Home » Misc » Accent colors for gray house

Accent colors for gray house


20 Colors That Go With Gray

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Keep it neutral—or not.

By Emma Bazilian and Hadley Mendelsohn

Christian Harder

There's a right shade of gray for any room, from the palest silver to dark charcoal. Designers love the chameleon-like hue for its ability to lean warm, cool, or simply strike the perfect balance between the two. The best grays also change with the light throughout the day, adding depth and visual interest to your interior. Gray's neutral character also makes it the ideal partner for other colors. Whether you're looking to create a serene tone-on-tone environment or find a piece of furniture that'll really stand out, here are some of our favorite colors to pair with gray.

Francesco Lagnese

1 of 20

Light Green

Philip Smith was in search of a table when “a friend of mine’s mother passed," he says, adding, "I adored her, and when my friend went through her things she said, ‘there’s a table here with your name on it! I was nearly in tears. ” The gray-blue patina looks beautiful next to the chrome chairs and green-gray wall paint.

Thijs de Leeuw/Space Content/Living Inside

2 of 20

Bright Orange

Atelier ND transformed a stair landing into a special reading nook with vintage Ligne Roset chair (it was the only thing that would fit under the sloped ceiling!) and then color-blocked with electric orange and complementary gray-green paint color.

Bjorn Wallander

3 of 20

Black and Greige

Light griege, black accents, and brass fixtures create a beautiful, polished mood in this living room designed by Ray Attanasio.

Frank Frances Studio

4 of 20

Marigold

We're loving the pops of jewel tones in this living room designed by Courtney McLeod. Bold shades of marigold and magenta are softened by the warm gray walls.

Paul Raeside

5 of 20

Sapphire

The gray, swirling clouds in Anne Hepfer's dining room—papered in a Cole & Son Fornasetti print—feel anything but bleak with the addition of punchy blues.

Christian Harder

6 of 20

Light Pink and Brass

Gold and coral tones warm up the charcoal sofa and light gray painted walls in this living room designed by Alison Victoria.

Patrick Cline

7 of 20

Orchid

With its vibrant purple rug and charcoal gray cabinets, this Nicole Fuller-designed office makes work feel like play.

KARYN R. MILLET

8 of 20

Fern Green

Verdant, leafy green and trelliswork makes this pale gray office designed by Joe Lucas feel like an enchanted garden.

Bjorn Wallander

9 of 20

Hot Pink and Orange

A dose of muted pewter grounds the bold pink and orange textiles in Molster's bedroom.

Paul Raeside

10 of 20

Sky Blue

Pale-blue bedding and silk-wrapped walls make this bedroom designed by Michael Maher an utterly serene escape.

Paul Raeside

11 of 20

Russet

Walls and ceiling in Benjamin Moore's Nightfall—an almost-black shade of charcoal—provide a moody backdrop for the russet red sofa in Andrew Flesher's 300-year-old Westchester colonial.

David A. Land

12 of 20

Gold

In House Beautiful's 2019 Whole Home, design whiz Vern Yip showed how deep shades of golden yellow and brass can add glamour to layers of gray.

Björn Wallander

13 of 20

Rose

Designer Janie Molster's Richmond, VA, home has a base of soft gray. The antique settee is covered in Schu­macher’s Gains­borough pink velvet. The armchair is Lee Industries, and the chandelier is antique.

Gieves Anderson

14 of 20

Neutrals

David Frazier divided the main living room into two distinct zones, one for lounging and visiting, and one for dining and working. The large pendant light and antique pieces personalize the more generic bones of the building, and a super-light shade of gray paint makes for a more interesting impression than plain white.

Grey Crawford

15 of 20

Taupe

Jeff Andrews used a spectrum of warm grays and taupes to keep his living room feeling cozy, not cold.

