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Colors that compliment grey furniture


The Best Colors to Complement a Gray Sofa

Sofas come in unlimited colors, but few hues are as universally appealing as gray. A beautiful gray sofa can elevate a wide variety of looks, whether you're a minimalist creating a pared-back living space or you prefer a more eclectic design with lots of textures, colors, and patterns.

"Gray is one of our most popular sofa upholstery colors among designers and homeowners, right after white and beige," says Elise Gabrielson, director of marketing at Crypton Home Fabrics. "This is because the major purchase of a sofa should last through seasonal decorating, a move, or a renovation. gray is a great color to accommodate all kinds of room decor from mid-century modern to traditional, coastal, and more."

However, the fact that gray sofas lend themselves to so many color schemes and styling options can feel a little overwhelming. To make it easier, we're highlighting the best gray sofa color combinations, as well as some other helpful living room ideas, so you can start making your interior dreams a reality.

Meet the experts

To research and create this guide, we spoke to a number of interior design and color experts, including: 

1. Use contrasts when styling a gray sofa

Thanks to their highly versatile hue, gray sofas can look very subtle or become more of a focal point, depending on how you style them. If you want to make a gray sofa the focus of your interior design, consider playing with contrasts. 

Read more: How to Decorate Above Your Sofa: 16 Inspiring Ideas

Contrasts are a simple and easy way to highlight various elements in your space. For instance, if your sofa is dark gray, then painting your walls white or a similarly light color will make the darker gray of the sofa really pop. Likewise, if you have a light gray sofa, painting your walls a dark hue, like rich navy, will help showcase your couch. You can also create contrasts with accessories like eye-catching wall art or area rugs.

You can also experiment with contrasts on the sofa itself, pairing it with contrasting throw blankets and accent pillows. This technique will make your gray couch look more layered and dynamic while allowing you to infuse your design with fun patterns or bold pops of color.  ‍

2. Mix and match textures

Your sofa's texture plays a significant role in your overall aesthetic. A luxe velvet sofa, for example, looks and feels a lot different than an organic linen couch. Consider using your sofa's texture as a reference point for the rest of your design. 

"Sometimes, the texture, tone, or style of the gray sofa impacts how you style around it," says Gabrielson. "Rooms should have a variety of textures and scales, as well as colors. So, if your sofa is a soft and shimmery solid gray velvet, style it with elegant brushed metallic finishes and pair it with a rug in a more matte fiber, such as wool, for contrast."

In addition to mixing, you can also match textures to add continuity to your design: "If your sofa is a linen or bouclé fabric, you can complement the natural feeling of the sofa with rich wood furniture, glass or ceramic lighting fixtures, and perhaps a patterned or grasscloth wallpaper," suggests Gabrielson. ‍‍‍

3. Pair it with sage green

Given how much time we spend in front of screens every day, it can feel refreshing to infuse your design with grounding elements from nature. That might be why sage green has been such a popular color in recent seasons, and it happens to pair perfectly with gray sofas. "Cool grays pair best with cooler colors, like sage, cool white," says Megan Torres, spokesperson for BenchMade Modern.

"Sage green is one of my favorite colors to pair with gray sofas," says Andre Kazimierski, CEO of Improovy Painters Chicago. "This deep green adds an elegant twist to the room while also adding a natural vibe. It's perfect for anyone who wants to make their wall art stand out."

Sage green is also quite versatile. It's neutral enough to serve as a relaxing wall paint color. But if you're not keen on the idea of a green room, you can also incorporate the hue through smaller home decor pieces, like vases, throw pillows, and blankets.  ‍

4. Use yellow accents

"50 Shades of Gray" is more than a book or movie title. Gray comes in a wide variety of shades and tones, which can help dictate how you style it. You can think of different shades of gray on a spectrum, with warmer grays on one side and cool grays on the other. 

Warmer grays feature yellow undertones, while cooler grays have bluer undertones. If your gray sofa leans more toward the warmer side, consider pairing it with yellow accents to complement its warm tones. "The current designer favorite combination is gray accented with bright, clear, almost primary yellows," says Elise Gabrielson. 

