Features of a gray interior
A number of nuances of coloristics:
- Dark gray tones, in large quantities, tend to make the environment gloomy and too strict, and also visually reduce the room.
- Neutral white, brown or black shades are most suitable for a color combination.
- Gray is an excellent base for creating bright accents. For example, red or orange inclusions will look especially juicy on such a neutral background.
Psychology of gray
Gray color helps to increase confidence, pragmatism and increase intelligence in a person. From a psychological point of view, this color is the embodiment of calm, balance and safety.
Negative qualities include the possible emergence of such emotions as feelings of melancholy, fatigue, decreased creativity and increased depression. Neutral light shades encourage relaxation and rest.
The photo shows the interior of a teenager’s bedroom in the attic, done in gray tones.
Shades of gray
Modern design uses a wide variety of shades, such as pearl gray, metallic, ash, linen, wet asphalt and many other tones, which are an ideal and unobtrusive background for rich accents.
The photo shows a warm gray color in the design of the living room in Scandinavian style.
Especially fresh, stylish and solemn, silver tones look in the room. For those who like discreet and non-irritating design, light gray colors are perfect. A graphite shade in a matte version without excess shine has a very effective look. Such a combination will be a profitable addition to chrome details.
Furniture
Gray furniture with a fashionable and functional design is an excellent basis for creating a beautiful and bold interior. A bed in such a noble color scheme will give a mysterious eclecticism to the bedroom, a chest of drawers or a wardrobe will bring soft elegance to the nursery, and all kinds of furniture sets will make the living room more refined and elegant.
A sofa with graphite leather upholstery will perfectly decorate the setting. Items in the form of tables, armchairs and other things can also have black, white, brown or coffee colors. Items in red, green, yellow or orange tones are suitable as bright accents.
The photo shows a white wardrobe in a gray room.
Textiles
A smoky palette will give the interior restrained beauty, nobility, elegance and solidity. Light gray furnishings in combination with steel or anthracite curtains will create a mysterious and ambiguous atmosphere in the room. Tulle, complemented by slate, mouse, dove or lead-colored curtains, will noticeably ennoble the room and give it elegance and fashionability.
A gray carpet or a black rug will be a universal decor, which is a classic and win-win option. When harmoniously combined with the surrounding design, they will make it more complete and thoughtful.
The photo shows a window in the bedroom, decorated with white tulle curtains with slate-colored drapes.
Finishing and materials
Walls in gray look very noble and mysterious, they seem to envelop the room in a haze and create a romantic mood. In order to shade the wall covering, it is combined with natural stone, concrete, rough brick or textured plaster.
In a room with rich dark walls, a floor covering with a more pronounced texture will be appropriate. The most popular materials for flooring are laminate, parquet board, linoleum or carpet.
The photo shows a living room in gray tones with a glossy black stretch ceiling.
Doors in such an interior are most often made in dark gray, classic white, milky or beige colors. Sometimes they use canvases in light wood shades.
The photo shows a dark gray bedroom with a floor finished with wooden parquet boards.
Gray staircases are complemented with artificial lighting, built-in lamps around the perimeter or lamp lighting. This makes the shape of the steps much more noticeable.
The photo shows the design of a modern living room with a fireplace finished with light gray marble.
Gray rooms
The subtleties of color decoration of rooms.
Kitchen
A kitchen space with a predominance of gray tones helps to concentrate on the cooking process. This design is associated with a production area in a high-class restaurant, which has steel furniture. A home kitchen, furnished with wooden furniture or stone countertops, becomes more practical and looks stylish due to this color scheme.
The photo shows gray color in the interior of the kitchen, made in neoclassical style.
Living room
In a small living room, a great solution would be to decorate in warm tones, and for a spacious hall, cold shades are suitable. A monochrome palette will add some complexity to the atmosphere. The interior can be complemented with bright accents, such as curtains, a sofa with pillows, armchairs, etc.
The photo shows a small guest room in gray and white colors.
Bedroom
Light gray colors with a matte or light and silky texture are especially appropriate for decorating a bedroom. White or pink accessories will add even more tenderness to the room, and beige or brown elements will fill it with warmth.
Bathroom
This color scheme is a fairly practical option for a bathroom, since dirt and stains are less visible on gray surfaces. When choosing a color scheme, pay attention to the dimensions of the room. In a small room, it is better to use light tiles, paint and other finishes, as well as glossy and mirror surfaces.
Hallway and corridor
This hallway interior looks noble and elegant. Due to the cladding and decor in pearl-gray, aluminum or silver tones, it is possible to expand the corridor space and add light to it.
Children’s room
Gray wall decoration in combination with light furniture, a white ceiling plane and rich inclusions will be a worthy solution for a stylish design of a children’s room.
The photo shows a children’s room with walls painted gray.
Toilet
The interior of a gray toilet will look much more original with with the help of additional contrasting accents, such as colorful mosaics, bright paintings or other decor. Graphite and anthracite shades can be used to decorate one wall in the room. This will help to achieve the correct distribution of light and shadow in the space, making it more comfortable and organic.
