Is Grey the Best Neutral Colour for Your Home?
We take a look at how this hue affects the mood and ambience of a space, plus its adaptability with other colours
Neutral hues can create calming, elegant, even electrifying interiors, depending on the way they are used. Amongst all the light tones in the shade card, let’s take a look at the effect of grey on spaces.
1. Stark white bathrooms can sometimes feel too sterile and cold, but a soft grey can add a bit of warmth and sophisticated comfort. In this washroom, while grey keeps the ambience relaxed, the yellow countertop injects a lively vibe to the space.
2. In this living room, the dark grey wall doesn’t take the focus away from the long window, nor does it overpower the overall neutral scheme of the room. Yet, it subtly stands out and adds a touch of elegance to the room’s design.
Tip: Warm greys change colour throughout the day, depending on the light. In warmer light, say during sunrise and sunset, the colour appears taupe or brown. In the cooler light of dawn and dusk or in artificial yellow light, the hue reflects its original shade.
Take a look at more grey living room walls
Tip: Warm greys change colour throughout the day, depending on the light. In warmer light, say during sunrise and sunset, the colour appears taupe or brown. In the cooler light of dawn and dusk or in artificial yellow light, the hue reflects its original shade.
Take a look at more grey living room walls
4. The glossy grey laminate kitchen cabinets help create a soft, breezy ambience inside this kitchen, complemented by the white walls and the marble flooring.
Tip: For kitchen cabinets, consider high-pressure laminates because they come with qualities such as durability, low maintenance, high resistance to heat and economic viability.
Tip: For kitchen cabinets, consider high-pressure laminates because they come with qualities such as durability, low maintenance, high resistance to heat and economic viability.
5. In this living room, texture and colour give a lift to the design. Also, the grey wall offers itself as a backdrop before which the blue sofa and the pendant light shine.
Tip: Most of us fall back to white walls as default for the house when we want to play safe or when we get overwhelmed by all the paint colours available. Consider a light grey for the walls, and add punches of colour via accent walls, textiles and decorative accessories.
Tip: Most of us fall back to white walls as default for the house when we want to play safe or when we get overwhelmed by all the paint colours available. Consider a light grey for the walls, and add punches of colour via accent walls, textiles and decorative accessories.
6. Grey walls create a cosy, chic ambience and the wood detailing ensures an overall earthy palette.
Browse through images of grey bathrooms
Browse through images of grey bathrooms
7. The rough grey walls here serve as a bridge between the dark marble, black sofa and the yellow sectional, softening the overall palette.
8. The organic veining of the grey walls and the long wooden ledge contrast well with the modern fixtures of the washroom.
Find out how to choose the right marble for your floor
Find out how to choose the right marble for your floor
9. Simple yet effective – the overall grey interior gets a glitzy touch thanks to the recessed lighting behind the mirror.
10. In a room with eye-catching furniture, furnishings or in this case, the arch-style headboard with a tufted red backdrop, keeping the walls a light neutral grey is a good idea, so they don’t compete for attention.
11. The grey walls add just the right amount of contrast against the white, black and red furnishings, and because the colours are neither overly dark nor too light, the bedroom emerges as a fresh, soothing space.
12. Here, grey is used both in its palest (sofas) and deepest (walls) incarnations to create a rich, contrasting look that is harmonious and coordinated.
13. This grey dining room, enhanced with glittering elements such as the tableware, mirror and chandelier, radiates a luxurious vibe.
14. The advantage of having grey as a backdrop colour is that it allows you to keep switching your accent colours, as grey goes with all hues. Here, it helps highlight the matte black panels.
15. The grey concrete ceiling overarching this cool airy room ensures that the overall vibe of the dining room is trendy yet cosy.
16. In this soft blue and white bedroom, the large grey blind adds subtle layering, making the overall look of the space dreamy and restful.
17. The decorative gold-framed mirror with the blue cabinet gives a regal and commanding presence to the vanity, while the grey walls and flooring keep the atmosphere welcoming and comforting.
Wondering how to pick the right shade of grey?
Wondering how to pick the right shade of grey?
18. The textured grey wall here adds a dynamic quality to the interior and helps the black and yellow seaters pop and make a statement.
19. In this bedroom, the pale grey armchair, ottoman and carpet help create a tranquil atmosphere, and the overall colour palette looks striking, when contrasted with black (flooring and open shelves).
20. The unfinished textured walls painted grey allow the wooden counter and the gold sink to become a dramatic focal point of this bathroom.
Read more:
New Colours: Grey’s Rivals?
Tell us:
Have you used grey around your home? Share your images and ideas in the Comments section below.
Read more:
New Colours: Grey’s Rivals?
Tell us:
Have you used grey around your home? Share your images and ideas in the Comments section below.