The gray color is stylistically universal, does not put pressure on the psyche, and goes well with any color. We tell you how to create a stylish interior with the help of gray walls that will not get boring for a long time.
Unlike furniture and decor, the finish will not change often. So that the palette does not irritate and does not get boring over time, you should choose universal colors. Today we turn to the classics – we tell you how to decorate gray walls in the interior to make it cozy and not boring.
Variety of shades
Gray seems unattractive exactly until you find out how many different shades it has. Since it is obtained from an equivalent combination of red, blue, and green, the number of possible halftones is even more difficult to calculate. This also gives him coloristic versatility – he can be perceived as both warm and cold and also combines equally well with colors of any temperature.
Choosing it as the main color of the walls, you need to know that the light gray color of the walls works in the same way as white – it visually enlarges the space, and fills it with air and light. Dark tones create an intimate chamber atmosphere and add depth to the room.
The choice of a cold or warm shade depends on the design objectives, the combination with other colors and textures, as well as on the lighting of the room. If the windows face south or southeast, you can safely use cold variations of light gray. If there is little natural light in the room, it is better to choose a subtone with warm notes.
Shades to look out for
- Mother-of-pearl – a light tone, significantly diluted with white, with silver blotches. Looks good paired with blue, red, or beige, as well as in combination with marble and “warm” precious metals (or their imitation).
- Slate, anthracite, wet stone, asphalt – dark, brutal shades that go well with the same rough textures (concrete, stone, brick).
- Steel is a shade of medium intensity, which, as the name implies, looks organically next to steel and chrome elements, as well as black, white, and blue.
- Marengo – a dark, heavily diluted blue tone, which can be called the “color of a stormy sea wave”, looks great in chamber rooms (for example, in a bedroom) and is combined with colors close in the spectrum – emerald, bottle, dusty green, and also with cold brown.
- Dark forest, toad in love, verdigris, biscuit – warmer variations with a predominant gray-green undertone.
Combination options
What color goes with gray walls? With almost anyone! The achromaticity makes it an ideal neutral backdrop that accentuates other colors and can be a bonding element if the palette is complex and varied. Consider a few popular combinations and what effect they give.
Best combinations
- Blue or light blue – a cold combination that is associated with the sky (clear or stormy, depending on which version of blue or blue is used) and nature. Makes the room visually more spacious and cool.
- Purple – in any variation, from lavender to eggplant. A fashionable and spectacular combination, but here it is important not to overdo it with the amount of purple, since it has a rather active effect on the psyche.
- Yellow – another classic pair, which you can not do without if you want to add freshness, brightness, and sun to the room, even when it is not outside the window. This combo is often found in modern and Scandinavian styles.
- Beige – someone will find it boring, but the gray-beige color of the walls is the perfect neutral backdrop for any interior. Does not draw attention, does not irritate, and adds warmth to the palette.
- Black and white – simultaneously or separately, is the basic combination on which any monochrome interior is built. Moreover, within this combination, several intermediate shades of each of the colors can be used at once – this way the design becomes more interesting and dynamic, especially when combined with active and diverse textures.
- Pink is another popular pairing that is often used in bedroom, nursery, or bathroom decor. To achieve the desired atmosphere, it is better to take pink-dusted, and gray-neutral or pearlescent.
Examples of different rooms
And now let’s look at photos and ideas on how to use and with what to combine gray walls in each room.
Gray walls in the kitchen
Gray walls in the interior of the kitchen are a practical and versatile solution. Against this background, both light and dark sets look good, as well as any furniture for the dining group. What is important to consider?
- Light wallpaper or paint will make a small kitchen look bigger.
- It is better to make the ceiling a couple of tones lighter, the universal option is neutral or milky white.
- On the contrary, it is desirable to make the floor a little darker so that a natural color gradation is obtained from the bottom up.
Classic combination options for the kitchen: beige, blue, green, and yellow, as well as black and white.
In the bedroom
With the help of gray walls in the interior of the bedroom, it is easy to create an atmosphere of comfort – the main thing is to choose the right colors and use as many warm and soft textures as possible in the room.
When choosing a cold or warm tone, be guided by the location of the room: if the windows face north, it is better to use wallpaper or paint with an admixture of orange or yellow. But to “mute” the bedroom with large windows and good natural light will help deep, darker, and more saturated varieties of color.
If the bedroom is small, you can hide the real boundaries by choosing one shade or several neighboring ones for decoration and furniture, as well as using mirror surfaces. Thus, it is possible to “dissolve” a spacious closet and other furniture in space.
If there is enough free space, and in the design of your home you prefer modern restrained trends (loft, hi-tech, eco-minimalism), then you can neutralize the feeling of empty space and cold with the help of natural fabrics, soft diffused light, live plants, and natural textures, such as wood.
In the living room
The gray walls in the living room give us real scope for creativity. Here are a few rules for combining with other elements.
- The floor can be any: both in the tone of the finish and lighter or darker. If the flooring is neutral in color, you can add brightness to the atmosphere with the help of a carpet.
- The ceiling, as in the kitchen, is best done lighter. In a classic living room, decorative stucco molding is necessarily used; in modern styles, the ceiling surface is usually smooth and as inconspicuous as possible.
- Furniture can be chosen with both neutral and bright, accents. The palette is selected based on the temperature of the colors used. So, for example, wooden furniture goes well with dusty warm gray tones (interspersed with yellow and brown).
- If a completely monochrome finish seems too gloomy, you can dilute it with a bright accent or decorative panels. It also looks interesting to combine several materials and variations of gray at once (both in decoration and in different elements: it can be furniture, curtains, or decor).
In the hallway
Gray walls in the hallway are quite common. Since it is a neutral color, it is suitable for decorating the entrance area in any style.
The ceiling, as a general rule, is best done lighter than the rest of the finish. But the floor in the corridor can be made in the same color. This is a “dirty” zone; instead of parquet or laminate, tiles or porcelain stoneware are most often laid here.
Light elegant colors are well suited for decorating a hallway in a classic style: mother-of-pearl, pigeon wing, biscuit. The color of the finishes is supported by noble materials (stone, marble, natural wood) and appropriate decor.
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