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White and grey lounge


10 stylish monochrome schemes |

(Image credit: Foawlkes Studio)

Grey and white living room ideas can be anything from restrained and restful to daring and glamorous. With such a vast array of white and grey tones to choose from, the scope for creating different looks and styles is endless.

As neutral colors, grey and white makes a brilliant pairing if you're looking to layer your living room with color, print and artwork, but a carefully considered monochrome scheme can also have wow-factor. 

If you're thinking of decorating with grey together with white then you're in the right place as we've gathered a host of different room ideas to help get you inspired as well as some handy advice from the interior experts. 

Grey and white living room ideas – 11 stylish monochrome schemes

While grey and white room living room ideas can be seen as a safe choice, there's no reason why they should be drab and boring. With the right treatment grey living rooms can be show-stopping, the key is in mastering tone and texture.

'Using a white or natural palette is all about adding depth and contrast in different layers and textures,' says Jane Landino, creative head of studio at Taylor Howes . ‘To make a neutral palette feel designed and considered it’s important to mix and match patterns, albeit neutral ones and occasional pops of color.

'Just because something is white doesn’t mean it has to be plain: think about the application – is the wallpaper silk or textured, as an example.' To bring extra interest to grey room ideas consider introducing, 'colorful art, accent soft furnishings and antique furniture and objects,' adds says Jane Landino.

1. Use dark grey with white for a cozy feel

(Image credit: Lisa Cohen / Future)

Choosing dark grey living room paint ideas may feel daunting, but they can be wonderfully effective for creating a cozy feel.

'Using dark charcoal greys or black shades can create a sense of intimacy, and an encompassing feel when used in an all-over scheme,' says Ruth Mottershead, creative director of Little Greene.

With its white French doors and light wood floor, this dark living room remains feeling bright and welcoming. The large space also has the luxury of being flooded with light, which makes the deep walls less dramatic, however, 'don’t be afraid to use darker shades in spaces lacking natural light,' says Ruth, 'these can often be great places for creating impact and a real wrap-around feel.'

2. Layer light, warm greys for a tranquil feel

(Image credit: Future)

For a restful yet uplifting living room to retreat to at the end of a hard day you can't go wrong with a scheme of delicate greys and subtle off-whites with warm undertones. 

'Warm mid-greys and setting plaster tones are very calming and gentle in the summer, which evoke feelings of fresh open spaces. These colors also work really well in winter months as they don’t make a space feel cold,' says Martin Waller, founder of design brand Andrew Martin .

Elements of white introduced through the marble fireplace, lampshade, artwork and in the textured living room rug help lift and elevate this grey scheme, while hints of blush pink bring softness and elegance.

3. Add pattern with a grey and white carpet

(Image credit: Brintons)

White living rooms can run the risk of feeling cold and stark – adding a carpet in a light grey will instantly warm up the look and bring coziness underfoot while keeping the space relaxed and neutral. 

'A neutral color palette is best suited to rooms you spend a lot of time in, such as a bedroom or living room, where relaxing tones are key to creating a happy space. Neutrals are versatile with the ability to provide a platform and set the scene,' Jodie Hatton, design manager at Brintons .

When choosing a living room carpet for a neutral scheme you may want to consider a patterned design, not only will it bring extra texture and interest it can help disguise stains and wear and tear which is great for busy rooms.

4. Create a minimalist look 

(Image credit: Mark Alexander / Romo Group)

Monochrome palettes are a hallmark of minimalist living rooms, in which pared-pack and purity of design reign supreme.  

In this space the high-contrast combination of dark grey and white helps focus attention on the beautiful streamlined forms of the furniture, creating a head-turning and contemporary look. 'Natural qualities and understated design come together to form a stylish and minimalist space,' says Mark Butcher, head of Mark Alexander wallpapers of the look.

Elements of texture introduced through the Mark Alexander wallpaper and the large wool rug help bring warmth to the space and prevent it from feeling stark. 

5. Pair grey and white with gold

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti)

Introducing metallics into a grey and white living room will instantly lift the space and bring an element of glamor – perfect if you're looking to create a luxury living room.

Combining textured grey surfaces, dazzling gold detailing and a beautiful angular shape, this bespoke living room shelving unit by Bergman Design House radiates warmth into this cool space, but also serves as a piece of functional sculpture.  

6. Add an accent color

(Image credit: Anne Hepfer)

If you love bold colors but are cautious of using them in large quantities, consider using them as accents in a grey and white scheme. 

