Gray is Out
“Gray is the queen of colors, because she makes everyone else look good.” – Helen Van Wyk
Unpopular opinion, perhaps? But, I’m here to say that gray is out.
I’ll wait for the collective gasping, clutching of pearls, and general balking.
How could I say such a thing about a beloved color palette? Gray is undoubtedly beautiful, adaptable, neutral, and a wonderful “goes with everything” hue for your home. But the days of slathering our entire home in various shades of gray are out.
Stick with me because here’s why.
For years now, we’ve seen gray become a universal tone—on walls, flooring, furniture, woodwork, accessories, etc. So much so, we’ve created a monochromatic gray color scheme with not much else in it. Yes, gray is a go-to tone for all the reasons mentioned, but when that’s all you see, it becomes flat. There’s no dimension breaking up the floors from the walls and everything in between. It’s a big gray blob. I said what I said, and I make no apologies.
When you’re scrolling for inspiration, I will venture a guess that the type of space that captures your attention is one with a lot of depth and contrast. Each element plays a vital role in the overall design. The floors, walls, accessories, art, lighting, furniture, etc., all stand out in their unique way visually, yet work together. How’s that?
I think many of us fall into the pattern of picking items of a similar color (ahem…gray), and that’s how we determine that they match or go well together. But there are many other reasons why elements can work together—complementary colors, style, shape, and texture are a few that immediately come to mind.
Complementary colors are two colors that are on opposite sides of the color wheel. For more on this, The Spruce Crafts has a great explanation.
I’m not saying ditch gray altogether, but we need to tone it down a bit—add in a few friends of different hues on the color wheel. Diversify ourselves in the realm of color. Another way to look at this is to focus on contrast. For example, if your walls are a cool shade of gray, make sure the flooring is warm. If your upholstery is a cool shade of gray, pick accessories and artwork in warm tones.
Where to start?
Accessories are a great place to phase out gray. Your most significant investments are probably things like furniture, flooring, fixtures, etc. Start with your smaller-ticket items like accessories. Throw pillows are always a jumping-off point for me to inject a new color palette into a space. Work outward from there. Take a look at your rugs, lamps, artwork, etc., and look for ways to phase out the gray.
If you’re in the mode of focusing on big-ticket items, perhaps you’re going through a remodel, again look for opportunities for diverse tones and contrast. If you’re committed to Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams (I know lots of people who are), leave it there. That’s your one splash of gray. Look for flooring that is rich and void of gray tones. When it’s time for a new sofa, look towards leather, leather alternatives, or cream tones.
I know cream might make you run for the hills, but upholstery has come a long way. Fabrics are more durable and easier to clean—making cream a viable option in your home, even with pets and kids.
@mimi.tsatsoulas
I love this space by @mimi.tsatsoulas. The walls are a beautiful shade of gray—and that’s where gray stops. The rich wood tones in the nightstand, the flooring, and the artwork frames are able to pop. The black bed jumps out at you, and the colors in the rug can really show off. Your eye also has a chance to see that the colors in the rug are closely married to the colors in the artwork over the bed.
@houseofhire
Here’s a space by @houseofhire that could have easily been sucked into a gray zone. There is gray in the rug and the lamps, but that’s about it. The soft white walls, the crisp white dresser, the natural wood nightstand, and brass light fixture all bring dimension to an otherwise neutral room.
By all means, don’t take this as a reason to throw your entire home in the garbage. But as your style evolves, when you’re ready for new accessories or furniture, or it’s time for a remodel—take a look at your choices with these concepts in mind.