Grey is a color typically associated with boredom and fading away. In the psychology of colors, it carries some negative connotations, particularly when it comes to loss and depression.
But today’s grey living rooms are anything but dull, boring, or gloomy.
As a shade between white and black, grey represents balance and neutrality. With the correct shade, it can also help create a cozy living space for you and your family.
Whether you’re buying new living room furniture or making simple updates in your home, here are seven grey interior design ideas that can help inspire your next home update:
1. Play It Safe With Monochrome
When in doubt, stick to one color. This is a trick as old as time in living room design and one that won’t steer you wrong.
A monochromatic grey can give your living room a sophisticated and elegant feel.
One way you can achieve this is by combining a deep charcoal-hued sofa with pewter blinds on dove-grey walls. These three shades of grey work in harmony because of their similar undertone.
If you must add anything but grey, you can still achieve that monochromatic vibe by sticking to black, white, and metallics. Just remember to choose complementary gold and silver tones (e.g., brushed brass and gunmetal) to bring the whole thing together.
If you want to soften the entire look, you can throw in an organic motif rug to soften the ultramodern and clinical vibe in the space.
2. Choose Grey Investment Features
While its presence is distinct in most living room color schemes, grey is still considered a neutral color. That means you can use it in big-ticket elements like flooring and investment furniture since the color is classic, timeless, and versatile even as trends in interior design change.
To add depth and personality, you can simply incorporate pops of color here and there, like a blue accent chair or patterned throw pillows to set off a dark grey sofa.
3. Highlight With Lime, Yellow, or Orange
Speaking of pops of color, grey also works well with cheery hues like lime, yellow, and orange.
Since it is neutral, grey effortlessly matches with complementary colors like greens, blues, and pinks. However, brown-tinged shades create a particularly pretty picture when matched with zingy lime green and lemon yellow, making the living room pop.
If you want to implement this idea in your living room, choose yellow and lime green variants of pillows, rugs, soft furnishings, and light fixtures.
Want to use vibrant orange elements? Pair it with a sultry grey to achieve the perfect balance that results in a more palatable color scheme.
4. Match Grey and Parquet
Grey is a hue that blends in with almost any color palette. Sometimes, it can also help you establish equilibrium in a room with warm parquet flooring.
Since the floor comprises the bulk of the interior design and has a distinctive pattern, it can seem overbearing if left on its own or used with similar-toned elements. This is where a splash of grey can come in handy.
Adding a grey rug or sofa can create a balance with the parquet’s dominating warmth. On top of that, the grey elements also help highlight the geometric pattern on the flooring while making a crisp living room aesthetic.
5. Soften with Pastels
If you find your grey walls or furnishings looking washed out when paired with whites and metallic pieces, you may need to add some pastel colors to your living room. This is especially true for spaces with large windows that receive plenty of natural light.
6. Pair with Earthy Shades
Earthy shades go perfectly well with grey when used appropriately.
If you want to create a neutral color scheme, always think about how to balance the tone of each hue.
For example, your living room has wooden walls with bespoke joinery and marble plinths. Toss in a caramel-colored leather sofa while you’re at it.
In this room, experts recommend you repaint the wood-paneled walls with a blue-grey tone to serve as a foil for the warm, textural elements. This will create a pleasing tension between the beiges and greys that will work perfectly for most properties, especially those with a mid-century look.
As a bonus, the soft grey wall paint also offers an excellent backdrop for wall decors and artworks without sacrificing the calming, light-filled ambiance.
7. Go Deep and Dark with Care
Dark charcoal grey walls can define your living space perfectly, but it requires a bit more consideration when styling. In this case, you should avoid choosing monochromatic color schemes to prevent the space from looking cold and stark.
Instead, introduce texture to the space.
Once the dark grey paint is in, try to look for areas where you can combine smooth and soft pieces. More tactile fabrics like sheepskin also work perfectly with concrete.
Grey Reigns Supreme
Grey is among the most versatile colors used in interior design. It’s been years since it became popular, and it remains a top choice for living rooms. Get inspired to decorate your space with these trendy grey living room ideas and update your interior like a pro.