Thanffully, choosing accent colors for grey and white is easy, as being neutral shades they pair well with pretty much every color. Yellow is a popular choice which will bring instant zest to a grey and white living room. Choose mustards for a mid-century feel or zesty citrus shades to keep things cool and contemporary.

7. Use a two-tone palette to showcase the architecture

(Image credit: Fowlkes Studio)

Decorating with a pared-back palette of grey and white in a living room can be a great way to showcase the beautiful architecture of a space, as demonstrated in this two-tone living room design by Catherine Fowlkes of the DC-based architecture firm Fowlkes Studio.

'I like using warm greys to give depth to walls without dictating the room's furniture palette – light greys add a layer of softness while rich greys add depth,' says Fowlkes. 'Coating the windows, doors and trim in the same grey wall color further unifies the backdrop to a living room and can give the illusion of a higher ceiling when painted in a contrasting color. I gravitate towards greys with less blue and more brown in them.'

8. Layer greys with beige and brown 

(Image credit: MV Architects)

If you're fortunate enough to have a space flooded with light from large windows then decorating with white is a great way to enhance the light and airy feeling, however an all-white scheme can lack warmth.  

In this space by MV architects the a wooden floor in a honeyed tone helps warm up the space while furnishings and accessories in grey, taupe, oat and tan all combine to bring depth and interest.

9. Add texture with natural materials

(Image credit: Jenna Peffley)

When decorating with neutrals it's important to introduce plenty of texture to prevent the scheme feeling austere, and furnishing with natural materials can be a brilliant way to do this.

In this farmhouse living room, interior designer Julia Dempster has paired a chunky wool rug and a relaxed grey sofa in charcoal linen with wooden sculptural bowls to create a rustic feel. To finish the space Julia has added a selection of antiques to bring further character.

'In this living area I selected textural pieces such as a 3D Juju hat made of feathers from St. Frank and vintage tribal handwoven baskets from Fragments of Identity,' says Julia Dempster .

'The architectural features were curved, and I wanted the artwork emphasize the architectural elements, the three pieces were selected to reflect both the wall and the colors and textures within the sisal rug and the cushions on the sofa.'

10. Choose a grey and white wallpaper

(Image credit: Future)

Whether used wall-to-wall, or as single feature wall, patterned wallpapers are a wonderful way to bring interest to a grey and white living room. 

A large scale floral or statement mural is guaranteed to make an impact, but for something that's easier to live with you can't go wrong with a living room wallpaper in a stripe, plus it will endure across the years.

11. Pair grey and white with navy for a smart look

(Image credit: Joanna Wood)

A versatile and tranquil color, blue is a popular accent color for grey and white living rooms. While blue together with grey and white often conjure coastal decor ideas, the palette can be used to evoke a smart and sophisticated look. In this blue and grey living room, interior designer Joanna wood has combined layers of grey with deep navy velvet and glossy finished to achieve a luxe feel. 

'French doors call for light and bright colors but we wanted to add some darker tones to keep the room warm. I love navy with grey and there's something about a velvet sofa that is so luxurious,' says Joanna Wood . 

'If you've got paler colors on the walls and ceiling and color on the floor then have some tall table lamps so that the room doesn't seem split in half.'

How do you add warmth to a grey and white living room?

There are many ways to add warmth to a grey and white living room, from adding warm accent colors such as reds and terracottas to the addition of textural materials, cozy rugs and ambient living room lighting.  

'However, to bring a feeling of warmth to a living room the best place to start is to think carefully about the shade of white or grey you use on the walls, as the tone can have a big impact on the feel of the space,' advises Dominic Myland, director of Mylands paints .

'Shades of white can range enormously, from a bright, brilliant white like Pure White No. 1 to a warmer shade with hints of yellow or orange like Whitehall No. 9, and so choosing the right white is an important decision.'

'South-facing rooms with plenty of light can take cooler whites with their undertones of blue or green, like Greenwich Time No. 8, but we recommend warmer whites for darker, north-facing rooms. We always advise testing paint choices in situ first to see how they appear in different lights throughout the day.'   

A good lighting scheme can instantly lift the atmosphere of a monochrome space making it feel instantly warmer.

'Don’t forget the lighting, as this too plays a big part in a white room, says Simon Temprell, interior design manager at Neptune . 'Choose a light bulb color temperature of 2700K and it will draw out the warmer shades, making it feel inviting and cozy.'

