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Dark grey painted living room


44 grey living room ideas from dove to charcoal to suit every scheme

If there's one interiors trend that's showing no signs of leaving us anytime soon, it has to be the grey palette. It's no surprise that grey living room ideas appeal to so many of us. An incredibly versatile colour, it comes in shades that work with every style.

Whichever style of living room ideas you're looking for in your home, there's sure to be a grey to suit your scheme. Grey can create a warm scheme as easily as a cool one; it can channel edgy modern and charming country; be calm and soothing or vivid, lively and energetic.

‘The term ‘grey’ covers a huge number of colours which are often not true greys but contain colours that create distinct warm or cool undertones,’ explains Joa Studholme, Colour Curator, Farrow & Ball .

‘When it comes to choosing grey, it is the temperature of the tone that is most important and will affect the feel of the space. Greys look different in different light and different size rooms so we have created some tried and tested groups of colours that each have a distinctive character. ’

Just a quick peek at a Farrow & Ball paint chart suggests the myriad possibilities of this favourite decorating shade and explains its enduring appeal.

From the barely-there neutrals of Dimity and Ammonite, to the mid tones of Lamp Room Gray and Calluna, through the green-edged Mizzle and Pigeon, blue-hued Parma Gray and Lulworth Blue and out the other side to deep dark Down Pipe, Plummett and Brassica.

Grey living room ideas

From a colour drenched scheme, to perfect palette pairings, here are some of our favourite grey living room ideas

1. Make gallery walls pop

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Katie Leew)

We love the gallery wall look - mixing and matching prints, photography and even empty picture frames. Grey walls are the perfect backdrop for creating these. As it's a neutral, this allows the gallery details to pop and create impact. Choosing a deep charcoal over a paler dove will make a cool contrast=, especially if you're using gilt frames.

2. Pair with purple for a luxurious look

(Image credit: Future PLC/Rob Sanderson)

Think elegant luxe and combine grey with regal purple tones. This colour combination is a match made in interiors heaven, especially when used across sumptous materials like satins and velvets.

This combination works best using a paler grey, with creates a bold contrast with bright purples, and a soft effect with gentle lilacs.

3. Choose a two-tone style

(Image credit: Future PLC/ James French)

Can't choose between light and dark grey? Simple. Use both. Paint the lower half, or two thirds of your wall in one shade, and finish with the other.

This works best when the darker shade is on the lower half. Lighter colours above will trick the eye into making the room appear larger than it is.

4. Paint architectural features

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)

If you have wall panels or other architectural details in your room, paint them the same grey as the wall. Not only does this create a cool colour drenched effect, but the ridges will pick up lights and shadows, adding interest and depth to your space.

5. Add colour with books and objets

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Anna Stathaki)

Grey living room ideas are the perfect way to decorate your home if you own a lot of colourful accessories. A warmer and more interesting background than white, this neutral allows your books and objets room to breathe and stand out, rather than clashing against yet another colour.

6. Paint all the woodwork

(Image credit: Pooky)

A super-soft dove grey living room colour scheme works as a gentle contrast to rosy toned upholstery and accents. Painting all of the woodwork in the same colour has created a chic, seamless look and creates the illusion of more space and an airy, open room.

Take care when picking the best grey paint for your walls – you'll need to consider your room's size and situation.

7. Use silvery tones

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Joanna Henderson)

The striking rough-luxe wall mural brings texture and movement to the space. The metallic highlights of the silky silver rug and wallcovering reflect the light, giving this glam living room even more of a lift.

A plush velvet sofa in a deeper grey punctuates the space and layers on the luxe. Combining touches of blush pink with the cool grey creates grown-up sophistication.

If you like this combination, or the previous look, our smart pink living room ideas will inspire you to introduce the shade into your home. 

8. Create a textured wall

(Image credit: Furniture Village)

Get creative with smart living room paint ideas such as paint effects, which are back in fashion! But things have moved on since the sponge effect championed on Changing Rooms. Textured emulsion paint such as the Craig & Rose Artisan Concrete Effect Paint and Crown ’s Suede paint will create a rustic, artfully imperfect finish. 

Alternatively, a limed effect can be created using watered down flat matt emulsion, chalk paint or a specialist limewash such as Bauwerk 's selection.  

Start by applying a bonding primer for plasterboard or previously painted walls. Then with a wide brush, apply the paint in random, sweeping strokes. A second and third coat needs to be watered down to allow the layers and textured effect to build.

Complement the walls with tactile velvet, layered in tonal hues for a vibe that’s calm, yet cost and oozes easy elegance.

9. Let architectural features pop

(Image credit: Dulux)

It's common to want to hide architectural features such as RSJs. But in a grey room, letting them sing by painting them in white can create an interesting structural contrast. It also helps zone the space and therefore make it seem cosier – a neat trick, particularly if you're using a cooler grey palette.

