Gray color schemes were rife in the early 2000s. You couldn't move without seeing a dark gray wall, or the occasional pale gray shade. These days, decorating with gray has a bad reputation, with some designers even calling it the 'worst color trend' in recent years. However, of all the neutrals, gray is one that instantly brings gravitas. This is a mantra that actress Jennifer Aniston, and interior designer Stephen Shadley abide by – and do it well they do.
Aniston's modern living room might be predominantly gray, but at no point does it feel overwhelming or outdated. Gray is quite a misunderstood color, but get it right, and it is actually one of the best neutral shades on Earth.
Gray harmonizes well with almost every other hue, making it a most adaptable neutral and giving good reason for its popularity, says Helen Shaw, director at Benjamin Moore.
Designer Charu Ghandi also eschews the benefits of gray room ideas. 'Gray shouldn't be boring or cold; there are ways to make it feel warm and a focal point, either in wallcoverings or within fabrics or finishings.'
Treat gray as a neutral and layer it with darker and lighter tones, including plenty of texture and some accent pattern. It makes a cozy and wonderfully dramatic statement at the darker end of the gray spectrum and at its lightest, it offers schemes a sanctuary of calm.
In this gray living room, the variations of gray are surprisingly warm and cocooning, especially when paired with the 'almost' black walls.
Something magical happens when you introduce black to an interior space. 'The delicious contrast between lighter objects against a dark background emphasizes unique qualities in materials and finer details you might have missed in a light-filled colorful space,' explains Marianne Shillingford, creative director at Dulux.
The depth of pigment of darker grays and blacks means that they offer an emotional context that can be as nurturing or soothing as any green, particularly when you decorate a room floor-to-ceiling in a dark, velvety hue. For some homeowners, the idea of dark colors might feel foreboding, but for others, it is the dark ‘night’ of a shade that offers serenity in a room scheme.
Here, Aniston has soothed the space with plenty of texture – a fundamental element in well-designed rooms. The raw wood timber, fluffy rugs, and metallic accents give this room a deliciously luxe feel. The final result proves that gray is anything but dated or dull.
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