But if bright yellow isn't your thing, you can also pair a gray couch with softer, marigold yellows or warm colors for a more subtle look. Using cushions in complementary colors works really well for larger sectional sofas. ‍

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5. Add color through plants

From throw blankets and accent pillows to rugs, vases, and wall art, there are all kinds of home decor ideas you can use to maximize your gray sofa. But few interior accents are as versatile and impactful as plants. 

Plants literally and figuratively infuse life into any room they live in. They're also a great way to add color and texture to your design. "The final key styling element to any room is adding green with plants. Plants give life to a space and make it immediately feel more inviting," says Mary Beth Christopher of MBC Interior Design.  

Plants come in so many shapes, sizes, and hues that there's truly one for every style sensibility. If you're creating a minimal look, consider adding one or two interesting plants to your coffee table or shelving, like a great succulent. More of a maximalist? Then feel free to add hanging plans, floor plants, and everything in between—plants are among the few home decor pieces that you really can't have too many of. 

6. Mix beige and cream

Credit: BenchMade Modern

"The key to figuring out what pairs best with a gray sofa is to figure out if you have a warm or cool gray," explains Megan Torres. "Warm gray pairs best with other warm tones for walls, rugs and curtains, such as beige and cream." 

Creams and beiges, mixed with some tasteful accents like the pillows, artwork and rug in the above image can bring a warm feeling to your room. But with a gray, cream and beige as the main canvas for your room, you're free too experiment with accents colors "which even can change seasonally," adds Torres.

7. Embrace industrial interior design styles

Industrial aesthetics incorporate raw materials, like brick and concrete, which look great with many gray sofas' cool, stone-like appearance. Whether you live in a true industrial loft or you simply want to add a few industrial design ideas to your look, a gray sofa is a wonderful foundation from which to start. 

If you haven't purchased the sofa yet, consider any prospective sofa's size and your current space before you do. For example, suppose you live in an industrial loft with an expansive open floor plan and high ceilings. In that case, you'll want to make sure your couch is big enough to provide adequate visual weight—a small couch in a big, loft-like space will look even smaller, potentially throwing off the balance of your design. 

You can also consider a sofa's silhouette. Industrial interior designs are often full of sleek, minimal lines, so a couch with a similar silhouette might be a great fit. Or you can pair clean industrial lines with a soft, rounded couch to add compelling contrast, depending on the look you're going for.  ‍

8. Use colorful cushions and wall art

Credit: Cortney McClure Design/Kacey Gilpin Photography

The beauty of gray sofas is that they allow you to introduce bold, colorful accents into your space without overwhelming your design. The soft neutral color of gray serves as a grounding force for bright colors. 

"Gray can be used in many ways, but a tailored gray sectional with a few colorful pillows can completely transform a dull space into something lovely," said interior designer Cortney McClure. 

And what's lovely about bright colors is that you don't need many of them to make a big impact. You can easily elevate a gray sofa (and the rest of your aesthetic!) with just a few colorful throw pillows or wall art. "Using accent pillows and a throw on your sofa can also bring color to your gray color
palate," said Karen Billman.

"A darker toned gray (Charcoal) is rich and will play well with jewel tones; think purple, teal, and those beautiful blues in accents around your sofa," added Billman.

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9. Go minimalist with white

White is a classic wall color that never goes out of style. And it just so happens to pair perfectly with gray sofas, especially if you love a pared-back, minimalist aesthetic. 

"For a more neutral look, you can never go wrong with white," advises Kyle Richards, co-founder of Best Overland Park Painters. "Although it seems like minimalism is slowly going away, I argue that white walls are here to stay simply because they work with any style."

That said, white doesn't necessarily have to lead to a subtle, minimalist aesthetic. If you love the look of white walls but want a bolder living room design, you can pair white walls with a dark gray sofa to create visual contrast. You can also pair it with a light gray sofa and add visual interest through colorful throw pillows and blankets.  

10. Add taupe accents 

While pairing a neutral hue with a bold color is a popular way to add visual interest, many people don't realize that pairing two neutral hues can make a strong style statement. 

Layering a warm gray sectional with soft taupe accents will create a sophisticated look that's calming, cozy, and elevated. And because both taupe and gray are neutral hues, you can also add on a few accents in bolder colors. 