What colors go best with grey and white?

As neutral colors grey and white make easy colors to decorate with as they pair brilliantly with many other shades on the color wheel. When paired with different colors, grey and white can be used to create all manner of different looks.

Combining light shades of grey and white with muted natural tones of beige, stone, cream and off-white is a brilliant way to create a calming, laid-back feel. Alternatively, consider pairing grey and white with bold colors like acid yellow, red or teal for a more energizing and dramatic look.

Grey white and navy is a great way to create a smart and sophisticated look, palette of grey, white and blue is a perfect base for cool coastal living room ideas. 

'Combining light and airy blues and greys also works effectively to create an elegant and sophisticated look that is soothing. The brighter shades and muted hues help create a calming space that can be updated time and time again with more affordable accessories to refresh the look,' says Emma Deterding, founder and creative director, Kelling Designs and KDLoves . 'You can add texture and dimension to this by layering light and airy linens and natural textures that pay homage to the nautical look.'

Primary colors such as yellow, red and blue can work well with grey and white if you're looking to create a mid-century modern decor scheme, alternatively, for an elegant and feminine scheme you can't go wrong with pairing grey and white with blush pink or soft lilac. 

Pippa is Content Editor on Homes & Gardens online contributing to Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors print issues. A graduate of Art History and formerly Style Editor at Period Living, she is passionate about architecture, creating decorating content, interior styling and writing about craft and historic homes. She enjoys searching out beautiful images and the latest trends to share with the Homes & Gardens audience. A keen gardener, when she’s not writing you’ll find her growing flowers on her village allotment for styling projects.

13 Best Gray and White Living Room Ideas

House of Chais

Whether you want to create a serene, minimalist environment, or make room for pops of color throughout your space, consider a gray and white color palette in your living room. A gray and white aesthetic may seem simple enough, but to keep things balanced in a neutral space takes some intentionality.

Want to try out a gray and white scheme in your living room? We've got you covered.

Picking out grays and whites to complement your home's style—and complement each other—can feel overwhelming. As a general rule, cooler colors lean more modern, while warmer ones feel more traditional, says Mark Cutler, an interior designer at Cutler Schulze in Los Angeles. So if you embrace rustic or farmhouse style, opt for warmer grays and creamy whites. If your living room is mid-century or contemporary in aesthetic, then go for cooler grays and whites.

The key is to stay consistent. Not sure where to start? Cutler suggests starting with the parts of your room that aren't easy to change, like your trim or flooring. If you have a warm wood floor, choose warm tones. If your flooring is cool stone, then stick with cool shades.

If you're painting your living room, keep in mind your lighting will impact how a color looks. "A color you've seen on Pinterest or in someone else's project doesn't mean that it will be a perfect match for your space," says Courtney McClure, an interior designer with Courtney McClure Design in Oklahoma. Grab paint swatches at the store, stick them on your walls, and check throughout the day in different lighting to see how they look.

As with any design scheme, a bit of intentionality can go a long way when you're focused on creating a neutral space. Ahead, interior designers explain how to use gray and white in your living room.

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Arbor & Co.

As you create your neutral haven, balance is key. To achieve a look that feels consistent, Cutler recommends choosing similar fabrics throughout your space. "Trying to match a white with a white in the same room is tough, as different fabrics reflect light differently," he says. Avoid mixing warms and cools by incorporating the same types of fabric throughout your space.

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Anne Sage

Gray and white can feel serene, but if you're not intentional, your room could be snooze-inducing. While choosing a consistent color temperature is important, make sure to vary the shades of gray and white you use to keep things interesting while maintaining balance, suggests Seattle-based interior designer Rebecca Rowland of Rebecca Rowland Interiors.

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House of Chais

When you're designing a room, use neutrals like grays and whites for the larger pieces. "They form the perfect canvas for mixing smaller elements that introduce color," says New York and New Orleans-based interior designer Elle Jupiter. "Also, it’s much easier to exchange smaller pieces than larger pieces when making seasonal changes."

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Candice Luter

It may seem counterintuitive, but adding another neutral to the mix can make your gray and white sing. "I’m a fan of adding in a very pale sand or camel color in a very small dose, with an accent chair, throw blanket, or pillow," says Billy Ceglia, an interior designer with Billy Ceglia Design in Connecticut.

