We all know that trends are cyclical but it’s hard to be left behind when our homes are still embracing yesterday’s hot design trend. For anyone who’s currently living in a home filled with gray you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. 

Gray was heavily embraced by the masses over the last decade and then suddenly we’re told we need to remove all evidence of gray from our homes. It can feel overwhelming and it can leave us feeling stuck. How do we fix our gray home and how much is ok to leave behind?

IS GRAY REALLY OUT? CAN I USE ANY GRAY IN MY DESIGN?

This is a good question and one that a lot of designers have been asked over the last year. We really embraced gray so it’s not realistic to think that when the trend has died that we’re going to completely redecorate our home according to the next trend.

Yes, you can absolutely leave some of your gray behind. You just want to find ways to add other colours and avoid an all-gray home.

IS ANY SHADE OF GRAY STILL OK TO USE?

My best advice is to say that if you love gray then use it, regardless of whether it’s in or out of style. You’ll always be happiest in a home that feels like you.

The look you really want to avoid is the all gray room. We’ve all seen those spaces that have gray walls, gray furniture, gray rug and on and on. Those are what you want to avoid but if you have gray walls with a navy sofa and a navy and yellow rug it can still look fabulous.

GO FOR WARM GRAY

If you’re just redecorating and you want to use gray I’d suggest you pick a warm gray versus a cool gray. Warm gray or greige will always be easy to live with and can be a fantastic neutral backdrop to other colours. 

If you’re not accustomed to thinking of gray in terms of warm or cool it can seem overwhelming. Warm gray is also referred to as greige and it has undertones of violet or green as opposed to blue undertones that make gray feel cool. If you’d like to learn more about gray and its undertones, read this post. 

Can you see from the paint chips below how differently gray can appear based on the undertones? And this will help you to understand why some gray can feel too cold in your home and why others are warm and cozy.

WHAT COLOUR HAS REPLACED GRAY?

We’re now seeing a trend towards warmer neutral colours. That includes beige, cream, sand and mushroom tones that feel naturally warm versus the cool grays of the past.

We’re also simultaneously seeing a lot more saturated colour. You may have noticed a lot of kitchens where either the base cabinets or all of the cabinets are painted in bold, deep colours like navy or forest green. This has also extended to walls in our main living areas where bold colours are creating cozy spaces.

Want to learn more about beige and how to pick the right one for your space? Read this post.

HOW CAN I PRIORITIZE WHAT TO KEEP AND WHAT TO REPLACE?

If you have a house full of gray you might not want to replace it all at once but there are ways to prioritize what stays and what goes. 

I suggest leaving the expensive materials in place and working on more cost effective ways to reduce the gray in your home. Repainting walls is the least expensive option and it can have a huge impact on how you perceive your home.

Your budget is going to be the primary driver in determining what you can replace. You also want to consider the age. If you just installed gray countertops last year you’ll definitely want to work with them. 

If you have gray cabinets but you’re limited in your budget you might not be able to replace those since they’re an expensive replacement. 

If you do have the budget and the desire to replace things in your home, start by determining which space is the most important. Do you spend most of your time in the kitchen? If so, replace the countertops or cabinetry first. If you love to spend most of your time in your living room it makes more sense to replace your gray sofa first. 

HOW CAN I UPDATE MY HOME WITHOUT REPLACING ANYTHING?

For a lot of us we have to live with the investments we’ve recently made, even if they’re feeling a bit dated. The easiest way to keep your home feeling current is to incorporate warm colours into the gray scheme.

If you prefer a neutral space, consider painting your walls in a soft tan or cream colour. This can instantly update an all-gray kitchen. Along with some warm accents and artwork you can definitely enjoy your gray space with just a bit of an update on the walls. 

For those that love colour, consider adding some warm bold colours like yellow, coral or chocolate brown. This will brighten up the space and pull attention away from all of the gray. You’ll instantly be drawn to the bold colour in a space and the gray will be de-emphasized by the new colours. 

DEALING WITH GRAY FLOORING

Flooring is one of the most significant factors in the overall look of a space because it takes up so much visual space in your home. If you installed gray flooring during the last decade you might feel overwhelmed with how to modernize them.

The easiest way is to add rugs in warmer tones on top of your flooring. The benefit is that you’re replacing large areas of cool gray flooring with something more up-to-date in a warmer tone. This change will warm up the entire space and detract from the flooring. If you have an open concept home you may need to purchase several rugs to place in each of the “rooms”. If you are considering replacing your flooring, read this post where I highlight the best flooring options on the market.

DEALING WITH GRAY CABINETRY & COUNTERTOPS

Depending on when your cabinetry and countertops were installed you may feel ready to replace them with something more current. If that’s not in the cards you can warm up your kitchen in several ways. The biggest impact you can make is through painting your walls. If you have a lot of wall space in your kitchen it will change the entire feel of your kitchen.

If wall space is limited then consider adding warmth through decor items. Start with a warm rug or runner to pull the eye in a different direction. Do you have an island with seating? The stools you select can also have a big impact on the colour scheme you create. Consider a high back velvet in a bold colour like blue, green or brown. This will add a pop of colour and detract from the gray kitchen. 

Lastly add small decor pieces in bright colours to add an additional layer to your space. Items like a kettle, vases, baskets and trays can add a ton of warmth and create a brand new feeling in the room. 

DEALING WITH GRAY FURNITURE

Upholstered pieces like sofa and chairs can be really beautiful in gray as long as your entire space isn’t gray. Update those pieces by adding pillows and throws in another colour to warm up the gray.

Just like with the flooring, area rugs will help to add colour, texture and warmth to your space and it will detract from too much gray. 

If you have gray upholstered pieces as well as a gray coffee table and side tables, you might consider making an investment in new case goods. Too much gray is what we’re trying to avoid. It’s a lot more economical to replace the tables rather than the more expensive upholstered pieces.  

If you do have a budget for replacing some items, start with the biggest piece. Consider replacing large pieces of furniture like a sofa if that’s in your budget. Since the sofa takes up so much visual space it’s bringing a lot of gray to your room. You’ll feel an immediate shift in your space just by updating the one large piece.

I hope this gives you some fresh ideas for updating your gray home. If you are planning to renovate to update your home, contact me. I’d love to hear from you and discuss how I can help. 

Warm regards,

Adrienne