Skip to main content

What colors go with gray? How to make a neutral hue pop in your home

How to make gray walls work for your home decor

Neutral colors like gray and taupe are always popular options for your home’s interior design. Both are versatile shades that can go with a plethora of other hues, which means you can easily change up the look of your decor with gray walls and a rotating rainbow of accessories like colorful throw pillows. With all the different shades of gray paint available, from matte to glossy, warm to cool, and brownish to blueish, it’s certainly possible to find the one that’s perfect for you and your home.

Of course, you can always have too much of a good thing. While gray can be a sophisticated and elegant shade, too much gray can wash out a room or make it feel dull and dingy or cold and unwelcoming. Think of gray as the backdrop on a canvas that lets your color palette shine, and you can’t go wrong. So, it’s important to incorporate other colors into the decor, whether it be with pieces of furniture, art, or throw blankets — but what colors go with gray? If you’re looking for the best options to brighten up your current decor, keep reading to find out how to accent this elegant tone.

Room with gray walls and bright pink sofa

Choose bold colors to complement gray walls

Vibrant furniture may be the answer to brightening up the room if you have gray walls. As a general rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to match your decorations’ color with the undertones of the gray paint. For example, if your light gray walls have blue undertones, a bright yet soft blue sofa will pair well with the walls and add a much-needed pop of color. Warm grays tend to complement colors like orange, yellow, or red, while cooler grays go great with blues, greens, and even purple.

Remember that choosing a brightly colored couch will instantly make the couch the room’s focal point, so be sure this is the effect you’re going for. If you have other statement pieces you’d rather feature, add in accent colors more subtly with wall art or a throw blanket. You can also add color to the room by selecting an area rug or bedspread in your hue of choice. Don’t feel forced to stick to one bright color, either. If you tend to lean toward bold or eccentric styles, add an explosion of color to your space, choosing multiple vibrant colors in the art, decor, and accessories.

Living room decorated in neutral colors

Contrast warm and cold neutrals for a less busy design

Gray is a neutral color, but the most popular shades tend to have cooler undertones. By pairing it with warmer neutrals like beige, cream, and even muted pink, you can keep a sophisticated, calming palette for a rustic design that’s still visually interesting.

To update your room with a contemporary flair, lean into the cool color scheme and pair grays with crisp, clean whites.

Add contrast to the room by breaking up the dark gray walls with bright white light fixtures or beige furniture. While pops of color make for a more interesting design, contrasting deep and bright colors or cool and warm hues can also create a more exciting design scheme.

Light gray walls in home office

Other gray options

If you’re looking for some other gray options, you can get creative with your color options and go bold with an accent wall. Keep it neutral and paint one wall a deeper shade of gray than the others, or make a statement and add a pale yellow accent wall to offset the ashy paint around the rest of the room. We also recommend adding different shades of your accent color throughout the space, bringing the color into your furniture, area rugs, art, or throw pillows. For a more luxurious design, paint your bathroom bright white and choose a soft gray vanity and shower curtain. 

Whether you are ready to remodel a room or just want to add some excitement to an existing one, gray is a great color option. While many consider this to be a neutral, forgettable color, it can add a touch of subtle luxury to any space. Additionally, grays are so versatile — there are hundreds of shades of gray to choose from, so you can find the right one to pair with your aesthetic.

Professional and amateur designers alike often consider neutrals background colors that don’t require much planning or thought. This can’t be further from the truth. While neutrals pair well with just about any color, it still takes a discerning eye to choose the right shade to make your design stand out. Long story short, gray isn’t a single color. The various shades and their unique depths and undertones make subtle differences that can transform your home into the oasis of your dreams.

Editors' Recommendations

Kelly Kaliszewski
Kelly's work has appeared in blogs and on websites. When she's not writing, she is playing with her two dogs, cooking, or…
These are the luxe design trends experts say will elevate your home interior
Luxe design style to up your interior design game
Person sitting at design table with different drawings and color choices

Interior design trends are always changing and sometimes they can be hard to keep up with. Luxe design trends are sophisticated and elegant without looking like you’ve tried too hard. This usually pricey style appears across all design styles, though, so it’s not that unattainable if you want to try to up your interior design game. Experts agree that design trends are moving toward more unique aesthetics, so choosing a luxe design style may now be more doable than ever. Check out the trends experts think will elevate your home decor this year.
Unique and custom pieces
Design trends have moved away from modern and sterile and have become more homey and unique. This is excellent news for anyone looking to add some luxe items to their home decor. Since luxury pieces aren’t usually cheap, the purchase can be more justifiable if you invest in something timeless that will be in your family for years to come. Even if you choose to go with a custom piece or two, like the hand-crafted ironwork that has been popping up everywhere, you won’t regret the purchase years from now, if it’s a design you truly love and not just a passing fad.

Micro-luxury
Jessica Sommer, VP of Wedgewood Homes & Maverick Design, explains that this rising trend "introduces the idea of going all out in a smaller space, or going 'all in' on just one luxury element used in combination with more budget-friendly items." For example, use high-quality materials for the bathroom floors and counters mixed with more cost-effective items to give an overall luxury look but not break the bank. This is also a good place to sneak in some decadent patterns like damasks and large florals that are making a huge comeback.
Technology
Speaking of luxury, smart technology will continue to work its way into more parts of the home, especially in luxe designs. Even with bedrooms and bathrooms, we are starting to see more and more tech integrated to include charging areas in furniture, adjustable heights for mattresses, and additional features that make the home feel more like a place of rest and pampering. With more time spent at home over the past years, people are really taking the time to make their homes feel like a place of serenity.

Read more
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
Gray living room

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.

Read more
4 gorgeous 2023 wallpaper design trends for every room in your home
We love these wallpaper design trends making a splash in 2023
Grandmillenial inspired floral wallpaper with cabinet and chair

Wallpaper is having a real moment these past few years, making a comeback from the 1970s and 1980s when it adorned almost everyone's homes. Wallpaper has a way of transforming a room from flat and dull to fabulous, and it comes in so many patterns and designs that it's hard not to find one you love. There are a few wallpaper design trends increasing in popularity, so if you're in the market, here are a few options to get your creative juices flowing.

Elizabeth Rees, the founder of a leading wall coverings company, Chasing Paper, shared a few gorgeous ideas that are sure to be a big hit in 2023 and beyond.

Read more