10. Integrate shelving

(Image credit: Dunelm)

Smart and sophisticated, charcoal grey brings depth to an elegant living room. Smart geometric designs on the cushions and rug along with polished chrome accents bring a timeless touch of boutique chic to the space.

Create the illusion of expensive, built-in storage by painting shelving the same colour as the walls. For example, alcoves can become a smart feature wall idea that's easy to adjust. But sticking to a simple palette of black, white and silver reflects the pared back aesthetic of the room.

11. Use grey as an accent

(Image credit: Sofa.com)

If wall-to-wall grey isn’t for you, inject modern anthracite accents. A sofa in warm grey is not only a fail-safe style choice, it's a practical option too. Tie in other features around the room such as fireplace surround, door or windows.

Floor to ceiling wooden framed windows are a striking feature, and grey will pick them out against neutral walls, highlighting the shape and detailing. If you don't have wooden framed doors or windows, UPVC windows can also be painted, just look for a specialist primer or paint for durability. 

12. Lift your grey scheme with a mix of sorbet brights

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Joanna Henderson)

If you are not a fan of washed out sorbet tones but the idea of primary brights scare you to bits, why not try a punchy-pastel alternative. Think Primrose yellow, not lemon sorbet and blues that veer towards turquoise rather than soft powder blue.

Choose a neutral grey colour to allow you to experiment with the palette on artwork and accessories.

13. Add depth with different shades

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)

Use a variety of greys to give depth to your grey living room. Use a lighter, warmer grey when painting the walls and layer darker saturations with a painted fireplace surround and statement furniture pieces. Layering the same colour in different tones creates a calming atmosphere that feels cohesive.

Soft grey and dark charcoals are both equally enhanced with the addition of some natural greens, whether real foliage or as accent soft furnishings. The flourish of green helps to connect the space with a sense of nature.

14. Wow with brooding dark shades

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)

There's no denying interior trends in recent years have very much embraced the dark side. As confidence in colour has grown homeowners have been looking to express their personalities more with bold colour choices. A striking almost-black charcoal grey is ideal for an attention-seeking statement, like with a striking fireplace idea.

A colour of this nature is not just for larger rooms either. Used wisely it can be a great small living room idea also – says Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

Using dark paint to make a space feel bigger might seem counterintuitive, but Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen explains that particularly when you have a wall-mounted television, painting the space behind it will work much better.

15. Echo natural shades of grey

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Richard Gadsby)

Allow the colour of natural stone to inspire your grey colour choices. Use your paint samples on a piece of card to hold against the original walls to determine the perfect pairing to complement the natural warmth on the walls. Offset the light grey decorating with darker accents on the furniture to add depth, as shown in this rustic living room.

(Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles)

Sometimes understated can have the biggest impact, especially when paired with bold furniture and furnishing choices. The light grey on the walls can help to act like a blank canvas, without being as stark as white.

'Our most popular group of greys is made up of Wevet, Ammonite and Cornforth White – colours that are so relaxed and easy to live with you barely notice that they are there,' explains Joa Studholme at Farrow & Ball.

'They have a gossamer-like appearance so are perfect for those who prefer understated decoration which does not challenge us very much but gives a huge amount of versatility.'

17. Create a sanctuary with slate and wood accents

(Image credit: Future PLC/Simon Whitmore)

Slate grey walls look anything but cold when paired with rustic, natural woody furniture accents. Fill the room with plenty of textures such as a fluffy berber rug and straw basket for storing blankets to complete the relaxed living room scheme.

18. Cocoon yourself with a warming grey

(Image credit: Dulux)

Colours that whisper rather than shout are a must for rooms designed to promote relaxation. Deep greys like Stable Gates by Dulux gently cocoon and visually don't distract, so you can focus on a film or good book.

Stable Grey's warm make-up also means that it works as well with a terracotta or blush as it does with a pale or stonewashed blue – or indeed, a forest green living room. That versatility comes in handy if you like to switch up soft furnishings on a regular basis.

19. Warm up grey walls with bright prints

(Image credit: Future PLC/ David Parmiter)

A floor to ceiling pale grey colour palette is the perfect canvas to make a splash with brightly coloured wall display ideas. A floating picture shelf is a great non-permanent solution to displaying wall art. You can easily swap one print for another as your collection grows and changes.

Putty and blue-coloured patterned cushions and a geometric rug in dark navy add pops of muted colour for a sophisticated, yet cosy living room.

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Polly Eltes)

Pale grey walls create the perfect backdrop for statement patterns in this country living room. The warm undertones of grey absorbs busy patterns, meaning it's less stark than, say, white walls. This quality allows pattern to sit more comfortably within the overall scheme. Want to see if white works better? Our white living room ideas show you how this shade can be used.

21. Create calming vibes with natural foliage

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Joanna Henderson)

Cool shades of grey can have a calming effect on an interior space. This can be enhanced further with the addition of natural house plants and foliage, a hugely popular accessory choice.

