Home retailers are reporting extra demand for everything from blinds to bedding in shades of grey while many paint manufacturers have released new colour palettes in grey for 2015.
Indeed, the appeal of grey for the home is in its versatility. That is why, as a hue, it is so loved by interior designers. A colour which works equally well in traditional or contemporary interiors, there are indeed at least 50 shades of grey, from pastel tones with a warm pink base to those which are darkly dramatic. Here are just some of the ways you could use grey in your home.
As a foil to brighter colours
A dark gunmetal grey is the perfect foil for bright accent colours. If your home leans towards industrial styling, you could use pops of colour on soft furnishings, floor standing lamps or armchairs against dark grey walls or murals.
As a feature wall
Greys aren’t bland or harsh. They can be soft and incredibly romantic. A flocked grey wallpaper or a design featuring country scenes can be the ideal complement to a French chateau style bedroom or as the backdrop to a traditional leather Chesterfield sofa.
On kitchen units
While white and cream may remain the most popular colour for kitchen units, grey can be equally beautiful. You could choose a pale, silvery grey for a clean, modern feel, or opt to paint farmhouse-style kitchen doors in a darker tone. Paired with white marble or chunky natural wood worktops, a grey kitchen can look just as timeless as a cream one.
On bathroom tiles
Grey is naturally a calming, relaxing colour, so it makes sense to incorporate the hue in your bathroom. Grey tiling can add a sophisticated touch to your bathroom, giving it a boutique hotel feel. You could choose soft pastel-coloured towels and accessories to offset the grey, or bolder hues to add a pop of colour against it.
In the bedroom
Given the plot in 50
Shades of Grey, it’s perhaps most fitting to use grey in the colour palette of
your bedroom. Choosing new bed linens in a variety of grey hues and with
different textures, is one of the easiest ways to put together a room fit for
Mr Grey himself.