Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Inspiration

21OAK may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Modern gray paint colors for the living room: How to hit the right note

Warmer and cooler gray shades can help you achieve different effects

Scott Harris
By

There are no two ways about it: Gray continues to be one of the hottest paint colors.

Thinking of making your living room a little cooler? Gray might seem fairly simple at a glance, but committing to this color means embracing many shades of gray.

Recommended Videos

You may be after a neutral, airy feel, or you may want to make your bungalow feel a little cozier. In both cases, there’s a gray for that. So which shade is the best one for you, your home, and your design goals? Here’s a closer look at the possibilities if you’re painting your living room gray.

Painting living room gray
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Why is gray so trendy?

Gray is a neutral color, just like black, white, brown, and beige. This makes it a versatile option that blends easily with most interiors and designs. It’s also a color commonly found in nature, which makes it attractive to those (and there are quite a few) who draw design inspiration from the great outdoors.

Related

It’s also surprisingly versatile from a purely visual perspective. Different shades can be dark or light, warm or cool, and can contain overtones of green, brown, blue, and more. This makes gray an eminently adaptable color on multiple levels. It can work in essentially any context while bringing its own personality to the party.

Gray living room
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Modern gray paint colors for the living room

With this in mind, finding the right shade of gray for your living room suddenly becomes a more intricate undertaking. The good news is there are plenty of options, but there’s no need to go blind comparing color swatches. Here are a few popular shades of gray for the living room and beyond.

  • Greige: Combining beige and gray, this is a hugely popular color that makes any space instantly warmer and cozier. Agreeable Gray from Sherwin-Williams is a popular greige variation.
  • Warmer shades of gray: Not quite greige, but in the ballpark. These inviting shades evoke wood and stone, and they often have green or taupe undertones. Silver Drop from Behr is a beautiful example.
  • Cooler shades of gray: Whereas warm grays create a cozy environment, cool grays can evoke tranquility and relaxation. Take a gander at Big Chill from Sherwin-Williams and feel your pulse slow down a few beats.
  • Neutral gray: There’s nothing wrong with a classic. The super-light Classic Gray from Benjamin Moore is the Switzerland of the color wheel.

Gray also works well as a complement to other colors, including green, another super trendy color at the moment.

If you’re looking for something boring, look elsewhere. Gray is anything but, with a range of shades from understated to showstopper. Your living room deserves to shine the next time guests arrive. Unsure of what color to choose for your living room facelift? Gray has genuine staying power and wide appeal, and it’s far more versatile than one might think.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Scott Harris
Scott Harris
Contributor
Scott Harris is a freelance writer based near Washington, DC, with more than a decade of experience covering health…
Designers say the key to kitchen paint colors in 2024 is to go bold
Embrace the bold with new kitchen colors
open kitchen with sky blue cabinets

2024 kitchen design ushers in an era of bold and exciting paint colors. While kitchens of the past may have focused on neutrals and soft hues, today’s palettes are daring, creating eye-catching schemes that bring life and wonder into the home.

For homeowners looking to switch up and refresh their interiors this year, here are the key kitchen paint colors designers say will be “in” in 2024. This is the year of fearless experimentation. So, grab your mood boards and paint swatches. 2024 kitchens will be bold.

Read more
9 refreshing bedroom paint ideas we love (and we think you will too)
Textures, patterns, bold colors, and more: Check out these bedroom paint ideas to freshen up your sleep space
A white-covered bed sits against a white wall with exposed brick in the background.

Creating an inviting and relaxing atmosphere in your bedroom is crucial -- we spend a ton of time in our beds. And while a grand bedroom remodel may be tempting sometimes, a coat of paint is all you need to change up the vibe. What’s on the walls has a huge impact on the overall feeling of a room; different colors, patterns, and designs can add a whole lot of personality to the space. If you’re looking for inspiring bedroom ideas, or if you're intent on changing up your current design, check out some of these creative bedroom paint ideas that we think you'll love. 

 
Feature walls for the win
Feature walls have been done and redone, for good reason. They are perfect for combining simple sophisticated designs with some added personality. A feature wall is essentially one wall that is dedicated to something different than the others. It could be a different color, a stunning mural, a beautiful pattern, or anything else you decide. The great thing about feature walls is the versatility and ability to experiment. Depending on the shape and size of the bedroom, you can really get creative.

Read more
2024 home design: 9 gorgeous living room decor ideas the experts swear by
Living room design ideas to consider for the new year
Modern living room design with warm taupe paint colors

As we look forward to the new year, many homeowners are itching to uncover the living room decor trends that we can expect to dominate our spaces. From biophilic designs to artisanal pieces, 2024 home decor is all about curating a space that feels “lived-in,” eclectic, and reflects each homeowner’s individual taste and style.

We spoke to the experts to get an idea of the trends entering our living room designs as the year progresses. Here’s what we learned.

Read more