Elise Gabrielson recommends pairing amethyst and taupe home decor pieces with a gray sofa to create an elevated aesthetic.

11. Use cooler blues and greens

The calming feel of cool gray sofas is ideal for anyone who wants to create a tranquil environment. And if a peaceful space is what you're after, then you can't go wrong by complementing your gray couch with similarly calming hues. 

Stacy Lewis, an interior designer at Eternity Modern, recommends pairing your gray sofa with accent colors like blues, greens, and teals. These hues have a special knack for creating soothing, tranquil spaces that lend themselves to relaxing after a long day. "

Written by

Kelly Weimert

Kelly Weimert is a writer, editor, and interior design expert with 10 years of experience writing about design and home decor. She's written for interior design publications such as MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, Domino Magazine, and Hunker. When she's not writing or editing, she's probably busy obsessing over how to beautify her home.

8 Wall Color Ideas to Match Your Gray Couch — Bustling Nest

Over the years, having themed colors for your furniture, such as earth tones, pastels, black and white décor, bright or bold colors, was a common practice. These days, there is a new popular color for couches – gray.

Gray couches are incredibly versatile. That being said, there are many design elements that you should factor in when you are planning to paint your walls. Not only are there multiple styles, but there are also multiple shades of gray.

You will need to create the proper atmosphere for your living room. After all, it’s important to create a comfortable ambiance in the room. The color of your walls is equally important as the décor you use in creating the surrounding atmosphere of the room.

You can choose different design styles to incorporate when selecting a wall color to go along with your gray furniture.

Questions You May Consider Asking Yourself

When choosing wall colors, there are a slew of questions that you should ask yourself.

Do you want to have contrasting colors? Do you want them to clash? Do you want to have colors similar to your furniture? Do you want to paint for permanent residence? Are you planning on selling your home in the near future?

Fortunately, there are many interior design principles that you can incorporate into your color choice. If you choose options from this guide, you can create a stylish and creative aura to compliment your furniture.

Consider the Resale Value of Neutral Colors

Using neutral colors in your home’s finishing touches can improve the home’s resale value if you’re choosing to remodel for sale. It is a proven fact that using bold and bright colors can decrease the sale value simply because of the personal choice factor – many people may not want wall colors that you have painted.

Having your walls painted in a neutral tone to surround your gray couch can give people a sense of emotional freedom and peace.

Try Sticking with White or Gray Walls

White compliments gray, black, and almost every other neutral color. If you choose to keep your wall colors white, you can incorporate minimalistic designs – yet add your own finishing touches to improve the room’s feeling of comfort and serenity.

Keeping your walls white or even a light gray color can give you (or a potential buyer) a clean slate for adding individual personality to create a unique vibe. This will allow you to use your décor to create the color scheme of a room. 

If you choose to keep your walls white, it’s important to use other things to provide accents to the neutral colors to increase the room’s warmth.

Whether or not you decide to hire an interior designer or custom furniture maker, you can always look for different elements that can improve the overall sophistication of the room without being too overpowering.

If you choose the right coffee table, end table, or other furnishings, you can create some very classic accessories to provide a rustic feel.

Incorporating other elements or chrome furniture can accommodate your gray couch and provide a more modern or futuristic theme to your living room.

1. Incorporate the Use of Other Furniture

If you choose to keep your walls neutral colors, such as white, black, off-white, and beige, as mentioned earlier, using other furniture to help theme your room is very important. If you choose your accent furniture correctly, you can help to make your gray couch a focal point.

2. Choose Drapes to Add Flare

Light gray upholstery, curtains, and drapes can add the perfect backdrop to enhance your living room. This is a surefire design practice that utilizes a matching color palette.

Otherwise, depending on the accent colors of the room, you can choose drapes that match that if you are using contrasting colors in comparison to your grey sofa.

If you wish to keep things as neutral as possible and are using darker tones for your walls and ceilings, consider using white curtains to create sheerness and contrast.

3. Bold Colors Make a Statement

Using bolder colors does many things. For starters, it enhanced the emotion of your room. However, when you have a gray couch, using bold colors for your accessories and wall colors can create either a warming or cooling effect.

Cool blues, light blues, and bright colors provide a cooling yet relaxing feeling.

