Good Old Gray: A Perfect Neutral for the Home

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Gray is hands-down one of my favorite colors in decorating. It is incredibly versatile and chic. I think many people are scared of using this color, wrongly assuming that it will feel cold and stark.

The trick is to hone in on the right color of gray for your walls. Do you want your room to feel warmer, with a more earthy feel? Focus on grays with warm undertones and hints of taupe. Do you want a lighter, more airy feel? Look for dove grays with blue undertones. Gray also works well for upholstery, cabinets, and tile.
Great idea -- use gray to paint your kitchen cabinets!
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Very sophisticated space - I love the way the blue accessories pop off the dark walls.
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I love using soft, barely-there grays for bedrooms. This room has a cozy, enveloping mood in the evenings.
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Dove gray is such a versatile and soft color. Works as a perfect backdrop to a mix of patterns and colors here.
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Gray and yellow -- tre chic!
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This gray has blue undertones -- which works well for a restful master bedroom.
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Charcoal gray upholstery is a perfect solution for families with pets and/or kids. You don't have to sacrifice style for function.
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Soothing monochromatic bathroom design.
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Stone gray works really well with all types of wood and natural elements.
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Another gray kitchen -- love the white door pulls!
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Comments

I love gray. When I was collecting images of it, I noticed one firm in particular had totally mastered all the right shades of gray - it was Amoroso Design: http://www.houzz.com/photos/professionals/4479/Amoroso-Design
23 months ago ·
I just ordered a gray sofa for my family room! Gray looks magnificent with mustard yellow, fuschia pink and a long list of other colors. Great idea book!
23 months ago ·
So spot on...I just repainted my Living/Breakfast/Kitchen are which is basically one large room. I needed one color that would suit all three and not look too kitcheny or formal. My choice was a soft dove grey called Silver Sateen...I LOVE IT!!! Perfect choice..beautiful and very calming. Everything blends with it fabulously. I still have more to do on these rooms..but the color was a great start.
23 months ago ·
I adore grey with green/brown undertones - very natural - reminds me of the mountains. In my bedroom I used a grey on three sides called "granite" and fourth side was deeper in the same tones - called "squirrel" (Behr paints.) Just lovely.
23 months ago ·
cre8tive says:
I have to agree with Becky, the Amoroso Designs does a really great job with the color gray!
23 months ago ·
Kathleen says:
I had my kitchen in a early 1950s home remodled about 3 years ago, we went with several shades of gray, and it still looks fresh and new with the cherry cabinets, stainless steel industrial sink, and backsplash tiles.
23 months ago ·
pwalter says:
These are fabulous! Makes me want to do a major redo. www.satisfiedsole.com
23 months ago ·
Thanks for these ideas. I also love using the gray family of colors on projects - especially in the form of concrete and natural stone, such as limestone. Inca Blue limestone is my favorite. Here are a few photos of spaces where we specified gray materials, combined with other warm earthy colors.
23 months ago ·
I just had my own bathroom repainted, and found the most amazing grey - Benjamin Moore Pigeon Grey. It's not too light, not too dark, crisp and clean.
23 months ago ·
nivita says:
hi! This is nivita from india beautiful pics of your works
23 months ago ·
Love that room with the Suzani throw, and thanks Becky, for pointing out the work of Amoroso design - they do use grays nicely! Really like that monochromatic bathrooms too.
23 months ago ·
Thank you Jennifer for featuring my Great Room Re-Style as an example of a sophisticated space embracing dark walls!
23 months ago ·
am considering switching to mostly grays in our remodel...anyone have a sherwin williams gray they love for a colonial style living room?
23 months ago ·
I'm loving gray right now. In fact I have to stop myself from painting the whole house in shades of gray.
23 months ago ·
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