Has Gray Had Its Day?

While gray has been the most popular interior design color for (at least) the past 10 years, the most common question I hear from clients lately is, “Is gray still in style?”

Homeowners are thinking about whether to transition away from the beloved gray, or to bring in a new color that works alongside the cool neutral. When working with clients to design a new home or update an existing space, we are slowly starting to move into more warm neutrals that will coordinate, as many people own furnishings and artwork that go with a gray palette.

Gray is classic and tends to show up as a useful neutral color, which can work well when balanced with warm tones; just a touch can be nice in almost any space, as long as it is used in moderation and is not the main inspiration for that space. Use gray intentionally and think about how it can enhance your color palette.

When working with custom clients at design showrooms, I have recently noticed the following shifts in the colors:

• Quartz slabs, (once crisp white and cool gray), now feature a mixture of gold or caramel alongside warmer gray veining

• Hardwood floors, (once washed with gray stain on top), are now left natural or stained a deep, wood tone to warm up the space.

• Tile selections, (once limited to concrete looking shades of gray), are now leaning more neutral, beige and warm, or even fun, bold colors

LEFT: Common tile line used in recent years
RIGHT: Newer, warmer tile being used in upcoming houses

• Paint colors, cool grays are being replaced with warm whites and soft beiges

As the trend cycles away from gray, it is not necessary to completely do away with it, but let’s work with it! Bringing in neutral tones, natural elements, or bold colors can work cohesively with gray to freshen up any space.

How to Choose the Right Wall Colors

Giving your walls a fresh coat of paint is one of the simplest ways to update your home and give it a stylish new look. While the painting is the easy part, the color selection process is not so simple. With so many colors to choose from - and varying shades of each – it can feel overwhelming to decide which one is best for your space. Before you even begin to set out collecting paint sample chips, ask yourself a few questions…what is the room being used for and how do you want it to feel? What is the mood? While you may want your bedroom to feel calm, you may choose your bathroom to be bright. Here are some tips and ideas:

ALL-OVER COLOR ADVICE

When choosing an all-over interior color, go with a neutral that will work in any room. Warm grays and beige work with most other colors that you may want to bring in for accents or pops of color.

Here are a few of my go-to neutrals for new construction and remodels:

Left: Benjamin Moore Collingwood – OC-28; Right: Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray – HC-173

Sherwin Williams Drift of Mist – SW 9166

THOUGHTS ON WHITE

For the current minimalist trend, keep it simple white. White makes a room feel bright, spacious, crisp and clean. When it comes to whites, there are too many to choose from! My favorites:

Left: Benjamin Moore White Dove – OC-17; Right: Sherwin Williams Pure White – SW 7005

WHAT ABOUT AN ACCENT WALL?

To create a calm, relaxing vibe, choose cool colors like blues and aquas. Try these for accent walls:

Left: Sherwin Williams Smoky Blue – SW 7604; Right: Benjamin Moore Sweatshirt Gray – 2126-4

Have fun with color! Create a focal point by painting an accent color. Accessorize with bright pillows and décor. Stop stressing about colors and just start painting!

PLEASE NOTE that these digital color swatches were sourced from the Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams websites and are only provided to give a general idea of the colors recommended. We highly suggest you source actual paint swatches before embarking on your painting project 😄.