Using bold, colorful tones, such as orange, yellow, and blueish pink, can add warmth to a room but should be done with caution. If you don’t accessorize properly with throw pillows, artwork, or other furnishings, you can end up throwing off the color balance of your gray sofa, and your entire room will look too eccentric – essentially making your gray couch look more like a dark gray cloud in a room of warmth.

4. Using a Carpet or Area Rug Can Add Depth

Carpeting is another thing you should think about. In interior design, you don’t want to make everything blend together so much that your furniture doesn’t stand out. At the same time, you don’t want your furniture to stand out too much. Otherwise, it will take away from the rest of the room.

For carpets that go along with your gray couch, you may want to consider a light gray, beige, or even a darker gray to provide some neutrality to your existing furniture.

5. Using Accessories with Your Couch

You can do many things if you choose to leave your walls white or paint them gray. By incorporating contrasting colors with photos, paintings, colorful throw pillows with neutral tones, you can elevate the mood of your room.

Even using items to accent the walls, such as custom lighting and candle holders, you can add color to your room without adding color to your walls.

6. Match Everything to the Couch

One common design hint that can add some unique tone to your room’s decor is to use matching colors for almost everything. Here’s a recipe for matching gray hues to design a room that still provides a very comfortable feel:

7. Don’t Forget the Ceiling

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when choosing wall colors for their gray couch is neglecting the color of the ceiling. It’s important that if you’re going to stylize and paint the wall, you also consider the ceiling.

In most cases, you will want your ceiling to be painted the same color (or a slightly similar shade) as the walls. If you’re painting your wall a very light gray or white/off-white color, then you may even consider adding some personalization to your ceiling by painting it a very light sky blue.

This works exceptionally well if you have large windows and want to brighten up your room.

8 Wall Colors to Consider for a Gray Couch

1. You Can’t Go Wrong with White

As mentioned earlier, white is a very common color and still one of the best for flexibility. Using white walls and ceilings provides neutrality and allows the most room for expansion and customization.

2. Using a Blueish Gray for Cooling Comfort

Many different paint colors go in this category, depending on what retailer you go with. If a bold blue (or dark blue) seems to give too much contrast, having a blue-gray shade for your walls can still give your room some added charm.

Consider adding throw pillows of blue, light gray, or dark gray to your couch. You may also want to add light brown tables and mix up white, blue, and gray elements to give more accents to the room.

3. Lighter Brown Earth Tones

Adding light brown to your room colors will provide a woodsy feel to your room. This is great for lovers of the outdoors. You don’t want to make the browns too dark or powerful with your gray sofa because it can create a negative mood.

However, using lighter tones can help you match the rustic feel of the classics you grew up seeing on television and other walks of life. It can also help to create a natural feel which can uplift.

You can even utilize light-colored wood paneling to accent your walls with lighter or natural wood furniture (with black metal or wooden legs)  to create an even more natural feel without taking away from the room’s warmth too much.

4. Khaki Colors Provide a Natural Tan

Painting your walls beige complements your furniture but allows enough color difference from your grey couch to maintain the room’s feel. Consider colors such as khaki, beige, or light tan to create a cozy beige room.

Using tan colors has been widely used by many simply because it goes well with any color – including gray, pastel-colored accessories, and so much more.

5. Dark Blue to Create Contrast

If you want more contrast and choose not to go with a blueish gray for your walls, you may want to try using dark or royal blue for your walls. You can create a stunning and serene cool color scheme if you accent this with a slightly lighter ceiling.

6. Consider Dark Greens or Sage

Olive green and sage green are very similar. Using these colors, you can enhance your grey couch or living room set with an earthy feel similar to brown. At the same time, using trim that is colored with light or dark browns can help give a very nice feel.

Have a man cave? This is a perfect color if you want a bit of a masculine tone while still providing a positive mood for your entertainment experiences.

7.

Give the Room some Sun with Yellow Tones

Yellow or golden tones can help provide some vintage vibes that were popular in the 1950s to the 1970s. If you want more of a classic feel, consider using pastel colors.

Goldenrod tones can give forth a little bit of a sunny feel to your room and bring out the color of your gray couch more.

