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Decorating ideas for living room with grey walls


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. 

40 Grey Living Rooms That Help Your Lounge Look Effortlessly Stylish and Understated

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Need to revamp your living room, but not sure where to start? Pick grey to colour it. No longer associated with dungeons, dull office blocks or unpainted walls, grey is a hue perfectly understated, making your furniture look contemporary sans large risks in design. Cut Lego-style stairs into a shaft concrete wall, amidst relaxed L-chairs in the hue. Go fifty shades darker, with charcoal leather couches, LED-lit bookcases and a roaring fire all in tone. Brighten it up with light grey walls, framed monochrome prints and a cornered Corinthian column. Effortlessly achieve a cool, up-to-date edge with our forty grey living rooms as your inspiration.

Combine grey and green together for a look that’s fresh. The tropical leaves and pineapples in this grey and white interior make a splash upon an exposed brick wall, two grey ottomans and two Scandinavian nesting coffee tables built to match.

Grey living rooms take on many styles. This light grey number simulates Scandinavia with its six monochrome prints, two square leather chairs and structured, rectangular furniture. A Greek column fireplace in the corner adds a touch more character. Check out our 50 Inspirational Scandinavian-Style Living Rooms post for more interiors in this theme.

Prefer dark Scandinavian interior design? Paint a wall almost black, colour your floors in dark slate and pop a cat on its frontage, like this bold interior. A lighter grey couch, industrial light and a range of potted cacti provide items of interest.

Go simple yet functional with a lounge in grey. The slick concrete feature wall of this black-and-grey interior is peppered with an artsy staircase, grey L-seater and abstract oval coffee tables.

Grey creates space for dominant features. Mis-matching wooden floors, grey couches and muted accessories make way for a large facial abstract on an exposed brick wall. Red-lined shelving and a miniature yacht help tie the artwork in.

Grey’s a great base for a modern living room. This decor employs dangling lights to illuminate a grey couch, floor and ottoman with a matching kitchen bench and sprinkles of red and blue. A Turkish rug and floral print add pattern to form.

Grey walls need not be dark. This light and bright lounge is backgrounded by almost-white tiles, a snug suede L-seater, and pops of pastel in a pink seat and beige print. A multi-jointed lamp to the side stretches beside a paint-splashed table leg.

Use many shades of grey. This room combines fingerprint artwork, a grey-tiled floor, corrugated iron wall and marble fireplace to make grey with green creepers look effortlessly sophisticated.

Decorating a small space? Grey and white can make it look larger. This attic-roofed interior coats a wall and a half in mid-grey and a floor in splotches, amidst framed prints, photographs and square suede cushions. A potted tree in the corner speaks nature. The television rests almost fully camouflaged amongst the living room wall decor.

Grey works fabulously as a minimalist shade. This smooth painted wall provides shelving behind a suede L-seater and simple grey rug. A swing arm lamp illuminates a scramble of white cushions and accessories.

Go dark for the ultimate in living room class. An inset modern fireplace, LED-lit shelving and charcoal leather couches frame a black velvet rug and acrylic coffee table. Lighter, textured wallpaper in the centre focuses the eye as windowed light streams in.

Make your bookcase a feature. The stencilled lines of this lounge’s black shelving hold a multitude of reads, tribal statuettes and vases, as a soft block couch and ball light enhance their enjoyment. A concrete wall and polished grey floor form a slick backing canvas.

Grey works with pops of colour. Paired with many different patterns and shades in pink, the shade covers the base wall, pendant and shelving niche to avoid cluttering.

Use grey and a shape as your design staples. With grey colouring an exposed brick wall, rug, walls and couches, rectangles come to the party in an inset fireplace, ceiling LEDs and one of the longest L-seaters known to man.

Grey allows your living room to host more patterns and textures. This lounge spices it up with a wooden slat wall (next to the floating tv stand), quilted rug, smooth book cabinet and painterly canvases. A sprig of orchids to the side adds polish.

Let texture be your focal point. Showcasing an abstract artwork at its centre, this lounge’s grainy wall tiles, suede seating and woollen rug keep more than a hint of the cosy in a room wide and spacious. Check out our living room wall textures post for more focused inspiration. The living room table lamp and the statue on the console bring in traditional elements to the composition.

Accent grey furniture with wooden features. This structured living room seats its almost-futon sofas on a wooden floor, its ornaments on wooden shelves and a zigzagging floor lamp against wall-to-ceiling wooden panelling.