Victoria Pearson

16 of 20

White

A neutral-toned bedroom by Frances Merrill of Reath Designs captures Ojai, California’s laid-back vibe. “This couple made it clear that they wanted a very calm bedroom,” she says. “It’s quiet, but with a focus on texture. It really does feel like such an escape.”

Thomas Loof

17 of 20

Brass

Sheets of unlacquered brass warm up this Brooklyn kitchen designed by Asa Barak and Garrow Kedigian.

Thomas Loof

18 of 20

Cerulean

Midcentury furniture with custom cerulean upholstery energize a quiet gray study designed by Wesley Moon.

TK

19 of 20

Navy

The quiet gray palette of a San Francisco row house “allows for strong punches of color,” explains Benjamin Dhong, who used navy-and-white nautical accents in this bedroom.

Stephen Kent Johnson

20 of 20

Brown

Boston designer Nina Farmer used rich tones of brown and sepia to warm up the Phlip Jeffries silk-and-abaca-clad bedroom of this historic Boston house.

Discover the Best Colors to Pair With Red at Home

Emma Bazilian Senior Features Editor Emma Bazilian is a writer and editor covering interior design, market trends and culture.

Hadley Mendelsohn Senior Editor Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House.

11 Gray House Paint And Color Scheme Ideas

Gray has been a popular interior paint color over the last few years. However, it can also make a great color for the exterior of your house! That being said, it can sometimes be tricky to decide which shade is best for your home and what other colors will complement it. With so many shades of gray, there are a number of looks you can achieve. 

Disclosure: We may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

From elegant and classic darker shades to light and airy barely grays, you're sure to find one that will work for your home. Sometimes, you just need a little inspiration. So if you're looking for some great ideas on what color to paint your home, including what color you should paint your trim and front door, you've come to the right place. 

We've compiled a list of 11 great gray houses for you to take a look at. We'll include various shades of gray in our examples. Furthermore, we will try to offer some tips on how to achieve each look! Let's begin!

1. Light And Bright With Blue And White

The exterior of this house is kept light and bright with the use of a light shade of gray and white trim. The homeowner added more brightness by choosing a fun light blue paint for the home's door.

Many blue and gray shades fall into the cool color category, meaning they pair well together. A dark blue door would have also looked good with the exterior gray but may have generated a different overall feel. 

2. Tan, Black, And Dark Gray

Tan is a color you might not have expected to pair well with gray, but this house pulls it off effortlessly. Tan works best with gray when the gray is a warm gray.

This means that instead of the blue undertones, a gray with red, yellow, or beige undertones will work best. In this design, the two colors are separated by a darker trim which also helps prevent any clashing. 

Read more: What Color Trim Goes With A Gray House?

3. Gray That's Almost Blue

The designer for this home definitely took advantage of the multiple levels of architecture the home has. Dark gray that is almost blue is found under each gable, which is then separated by white trim.

The look is completed by a front door that matches the dark gray. The use of multiple shades of gray creates depth in this design while keeping the entire look unified. 

Read more: 18 Best Front Door Colors For A Gray House

4. White Stripes

This home makes the gray look more exciting by adding white stripes under the gables. We mentioned depth in design in our last example, and in interior design, that can be achieved by pairing different patterns, colors, and textures.

This house has brought that concept outside by using different shades of gray for color, stone for texture, and stripes for patterns. If you have a large area of solid gray, don't be afraid to break it up. 

5. Modern And Contemporary With Black Trim

For a look that's more modern, try painting your trim black or a very dark gray. The contrast between the gray and black in this home creates a bold and stunning effect.

While the rest of the house is colored in gray and black, the entrance is kept warm and neutral. This creates an inviting and welcoming look which is sometimes hard to achieve with all gray features. 

6. Gray With Stone and Accented With Red

This home is a little different in the sense that the gray portion of its exterior is made from stone rather than siding or stucco. However, the result is the same—a primarily gray exterior—which is why we've included it in this list.

