There are many shades of gray, from pale neutrals to dark and intense, that can create a soothing, cocooning, or even dramatic space. Including a gray accent wall in your home is a good opportunity to think outside the box when it comes to decorating with this ever-trend color.
Whether you want to elevate your living room, or if you have a feature wall but aren’t sure what colors to pair with…look no further. We’ve got interesting ideas for developing a distinctive gray wall average, from paint effects to paneling.
Dazzling gray tone walls
Justyna Korczynska, Color Consultant at Crown explains how taupe gray is a versatile accent, “Darker charcoal tones can be used to add drama anywhere in the home, from the living room to the bedroom or even a small entryway—with smart lighting and mirrors, you can create A strong and atmospheric look.These dark grays are also the perfect strong backdrop for small amounts of brighter colors.From full charcoal to choosing brighter combinations or more classic colors that go with gray, you’re sure to find the touch your space needs.
1. Try the paint effect
(Image credit: Habitat)
Paint Effects… You might shiver at the thought of ’90s throwback techniques like rag rolling and sponges, but they’re back! However, things have passed. You can now buy specialized textured emulsion paints and concrete effect paints to shorten your rustic finish.
Here’s how to add a new dimension to a dining room wall – to create your own, simply coat a matte emulsion diluted with water, chalk paint, or a specialized lemon wash. Using a wide brush, apply the paint in sweeping strokes, you will need at least two or three layers to build a textured effect. Complement the walls with pure white for a simple Scandi-inspired finish, or create a little drama by pairing it with warm blue or olive green paint.
2. Frame window
(Image credit: Sofa.com)
Rethink the white paint of the window frames and baseboards in favor of a more dramatic approach. By painting window frames a dark shade, they always look smart and work well on interior doors too. For the frames, the contrast with the daylight is pure and refreshing, but at night, the large windows help it feel cozy and contained.
Floor-to-ceiling windows are a striking feature of this gray living room and neutral walls pick up the anthracite against the muted walls, accentuating the shape and interesting details. You can apply the same conversion to UPVC windows as well, just look for a primer or a specialty coating.
3. Gray tones layer
(Image credit: Denilm)
There’s no denying, gray bedrooms create a classic look. A soft dove gray paneled wall creates an elegant and serene atmosphere for the bedroom, but hints of darker shades of woodwork and furniture add a smart and sophisticated touch. Team this with polished chrome accents and fresh white toppers to bring a timeless, boutique hotel touch to the space.
As Ariana Sessa, associate director of color marketing and development at Benjamin Moore, explains, “Consider a mix of light and dark grays for a monochromatic look that doesn’t overwhelm the room. Dark charcoal creates depth in the space,” explains Ariana Sessa, associate director of color marketing and development at Benjamin Moore.
4. Add a lush touch with houseplants
(Image credit: Abstract House)
Adding indoor houseplants elevates the dark gray wall and brings the space to life. Much like a jungle canopy, the mysterious tone is the perfect backdrop for deep green plants, making tropical varieties ideal partners too, go for large, big-leaf palms for a statement option and add trailing plants to tall shelves or hanging planters for texture and interest .
5. Smash the wall with a photo shelf
(Image credit: Bloomingville)
This gray on gray looks super chic, with a subtle textured background on the bottom half and a matching paint color on top. However, to add various layers of height, a picture rack painted the same color creates a seamless and discreet place to add framed prints and items.
Shallow picture shelves will give you the flexibility of an ever-evolving display that’s easy to add and adjust to mood, and a shelf with a small lip in the front will also help support the frames and allow you to display collectibles. For a cohesive finish, choose frames and prints in similar color combinations such as monochrome or neutrals.
6. Zone Zone
(Photo credit: Little Greene)
Use striking charcoal to create a confined area within the living room. Instantly create a cozy nook by painting a nook or cranny or if there aren’t any natural architectural dividers, divide one end of the room with a darker shade of gray. They’re perfect for framing a TV, workspace, or reading area within a large living space. Brickwork paint also adds an extra dimension and interest to this matte finish.
Warm whites and nearly but not entirely blacks soften the effect of monochrome, explains Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director Little Greene, “When choosing gray for a space, contrast shades like dark ‘Scree’ with warm whites like ‘Slaked Gear.’ When using gray, you can incorporate bolder colors into your scheme such as “Carmine,” “Trumpet,” or “Orange Aurora” on boards, woodwork, or dado bars to accentuate the color.
