms of complexity, gray fits somewhere between the least disruptive whites and beiges and the restrictive and garish reds, offering a variety of shades that can be combined in all sets and with all pops of color.
Mixing it with cool shades of green, blue, or even black will expand your options further or deliver that unique combination you’ve always dreamed of.
Gray in festive living rooms
Imagine a stunning and colorful living room where the basic combination is red and green.
At first glance, it seems like there isn’t a print shade to tie without making the place too intrusive, but a simple gray background can actually calm the place down.
Teal + emerald + charcoal
Image source: OPaL, LLC
Charcoal is widely used in formal settings because of its sophisticated tone and is usually paired with natural jewel colors like teal, emerald, or even bright berries.
Relaxing harbors
Image source: CG&S design build
Tightly combined, subtle hues may be boring for high-traffic areas, but they are a win-win solution for bedrooms and similar serene sanctuaries.
For example, gray can be used alongside taupe, cream, beige or camel tones to make the place particularly peaceful.
Gray + red + orange
Image source: Studio 1 architects
Proof of how well gray is used with masculine materials and earthy tones are stone fireplaces that make the room look rustic and natural without doing any extra work.
This is why you come across leather-based wing chairs and sofas on gray and how it became a truly traditional color.
For an even more rustic spirit, think of hunting pallets and traditional cabin tones like red and orange.
Artistic backdrop
Image source: Granoff Architects
Homely gray backgrounds eliminate the need for expensive decorations like those for gallery white walls, as gray works equally well with classic compositions and contemporary works.
White + cream + charcoal
Image source: Merigo design
For a vintage living room, paint the walls anthracite while the ceiling and paneling are crispy white or off-white.
The contrast is pretty strong, but you can easily soften it with Roman hues, fluffy carpets, or linen sofas.
Warm up pale rooms
Image source: Rikki Snyder
Using light gray hues in a well-lit room can make it feel empty and cold, but there is a solution for that too.
Release the dangers of your monochromatic scheme with warm patterns and textures to make the place feel more personal and memorable than calming.
Gray + brown + coral + orange
Image source: Morph Interior Ltd.
Exude masculine sensibility with a gray, brown, orange, and coral bedroom where headboards have been padded with business sit-checks, but pop colors and patterns are also given for appeal.
If you want your room to feel even more personal, choose a coral table by the bed and toss a couple of orange pillows over the sleek gray linens.
Make the room soft with rich textures
Image source: Martha O’Hara Interiors
Gray is generally a bold color that won’t tolerate 3+ color schemes. Therefore, be sure to limit the number of details and architectural elements in bold.
Even a completely gray room can look amazing if you know how to play with hues and textures.
Mushroom + navy + brown
Image source: Brett Mickan Interior Design
Shades of brown are used to complement gray-green schemes due to the warmth and coziness they provide.
The woody hue creates a much bigger impact with a leather sofa or a colorful floor lamp.
If you want to contrast your light surfaces and muted walls, use deeper hues like navy and black, or add simple green stamps for a more natural setting.
Choose the right tone
Image source: ID Studio Interiors
Overall, gray is a very popular and widely used color, but that doesn’t mean you can mix and match every shade with other colors that you apply. For example, steel gray only works with pale and saturated colors
Putty + orange + red
Image source: In house interior design
Putty is indeed a warm shade of gray that is recessed with green and looks amazing next to red bedspreads and orange curtains. A versatile graphics gallery added to this versatile scenario will duplicate its positive effect.
As you know, red and green are complementary colors placed on opposite sides of the color wheel. That is why you need to consider the undertones when combining.
Fast updates
Image source: Niche interiors
Why not change the whole ambience and setting of your living room? The light gray walls and crispy white furniture could really benefit from oversized patterns and citrine bedding.
Light gray + charcoal + blue + pink
Image source: REFINED LLC
This is one of those combinations that homeowners seldom remember looking good, and you can use it to your advantage to create a one-of-a-kind living room.
To do this, we recommend painting walls light gray, ideally with sky blue undertones to soften the sunlight.
Upholstery, on the other hand, can remain anthracite, and furniture should be decorated with sweet pink accents.
Rooms that work best with gray
Image source: NOVISPACE
Either a carefully added pop or a full restoration, gray can make any room look more appealing and lively:
Dining room: You don’t have to go so far as to replace your entire dining set with metal stools and folding tables. All you need to do is use affordable gray-printed clothing in place of the usual placemats or seating with natural gray reupholstery fabrics if the budget allows.
Bedroom: Fortunately, it’s easy to buy throw pillows, shams, or duvet covers in your favorite shade of gray. If you want to improve your combination skills, add a gray textured throw or upholster your headboards and benches.
Living Room: As mentioned earlier, gray will go perfectly with any living room where it can appear on seating, prints and the occasional detail, or if it is placed on the walls, it can solve a larger problem.
In this case, it remains only to consider what color curtains will suit gray walls.
Kitchens: Incorporating gray into the kitchen is an easy task as almost all types of cabinets, countertops and especially appliances come in this shade.
In the opposite case, you have secured a neutral background for playing and added gray window valences, printed towels, gloves or placemats.
Bathrooms: Since bathrooms are mostly small, it’s easy and cheap to paint them an interesting shade of gray. A catchy idea is to combine this shade with yellow hues or add red accents like carpets, towels and shower curtains.
In summary, gray works well for everyone
Image source: Patricia Gray | Interior design Vancouver
As you’ve read so far, gray comes in so many shades that you have almost no chance of finding one that you like.
In this way, this shade wins hearts and delights in eclectic styles, be it eclectic, modern, classic or temporary.
Plus, gray goes well with any design concept, so it won’t cause problems in either a minimalist or moody scenario.
It can be gregarious, brave, and sociable, or it can be reduced to pale and low-key plans – whatever you’re up to, gray will make it happen!