This house also shows a great example of another color you can pair with gray—red! The red front door and dark gray trim and garage go so well with the rest of the house to give it a beautiful cottage feel!

Read more: What Color Garage Door Goes With A Gray House?

7.

Red, Black, White, And Gray Again!

Here's another example of how great red looks with gray! The red door is just enough to add a burst of color to this home.

As with the example above, this home also has darker colored shutters that match the color of the shingles on the roof. However, this home breaks up the shades of gray with white trim around the door and windows. The white trim makes the door stand out even more!

8. Warm Gray Up With Wood

Natural wood can also go nicely with gray. The yellow and orange tones of the wood really warm up the front of this home. The white trim helps balance the two colors out.

As you've probably realized by now, with a gray exterior, most homeowners choose either white, black, or another shade of gray for their house's trim. These are the easiest colors to pair with gray.

White can seem too bright sometimes, so if you'd like a lighter color, you could choose an off-white or cream. Brown is also an option, but it can be tricky to match brown with gray. Like tan, it will work best with a warm gray.

9. Use Porch Decorations To Accent Your Gray

If you want to brighten up your gray exterior with something less permanent than paint, you can add some color using porch accessories.

This house uses red cushions to add a little color, but yellow and blue can also work well with gray. Also, the contrasting wooden floor and ceiling help to add dimension to this design, though this might require undertaking a larger project to achieve this look. 

If your porch isn't big enough to hold an entire table and chair set, then try accessorizing with smaller items. You don't have to use furniture. You can also accessorize using big flower pots, or opt for some brightly colored curtains for your windows. 

Click here to see these flower pots on Amazon.

10. Gray Stucco Keeping It Simple

Here's an example of a simple gray exterior. This home shows that gray can still look good even if you don't go through the hassle of choosing multiple shades. The white trim helps create contrast and leaves a bold-looking design.

By choosing a different color door, the designers prevent the white from becoming overpowering and detracting from the overall look. This would also be a good home to opt for a fun-colored door. 

11. All One Shade

another example of a more simple design. The same shade of gray is used throughout the design which is clearly okay!

This designer even opted for a gray garage. This contemporary style works because the white helps break up the gray much like in the previous example. The different materials and textures used also help to add some depth and excitement. 

Click here to see this gray exterior paint on Amazon.

Things To Remember When Considering A Gray Exterior

Gray is a great color for a home's exterior. Though primarily used in more contemporary designs, as you can see from our examples, it is a color that can work with all home styles. So, what should you take from our article? Let's go over some key points!

Hopefully, from reading this post, you now have some inspiration, or maybe it's made you reconsider gray as your color choice. Either way, we hope we have been helpful in providing some examples of gray exteriors!

Dilute the gray: 10 successful accent colors for a gray interior

The video listed all the accent colors for a gray interior

1 Red

Shades of rich cold red are great for creating accents in a light gray interior. If the room has good lighting, red can be used in several elements. For example, in a rack, a pattern on sofa cushions, small decor on shelves, a coffee table. In this case, it is better not to focus the accents in one part of the room, but evenly distribute it over the entire area.

Instagram: @belwood_ru

Instagram: @belwood_ru

2 Emerald

Intense emerald will successfully complement the space, which has a lot of light gray surfaces. It will add life to the interior, but at the same time leave the color palette restrained and muted. Indoor plants will be the best addition. Choose large species and place them close to a colored wall or large furniture so that the green hues echo.

Instagram: @bhibuoriginal

Instagram: @bhibuoriginal

3 Terracotta

Terracotta is warm and will help soften a cold gray interior. Use it in the dining room, bedroom or living room. To enhance the feeling of coziness, introduce terracotta through textiles: sofa and armchair upholstery, curtains and bedding.

