How to use grey in your space

Grey is a very popular colour at the moment with a wide variety of shades from very pale to gun metal appearing on all manufacturers paint charts. I love working with grey as when you get it right it can really enhance a room, however, getting the right shade can be a little tricky.

I thought it might be a good idea to give you a guide on how to use grey if you're a little bit unsure about using it when you're home decorating. There are a great many grey tones available and the key is to ensure you use the best one for your space, bearing in mind the shade you prefer on paper might not be the best for the light and space you have. So here are my tips on getting started with grey

above colour choice is Dulux’s Chic Shadow feature wall and Rock Salt Matt emulsion.

How to use grey in your home

For years now, many of us have been using white and cream on our walls and I feel it is a time for a change. Grey can be a real winner here, helping show off a rooms’ natural features and making your furniture stand out as it looks really good as a contrast with natural wood, pure white and stone. I feel that the trick is to create just enough contrast to make the raw materials look fabulous. Dulux’s Goosedown is a new colour for 2018 and brings a lovely soft quality that allows the natural tones of stone and wood to shine beautifully when used together. Try it against your fireplace or wooden furniture and you won’t be disappointed.

Using grey in a d ark room

I often get asked how to brighten up a space which is low in light and most people think they need to stick to cream or white which is not always the case. For north facing or low on light rooms a good tip is to use as a contrasting dash of colour such as pink, gold or yellow with something like Little Greene Paint Company’s :Dash of Soot . This is a mid-tone shade of grey which highlights an area without appearing too cold which is often an issue with grey. My other tips for darker rooms are to add some pale accessories such as mirrors or marble which will look fabulous against the grey.

Enhancing the ambience of the room

I always advise people to think about the ambience of the room they are decorating. If you want to set the mood for a room, think about what the room is used for and how you want it to feel. If it is going to be a restful space, then a really nice colour is Little Green Paint Company’s Urbane Grey as it rich tones pair nicely with woollen fabrics and textiles in darkish colour tones. This also works well with slate floors or flagstones polished off with a heavy rug in bright tones to add a pop of colour and warmth

Brightening up a room

Finally, to brighten up a room, I suggest using a pale grey with a contrasting accent colour. I really like Dulux’s Rocksalt , a pale tone which provides the perfect background to bright hues such as zesty yellows or bang on trend blush pink and copper colours. The pale grey sets off the accent colours perfectly adding warmth, character and that all important wow factor.

See below The little Greene Paint walls Loft White Matt no 222 and Grey wood work colour one Urbone Grey No 225 in Egg shell works very well indeed with at Natural slate

Another decor ideas is by using wall paper in grey tome can look very effective too make a room look wider as below

Got stuck and need help creating your new look in your home? Call Anne on 019673 20762 /07725 246 434