Gray shades in interior design: 75 modern options

Clothing and interior, as well as the chosen colors, always carry some kind of message to the outside world. The color scheme affects mood and emotional background. So, if red is strength and passion, blue is calm and focused, yellow is joy and energy, then gray is completely neutral. This is a clean canvas, but the combination of gray with others can already diversify the design of a room or the appearance of a person.

Modern apartment design in gray

Gray room interior

Sulfur color in combination with other shades in the interior

Key Features

Before talking about what combinations of gray color are appropriate in clothing and interior design, it is worth learning more about its properties.

Despite the fact that steel is classified as achromatic, there are a huge number of variations from warm beige to cool blue.
Compositions look more harmonious when all colors are equal in saturation.
Some shades are so dark that they are almost indistinguishable from black, but most often color combinations use light and dark tones.
Silver is able to smooth out too bright tones and transitions between colors that usually do not combine with each other.

See also Gray-blue color in the interior, photo.

Furniture and accessories in gray

Gray furniture of any saturation will serve as a “cure” for an overly colorful interior. A sofa, bookcase, chest of drawers will help to dilute the colorful interior if it begins to seem too intrusive to you. Gray furniture is rarely found in the interior, but it looks very impressive . A gray sofa will look especially good against a bright wall.

Psychological characteristics

Slate, unlike black, is not considered overwhelming and depressive; on the contrary, it is anti-stress. It calms the nerves, relaxes and is great for bedrooms or relaxation areas. It is believed that people under stress subconsciously dress in soothing and comfortable ash.

Apartment design in gray

Combination of gray color in the interior

Color combinations in the bedroom

The overall atmosphere depends on how well the choice is made. For example,

A calming effect can be achieved by adding green textiles.
Blue accents will add harmony.
Yellow will lift your spirits and add warmth.
And white is refreshing.
Pink accents will add romanticism.

Gray color in the interior is multifaceted and practical. The variety of tones allows you to create a cozy, comfortable atmosphere in any room. Today, the combination of gray color in the interior is the most popular.

From light to dark

The silver range is divided not only according to the degree of saturation from light pearl to slate. It also differs in “temperature” and can be either warm or cold. This is important to consider when combining with other things or interior details.

Grey-beige. Warm tone that goes well with beige, caramel, brown, olive, white.
Gray-blue. The coolest variety, looks solemn and strict; gray-blue in satin and silk is especially good. But for wall decoration it is better to choose a matte gray-blue without reflections. Combines with blue and blue.
Classical. The most versatile option, the perfect balance of black and white, is neither warm nor cool. It harmonizes with almost everything, it is important to find the right proportion.
Pearl. Delicate and cool, but in large quantities can look too faded. Can be used as a complement to brighter colors, or add a rich accent to a pearl background as jewelry or decor when it comes to decoration. Looks beautiful with lilac, green, blue, aquamarine, black.
Silver. A light tone, like pearl, goes best with winter colors.
Metallic. It may differ in saturation, however, the main difference is a clear metallic sheen. In interiors it is often used in loft or hi-tech style; in clothing it can be found as separate accessories, as well as shoes, jackets, skirts, etc. However, you should be careful when wearing metallic colored items so as not to look like an astronaut.
Graphite. The darkest option. Not suitable for residential premises as a background, but will perfectly complement the interior as a separate insert. And so that the appearance does not seem gloomy, a dress or suit can be complemented with a colored scarf, hat, beads, brooch, handbag, etc.

Modern apartment design in gray

Gray room interior

Sulfur color in combination with other shades in the interior

Interior in a gray palette: design of a one-room apartment of 48 m² for a young man

To create an interior in a gray palette requires skill. Gray color can be gloomy and cold, or it can be stylish and noble. Designer Zina Malysheva (studio Finterio) created a design for a one-room apartment of 48 m² for a young man in this complex but beautiful color, which is worth taking note of.

Designer Zina Malysheva (studio Finterio) created the design of a one-room apartment with an area of 48 m² for a young man. This interior in a gray palette is worth taking note of for anyone who is thinking about making rich gray the base of the interior.

The gray shade is completely wrong to be considered boring, gloomy and cold; it can become an ideal base for a stylish modern interior if it is shaded correctly. In this kitchen interior, the beautiful sandy shade of the wooden facades performs just such a function. The impression is enhanced by a white hood and an apron with a white stone countertop.

Despite the significant square footage, the apartment has only two windows. Therefore, the apartment has two separate spaces - the first serves as a kitchen and living room, separated by a bar counter, the second space is private, occupied by a bedroom and an office.

The bedroom is separated from the study by a shelving unit through which daylight penetrates.