22. Take the colour from the floor to ceiling

(Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles)

Colour drenching is having something of a moment right now, so why not go all out with grey. Paint your walls and ceiling in one shade, and select flooring in as close to a matching grey as possible. Keep things light and bright with pastel accessories.

23. Try a panelled wall

(Image credit: Sofology)

In addition to the cocooning deep, blue-toned grey, the fine ribbed panelling creates cosy texture. It's a great trick for adding features to new builds and boxy rooms that don’t have any architectural interest.

A contemporary, corrugated wall panelling idea is totally on trend too. Pitch the line of panelling above key pieces of furniture. Ramp up the intimate feeling by painting above the panelling and the ceiling in a dramatic charcoal. 

24. Update a grey country scheme with paisley print

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore)

Update the backdrop in a classic country scheme with paisley-print living room wallpaper ideas. Choose cushions and upholstery in opulent weaves, soft linens and plush damasks, with Moroccan-style metal tables to add glamour.

'Be extravagant with finishing touches for an opulent look,' advises Ideal Home's Style Editor, Michela Collling. 'For example, double up on fabrics so curtains feel fuller.'

25. Use grey as a base for soft geometrics

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Tim Young)

Team cool grey and geometrics with primrose yellow splashes for a vintage look with a modern twist. Keep the scheme contemporary with grey walls and furniture. Then add warmth with summer living room ideas such as hints of yellow in geometric prints and furnishings and character with a cool mix of retro accessories. Wooden cube tables and copper details complement the retro vibe.

26. Team warm grey with soft ivory for effortless elegance

(Image credit: Perch & Parrow)

Make a living room more inviting with a warm grey wall colour that mixes well with other neutrals. Pile up the sofa with cushions and throws in complementary shades, with a Berber rug as your anchor point.

If an all-grey scheme feels too flat and monotone, work in an extra layer of colour with an elegant ivory for a subtle lift. Flashes of mustard, olive green or softer tones of nude or blush work well with any yellow-toned greys.

27. Curate a grey scheme

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore)

Who says grey can't be cosy, warm and inviting? Duck egg living room schemes debunks that theory.

Opt for chunky knits, pattern and texture to give a grey living room a welcoming feel. Curate a wall with monochrome prints and photography for a chic. stylish space that you just won't want to leave.

28. Bring grey to life with pops of yellow

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore)

Worried grey alone might seem a bit dull? Then choose your accessories carefully. A blue sofa, yellow chair and tomato red lamp really sing out against a mid-grey backdrop. Pull everything together with a rug that features all the different shades that you are using, and voilà – decorating perfection!

29. Add warmth with vintage pieces

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Olly Gordon)

In a neutral living room, grey works beautifully when added in courtesy of carpets, curtains and squishy sofas. Adding in touches of blush and natural woods will introduce cosy tones, keeping things warm and feminine.

30. Combine colours

(Image credit: TBC)

Take the intimidation out of a grey colour scheme by warming up this look with oh-so-fashionable copper accessories. The rose-gold undertones have a lovely way of adding a glow to the scheme, making it warm and inviting.

If you don't want to go grey-all-over, consider creating a winning colour combination by teaming grey with pink. This pretty duo packs a stylish punch.

31. Inject a shot of mustard tones

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore)

If you've already dipped your toe into the grey trend with pale walls, you may now be ready to take things a few shades darker. As you can see, it's a sophisticated way to go, and will instantly make a room feel cosier.

However, if you're nervous it will seem too dark, stick to one feature wall – you can always paint the others at a later date. Deep yellow accessories will also brighten things up, provided you choose a strong enough shade like mustards and ochres.

32. Give florals a trend twist

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore)

There's something almost regal about this deep grey living room, with pops of colour provided by the curtains, cushions and purple living room furniture and upholstery. Using such a dark backdrop really brings out the brighter tones, and it does something magical to a floral print, making it appear edgy and modern as opposed to mumsy or in any way old-fashioned.

33. Go global

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore)

Grey makes a fine backdrop to energising Ikat patterns and hints of rich orange. Try this look with mid-century living room ideas, such as furniture. Add elegance with smooth, dark woods, or create a Wild-West feel with weathered wood and leather.

34. Start with a feature wall

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme)

A feature wall is always a good jump-off point if you're nervous of working with a new shade. You could even start by painting a chimney breast. Or you could take it to the next level and commission built-in furniture from a local carpenter, then finish it in a deep grey. Coordinate with carpets and upholstery in a paler shade.

35. Use grey furniture

(Image credit: Future PLC/ James Merrell)

Paint bookcases ad other built-in storage unit in the same grey paint as your walls, to allow them to blend seamlessly in with the rest of the room. Add this to grey seating and flooring to complete the look. The different materials across these surfaces will keep the look dynamic and stop it from feeling bland.