8. Shimmering with Artistic Finish

As mentioned earlier, you can use reflective paint with a gray or silver tone to give your full-gray theme a modern feel. By using a silver or slightly reflective paint finish, you can accent the lighting in the room. 

Also, don’t be afraid to try using other gray finishes, such as marble, brick, or even concrete. Perhaps you can use different artistic shapes and designs with a reflective finish to create a modern and personable living room scene.

You can also decorate your living gray living room with black metal objects and light wood colors or use chrome or steel plated side furniture to appeal to the eyes but still give emphasis to your couch.

The most important thing you can do is choose colors that can create positivity. This does not have to be a difficult or daunting task. Personal preference can go a long way.

Whether you want to create a forever home or increase your property’s value, creating a proper color balance can make or break a room’s happiness level when you have a gray couch. It may seem excruciating, but it is not impossible to set a good tone with whatever color you choose to paint your walls.

Wall color for gray furniture + photo

Contents

What wall color to choose for gray furniture? Some apartment owners believe that gray furniture will bring boredom and despondency to the interior. Professional stylists are convinced that such an opinion is erroneous. With the right choice of wall color, gray furniture will become an excellent decorative and multifunctional element of the created image. nine0003

The combination of gray color in the interior of residential premises

Among the secrets that allow gray furniture to look harmonious in the bedroom, living room, masters note the use of bright accents.

Tip! High-quality textiles in a contrasting color, small decorative elements will help to “dilute” the grayness of the furniture.

It is the gray color in the home interior that can be made a certain indicator of prosperity, success, stability of its owner. nine0003

A gray shade is created by professional designers by merging intense black and white. It is this shade that professional designers are increasingly choosing in their work. Gray-blue, brown-gray, gray-violet shades guarantee a visual expansion of the space in the living room. This combination does not bring boredom to the interior, on the contrary, it gives the created image a restrained elegance.

Attention! Neutral gray shade is a full partner for other colors. nine0003

Gray monochrome design, which is diluted with yellow, creamy, red, blue shades, is appropriate in the interior of living rooms, kitchens. If you think over the combination of shades correctly, you can use such shades even when decorating a sleeping space.

Stylists recommend choosing neutral shades to match the color of gray wall furniture. For example, a combination of beige walls with a gray upholstered furniture set gives an original look.

Experts point out purple tones as the favorite of the gray shade. It is he who allows you to present gray furniture facades in the most favorable light. nine0003

If there are gray walls in the room, what color furniture should be purchased? This issue worries many property owners, and therefore deserves detailed consideration.

A great combination of gray furniture and purple walls. Psychologists believe that this combination promotes relaxation, suitable for creative and emotional people.

The combination of gray furniture with raw brick walls has an unusual look. nine0003

Violet tint tones up, gives new strength to work and creativity, and gray tint has a calming effect

Advice! Professionals advise choosing different shades of purple, as they all harmoniously complement gray tones.

Softness and tenderness of the interior will give silvery fabrics, metal fittings. If a gray-pink combination is a good solution for bedrooms and children's rooms, then in the office such colors are inappropriate. nine0003

Tips and Tricks

Professionals recommend adding white and beige inserts to the gray-pink combination. Such a combination will give the interior sophistication and harmony, make the interior a source of pride for its owner.

Gray furniture in a modern interior

Designers often choose the color "asphalt", concrete, creating a variety of Scandinavian and urban compositions in the loft style.

Pearl, dark slate color, regardless of the combination, looks advantageous even in a small area. nine0003

Gray and white furniture in the home interior plays a deterrent role. For example, upholstered gray furniture in the interior plays a deterrent role. If the walls are decorated in neutral shades, the interior will look restrained and restrained.

Tip! This combination is appropriate for fans of classicism, baroque.

The stability and impartiality of the gray shade has a beneficial effect on performance, which is why stylists select furniture in many offices in the color of “wet asphalt”. nine0003

It is perceived as a strict and brutal interior shade, diluted with a hint of ripe cherries or avocados.

Kitchen

Any housewife dreams of creating a unique image in her kitchen, filling the room with an atmosphere of comfort and coziness. To do this, there is no need to follow fashionable interior trends, you just need to have your own taste and listen to your own wishes.