In the office area, pistachio-colored curtains harmonize with the shade of the wood of the table and parquet. Gray becomes the background for this beautiful play of shades.

The bedroom area is almost completely occupied by a mattress with a soft, low headboard.

In the hallway, light beige tiles set off the rich gray color of the walls. Hidden doors do not distract the eye from the geometry of the space. And the ceiling made of wood panels creates an additional accent.

Gray stone imitation tiles were chosen for the bathroom. The solution with a wet area behind the glass is interesting - the shower area is located closer to the partition, and then there is a beautiful free-standing bathtub.

In the area with the sink, the floor tiles imitate a wooden covering in a shade close to the shade of the cabinet and cabinet.

Apartment layout.

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How to wear?

Gray is good in clothes because:

suitable for both formal occasions (with eye-catching accessories) and everyday occasions;
always looks elegant, emphasizing the beautiful cut of a dress or suit;
universal, goes with any type of appearance.

However, without combining with brighter tones, ashy can turn even the most beautiful woman into a nondescript shadow. To avoid this unpleasant effect, it is important to consider three rules:

appearance must be impeccable;
choose only expensive and high-quality things;
be a noticeable and interesting person.

Slate has the ability to highlight poor cut, low-quality fabric, and also make visible all the imperfections of the figure and skin. An incorrectly selected gray set seems faded and even sloppy.

Apartment design in gray

Combination of gray color in the interior

See alsoCombination of gray wallpaper in the interior photo

Gray color in the bedroom interior

Neutral gray is ideal for decorating a bedroom and promotes good rest. An interesting decor option is made entirely in light colors, where the bed is the main color accent. You can easily change this color to suit your mood.

You can often find a colored wall at the head of the bed . The remaining three walls can be its discolored reflection, repeating the pattern and texture. This way the bedroom will not seem dull, but nothing will prevent you from relaxing when going to bed.

Gray color in the bedroom interior looks elegant and restrained. If you want to experiment with dark wall colors , the bedroom is the best place. Dark gray tones are quite neutral to perceive. With their help you can create a charming atmosphere of evening twilight. It is only important to arrange the lighting correctly.

Stylish combinations

Different shades of gray are primarily associated with the office because of their severity and restraint. However, they are also used for everyday wear, combined with other paints.

Despite the fact that combinations of gray with any color look harmonious, there are several most advantageous combinations.

White and black. It is advisable to combine them in equal proportions, but there are more interesting options when one of them is the leader.
Red and burgundy. One of the most popular combinations of gray with other colors. It looks elegant and even solemn, but at the same time strict and restrained. The perfect balance between vulgarity and excessive modesty.
Yellow. Fun and bright, an excellent option for spring and summer, and in winter such an ensemble will please the eye when the sunny day is short and there is not enough light. At the same time, the brighter the yellow, the darker the shades of gray should be. The same rule works in the opposite direction. The only unsuccessful option is the combination of beige-gray with yellow.
Pink. Any variations are suitable, including thermonuclear fuchsia, which in its pure form is too bright.
Lilac. The duet of pearl or silver with lilac looks especially beautiful. This outfit is elegant and mysterious, reminiscent of evening twilight in the fog.
Violet. The combination of dark gray and purple is suitable for everyday outfits in any style.
Blue and light blue. It is important to choose cool shades of gray; they look best in combination with blue and cyan. Dark blue will add rigor and is great for business meetings. Blue and sapphire look more extravagant and would be appropriate in youth fashion.
Turquoise. Aquamarine and turquoise are an ideal pair for slate. This outfit will suit any hair and skin color. The combination of silver-gray or metallic with rich aquamarine is especially beautiful.
Green (cold). With this combination, it is important to consider that the brighter the green, the paler the lead should be.
Pastel shades. It is harmoniously combined with slate when the image needs to be given a restrained and strict look, and the duet with pearl is fresh and delicate.
Pure tones. Bright red, green, blue and yellow in large quantities can be annoying, they are too active and steal all the attention. Combining with silver, pearl, steel or graphite softens the brightness.