36. Mix grey with warmer neutrals

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Tim Young)

Create a relaxing living room with a tightly controlled palette of toning greys and neutrals. Mid-tone grey walls and flooring provide a warm, inviting backdrop for a neutral sofa and rug and delicately patterned cushions.

Touches of white will help to balance the darker grey accents, bringing the scheme together.

37. Introduce plenty of pattern and texture

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore)

Stop all-grey from looking flat by adding texture and pattern. For a winter-proof living room you'll want to hunker down in, texture is key. Furry cushions and super-soft blankets make this the perfect space to curl up in. Break up those shades of grey with some well-chosen patterned dainty curtains, a statement rug and chunky weaves are all it takes.

38. Start with a grey sofa

(Image credit: Swyft)

While dark blue and green sofas are gaining popularity, if you're looking for a sofa you won't tire of, grey is a strong choice.

While black living rooms might seem too dark for some, the light tone of this sofa along with the wooden flooring and natural light coming through the windows breaks up the otherwise dark scheme.

39. Keep it classic

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Nick Smith)

If you fancy a more traditional feel in your living room, don't overdo the grey. For a wonderfully smart scheme, use a mid grey on walls style the rest of the space in browns and reds.

40. Play with trends

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore)

Try a fusion of styles by contrasting rough industrial with global grandness. The grey-toned neutral colour palette is the starting point, teamed with a mix of geometric and Ikat print fabrics.

Follow this with contrasting furniture styles, from the grand Chesterfield sofa and retro leather armchair to the industrial steel shelving and coffee table.

41. Experiment with different depths of grey

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Paul Raeside)

Pick a plump sofa for lounging. This charcoal grey number adds elegance and interest to a minimal room. Explore the many depths of a grey colour palette by layering tones to create a scheme that looks cohesive.

By using the same colour, but in both its palest and deepest incarnations, you can create a rich, contrasting look that is co-ordinated. A glass coffee table and side table add a glamorous note.

42. Create a grey coastal scheme

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore)

Try A take on a traditional coastal living room idea but instead of sea blues, use a cool wintry grey. Start with a pale wash of grey over the walls, then bring in pieces of weathered-wood furniture and faded linen upholstery to give the room a lived-in look.

Accessorise with whitewashed basketware, driftwood, smooth ceramics and opaque glassware to carry on the coastal theme.

43. Go smart with grey

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore)

Smarten up a family living room with a modern grey and monochrome scheme with a graphic linear wallpaper as the focal point. Worried that a modern scheme might look too grey?

Add pops of a bright accent colour on cushions and accessories. Bring in an informal element with a picture ledge positioned above the sofa – line with family photographs and favourite prints that you can add to and rearrange at your leisure.

44. Pretty up grey with pink

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Emma Lee)

Use the gentlest of greys as a springboard for blush pink, plum and buff tones. Mid century-style furniture rubs shoulders here with contemporary pieces in brilliant hi-gloss white.

The floor-to-ceiling living room curtain idea adds a lovely touch of dip-dyed pink, while cushions and floral displays channel rich plum tones. Grey and pink is a winning combination, particularly suited to modern living rooms, and works just as well as a grey bedroom idea.

What colours go with grey in a living room?

The ideal colour to go with grey in a living room will depend on the depth you've chosen. Generally speaking, warmer shades of grey will benefit from equally warm accent colours such as rich greens, vibrant yellows and pops of bright pink. Colder tones pair naturally well with paler colours such as blush pink and watery blues.

What are the best grey paints for a living room?

Each shade of grey paint is capable of creating a different look, feel and style of living room and the shade that you choose will be part and parcel of your own personal style. Modern living room schemes tend to call for cooler, darker, dramatic charcoals or near-blacks. While vintage and classic-inspired styles have a natural affinity with warmer blue and green-toned greys.

How do you add warmth to a grey living room?

How you add warmth to a grey living room is by choosing the right shade of paint for walls – depending on the light quality. Getting the right temperature of grey will help to instantly make the shade feel warmer in all lights.

'If you have a south-facing room that you are using during the day then you can afford to choose virtually any grey,' explains Joa from Farrow & Ball.

'But you need to be wary in north-facing rooms where grey can appear cold and clinical, so you should opt for a shade with warmer or more beige undertones. Elephants Breath and Skimming Stone always come to the rescue in these circumstances.'

Amy Cutmore is Editor-in-Chief, Homes Audience, working across the Future Homes portfolio. She works on titles including Ideal Home, Homes & Gardens, Livingetc, Real Homes, Gardeningetc, Top Ten Reviews and Country Life. And she's a winner of the PPA's Digital Content Leader of the Year. A homes journalist for two decades, she has a strong background in technology and appliances, and has a small portfolio of rental properties, so can offer advice to renters and rentees, alike. 

14 Grey Living Room Ideas

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Here's how to use this versatile colour in your living space.

