This seems a rather topical blog post with all the buzz about a certain film.
Grey is also one of the most on trend colours for the home at the moment. It can provide a perfect backdrop whilst also adding an injection of colour and isn't as bland as some other neutrals. The wide variety of grey paints on the market currently can make it hard to choose the perfect one though. It is also so important to get the right shade when using grey in large areas such as walls and flooring as the wrong shade can appear cool and uninviting. Pick the right shade, and your accessories and furniture will have the perfect setting to take centre stage.
So here is my little guide to help you work your way through those 50 shades (sorry, had to be done).
When choosing your perfect grey paint for walls first of all you need to know which way your room faces, as this will make a massive difference to how the paint actually looks. Ever seen a gorgeous shade of paint in someone else’s home, tried to copy it at home and it looks completely different? I bet you its because your rooms faced different directions. The light in a room has an enormous effect on how the paint appears.
North facing rooms are notoriously the hardest to decorate, especially if you are looking to create a light and airy space. Sometimes you are better to just go with the darkness of a room and embrace darker, stronger colours. If you are feeling bold Down Pipe is a fabulous darkest grey colour and will really make splashes of colour pop.
Panelling - Down Pipe, Farrow and Ball
Image, Farrow and Ball
Image, Farrow and Ball
In North facing rooms it is a good idea to avoid blue and green based greys, as these will appear cool.
Use greys with a yellow base, which will make for a warmer shade and help bounce the light around the room. Shaded White by Farrow and Ball is a warmer grey and works lovely as a blank canvas.
Use greys with a yellow base, which will make for a warmer shade and help bounce the light around the room. Shaded White by Farrow and Ball is a warmer grey and works lovely as a blank canvas.
Walls - Shaded White, Farrow and Ball
Elephants Breath is one of my all time favorite shades. It is a taupe based grey, beautifully warm and works equally well in period properties as well as contemporary spaces.
Elephants Breath, Farrow and Ball
Egyptian Cotton by Dulux is another favorite as it works so well in most lights - sometimes appearing more taupe and at other times more grey, but always beautifully warm. I have used this on the woodwork in the shop and love it more and more every day.
South facing rooms are generally a zilch to decorate because the light allows you to use both warmer and cooler shades to great effect. Nearly all grey shades will look great but if you want to maximise the light then go for paler shades to add an airy feel. South and East facing rooms can also take more blue-based shades well. Lamp Room grey is lovely and again great on furniture.
If you love the Swedish/Gustavian look (which I adore!) try Pavilion Gray or Cornforth White both by Farrow and Ball. They are pale, cooler greys, which work really well in kitchens and hallways, even in a north facing room especially is you are happier with a cooler appearance. These colours also both look fabulous when used on furniture and Pavilion Gray in particular is a shade we use again and again at The Rounded House.
Farrow and Ball - Cornforth White
Image - Farrow and Ball
Image - Farrow and Ball
Two fairly new Farrow and Ball grey paints are Ammoinet and Purbeck stone, both gorgeous pale greys perfect for increasing the light in a room.
Walls - Purbeck Stone, Skirting Cornforth White, Floor Ammonite, Wardrobe, Purbeck Stone - All Farrow and Ball
Image - Farrow and Ball
Image - Farrow and Ball
Little Greene Paint Company's French Grey is a great all rounder grey paint. The fabulous thing about it is that it comes in three different tones - normal, light and deep so you can use variationsof the same sahde in one room. For example, darker on kitchen cupboards and lighter on the walls.
It has warm undertones but remains light and airy.
Little Green French Grey Deep, above panelling, Panelling French Grey, Fireplace French Grey Pale - All Little Green Paint Company
Image - Little Greene Paint Company
Image - Little Greene Paint Company