Draw the eye in with pops of dark grey. This mostly-wooden clad room paints a TV frame, coats an ottoman and offers a seat in charcoal colouring. Bursts of white in a matching quilted seat and foot stool match the foreground coffee table.

Grey can work with warmer colouring. This autumnal living room creates heat with an olive green feature wall and terracotta cushioning, as grey softens the scene with an L-seater couch, woolen rug and TV panel. The retro colors and mid century modern coffee table capture the charm of a bygone era. A roaring fire, wood stack and two Chinese lanterns make it feel like home.

Create a contemporary tribal look using white, green and grey. Mid-grey walls pair with a circular charcoal art piece, grey-wooden table and stretching hover lamp. A volcanic ash vase holds sprigs of bamboo, as lush green fernery hides behind the sofa.

Bring the outside in. This concrete living room uses large wall panels and a grey-tiled floor to make noise between two rows of creepers. A simple wooden coffee table boasting a stone corner mingles with grey armchairs and pot plants in this 21st Century scene.

Use grey to accentuate your lounge’s sense of the unusual. Ceiling-height olive trees stand tall in this two-level design, as brown leather couches catch their fall afront a stencil bookshelf. Grey colours the rug, floor, walls and chairs, creating coolness with a contemporary twist.

Grey lets brighter colours shine. This lounge’s orange accent chairs strikes a pose alongside hints of dusty pink and a rug, marble plinth, walls, blinds and sofa in grey.

After living rooms with large wall art? This darker grey room is a lesson in using shades, as its walls stretch seamlessly across light and dark panelling. The painterly canvas finds friends in two bright orange cushions and a stencil coffee table. The bowl and vase adds some shine to the mix.

Monochrome prints are perfect for grey lounges. A full-length photographic decal meets our gaze beside a simple grey couch, differently-shaded cushions and a mottled rug. Black elements in a series of pipe lighting, a standing camera light and marble splashback make its contrasts seem natural.

Like your lounge clean and spacious? Keep it tidy with grey inset shelving, a woollen rug and leather L-seater beside exposed brick. A yellow and grey abstract adds creative edge.

Create contemporary drama with a living room in grey. The bold contrasts between the almost-black side wall and pendants, the light grey couch and kitchen appears almost monochrome in this design. A deep berry chair and resonating artwork avoid a clash in themes.

A yellow accent living room nicely twists grey. Homer peeps from a cushion on a couch in the hue, as grey stretches behind and below the sofa. Relaxed wooden furniture holds pieces in white, allowing room for a sunny yellow panel.

Keep it light, bright and shiny. This almost-white living room introduces grey in a comfy corner seater, greyscale photography and zebra-striped cushions. An artistically-lined rug and black square fruit bowl tie the pieces in.

Grey is perfect for the minimalist living room. This space designs with angles only, bathing a block L-couch and exposed brick wall in grey. Stark monochrome finds in a TV, artwork and chair add drama to form.

Grey and metallics are the best of friends. Lit up with firework living room chandeliers and a designer table lamp, here the luxurious Atollo lamp, this room screams luxury with mid-century modern pieces. Grey and gold wallpaper, a partly-living wall and a pea green armchair bring the antique to modern day.

Grey can make double-height living rooms majestic. A dangling cluster of pendant lights make the most of high ceilings, amongst charcoal curtains and a many-tiled wall. A stacked stone fireplace and fluffy mushroom rug make the space warmer.

Pair grey with yellow for a personal touch. This lounge screams through a trio of buttercup pendants, a Greco-Roman bust, printed canvas of a rapper and modern wooden platform. Grey ensures it’s not busy with muted Roman blinds and a sofa half in colour.

Create a French boudoir feel with a contemporary twist. Accessorized with a small standing bust, white-bulb chandelier and swing arm wall lamp, French panelling gets moody aside simple grey furniture and white-bordered walls.

Grey can lend room to more dominant features. The glass bauble chandelier, zigzagging floors and turquoise couch of this aesthetic living room are afforded coolness with light grey paint and wallpaper.

Going industrial? Grey is the perfect colour scheme. The rough wooden rafters and cabinetry of this lounge-come-kitchen are made modern with a soft grey L-seater, fluffy rug and floors. Walls and ceilings come to the party in full-scale concrete.

Prefer the look of the artist’s retreat? With a ceiling and feature wall in shiny stone, grey wooden floors and slumped couches join to chill. An electric guitar and potted twisted cane hint at greater creativity.