By Rachel Edwards

Farrow & Ball

Grey is one of the most popular and versatile colours in interior design. It is ideal for a living room because you have so much choice in terms of shade, intensity, and colour combinations. From a barely-there grey to a deep gunmetal shade, it's the perfect base colour to help you decorate the living room of your dreams.

‘Grey is an incredibly versatile colour, forming an ideal base from which to expand your palette,’ says Kelly Collins, interior designer and head of creative at Swyft Home. ‘When looking for wall colours to go with grey sofas, you can get away with pretty much anything from light to very dark, but try and avoid bright tones. Think classic white, a rich dark navy, and other shades of grey or muted green tones.

'Colours with a cool undertone (blues and other greys) will complement grey well while colours with warm undertones (terracotta or burgundy) will contrast the shade and bring a touch of warmth into the space.'

Need some grey living room inspiration? Here, we look at 14 fabulous ways you can introduce grey into your living space.

Farrow & Ball

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Grey living room ideas: complementary colours

When decorating with grey, consider it a neutral base rather than a fully formed colour scheme. 'Black, grey and white schemes are very stylish alone but for extra drama you may want to consider adding in some colour,' says Amy Wilson, interior designer for 247 Curtains. 'Bold colour pops of hot pink and yellow can look striking and quite contemporary.'

Pictured: Lamp Room Grey at Farrow & Ball

House Beautiful

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Grey living room ideas: pair with pastels

There can be a tendency to lean into the subtleties of grey, pairing them with whites and metallics, but this can occasionally appear washed out, especially if your living room receives a lot of natural light. This living room is a great example of using pastel colours to soften and brighten grey features.

Shop now: House Beautiful Claudette Sofa at DFS

Mylands

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Grey living room ideas: charcoal grey

Dark charcoal walls are a great way to define your space, but extra consideration is needed in styling. 'To avoid your monochrome schemes from feeling too stark or cold, introduce texture,' says Amy. 'Consider all of the surfaces and finishing touches and where possible combine soft, smooth pieces with more tactile textures such as sheepskin with concrete. '

Pictured: Lock Keeper No.18 at Mylands

Farrow & Ball

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Grey living room ideas: traditional

As this fabulous living room shows, grey needn't be reserved for contemporary or minimal spaces. Brown leather is such a surprising pairing here, but adds a great deal of warmth and richness – in recreating this look, make sure to use an equally warm grey on your walls.

Pictured: Purbeck Stone at Farrow & Ball

Carpetright

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Grey living room ideas: grey and pink

'You’d be right to think graphic shapes and gunmetal grey is a typically masculine look, so add curves with blush pink and plaster pink on the walls to soften the look and keep it the right side of pretty,' says Sarah Keady, Style and Interiors Director at House Beautiful.

Pictured: House Beautiful Luna Moonlight Rug at Carpetright

Dunelm

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Grey living room ideas: monochrome

This is a classic design route for living rooms, and it won't steer you far wrong. Stick to a grey, black and white palette, and introduce metallics – you can mix gold and silver as long as they are complementary tones like a gunmetal and brushed brass. The organic motif on the rug is a nice touch here to soften the severity of a modern monochrome design scheme.

Pictured: Furniture and accessories, all at Dunelm

Simon Bevan

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Grey living room ideas: greige

The grey-beige mix known as 'greige' is often favoured over a true grey for its capacity to warm up a design scheme. Greige is really the best of both worlds, combining the cooler tones of grey with the warming nature of beige.

Pictured: House Beautiful Freya Sofa at DFS

Ercol

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Grey living room ideas: wall treatments

Grey tends not to react to natural light in the way that a warmer colour does, and so a common complaint in grey living rooms is that walls can appear flat. To mitigate this, consider a wall treatment that adds a bit of texture.

'You can consider incorporating texture on your walls with the use of some of the more interesting paint finishes available like limewash, polished plaster or even a textured paper,' says Amy.

Pictured: Ercol Amalfi Sideboard and Avanti Snuggler at Heal's

Mylands

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Grey living room ideas: consider how grey interacts

One of the joys of grey is the way it changes when placed next to other colours – use grey against an intense purple for instance, and it will bring out lilac tones. Consider this if you're after a soft and feminine space, and sit your greys next to rosey pinks or buttery yellows.

Pictured: Sloane Square No.92 at Mylands

Poster Store

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Grey living room ideas: Japandi

The Japandi trend combines clean lines, neutral colours, understated silhouettes and a nod to the natural world. All of these elements make it a great design choice for a living room. Here, several grey shades sit alongside pale wood and heaps of texture to create a serene and comfortable retreat.

Pictured: All wall art available at Poster Store

Alessandro de Besi

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Grey living room ideas: try bohemian elements

Grey is not an obvious choice for bohemian styling – usually sandy neutrals and greens are favoured – but grey works almost universally, no matter your preferred design theme. Take some design cues from this modern bohemian living room, and use plenty of dark wood, lush greenery, and some warming red and mustard accents.

