How can one little color that’s really not much of a color at all pack so much punch when it comes to interior spaces? Depending upon which of its 50 shades you love most, gray can be bold and brooding. Soft and soothing. Glamorous and regal. Relaxed and unassuming. You gotta love a mix of black and white that can do all that.
Through the past few years, many of us have washed our home’s interiors in gray’s neutral goodness, simplifying our spaces by embracing a pared down, minimalist look. But just as the sun bursts through the clouds on a cold January day, reviving and delighting everyone who sees it, sometimes you need to add a bit of color to give your gray rooms a little more life. If you’re growing a bit weary of your gray space, or just itching for something fresh and new, all you need to do is pop it up with a bit of color and pattern.
Colorful and cool: gray and green
I’m already counting the days until our barren Midwest winter gives way to the greens of spring. That’s why I find every excuse I can to hang out in this life-giving living room, where we’ve mixed together gray, greens and creams to revive the senses and lighten the heart. We started with charcoal gray walls: Abbey Steps from my Mary Carol Artisan Paint line. We popped up the serious gray paint by covering the woodwork in Garrity Cream, another of my gold standard colors in my custom paint line.
Pattern mixing
Then, we got to work pattern mixing. We covered one English rolled arm sofa in a green and cream geometric that has a charming vintage feel. A pair of matching square pillows in luxurious velvet and this crazy-cute floral make the look. A 53-inch tufted ottoman in a vibrant green batik is the hub of the space, perfect for putting up your feet while still having plenty of room for a killer display on a tray. It’s all grounded on a gray area rug.
Green on green
Two green motion chairs face the hearth, sweet in a green-on-green geometric fabric. Then, we balanced out the group with a classic three-cushion sofa, covered in a creamy fabric that makes it the ideal blank slate for interesting pillows. Our floral pick pulls in the gray, green and cream.
Warm and wonderful: gray and yellow
Does your heart yearn for hotter colors? Gray is equally as brilliant when paired with yellows. You can go soft and sweet or sunny and sassy, or anything in between. In this welcoming space, gray plays the supporting role, allowing the spotlight to be on a mix of yellowy tones.
Ottoman experiment
Ottomans are a great place to experiment with fabrics. We covered this one with a simple gray and yellow stripe. Crisp, clean, classic.
Versatile spool chairs
I’m wild about these spool chairs. Like the color gray, they allow themselves to be reinvented time and again as they are paired with different colors and patterns. Love this buttery, Asian-influenced fabric.
Playful and fun: gray and orange
Orange came on strong in the design world, and I didn’t think it was going to last. But it is still popular, and has won a permanent place in my heart. And, it looks divine with gray. This delightful bed started with a headboard upholstered in a yummy gray fabric. It’s the backdrop for this coral floral, with its splashes of gray, yellow and blue, which we teased out a few in our accent pillows.
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