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Wilson Aesthetic

One clever way to keep your space balanced is to go off-balance, says Ceglia. If your heart's set on gray and white, lean one way or the other, with one as the star and the other as the accent. "This will help achieve a crisp, tailored look, and avoid the space becoming too monotonous," he says. "The accent color will help lead one’s eye around the space to highlight art and architecture."

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Charbonneau Interiors

Even warmer shades of gray and white can quickly feel sterile, so Ceglia recommends doing your best to incorporate more warmth and coziness into your living room by choosing pieces of wood furniture. Whether you choose an oak coffee table or a walnut chair, shades of brown are sure to enhance your gray and white scheme.

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Afro Bohemian Living

In an otherwise neutral and minimal space, texture is an easy but effective way to add interest without overwhelm. Interior designer Esther Dormer of Dormer Design suggests incorporating wool, leather, wood, and metal whenever you can to elevate the neutral look. Natural-woven materials, like rattan or wicker, are also a great way to add a touch of softness to your gray and white room.

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Design: Blue Copper Design; Photo: Life Created

As you probably already know, a gray and white scheme is the perfect backdrop for pops of color. While you can pretty much add any color with gray and white, Larisa Barton of Soeur Interiors says it's best to keep your pops in pairs. For example, a green pillow would look random on its own, but paired with a green plant or a rug with green accents, it'll tie right into the space.

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Rush Me Home

Blanche Garcia of B. Garcia Designs says deeper pops of color keep gray and white palettes interesting and current. Try to work in jewel tones like dark blues, greens, or Garcia's personal favorite, chartreuse. A throw pillow or blanket could be a good start, but if you're feeling bold, try out a jewel-toned accent wall or rug.

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Amber Pierce Designs

Another way to make a neutral space feel more lively: incorporate greenery. If you don't have a green thumb, a faux plant or a bouquet of fresh flowers on the coffee table can have the same, enlivening effect on your green and white room. "When you layer different physical textures into your space, you create a cozy approachable atmosphere that will complement and balance your freshly painted walls," says interior designer Tara Miller of The Heartland Interior Design.

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Burchard Design Co.

Just like mixing textures to ad some oomph to a neutral room, so can mixing up patterns — and McClure says gray and white are the perfect backdrop for integrating stripes, dots, and other fun designs into your room. Throw pillows in varying patterns are a great way to add depth to your space without losing that sense of balance you're looking for.

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Herzen Stimme

Do you have crown molding in your living room? Depending on the look you're going for, interior designer Sara Mosele of Sara Mosele Interiors in New York says you can integrate it into your gray and white palette. If you paint your walls gray, consider leaving your crown molding white to keep things balanced. If you'd rather the room feel more contemporary, paint the molding and walls either all gray or all white.

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Design: Mindy Gayer Design Co.; Photographer: Vanessa Lentine

A gray and white color scheme is the perfect time to consider adding bolder features throughout your living room, such as a shiplap wall in a neutral or even statement color. "As an interesting architectural feature, shiplap can either be a background character to let other statements shine, or be the star of the show with an unexpected paint color," says Yasmine El Sanyoura, a home designer at Opendoor.

For a modern traditional gray and white scheme, she recommends installing shiplap vertically on the lower third of a room's walls in a soft gray paint color and pairing it with white walls. To make a bolder, more modern statement, install shiplap horizontally and paint it dark gray—it'll also make your room feel wider.

Designers Say These 22 Earth Tone Color Palettes Are Always In

Gray living room - 110 photos of monochrome design ideas

Gray is mostly associated with gloom, but this is wrong in relation to color. Gray is considered the base color, and therefore it is considered universal.

This gray living room is the perfect solution for all design trends. A unique and fashionable interior created through the use of different shades.

Article content:

Gray room

As well as possible, gray elements can be complemented with bright accents. Moreover, things in this color are very interesting.

To make the interior of the living room in gray more domesticated and warm, it should be shaded with beige or chocolate shades.

If directed to the south side of the window of the room, then experiments with such cold shades as purple, blue can be quite good.

The advantages of gray:

Accents

The interior of a boring living room can be diluted with accents. Often become such accents as an example, pillowcases for decorative pillows, curtains and rugs, vases and lamps.

The bright yellow color harmonizes perfectly with gray wallpaper, which becomes much more interesting against its background, as if it is fully revealed.

The gray interior of the living room will not be so boring if the bright upholstery is on the furniture. You can add decorative pillows to the sofa, which are made in several shades of the main color.

A great option - a combination of gray furniture elements with bright objects.

Paintings bring brightness to the interior.