Pictured: Model 03 3 Seater Right Chaise at Swyft

Dan Duchars

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Grey living room ideas: the grey sofa

‘Grey is likely a slightly more popular sofa colour choice as it's the most versatile of all the neutral colours,' says Ben white, design and trade expert at Swyft Home. 'This allows homeowners to change up the colours of their living room more often (if they like to redecorate) by introducing different accessories and wall colours, at a lower cost than replacing large pieces of furniture.’

Pictured: Fluted Isla 2 Seater Sofa at Sofology

John Lewis & Partners

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Grey living room ideas: pattern

Soft greys lend themselves to rooms full of rich pattern. Consider this living room with a white sofa or walls, and it loses a lot of its warmth.

Pictured: Tokyo Modular Sofa at John Lewis & Partners

Dan Duchars

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Grey living room ideas: combined spaces

If you have a combined kitchen and living room space, consider a grey colour scheme. A combined space will naturally require lots of furniture, accessories, storage, and surfaces, plus zoning, and so a soft and neutral grey can mitigate some of the busyness.

Pictured: Fellini 2 Seater Sofa at Sofology

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31 wallpaper ideas to transform your living room

34013 interior photos, tips on design, decoration, selection of furniture, gray living room style in combination with white, brown, pink

In fact, this is not at all the case: the whole secret lies in the correct selection of the right shades. Only then the living room in gray tones will turn into a fashionable and stylish room, comfortable for relaxing and meeting guests.

Pros and cons of gray

The popularity of this shade among designers is primarily due to its versatility and practicality. Also, gray color combines different details and other tones into a single whole. Other highlights include:

Design: Olga Chernenko

Basic rules for the use of gray

In order for the gray color to show its maximum advantages, certain rules must be observed when using it. This will help you create a truly cozy interior.

  1. Using this shade as a foundation, choose only light shades for small spaces.
  2. In a monochromatic interior, dilute the background with pastel colors: beige, peach or cream.
  3. In a small living room, make the ceiling as light as possible, and the protruding walls and niches dark. This will visually increase the volume of the room.
  4. Feel free to use the monochrome design option for large rooms. The union of gray with pearl, graphite or anthracite tones looks good.
  5. If the room is narrow and small, use warm shades: gray-green or natural ebony. Cold tones are suitable for spacious living rooms: ice, silver, steel.
  6. When buying furniture, keep in mind that it should not have exactly the same shade as the walls: otherwise, the products will simply be lost in the overall environment. Cabinets and sofas, armchairs, shelves will be clearly visible against the main background if their tone is lighter than the walls. But there is an exception that applies to excessively small rooms: it is allowed to put furniture in the same shades as the walls. Thus, the bulkiness of products will be reduced.
  7. The use of bright decorative details for the living room in gray tones is a must. These can be classic figurines, paintings in original frames, posters, green houseplants, landscape photos or posters (for the loft style).

Design: Zhenya Zhdanova

Bright accent elements in the interior

The hall is a place where the family gathers, guests come here; so this room should attract attention and please everyone. Bright colors can help with this, enlivening the living room in gray tones. The role of accents can be played by accessories or furniture that have brown, yellow, red or green colors.

Blue is also suitable - it adds some severity and coldness to the interior, which suits business people who are used to getting relaxation in public places: clubs, restaurants. Feel free to use sofa cushions, vases, lamps, rugs as "revitalizing" elements. Sometimes they even glue wallpaper with bright inserts of small sizes. The main thing here is not to overdo it.

Wall decoration in gray tone

First you need to decide on the choice of shade, for which you need to assess the level of illumination of the room. In a fairly bright room, use darker shades and vice versa. When choosing a color for floor and ceiling finishing materials, apply the following rules:

Lightened ceiling gives more volume to the living room in gray tones. The same can be said about the walls. If their finishing material is light enough, then the room visually increases. There is a small nuance: in an overly elongated hall, decorate the end walls using dark shades - this will visually make the living room wide and short.

Don't make the mistake of making the floor too light. In this case, there is a feeling of lack of support. In turn, the dark ceiling, as it were, brings the walls closer, causing a feeling of tightness. The use of gray material for wall decoration is most appropriate in styles:

When decorating a living room in gray tones, wallpaper is most often preferred. Manufacturers offer a fairly wide range of them: you can choose material with different textures and shades.

Combination of gray and white

These are two similar monochrome colors, so together they look very harmonious. Gray and white shades are actively used to create modern, art deco interiors, less often classics. Many people replace pure white with its shades: creamy, dark milky, etc. Interesting combinations are also created if different textures are used - for example, wallpaper or plaster. All this helps to create a cozy and comfortable interior.