7. Bookcase highlight
(Image credit: Behr)
A subtle brown, pink, or red shade like Nightingale Gray from Behr, is guaranteed to add warmth to an all-white space or a north-facing room with little natural light.
Painting a built-in bookcase makes a woodworking statement but the soft tone means it won’t be overbearing in the room.
As Paula Taylor of Graham & Brown explains, “For a relaxing space, we recommend a shade of gray. Although gray is a neutral, it can still make a statement when used as an accent wall.”
8. Team with yellow
(Photo credit: Crown Prince)
This timeless duo will never go out of style, a winning combination Pantone has chosen Luminous Yellow and Ultimate Gray as the Color of the Year for 2021. For smaller spaces, choose a brighter yellow on top, but if you have high ceilings or open-plan living rooms, it will A warm gray with a brown base warms the space.
To create a clean line, use decorating tape and then wipe up any paint spills with a detail brush. Place the line over the main pieces of furniture or above the work surface, making it either one-third or two-thirds of the wall.
9. Add jewel accents
(Image credit: Sofa.com)
These strong, dark hues are perfect for bright, sunny rooms that need some cooling, however, in the evening, painting the wall where your sofa is sitting in this cocoon shade will instantly invite you to lean over the sofa. This intense shade is the perfect way to showcase bold pops of color, try bold contrasts like chartreuse and yellow, fuchsia and hot pink like Sofa.com’s velvet Saturday sofa, rich orange or teal to create a sexy pop against this intense gray. Layer the space with touches like woven linings, cuddly pillows, and a plush sofa or buttoned footstool for an added comfort factor.
10. Kitchen wallpaper
(Image credit: Sandberg)
Wallpaper in the kitchen…why not? Just avoid sticking wallpaper behind the stove, and a low backing that extends from the work surface will protect the base from any scuffing or water damage, just make sure it’s a well-ventilated space and choose washable wallpaper.
Clever striped gray wallpaper, like Estelle at Sanberg, is timeless but playful, and the graphite color makes it a classic.
What accent color goes with gray walls
With so many variations of gray, it really depends on the temperature of your shade as to what colors go best with your gray wall.
If you have a semi-neutral pale gray shade, pastels are a perfect combination if you want to keep the space looking fresh and airy. So think pale pink, sky blue, pale yellow, and mint green. For a modern Scandi vibe, blacken the space and give it an “adult” appeal. For a warmer finish, try linen and white calico with a hint of yellow to taupe-based green, chalk denim blue, and dark terracotta.
When it comes to those deep, almost blacks, you can either go tonal and pair with lighter shades of gray—working your way down the paint chip chart is a great trick for finding the right undertones. However, if you want a bolder contrast, opt for jewel colors like sapphire, teal, fuchsia pink, and orange. Justyna Korczynska, a color consultant at Crown also advises, “Dark gray is also a strong background ideal for small amounts of brighter colors, such as chartreuse or mint.”
For warm and medium grays that have brown, yellow, or red tints at their base, dirty pinks, ocher yellows, rich plums or purples and deep blues will complement the relaxed tones of this type of gray.
Ariana Sessa, associate director of color marketing and development at Benjamin Moore explains how versatile they can be, “There’s an undeniable sophistication to gray. It pairs well with almost any color, from navy blue, to hunter greens, to crisp whites and other grays to provide balance,
Can you brighten up a room with a gray wall?
Gray has secured a good place in our hearts and home as the modern neutral place. You need to decide what temperature of gray you use depending on how the light affects the room.
For a north-facing room with little direct, natural sunlight, cycle out very light gray and blue, as they will only make the dark room feel cooler. Choose a green with some natural warmth, with yellow, brown or red undertones. Paula Taylor at Graham & Brown echoes this idea, ‘beloved for its ease of use and versatility,’ gray has earned its place on our walls, replacing the once popular magnolia and beige. Gray can be cool or warm which makes it a great contender to use on all four walls.
David Harris, Director of Design at Andrew Martin, recommends warmer medium grays for a brighter effect, “they are very calming and gentle, evoking feelings of fresh open spaces. These colors also work well in the winter months because they don’t make the space feel cold. These colors are mixed with plenty of brass and crystal fixtures, making the bathroom look very elegant and timeless.
However, if you have a bright, sunny room that you can tolerate a cooler gray, these will work especially well if you have a strong midnight blues and ink blues on the other walls.