Office
Smoky and steel colors that create a business atmosphere are considered indispensable in the design of a study. The gray-brown combination will give the room a certain solemnity.
Balcony
Light or warm gray as the main background will harmoniously complement rich accents in lemon, red or orange colors. This palette is not subject to fading and ultraviolet radiation, so it is considered an ideal option for a loggia.
Design options
Almost any interior requires the creation of special zones for concentration of attention. Colorful inclusions of the opposite color, advantageously complement the overall picture, making it more balanced. Gray is especially harmonious, combined with wood trim. It favorably emphasizes the natural texture and connects all the design elements into a single composition.
The photo shows a gray living room with bright accents, decorated in the loft style.
A truly aristocratic duet creates gray with gold. For such a combination, more noble silver or pearl tones with a barely noticeable shine are better suited.
The photo shows a living room design in gray tones combined with gold-colored decor and curtains.
Decor and lighting
An interior in such a color scheme requires proper lighting in the form of a main central chandelier, floor lamps, decorative and table lamps, sconces, spotlights, floodlights, etc. It is desirable if the artificial light is more intense and high-quality, it is better if it has a warm, soft and yellowish glow.
You can add shimmer to the atmosphere with metal elements, steel, bronze or copper accessories. Green plants and flowers will help to breathe life into the room and decorate the surrounding space. For a refined and sophisticated design, glassware, crystal or mother-of-pearl decor will do, which will make the environment shine.
The photo shows the lighting design in the interior of the kitchen-living room in gray-white-brown colors.
What colors does it go with?
The main companion colors with which this color harmonizes.
Gray-white
Such an interior base is a clean canvas for other elements. Basic shades combined with each other can be harmoniously complemented by a wide variety of tones. The combination of soft and natural gray with milky or caramel colors will create a light, unobtrusive atmosphere in the room.
The photo shows the design of a spacious gray and white living room.
A combination of beige and gray
A more calm and natural atmosphere will be provided by the gray and beige combination, which is suitable for those who strive for relaxation and home comfort.
The photo shows light gray wallpaper with patterns in combination with beige furniture in the living room.
Gray and yellow interior
Yellow is considered the ideal color to dilute a monotonous gray interior. Regardless of the mixing proportions, such shades are organically combined with each other and fit perfectly into the design of any premises.
The photo shows a bedroom in smoky tones, complemented by bright yellow accents.
Pink and gray
Pink against a gray background will create a romantic and slightly frivolous atmosphere in the room. This color scheme is appropriate for designing a women’s interior or for decorating a girl’s room.
Combination with blue
The classic tandem of blue and gray sets the tone for relaxation and rest and therefore fits especially harmoniously into the bedroom, living room or bathroom.
The photo shows the design of a living room, decorated in gray and blue colors.
Gray and turquoise
Monochrome and muted gray in combination with refreshing turquoise has a very interesting look and is perfect for those who love non-standard interior solutions.
Gray-brown design
This range embodies restraint and refined taste. Gray with brown or wenge has a very effective and stylish image, which gives the room a special presentability.
The photo shows a gray-brown color combination in the interior of a modern kitchen-living room.
With orange
Such a self-sufficient combination is rarely complemented with accent colors. Gray will balance and calm orange and make the surrounding design balanced and organic.
Gray-green
The natural color duo evokes natural associations. Light green, mint or olive are most suitable for adding freshness to a monochrome interior. A mustard shade will help to play up light gray or dark gray colors.
Gray-violet
A neutral smoky shade will help to relieve the rich purple from excessive heaviness. Gray becomes an excellent background for luxurious purple or lilac, which gives the setting an interesting and convincing look.
The photo shows a bathroom in graphite color with purple accents.
How does it look in different styles?
Several examples of interior design.
Scandinavian style
Northern European design is mainly decorated in light gray shades, which are diluted with pure white tones and bleached wooden details. Folk decor in the form of woven rugs, knitted textiles or patchwork elements is chosen as bright splashes.
The photo shows a Scandinavian-style living room, done in light gray colors.
Loft
In industrial style, the gray range occupies most of the space. Achromatic shades are found in concrete walls, cheap silicate brickwork, hog tiles, metal pipes and other communications. Thanks to the huge window openings, such an environment looks free and spacious.
Minimalism
This trend is almost impossible to imagine without a gray color palette. Minimalism involves the use of warm and light gray tones as cladding, sofa upholstery, furniture elements, etc.
In the photo minimalist kitchen design in shades of gray.
High-tech
For high-tech, mirror or monochromatic textures in gray are appropriate. The technological design solution will be emphasized by silver or dark gray colors.
Classic
In a calm and restrained classic interior, gray is equally well suited for wall decoration, decoration of furniture, textiles or fittings. Luxurious furniture, subdued lighting and expensive decor, will perfectly match granite or gray-blue color.
Now reading:
- 55 White and Black and White Wallpaper Images for Living Room Design
- Warm shades of the bedroom – 32 photos to create coziness in the interior.
- Wallpaper for the living room: more than 90 photos and ideas for combinations in the interior (2024)
- 13 Wall Design Ideas Next to Dining Table
- Compact and Stylish VW Fox: The Perfect Urban Vehicle