Modern apartment design in gray

Gray room interior

Sulfur color in combination with other shades in the interior

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Some secrets

Creating a beautiful design depends entirely on the properties of a certain color and its correct use. It is worth noting that gray can be used for almost any room, it is only important to approach the issue of arrangement correctly. Its main features include the following factors:

If you choose the wrong colors to combine with gray, the interior design will look gloomy, boring, and create a feeling of dampness. If the palette is chosen successfully, then you will get a beautiful, sophisticated option for arranging the room;
This color can be combined in different ways, using both dark and light tones. The best options are considered to be a combination of gray with brown, white and black. Please note that light colors must be present in the design. This will give the room a bright atmosphere even with poor artificial and natural lighting;
The palette looks great as a background color. That is, it acts as a basis for the design of a brighter palette. For example, against a gray background, red and orange colors will stand out and look great;
Don't be afraid to use the presented color scheme if it has light colors. This option will fit perfectly and can be used for any style and room;
The advantage of using it is the opportunity to experiment, which makes it possible to create the most unusual, original interior of the room;
The shades look great with wood tones. That is, with brown, red, oak. Such combinations will make the room attractive and unusual.

Home decoration

Steel in all its forms is very popular in the design of apartments and houses. Thanks to its versatility, it is suitable for decorating any room from the bathroom to the bedroom. Shades of gray from warm to cool fit in one way or another into all interior styles, making this tone completely universal. The rules for its use in housing design are somewhat different from the laws of fashion.

What is important to consider in the design of apartments and houses?

It can be combined with any colors, making them brighter or, on the contrary, muting too bright ones.
This is a universal background for any decorative details - ornaments, inserts, paintings, watches, photos, etc.
It is practical, for which we love many housewives. Dust and stains are not visible on surfaces.
Not suitable as the main color for children's rooms or living rooms; it is better to use it to highlight individual parts or accessories.

Apartment design in gray

Combination of gray color in the interior

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Gray color in the bathroom interior

Traditionally, people gravitate towards using blue in bathroom design. Try blue-gray or gray-violet - the bathroom will take on a completely different elegant look. Against the backdrop of rich, cold gray tones, the whiteness of the plumbing fixtures will shine. If you add steel elements and mirrors - and these are integral elements of the bathroom - you will get a stylish, memorable interior . Gray color in the bathroom interior can be complemented by a bright color. In this case, you should accent one wall or individual fragments, leaving the rest of the space to neutral gray or white. Otherwise, in a small confined space you will feel a depressing effect.

Bedroom

Since this space is primarily intended for relaxation, there is no place for an abundance of bright colors here. Silver or pearl in a duet with other calm tones is an ideal finishing option. If it is used as a background, it is worth considering the size of the bedroom. In small rooms, light colors are appropriate, but in rooms that are too large, on the contrary, you should choose darker colors - they will visually make the space smaller, making it more comfortable.

See alsoModern style in the interior of a modern house

Mixing paints

For those who want to transform their interior, gray color is the optimal solution. Its versatility makes it universal. It looks great in the living room, bedroom, dining room and even in the nursery.

What combination of gray with other colors in the interior should you choose so that everyone feels comfortable and cozy in it?

With yellow/orange.
This palette energizes and helps in the fight against bad mood. It is ideal for the bathroom and kitchen.
With beige.
A room decorated in gray and beige tones always looks cozy. This range looks organically in living rooms and is an excellent backdrop for rare furniture.
With brown.
Many designers consider this combination difficult and suggest using it only for creating masculine interiors. We are sure that for brown furniture, stylish decorative elements of this color and original wooden panels, the best background is gray.
With blue.
The mix of gray and blue is relaxing. That is why it is used when decorating bedrooms and children's rooms.
With green.
Gray-green tones are another winning option for bedroom decor, as such colors are calming both physically and emotionally.
With purple.
If you want to unleash your imagination and discover a source of inspiration, then the combination of gray in the interior with purple colors will be the best helper!
With black.
A similar monochrome palette brings stability and order to the interior. Therefore, it is often found in classrooms and offices. A little trick - if you add bright spots to the gray-black palette, then it will look great for the living room.

Only you can decide which shades to combine gray with in the interior. If you doubt that your knowledge in the field of interior decoration will be enough to realize the ideal picture or you do not have time for this, contact us. We will do everything as you imagine, and maybe even better!

Living room

Since guests are often welcomed in the living room and various celebrations and parties are held, you should not use a large amount of steel in its design. This color is too calm and even boring for living rooms, so it is better to give preference to more saturated colors. Slate or steel can be used for balance, to soften the excessive brightness of the finish.

Modern apartment design in gray

Gray room interior

Sulfur color in combination with other shades in the interior

See alsoInterior details - special attention

Kitchen

A gray kitchen in the interior of a small apartment visually seems larger. Light colors refresh the space, dark ones create accents, but narrow the room. They should be used with caution.

Note!

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The gray color of the walls in the kitchen interior will be an excellent backdrop for bright utensils and furniture. Especially if you use yellow, orange or olive tones as an additional color. They will create the necessary comfort and tranquility.

