Grey matters: 6 grey home decor ideas perfect for your house

With minimalism becoming the keyword when it comes to contemporary design, the focus is now shifting from intricate patterns and bright colours to clean and simple geometric designs and neutral tones. Grey, with its ethereal, immaculate and elegant appeal, fits into this trend perfectly and is our top choice for colours to watch out for this season. If you too want to imbue your home with a dose of cool and classy grey, here are 6 ideas on decorating with grey to get you started.

The right finish

A lot of a particular colour’s evocative quality depends on its temperature. As far as grey is concerned, there is a fine line between its cool tones and those that look like industrial metal. Avoid using glossy grey on the wall as it may make your room seem cold and clinical. Instead, opt for wallpaper or paint in a flat, light tone of the colour with a subtle texture. A glossy finish is more apt for furniture and fixtures, especially if you’re going for the industrial style. For the walls, you could also use light grey paint or wallpaper mixed with a tinge of another colour such as white, blue or green to create a pleasing neutral base for the room. For greater depth, juxtapose different tones of grey, like a light grey wall with upholstery or a rug in a richer shade.

Patterns and textures

A great way to infuse some of that grey charm in your room without making it seem monotonous is by using different patterns. This again will add more depth and interest to your space. For instance, if you’re going for a minimalist look, you can pair white walls with a statement grey soft furnishing element or accessory like embroidered grey curtains, jewel-toned or floral grey cushion covers or upholstery with a bold geometric pattern. If your room’s colour scheme is more towards the lively side, use a texture of grey that has a softer look and feel to make the bright ones pop. For instance, a fleece or satin quilt teamed with white sheets ties in well with a bedroom look dominated by pastel hues of blue, pink or green. In the living room or study, the same effect can be achieved by using grey sheer curtains with a slight botanical pattern.

Pair with black and white

White and grey is a winning combination to make any space come alive with a charm that is minimal, elegant and yet eye-catching. If you have cloudy grey interior walls, complement them by placing white furniture, such as a white upholstered sofa, a wrought iron chair and table or a white wooden cabinet. Balance the cool tones by adding warm hues here and there, such as an antique or cane brown statement chair, mint green or cherry blossom pink cushions and ceramic accessories. If black and white features prominently in your home, use cool tones of grey to enhance the colour scheme’s visual impact. For instance, black and white photographs look best when set against a grey background, while a black and white tiled floor looks great with a grey carpet, rug or a small grey furniture item such as a ceramic stool or an ottoman in the foreground.

Go monochromatic with a pop of colour

The monochromatic trend has made a comeback in a big way, both in fashion as well as home interiors. Well-suited to a minimalist style, an all grey living room or bedroom can look every bit sophisticated and classy when the right materials, tones and finishes are used. The best room to go monochromatic with grey is the bedroom where you can easily layer different materials such as shimmery silver-grey sheer curtains, a silk or satin bed sheet, a fleece quilt, glossy grey lighting fixtures and a cool grey patterned wallpaper. Juxtapose the grey tone with pops of cherry red or midnight blue by way of cushions, runners, planters and other accessories.

Steely greys for more functional space

The cooler steely hues of grey such as silver-grey and fieldstone lend a sleeker, cleaner look to functional spaces like the kitchen and bathroom. In the kitchen, pair steely grey surfaces like the washbasin, cabinet door, cooking unit and hood or appliances like the oven with earthy wooden surfaces or faux wood wallpaper. In the bathroom, pair steely grey tiles with white fixtures or grey surfaces and fixtures with glossy ceramic tiles or Wallpapers in rich colours like crimson, navy blue and lush green.

Use as an art canvas

Greys and whites are every art lover’s best friends, providing just the right kind of neutral background to make the artworks stand out. Everything from bold oil paintings, landscapes in natural colours, abstracts, Oriental scrolls and tapestries, porcelain wall art, structural lamps as well as coloured and black-and-white photographs, no matter how different their colours are, come together in a harmony of contrasts when placed against a basic grey wall. However, make sure you keep this wall simple, save for a subtle grainy texture or a small uniform print like stripes.

Suggested collection:

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