I love all the gray rooms and accessories that are in home design today. But, at first glance when looking at the meaning of gray, it's a little perplexing why the color is so popular and how it manages to work with so many different design styles.
As a true neutral, gray communicates a void of movement, emotions, warmth or any identifying characteristics. Yikes!! But, somehow, I find this bath painted in BM European Gray to be calm, soothing and elegant. Why is this?
It's this very lack of emotions that makes gray so calming! Because gray isn't expressing much of anything, the color remains simply restful, quiet, and tranquil. It allows vibrant colors to pop while also cooling their intensity. Oh I get it!!
Every color seems to perfectly complement some shade of gray - just take a look below at how these accent colors look with a gray backdrop!
Yellows and Golds!!!
Source: The Architecturalist
Reds and rusts!!!
Source: Belgian Pearls Blog
Oranges!!!
Source: South Shore Decorating Blog
Greens!!!
And even teals!!!!!
Some Native American tribes relate gray to friendship, and many other cultures use the color to symbolize security, maturity and dependability!
The Four Seasons in Florence uses the sophisticated color for this lounge that caters to the business sect. It's a smart choice considering how gray suits have become part of the uniform of the corporate world. Dark, charcoal gray imparts the strength and mystery of black without its negative connotations.
While gray goes wonderfully with most colors, picking the right gray to complement your accents can be tricky. The 10 Rooms blog has some great tips and color suggestions!
I love the above grays from SW!!! They are some of my absolute favorites.
Benjamin Moore also has a lovely one called Silver Fox. Designer Michael McKinnon calls it "a warm, taupeish gray, what artists call a French gray. Very relaxed and chic. It immediately puts me on the Île Saint-Louis overlooking the Seine. It’s equal parts earth and air, to use feng shui terms, which means it’s perfect for a small, narrow entrance hall, because it adds warmth and air at the same time.”
So… put some gray in your home if you want:
• to create an environment where compromise is encouraged
• a neutral, non-invasive feeling
• to reduce the intensity of another color, while still including it
• to create an isolated getaway
Do you have a favorite gray room? Send me pictures to leslie@segretofinishes.com - I'd love to see! We have just gotten a new shipment of art and jelrey at the store--come by and take a peak!!! Have a great week! xo Leslie
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