Design in gray tones has its pros and cons. Before you decide to use this shade in the interior, you should take them into account.

Bath

A good choice for finishing this room. Pearl will go very well with the theme, since it is associated with the sea, and the bathroom is often decorated in a similar theme. Light colors go well with the most popular trinity: blue, blue and white.

However, you can choose a more original design. The combination of gray and red looks luxurious in the bathroom. However, such colors require a lot of space. If the room is small, it is better to choose lighter options, for example, gray-white, gray-mint, etc.

Apartment design in gray

Combination of gray color in the interior

See also: Methods of decorating a staircase in a private house

Living room interior in gray

The interior of the living room requires a special approach. All family members and welcome guests should feel comfortable here. Gray color will make the living room elegant and add sophistication.

You can opt for a gray-blue palette . Decor made from sea stones and furniture made from light wood will look great The interior can be varied with different textures and patterns to suit your taste.

A gray living room interior will allow you to introduce any additional color that will echo in several rich accents . It is advisable to select one large object or several medium ones. An abundance of small details can make the living room too fancy, unless such a design is required by the style you choose.

A win-win option is gray-beige living room design . Natural warm colors will create a unique atmosphere of comfort. “Delicious” colors will fit perfectly: milk, cream, caramel, creme brulee. Soft gray will set off the beige tones. In such a living room, family gatherings will be the warmest.

Gray color will be necessary to create a living room in the loft, hi-tech, urban style. Now it is not just a background, but an independent design element.

Children's

Light gray-beige or gray-blue colors can be used as a background, but in this case it is necessary to dilute it with rich colors. Small children will be bored in a cold steel environment. But teenagers focused on studying, as well as just calm boys and girls, may like this design.

Classic gray is well suited for a study space so that the child is not distracted while doing homework. It is also appropriate in the sleeping area, but in a place for games or a hobby corner it is worth using richer and more cheerful colors.

Modern apartment design in gray

Gray room interior

Sulfur color in combination with other shades in the interior

Gray floors and walls

Large surfaces in gray are the optimal background for design solutions. The main thing in creating a monochrome coating is that the floor and walls differ in color by several tones. Gray wallpaper in the interior looks appropriate and noble.

Gray floors in combination with light walls give the room airiness, balance, and fullness. Gray parquet and laminate fit harmoniously into any interior. The wooden texture of a neutral tone suits any style .

Which style to choose

Shades of gray are very diverse, making it suitable for any style, but there are some areas where it is most popular. First of all, this is minimalism, which is based on rigor and conciseness. The combination of gray with white, beige, brown, and black is popular. In minimalism there is practically no decor, furniture of the simplest forms, and practicality is at the forefront. The main materials for furniture and decoration are plastic, metal, glass, wood, stone. The latter are especially common in the Japanese style, which differs from minimalism in slightly more saturated colors, but all the principles (practicality, minimum furniture, clarity and simplicity of lines) are preserved.

Another style in which metallic is very popular is high-tech. Like minimalism, it differs only in the necessary amount of furniture. In high-tech, an abundance of chrome parts, glass and gloss is very popular. However, the main difference between this style is the emphasis on modernity and free imagination on the theme of the future.

Concrete and asphalt are the colors of any modern city, symbols of industrialism, the aesthetics of which the loft gravitates towards. As a result, the room turns into something similar to a warehouse or factory space that has not seen renovation for a long time. Decorative brick inserts that look like plaster has fallen off, rusty pipes, wires, metal cables, old signs and even boxes - all this helps give the room a loft feel. Retro elements in the form of old receivers or televisions, posters a la the 50s, etc. are also appropriate here.

Apartment design in gray

Combination of gray color in the interior

In combination with gray, most colors look good both in home furnishings and in clothing. It is important to select the correct proportions and take into account the compatibility of colors in saturation and tone, cold or warm.

Gray in different interior styles
Style	What goes with it?	Bad choice
Classic	Brown, beige, white, pastel colors, light blue, light pink, peach.	Bright red, fuchsia, acid green, neon blue, chrome.
Minimalism	Beige, cream, white, milky, brown, black.	Any colors that are too bright.
High tech	White, light brown, coffee, beige, green, blue, burgundy.	Neon colors.
Loft	Brick, brown, black, burgundy, muted shades of blue and green, pastel colors.	There are practically no restrictions except for pure colors.

Gray-based styles

Gray is considered basic in interior design. It is neutral, combined with contrasting and similar colors, and includes a huge palette of tones and subtones. The studio can be decorated in styles

classic;
Scandinavian eco;
high tech;
industrial;
Provence;
loft;
minimalism.