Instagram: @rindes_studio

Instagram: @9.18buro

4 Turquoise

The gray tones are strikingly combined with the blue-green shade of the sea. It is quite subdued and does not create visual noise. Therefore, it is suitable for interior decoration in loft or minimalist styles. But at the same time, turquoise makes the space brighter and deeper. Try to choose an unusual place for him so that even more attention is paid to him. For example, you can paint in a turquoise ceiling.

Instagram: @ancconcept

Instagram: @ancconcept

5 Grass Green

A soft green with a lot of yellow that seems to glow from within. And therefore, it will help to balance the interior in dark shades of gray that seem cold and gloomy. Enter it into the space through the upholstery of large upholstered furniture and complement it with golden accessories.

Instagram: @berdnikovadiz

Instagram: @berdnikovadiz

6 Peach

Peach shade will soften the gray interior well and add color to it. You can use it to visually change the space. For example, make two stripes at the top of a light gray wall: dark gray and peach. This technique will visually raise the ceilings.

Instagram: @ancconcept

Instagram: @ancconcept

7 Golden

Golden hues pleasantly echo light and dark gray tones, making the interior more elegant and expensive. Add them with furniture, such as a coffee table or chairs. And also through lamps, fittings and wall decor.

Instagram: @designer.lisa

cdesigner.lisa

8 Pink

Pink tones are very easy to combine with grey. Especially muted, for example, a shade of dusty rose. Use it for accent wall, furniture upholstery, accessories. This color pair looks best in the bedroom and bathroom, adding playfulness and lightness to them.

Instagram: @edytaandco

Instagram: @vvyombyshuchita

Instagram: @tsupikov.n

9 Blue

Blue adds depth to space and does not interrupt the main gray palette. Use rich shades of blue for textured surfaces: velvet chair upholstery or long pile carpet. To make the interior not seem gloomy, add blotches of cold white.

Instagram: @tatsiana_kaladzei

Instagram: @yodezeen_architects

10 Azure

Luminous blue attracts more attention than muted blue. Use it to make the main focus - to draw attention to the recreation area, for example.

Instagram: @yanasdecor

Instagram: @yanasdecor

Prepared by

Maria Revina

Grey colour

Gray in the interior > color combination (psychology, range of color combinations)

Let's break the stereotype about 50 shades of gray and tell you what and how to combine it with.

For a long time, gray was associated with boring offices and government offices, but modern designers have found its secret power - to reveal muted shades and dull too bright ones. Simply put, be the perfect backdrop. Today gray is a welcome guest in the house. Like any other guest, he has his own characteristics. We will talk about them further.

Psychological perception of gray

(Source: In Color Balance)

Until the early 19th century, gray was the color of choice for aristocrats and was associated with noble luxury. Today it evokes conflicting feelings: on the one hand, it is harmony, calmness and stability, on the other, fatigue, boredom and melancholy.

Gray suits people with a fast pace of life. It slows down the nervous system and calms. Color affects the functioning of the brain, helps to look at the problem without emotions, with a clear head. The design of offices is the best proof of this.

The color gray has few devoted admirers and ardent haters - even here it remains neutral. Although pragmatists and rationalists sometimes prefer gray to everything else. But for people prone to depression, gray should be avoided - it will not give them anything but an oppressed state.

Shades of gray

Gray is infinitely versatile. For proof, we suggest refreshing the memory of school drawing lessons. Neutral gray is obtained by mixing black and white. This border color is associated with purity and freshness. Depending on the proportions, we get darker or lighter shades.

To get warm and cold shades of gray, add a mixture of diametrically opposite colors to black and white - red and blue, blue and orange, yellow and purple, or let's combine the famous trio of red, green and blue.

As promised, we are destroying the ingrained stereotype - there are more than 50 shades of gray. And even more than 250. Alas, their exact number cannot be calculated using the most cunning mathematical calculations. But most of the shades have very poetic names, which arose mainly due to associations: London fog, thundercloud, wet stone, river mother-of-pearl.