Design: Jean-Louis Deniot

Gray and brown

Most designers associate this living room design with the rustic style common in the UK. Brown in alliance with gray soothes: the neighborhood of these tones seems elegant, soft. At the same time, this combination does not distract from the decor elements. Decorating a room with gray and brown can be done in several ways:

Design: Yana Molodykh

Combination with pink

This combination looks fresh and gentle, it never irritates and promotes good relaxation. After all, it is because of him that the family spends time in the living room. If you use a bright shade of pink, you get an original accent, typical for styles such as hi-tech or loft.

Design: Elena Lazareva

Let's add green

In this case, the interior is natural. This is due to the fact that green is a natural color. Here you can use indoor plants with wide leaves or curtains, a rug of the same tones. It is important to remember that you do not need too much green. From shades choose olive, malachite, light green, etc.

Design: Marina Zhukova

Gray and red

A very interesting combination. But you need to remember that the red color is quite provocative and therefore there cannot be too much of it. In a gray living room, it is enough for curtains or chairs to have a red tint, plus a few decorating elements.

Design: Olga Kulikovskaya-Ashby, Interior Box

Dilute with blue

The combination of these tones gives the hall peace and tranquility. Blue color is characterized by saturation, depth. When choosing its shades, try to make the furniture lighter than the walls. Also, golden and silver tones can be considered a good addition, in which accessories are painted: for example, curtains or sofa cushions.

Design: Nikolai Nikitin

Gray with blue

This combination is used when the blue color seems too saturated. The presence of blue gives airiness to the room, making it fresh and airy. Based on this combination, you can decorate the hall in a Mediterranean style. When using a combination, make the walls gray and the furniture blue (or vice versa).

Design: Marina Pilipenko and Ekaterina Fedorova

A variety of shades in the living room: from dark to silver

Tones range from almost white to almost black. Such variability allows you to choose the most suitable design option in accordance with your taste. It is worth noting that the described tone is achromatic, that is, it does not contain other color pigments. Warm and rich color gives the hall nobility and some luxury. But cool tones, reminiscent of steel, are associated with a “factory” interior. It is necessary to work with such shades carefully, even in such pseudo-industrial styles as hi-tech or loft. Manufacturers of finishing materials know the above features and most often offer the following shades:

Of the cool tones, white lead and tin are the most popular.

Design: Alexander Akimenkov Studio

Furniture in a gray living room

If you visit a furniture store, you can see that this color is used quite often. Usually it is upholstery that looks very elegant. The most popular are metallic shades, as well as concrete or wet asphalt. The latter gives upholstered furniture an expensive and luxurious look: natural leather can play the role of upholstery, in some cases - tapestry.

Keep not only sofas and armchairs in the colors described: a dark milky coffee table will look elegant in combination with milky chairs. That is, it is not at all necessary to buy exclusively all pieces of furniture in gray.

For example, the natural brown tone of wood looks interesting in combination with a concrete-colored leather sofa. Outside the recreation area, the described shade is appropriate for hanging shelves, cabinets. Gray color gives elegance and at the same time unloads the interior without cluttering it.

Design: Marion Studio

Gray textiles and additional elements

Many people forget that one of the main components of the interior is elements that are invisible at first sight. But it is they who often form the character of the design. If your furniture and surfaces are light, then buy decor details in darker colors. Curtains in the color of wet asphalt look exceptionally stylish. The silvery shades of the lamps will bring elegance to the interior, and the sofa cushions that draw attention to themselves and pull to lie down to rest.

Style directions

According to most designers, the described color is appropriate in modern interior design. This is a loft, minimalism, hi-tech, as well as modern or underground. It is the gray color that helps to reveal the specifics of these style directions, the palette of which allows you to focus on vintage decor elements.

These shades can also be used in classical styles: baroque, empire, classic. But here it is recommended to use halftones that provide retro styling. As mentioned above, the use of a combination of blue and gray with the addition of pearl tones gives a good effect - in fact, this is a finished design of the Mediterranean style. But here it is necessary to provide full-fledged natural light (it is desirable that the windows face south).

The interior of the living room in shades of gray is quite elegant and able to satisfy the most demanding design fans. To a large extent, this is facilitated by a wide selection of shades of this popular color. On the site you can choose the most suitable design option for your living room.

Design: Elena Lenskikh

Recommendations from designer Victoria Tarasova

Design: Yana Molodykh

Design: Nikolai Nikitin

Design: Alexander Akimenkov Studio

Design: Kameleono Studio, Pavel Lichik and Anastasia Ivanova

Living room options in gray tones

55 real photos, design ideas

Gray color features

A few characteristic features:

Gray shades

The gray range has a fairly wide color range, which starts from almost whitened shades and ends with dark almost black tones. Thanks to this variability, it is possible to choose the right solution for any design.

The hall in warm gray tones looks truly luxurious and noble, and the living room decorated in cool steel colors can evoke associations with a factory room.

Despite the monotony, gray colors, due to properly selected textures, create a picturesque and deep design, rather than a boring and empty one.

The photo shows a light gray living room interior in a Scandinavian style.