Create a rustic living room in black and grey. Centred around a trio of tree trunk coffee tables, this grey winding sofa and ceiling-height bookcase are beautifully lit up by a train station window.

Let yellow and wood add interior pizzazz. Set upon textured grey, wood forms into ceiling rafters, Scandinavian shelving and a rustic coffee table. Yellow bandages grey seats with striking lines of colours, as a metal TV cabinet and iron chandelier cement this industrial-style living room design.

Grey acts inspirational in this industrial loft. As wood streamlines the space in rafters, couch frames and a winding staircase, grey adds polish in slick concrete, distressed walls and a darkened, piping-feature glass panel. A bouquet of lightbulbs completes the look.


Continuing with grey throughout the home? Do check out:

42 Gorgeous Grey Bedrooms
40 Gorgeous Grey Kitchens

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55 real photos, design ideas

Features of gray color

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 increase 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 wood 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.

Luminaires 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 freshly 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.

Patterned textiles with elegant stripes, floral prints or abstractions can be paired with a plain wallcovering.

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.

The photo shows the interior of the gray kitchen of the living room, made in an industrial loft style.

Monochrome gamma is almost an integral part of laconic minimalism. The interior is sometimes diluted with a bright accent in the form of a wall picture, sofa cushions or one armchair.

Gray is no less popular in industrial loft style. Concrete, brick or stucco surfaces pair well with light gray curtains and a mouse-colored upholstery sofa.

Classic style in the living room

Light gray shades of Gainsboro or zircon merge into the classic design and blend perfectly with snow-white stucco decor and wooden furniture items with carvings or forgings.

For neoclassic, elegant gray-beige colors are supposed to be used. To create a truly aristocratic atmosphere, the living room is decorated with bronze decor, crystal lamps and furniture with golden or silver patination.

The photo shows a neoclassical room decorated in light gray colors.

Photo gallery

A sober, elegant and sophisticated gray hue that emphasizes the beauty, original shapes and textures of the living room.

65 gray living room design ideas - photos of real interiors and tips

Gloomy and cold - these are the epithets that many come to mind when it comes to monochrome interiors. However, if you choose the right textures and place accents, the living room in gray tones will look very cozy, stylish and not at all “gray”. How to do it? We tell.

All about gray living room decor

Color highlights
Monochrome interior
The best color combinations
Design hacks to spice up the interior

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Pay attention to the play of warm and cold tones, light and dark. Such an interior looks especially impressive in high-tech or minimalist style.

But, I must say, it is quite difficult to choose the tones on your own. It is better to turn to professionals, especially if there is little or no experience in coloring. A combination of prints is also referred to as a monochrome reception. And it's not just about textiles, but also about furniture upholstery. Today, there are no strict rules for choosing colors, and one set is even considered bad manners. The best solution is to choose several colors that blend seamlessly with each other.

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This, frankly, is not so easy to do. If you are not confident in your abilities, take note of the following rule: one active print and neutral around. Active prints include contrasting (in the case of monochrome - black and white) checks and stripes, animalistics, for example, a leopard or zebra, and other abstract patterns. Neutral - those in which there are no clear contrasting solutions.

By the way, metal looks equally good in monochrome interiors: yellow gold, red copper or white silver - to your taste. These can be metal parts: a table, a lamp or accessories, including paintings, figurines, various candlesticks, and so on.

Another technique is to play with textures. Everything is taken into account here: decoration of the ceiling, walls and floor, furniture and even textiles. If the walls are painted, matte, then the floor can be glossy. The options with wood also look impressive, and it doesn’t matter if it is light or dark. In general, this mix is ​​one of the most common among design solutions.

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The brightness of the color depends on the overall tone of the range. But, since some of them are quite “dirty”, the main question is obviously: how not to turn the house into a solid dark spot? Start small. You can purchase one accessory. For example, a blanket on a sofa, an emerald or dark pink pillow. By the way, pink and gray is one of the classic combinations. And it is better to choose not light textiles, but with texture: velvet, velor or tapestry. In such shades, the fabrics look royal.

When decorating a small living room, you should carefully choose the colors of the finishes. As you know, light colors visually expand the space. This is also true for rooms with insufficient natural light. The rule is simple: the walls are lighter than the floor, and the ceiling is lighter than the walls.

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  • In a more strict style, such as minimalism, glass accessories look chic: an intricate multi-level chandelier or a neat transparent table.

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