Professionals have some tricks to help them work with grays. Dark tones are able to hide any flaws, they visually reduce the living space. nine0003

Light shades have the opposite effect, so they are ideal for small bedrooms and living rooms.

To get a harmonious image, it is important to choose one specific color, and already it will be possible to add its shades to it. The furniture should be a couple of tones lighter or darker than the walls of the living space.

Attention! Professional stylists do not recommend choosing the same color for flooring and ceiling. nine0003

Instead of harmony, in such a kitchen it will be uncomfortable and uncomfortable.

Combination of basic colors

Black is considered a universal color, it can be chosen for other tones. The allies of the black background will be red, white, orange, and also a green tint.

Red textile on gray furniture has an exciting and activating effect, it is suitable for fans of modern interior trends.

The yellow background helps to strengthen and tone the nervous system, it is complemented by a blue, lilac, blue tint. nine0003

Green walls inspire the owner of the room, bring freshness to the kitchen, they are ideal for a gray kitchen set.

Options for adjusting a living space using wall color

Interior professionals know the secrets of choosing the right shade for walls, thanks to which you can visually adjust the architecture of a living space: lower or raise the ceiling, narrow or expand the size of the room, highlight functional areas. nine0003

When choosing the color of the walls, it is important to rationally arrange the furniture in the room first.

In addition to the color of the furniture, it is important to consider the texture of the furniture fronts. For example, for a smooth texture, stylists use light finishing materials. Rough surfaces are complemented by dark colors.

Tip! Polished furniture facades can be distinguished by cold shades, and warm wallpapers are selected for matte furniture.

An interesting solution would be the use of contrasting shades in one living room, for which gray furniture is chosen. nine0003

For example, one wall is painted white and the second wall is decorated with black. Upholstered furniture in the color of "asphalt" in this case will be an ideal option for creating a functional office or living room.

Interesting ideas

Stylists offer different options for decorating living spaces, leaving the choice to its owner. White color is considered universal, it creates a feeling of spaciousness. It harmoniously combines with any shades, including gray furniture. Its main advantage is the possibility of using gray furniture in the interior. nine0003

With the skillful use of a pink shade, it will give gray sets a new breath, help to model the unusual architecture of a living space. For example, the division of the pink wall into two functional zones has become a fashion trend. This allows you to give the room an elongated shape, making it more spacious and comfortable.

Conclusion

When thinking over a new image for an office, bedroom, children's room, it is important to take into account many different nuances. For example, for a spacious room, professional stylists recommend using light shades, diluting them with minor bright accents. nine0003

It is appropriate to dilute the gray furniture of the living room with cream or beige floor coverings, snow-white ceilings.

Orange walls optically bring the remote part of the room closer, it visually adds harmony to the room, makes the interior homey and comfortable.

Despite the fact that apartment owners call gray color unacceptable for decorating bedrooms, the use of gray furniture sets is among the fashion trends. Psychologists believe that it is gray sets in the sleeping space that contribute to relaxation, psychological relief. nine0003

Gray color not only gives the interior modernity and originality, but also contributes to creating an aura of calm and peace in the space.

Wet asphalt furniture is ideal for modern living rooms. The white background will be an amazing addition to the overall interior, will bring naturalness and comfort to the image.

The strength of the gray shade lies in its neutrality, compatibility with any interior trends. It gives strength to creative natures, allows you to experiment with bright shades. nine0003

Gray color in the interior and its combination with other colors

Discreet, neutral and versatile, gray goes well with other colors for a modern and stylish design. All shades of gray can be used in the development of any interior, while being used both as a base and as an accent. Gray looks especially advantageous in loft, minimalism, hi-tech, modern styles. It not only sets a special mood for the room, but also emphasizes the beauty of furniture, surface finishes, textiles, and decorative elements. nine0003

Psychology of gray

For many, the gray interior seems boring and too simple. But for urban residents, this design of the bedroom, living room and kitchen is most preferable, as it is a real “pills” against stress, helps to cope with daily psychological stress, creates a reliable and stable environment, promotes relaxation, rest and recuperation. In addition, the maximum light gray color in the room helps to tune in to study and work, contributes to the development of intelligence, creativity, and thinking. nine0003

What color goes with gray

Neutral gray is perfectly complemented by any colors. But natural shades fit best into the gray interior.