Decorating
Decorating: Why Grey Should Be Your New Best Friend
From the palest pebble tone to deep, dramatic charcoal, grey is leading a colour revolution in our homes. Here are 10 of the best shades
A few years back, many of us viewed grey as cold and severe. It was not a shade we would use in our homes on so much as a cushion. As for painting an entire room top-to-toe in the colour? Well, that would have been interior design suicide. But times have changed and today, with a vast range of greys to choose from, this colour has become sophisticated, stylish and versatile. When used with the right balance of furniture, textiles and other tones, it can be smart and sleek, pretty and elegant, or dramatic and daring. Grey is definitely the new off-white and this on-trend colour works in every room of the house. So sing if you’re glad to be grey — and if you haven’t quite decided yet, check out these gorgeous schemes for some great grey inspiration…
Look to the dark side
A wall of deep charcoal creates a backdrop with guts. Far from being overpowering, the dark grey shade effortlessly pulls together old and new furniture and quirky, one-off treasures, such as the white antlers and paper pompom.
Learn how to team natural wood with dark grey
A wall of deep charcoal creates a backdrop with guts. Far from being overpowering, the dark grey shade effortlessly pulls together old and new furniture and quirky, one-off treasures, such as the white antlers and paper pompom.
Learn how to team natural wood with dark grey
Go all-over grey
Grey has been used as a wrap-around neutral in this bedroom. The pebble grey wall panels and flooring offer a crisp contrast to the luxurious upholstered bed and its warm toffee tone.
Grey has been used as a wrap-around neutral in this bedroom. The pebble grey wall panels and flooring offer a crisp contrast to the luxurious upholstered bed and its warm toffee tone.
Smarten it up
Grey is effortlessly slick, smart and sophisticated — the three key ingredients for any city crash pad. Even if you don’t live in an urban jungle, you can get this city-slicker vibe with grey, modern furniture and a simple stone-coloured rug. Remember to add dashes of glass and some warm, rich colour to steer away from a corporate feel.
Grey is effortlessly slick, smart and sophisticated — the three key ingredients for any city crash pad. Even if you don’t live in an urban jungle, you can get this city-slicker vibe with grey, modern furniture and a simple stone-coloured rug. Remember to add dashes of glass and some warm, rich colour to steer away from a corporate feel.
Create contemporary elegance
There is no getting away from the sheer elegance of grey. In a light-filled room with graceful proportions and beautiful features, a chalky matt grey will magically instil a space with subtle colour and charm. White painted woodwork sets up a nice contrast.
Discover how to warm up elegant greys
There is no getting away from the sheer elegance of grey. In a light-filled room with graceful proportions and beautiful features, a chalky matt grey will magically instil a space with subtle colour and charm. White painted woodwork sets up a nice contrast.
Discover how to warm up elegant greys
Add colour and pattern
Grey might be considered too cold and masculine for the bedroom, but try layering different shades and adding a rich jewel accent colour (and maybe a pop of pattern, too) for a warmer, more inviting sleeping den.
Grey might be considered too cold and masculine for the bedroom, but try layering different shades and adding a rich jewel accent colour (and maybe a pop of pattern, too) for a warmer, more inviting sleeping den.
Keep it modern
Pale grey and white is a classic colour scheme for any style of bathroom. This modern, stripped-back look is enhanced by the floating basins, discreet spots and mirrored wall.
Pale grey and white is a classic colour scheme for any style of bathroom. This modern, stripped-back look is enhanced by the floating basins, discreet spots and mirrored wall.
Use it on units
Grey is a great choice for the modern day painted kitchen. It is neutral, classic and will work amazingly well with bold shades or a palette of natural stone colours and neutral tiling, as here.
Grey is a great choice for the modern day painted kitchen. It is neutral, classic and will work amazingly well with bold shades or a palette of natural stone colours and neutral tiling, as here.
Max out on sparkle
This wallpaper might technically be termed silver, but it’s still in the grey spectrum. Nothing could be prettier or more glamorous than a silvery bathroom with a glittering chandelier overhead. Who said grey was dull?
This wallpaper might technically be termed silver, but it’s still in the grey spectrum. Nothing could be prettier or more glamorous than a silvery bathroom with a glittering chandelier overhead. Who said grey was dull?
Dare to be different
Who would imagine that a deep grey ceiling could have such star quality? Painting your ceiling a dark shade is a brave move, but as this living space demonstrates, it creates real impact and gives the space a softly enveloping feel — something a standard white ceiling could not do.
TELL US...
Do you like to use grey in your home? How do you do it? Share your tips in the Comments below.
Who would imagine that a deep grey ceiling could have such star quality? Painting your ceiling a dark shade is a brave move, but as this living space demonstrates, it creates real impact and gives the space a softly enveloping feel — something a standard white ceiling could not do.
TELL US...
Do you like to use grey in your home? How do you do it? Share your tips in the Comments below.
Some may dismiss grey as too spartan for use in a home, but this subtle, washed-out wall colour looks pretty and characterful with highlights of pale turquoise and damson dotted against it. The darker grey cabinetry pulls the whole scheme together.