What colors go with

Gray is the new beige, designers say. It, like other neutral colors (white, black, beige, brown, ivory) is combined with all shades of the color wheel. Moreover, gray brings harmony to the interior - it highlights muted tones, and balances too saturated tones. Let's look at the most popular combinations and solutions.

1. Gray and beige

Combination of practical gray and warm beige at the peak of popularity. Their mixture gave the world a new fashionable color - greydzh (from the English gray - gray and beige - beige). It looks best in the bedroom or living room, creating a cozy and calm atmosphere.

We love the combination of light gray and ivory. It turns out soft and sophisticated. If desired, it can be diluted with color accents, interesting textures or patterned textiles.

2. Gray and pink

Gray and pink complement and emphasize each other: the first becomes less formal, the second acquires the missing expressiveness.

The combination of caramel pink and light gray is perfect for a nursery or a small living room. White and beige will help to shade the primary colors.

Do you want to express your interior? Graphite and mauve will help you out. Usually gray is the background, but in this case, distribute the saturated active colors evenly.

3. Gray and yellow

The combination of gray and yellow requires careful handling. They look good together, but in some combinations they are not friendly with each other. Designers have been trying to reconcile this couple since the 60s of the last century.

Yellow improves brain activity and improves mood, so diluting it with a neutral gray interior is a great solution. However, the combination of bright yellow and dark gray can create a tense atmosphere, while the combination of light gray and pastel yellow can look dull, as seen in the photo above.

Yellow catches the eye. Make it an accent and dilute it with another color (for example, green or black), and diversify the gray background with white. You get an impressive combination of two primary and two accent colors.

4. Gray and blue

Gray and blue is a rather strict combination. It looks great in your home office or bathroom. Blue color calms and suppresses aggression, and also increases concentration. Take note - the darker the blue, the lighter the gray should be. And vice versa.

5. Gray and red

Red is quite aggressive and can cause irritation, so the combination of gray and red also requires caution. It's for an amateur. For example, the union of dark red and graphite looks very beautiful and elegant, but it does not smell of comfort here. Try to add details - the result will surprise you.

Gray and red are suitable for bathroom decoration. The combination of a gray background, red accessories and white glossy plumbing looks impressive. Most importantly, keep in mind the rule - accent red should occupy about 10% of the color gamut.

Another good combination is cream/beige/coffee au lait + light gray + shallow shades of red. This is a simple recipe for creating a very delicate and unusual interior.

Gray in the kitchen interior

For a small kitchen, choose light gray, gray blue or gray beige tones. They visually increase the space and refresh the interior. Dark shades are best not to use. The exception is an accent wall in a well-lit room.

Gray walls and floors make a great backdrop for bright furniture. Warm colors (especially yellow, orange and olive) create a cozy atmosphere and promote appetite. Dishes and textiles will help to add more rich colors.

Decorating a gray kitchen has many advantages, but there are also disadvantages. For convenience, we have compiled a small table.

Gray living room interior

The atmosphere of the living room should be conducive to rest, relaxation and unhurried conversations. Gray does a great job with these functions, but there is a risk of making the environment dull.

3-4 bright spots of color are enough to solve the problem. It can be furniture, indoor plants, paintings, figurines. For the greatest contrast, use bright and juicy shades: orange, red, green, purple, blue.

Gray - the color of metal and concrete. These materials look good in contrast with upholstered furniture, carpets and wooden textures, so it is suitable for decorating a living room in a minimalist, loft or high-tech style.

Gray color in the interior of the bedroom

Neutral, calm gray color protects from external negative influences and strong irritants, and also reduces stress levels. What is not a weighty reason to choose it for decorating a bedroom?

We already know that gray is the perfect partner for brighter shades. However, each combination is unique and affects the individual differently. When choosing a color scheme, first of all think about the atmosphere you want to create. Here are some popular bedroom combinations:

Despite its reputation, gray is versatile, practical, has many shades and goes well with most colors.

Learn more