Gray | From the Floors Up

Neutral color palettes will and always have been relevant in interior design. We had a very long run with beige and tan being dominant in almost every design theme; however, we slowly watched as flooring, cabinets, paints, and decor accessories turned to another neutral option: gray. Gray is great because it features a vast spectrum. From black to white, gray has to ability to create a hard contrast, give depth, and keep a sophisticated look in many interior design styles. However, as quickly as we saw gray emerge onto the scene, we may also be witnessing its sudden demise.

Fifty Shades

What is your favorite color? The chances that you thought “gray” are slim to none. Gray is usually associated with gloomy weather; however, gray is still used in many homes today. This is not because gray is beautiful, but because this neutral color allows other colors to shine. Gray is the perfect neutral color to allow other colors to pop. Its spectrum is just as broad as any other color, yet with white and black on either end, it makes this color feel much more significant! From sheen finishes to matte looks, gray works great in any style home.

Using Gray

Gray is great at creating depth and is used in many monochromatic-themed rooms. A monochromatic theme is a design which does not veer from one color. Picture a room using all shades of green or a room with all shades of blue. These rooms would give off a very distinct feel and ambiance. The green room may feel plant influenced, creative, and lively, whereas perhaps the blue room feels passive, calm, and bold. When using grey, you do not get these deliberate themes. Instead, this monochromatic color theme feels collective, sophisticated, but unbiased. So it is excellent for reselling and making an atmosphere that appeases to the masses.

Is The Gray Heyday Over?

Looking at sales in different categories of flooring, paints, and cabinets, gray is not selling as dramatically as it was a couple of years ago; however, the “trend” is not dead. Beige is coming back into interior design because it offers a little more warmth as a neutral color, whereas gray feels a little bit cooler.

So What Does This Mean?

That being said, this does not mean that gray shall become obsolete in design. We should look at both these styles of colors for what they have to offer. If you like the properties and stylings that gray has to offer, it is still an excellent choice for design. If you feel that beige provides a better feel to your home, go with beige. Each neutral color slightly offers a different feel. Deciding which one you like more allows you to tailor your home to you.

What are your thoughts? We would love to hear your opinion below in the comment section.

If you find selecting a color palette a challenge when decorating, here’s an interesting way to find a combination of colors that appeals to you. Start with photos.

Of course, many people recommend looking at pictures of rooms in various home décor magazines, and that’s good advice. But don’t stop with the standard room photos. Any photo that appeals to you can serve as an inspiration for a room’s look and feel.

Take a look at the photo here. This close-up shot of a beach with its small stones and shells has a wealth of natural colors to draw from when planning a room’s design. Rich caramel browns, soft grays, lights and darks combine to make a cohesive selection of colors. Let’s see how they look when translated into a room.

This living room has its colors drawn from the photo above. The two shells are evident immediately. The one in the foreground provides just the right shade for the wood flooring and trim. Notice how the brown and white of the wall and trim match the swirls on the spiral of the shell.

The inviting leather sofa has the same shade of brown as the shell toward the back. To capture the variety of gray and soft warm tones of the stones, take a look at the area rug. The accessories also feature the darker tones evident in the beach photo.

Your dream colors may be part of a fall woods scene or a garden full of flowers. No matter what the image, if you like the photo you can create a room that you will love using the photo of your choice as inspiration.

Use Photos to Set Color Palette

From the Floors Up

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