An interesting strict union - a combination of three basic colors.

Living room design in gray tones will be really stylish, fashionable and modern, with the right complementary color.

What about the walls?

Gray wallpapers on the walls are very practical, because they are not particularly dirty and do not fade in the sun.

Light gray color makes the room visually more spacious, and therefore such wallpapers can often be found in small living rooms.

White and gray wallpapers are universal wallpapers, and therefore furniture of any color is selected for the interior.

The gray color has the most beneficial effect on the human psyche, without irritating at all. The living room in gray tones, the photo below, allows you to relax and have a great rest in it.

Gray looks stylish in the interior, and therefore various interior options can be created with it - if you add bright elements, you can end up with a pleasant interior.

If you dilute gray with cold and dark tones, you can get a strict room. This color is suitable for everyone, because with the help of it a dream interior can be created.

Gray furniture

Gray furniture is chosen for the modern living room. A metallic shade sofa will fit perfectly into a classic interior.

If you are a fan of a strict interior, then you should consider such a shade as the color of asphalt after rain. Dark blue color will fit perfectly into an expensive living room.

In the photo of the gray living room, which is presented below in the catalog, it is clear that gray is ideally combined with any tones, cold and bright, creating a unique interior in the room.

Gray wall-papers make the atmosphere relax, contributing to a wonderful rest.

If you are wondering what color to decorate your room with, pay attention to the gray interior of the living room. The photos below will inspire you to create just such an interior in your home.

photo of the gray living room

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Gray living room - 65 photos of the perfect combination in the interior

> Living room > Gray living room - 65 photos of the best living room designs decorated in gray tones

Who would have thought that gray is in great demand these days. You, of course, ask, but how can you decorate a living room with the help of an ordinary and nondescript shade?

But now let's figure it out, and moreover, in our article there is a whole gallery of photos of a gray living room, where you can get acquainted with the most popular design solutions.

We will help you apply the most successful color combinations.

Contents:

Modern trends in gray in the interior of the living room

All shades of gray are ideally combined with other colors. If you follow all the rules when using color combinations, you can create the most fashionable and popular interior.

The problem is that the gray tone has a diverse palette of shades and sometimes it is simply impossible to find the right neighborhood of colors. The gray interior of the living room is shown in the photo, where the most relevant applications of such a range are selected, which will help to understand the modern design of the rooms.

Trendy living room design ideas

Gray color allows you to create the most modern styles in the living room, from high-tech to minimalism or even a trendy loft. Such ideas are characterized by a concrete shade and concrete walls.

A wall of just this tone with glass and chrome details will make your interior the most up-to-date. A slightly light range or a combination of two colors will allow the room to radiate warmth, and at the same time elegance. Light gray can act as the main background for bright elements.

Gray in the interior of the living room as the main

In most cases, gray tone is used as the base. In this color, there can be wall decoration, ceiling surface, flooring, or furniture, carpet and curtains are selected.

If you are not sure that you can use the shade correctly, it is better to seek the advice of a specialist. Trained designers will help you choose the right gray living room interior.

Stylish design with gray walls in the living room

The walls can be the backdrop for the elegant design of the living room in gray tones. It's like a canvas for an artist, create a drawing on them that is related to your lifestyle.

Never use two of the same color together as this can negatively affect the overall look of the room.

White, blue, yellow looks original on gray, namely those colors that can stand out.

Successful neighborhood in the interior of the gray and white living room

Gray-white living room combines two similar colors. With their help, you can create the most stylish interior. Shades are able to give the room an atmosphere of comfort. Often, designers choose not pure white shades for decoration, but slightly diluted ones, for example, milky, beige, coffee.

Different patterns and ornaments look impressive together with gray, which can complement the overall design.

Endless summer atmosphere in the living room thanks to the combination of yellow and gray.

The use of gray together with yellow will help you experience summer freshness every day. Such an application fills a person with energy, which is very important on cold, winter days.

Usually the walls are decorated with a gray tint, and bright yellow accents enliven the room. It can be chairs, sofa cushions, curtains or fresh flowers.

Chic living room interior with gray and blue

The neighborhood of gray tone together with blue will fill your living room with calmness. Gray wall decoration is in harmony with blue furniture, the main thing is to choose the right shades.

Because the dark tones of gray and blue will make the room too gloomy. A combination of light gray and blue can be called a successful use.

Living room design in red and gray

The interior of the living room in gray allows some splashes of red.

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