The classic interior uses light colors. Several shades of color, including borderline ones, will look good. You can complement it with yellow, burgundy, purple, pink, beige, blue. It is important not to overload the space with bright accents, let them be small, dotted or in the form of thin lines, ornaments, edges of furniture.

High-tech, loft, industrial are similar. They are based on untreated concrete or brick surfaces and chrome-plated furniture bases. The studio space is zoned using beams on the ceiling that are a darker tone. You can dilute the base color with rich tones of brown, khaki, splashes of natural wood, living greenery, and glossy textures that reflect light.

In Scandinavian design, only light gray is used, actively diluting it with white, yellow, and green. The style requires a lot of light, and when decorating a studio you need to start from this rule.

Provence is one of the most difficult options for a studio apartment. The romance characteristic of the style is created with the help of furniture facades, zoning elements, patterns on wallpaper, rugs, and curtains. The recommended color palette for such an interior is light gray combined with white, pink, dirty green or blue, and woody shades. Fresh or artificial flowers, cozy poufs, and pillows will help to emphasize Provence.

The interior of a one-room apartment in gray tones. Residential complex Slavino, Chelyabinsk

No, this is not black and white cinema or monochrome photography. This is our new design project, the color scheme of which includes, if not the “notorious” 50, then at least 10-15 shades of gray!

We present to you the design of a one-room apartment in a modern style. Total area of the facility: 37 sq.m. Location: Residential complex Slavino (Chelyabinsk city).

We had 3 rooms at our disposal: an entrance hall, a kitchen and a living room. All rooms are made in the same color scheme. Moreover, each is original in its own way and completely different from the previous one!

Hallway. This is where acquaintance with any apartment begins. And here contrasts reign. The lightest pearl-gray shades are adjacent to dark, almost black colors. The designer's task was complicated by the fact that the hallway in this apartment is connected to a corridor, which is quite narrow and long. Light wallpaper, white furniture and mirrors along the wall helped visually expand the room. And the dark door at the end of the corridor made it possible to “reduce” the length. Clear contrasts are needed here, first of all, to visually change the geometry without radical redevelopment.

As you can see, we abandoned the chandelier in favor of spotlights. There are practical tiles on the threshold. Next - noble parquet in a fashionable light gray shade.

Kitchen. Here we allowed ourselves to “thicken” the colors, using much more dark colors. However, the furniture fronts and the table remain quite light. There are almost no sharp contrasts. The transition from light gray to dark is extremely soft. At the same time, you can see how one texture smoothly gives way to another: a glossy surface is adjacent to a matte one, a small-checkered tile is adjacent to a plain one, and a gray wall is adjacent to a white one. This technique provides the interior with both dynamism and integrity.

And finally, the living room. Here we completely abandoned light colors and white furniture. Only deep gray: graphite, coal, anthracite. However, the living room does not look gloomy or boring. The shades chosen are complex and interesting. LED lighting in two colors not only serves as an additional source of lighting, but also decorates an accent wall. In combination with a graphic pattern with thin stripes, it sets the room a special mood. For additional comfort, velor is used in the furniture upholstery. They also “soften” the atmosphere and make it extremely homely - a carpet on the floor, greenery, flowers, figurines.

There is nothing superfluous in such an apartment! Calm tones set the mood for relaxation and peace. An ideal option for minimalists who cannot tolerate a riot of colors and an abundance of decor. And gray colors not only do not depersonalize the apartment, but rather, on the contrary, give it its own, special “face”!

Where to order men's interior? Of course we do! The designers of the Interiorcom studio will develop a project especially for you, take into account all your wishes and help you avoid any mistakes! Call!

Bathroom

The bathroom is decorated in warm beige tones. Horizontal patterns on the tiles stretch the room a little and make it visually a little larger. The bathroom is combined with a toilet, which often becomes a problem for placing everything you need in such spaces. But the designers coped with this task, including with the help of some decorative and design techniques.

A washing machine was located to the right of the door. A row of transparent glass shelves for storing cosmetics was hung above it.

Photo:

To the right of the door is a large bathtub, which is half covered by a glass stationary curtain. It prevents splashes from getting on the sink and tiles. And due to the fact that it is almost invisible, a small space is not visually divided into tiny zones. The central element of the bathroom was a hanging cabinet under the sink with two drawers, in which it is convenient to store household chemicals or towels, as well as many other small things that are always needed in the bathroom. Above the sink there is a cabinet with a mirror for storing cosmetics.

The cost of the design project for this one-room apartment is 29,990 rubles. To get acquainted with the prices for furniture and finishing materials, as well as get more detailed information about the layouts, you can look at the detailed project statement .