Shades of grey

From Scandi-style to industrial cool, grey is sophisticated and understated yet super chic.

A contemporary colour that can create a laid-back look in any room, it’s the perfect backdrop for accent colours. Grey has taken centre stage by overshadowing neutrals like taupe, beige and ivory as the perfect chameleon shade that suits just about every room, mood and setting.

Grey is far from drab and gives anyone with a sense of design adventurousness a blank canvas to experiment with exciting interior design compositions.

Here are our top tips to help introduce the colour of the season into your home this winter…

Colour psychology

Grey is a complex colour with hues and overtones that take on shades of blue, purple, pink and green that all add an extra layer of energy and sophistication.

When painting your walls with grey, think about the tone that you’re trying to set. Darker, warmer greys are flatter and create an air of drama, ideal for master bedrooms and living rooms. Softer greys lend themselves to a modern, edgier look with a relaxed vibe, ideal for introducing into your living room, kitchen or guest bedroom.

Going for darker greys can be scary if you’re trying it for the first time. Balancing it out with light furnishings and combining with soft creams and pale blues will create a cosy, calm but contemporary option for a living room.

Warmer tones of grey are ideal for rooms that are compact and require an airy appeal to create a sense of spaciousness.

Let there be light

Your shade of grey doesn’t have to be dark and heavy or take over the whole room – sometimes an accent, painted alcove or a signature wall is enough.

Grey is a shadowed colour that benefits from being well lit. Take advantage of all of the natural light resources you have and highlight any natural tones as they change with the lighting over the course of the day.

Colour fusion

Grey doesn’t necessarily have to be on the walls but in your furniture choices instead. From a soft grey sofa to a charcoal grey coffee table or statement rug play with different colours of the same palette and fuse a variety of shades together to create a more complex, layered look.

Grey is the new neutral that allows you to experiment with both décor and accessories. If you’re using deep and dramatic greys, combine them with crisp white ceilings and painted wooden floorboards for a calming and stylish space.

Fuse with colourful accessories from cushions to rugs and lampshades for a luxe look. From pale blues, deep purples, burnt oranges and intense citruses, the richness of these colours work well together with any grey shade you choose.

Get more inspiration for using grey in your interiors.

Follow Cookes Furniture's board Shades of grey on Pinterest.

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6th November 2015

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