Will bring light and air into a small room, as well as visually enlarge the space - light gray colors. Saturated dark gray shades will help to mask planning flaws and small irregularities of different planes.

The photo shows the design of a small dark gray living room with a fireplace.

Combination with other colors

Due to the numerous shades, gray can be perfectly combined with other tones.

Living room in gray and white

Similar monochrome colors form a very harmonious duet, giving the atmosphere a special charm. For a comfortable and cozy interior, snow-white tones can be replaced with milky or creamy ones. The gray and white combination is perfect for those who do not accept overly bright design. This tandem with the addition of black will look interesting.

The photo shows the Nordic interior of the hall in gray and white.

Gray-blue interior

Cool blue color fills the living room with pleasant freshness and attracts attention. Silver or smoky colors will look good in combination with a delicate cornflower blue and blue tint.

Pictured is a spacious gray guest room with blue accent walls.

Grey-beige living room

Beige makes gray more warm and cozy. A good solution would be an alliance with sand or powdery flowers. Neutral and noble tones combine to form an elegant and sober design that fits perfectly into the living room.

The photo shows a gray-white-beige interior of a small guest room.

Grey-pink interior of the hall

Regardless of the chosen shade of pink, the atmosphere becomes either discreet and feminine, or pompous and glamorous. Hot pink is best used as accent spots. For example, a gray sofa in the living room can be complemented with stylish fuchsia decorative pillows, and colorful posters or paintings can be placed on monochrome walls. Graceful vases with pale pink peonies or roses look very beautiful in a gray living room.

The photo shows the interior of the hall in light gray colors with pastel pink upholstered furniture.

Design of a gray living room with bright accents

The gray interior of the living room will be perfectly diluted with sunny and cheerful yellow blotches. Canary-colored sofa upholstery, golden-colored curtains, a lamp with a mustard-colored lampshade, paintings or mirrors in bright lemon frames will add positive notes to the monotonous atmosphere.

Pictured is a gray guest room with splashes of turquoise.

Green allows you to fill the gray living room with harmony and peace. Cold emerald or jade colors evoke a feeling of relaxation, while warm pistachio, herbal or light green tones create an invigorating atmosphere.

Gray design with lilac accents becomes truly elegant and mysterious, turquoise colors deserve special attention, which give the living room a royal look.

Living room decoration

Certain finishing materials can create both business and austere design, as well as homely and cozy living room design.

The photo shows brickwork and wooden flooring in a gray and white living room.

If the surrounding cladding gets boring, thanks to the universal gray design, there is no need to resort to a major overhaul. You can radically change the interior with the help of accent decor, textiles or furniture elements.

Which furniture is suitable?

Gray furniture items will not overload the living room and at the same time make it elegant. Perfectly fit into the design of white or black furniture. As a stylish accessory, a monochrome room can also be supplemented with a red armchair or other bright element.

Gray wooden furniture looks great. Bedside tables, cabinets, racks and tables of a light gray shade, when the light flux falls at a certain angle, seem to look like marble or stone products.

The photo shows the interior of a gray room with contrasting red furniture.

In the living room, you can install a sofa with exquisite upholstery in a metallic shade or wet asphalt color. Genuine leather, leatherette or luxurious tapestry are chosen as sheathing material.

Decor and lighting

For a laconic gray design, fixtures in the form of spotlights or a rich wrought chandelier with crystal elements are suitable. Thanks to soft lighting, it will be possible to add new colors and beautiful shimmer to the room.

Lamps with colorful shades or colored lighting will also be appropriate here, which can become an incredible rich accent of the living room and completely transform the interior.

The photo shows ceiling lighting in the design of a small white and gray room.

To complete the design of the hall and deprive it of excessive severity and dullness, various decorative items will help. On a light gray background, silver, gold, glass and crystal elements will look sophisticated and elegant. You can modify the interior perception with the help of a variety of figurines, vases, wall mirrors or paintings.

For the most calm design, decor in muted colors is used, and for a contrasting and emotional environment, accessories in bright colors are used.

Furniture in a gray living room is complemented with fur capes and decorate the room with live potted plants, vases with fresh cut flowers or tubs with mini trees.

The photo shows a gray living room with bright wall posters in black frames.

Which curtains to choose?

For a more classic setting, choose sand, cream, beige, baby blue or pink peach curtains. Yellow or orange curtains harmonize well with the smoky interior palette, giving the hall a certain emotionality.

You can match patterned textiles with elegant stripes, floral prints or abstraction to a plain wall covering.

The photo shows a room in gray colors with orange roller blinds on the window.

Decorating the hall in various styles

Quartz, charcoal, anthracite, granite and other gray colors best reveal the specifics of various style solutions.

Modern style in a gray living room

For example, for the hi-tech direction, a silver and steel palette is especially often used, which is combined with white, black, red color, metal and gloss elements.

Authentic Scandinavian homes feature pearl grays, while French interiors feature warm and soft grays.

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