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Ashley Abramson is a home design and cleaning expert with over ten years of experience creating lifestyle content. He is based in Milwaukee, WI.
Grey And White Living Room Decor Ideas
Whether you want to create a peaceful, minimalist environment or make room for pops of color throughout your space, consider a gray and white color palette in your living room. A gray and white aesthetic may seem simple enough, but maintaining balance in a neutral space takes some intentionality.
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– may look stunning. In general, cooler colors tend to be more modern, while warmer colors look more traditional, says Mark Cutler, an interior designer at Cutler Schulze in Los Angeles. So if you’re embracing the farm or ranch style, go for warmer grays and creamy whites. If your living room is mid-century or contemporary in aesthetic, then opt for cooler grays and whites.
The key is to stay consistent. Don’t know where to start? Cutler suggests starting with the parts of your room that aren’t easy to change, like trim or flooring. If you have a warm wooden floor, choose warm shades. If your floor is a cool stone, stick to cool tones.
If you are painting your living room, remember that lighting will affect how the color looks. “A color you saw on Pinterest or in someone else’s project doesn’t mean it’s going to be a perfect match for your space,” says Courtney McClure, an interior designer at Courtney McClure Interior Design in Oklahoma. Get paint samples at the store, tape them to the walls, and test them during the day under different lights to see how they look.
As with any design scheme, a little intentionality can go a long way when you’re focused on creating a neutral space. Before that, interior designers explain how to use gray and white in your living room.
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When creating your neutral shelter, balance is key. To achieve a cohesive look, Cutler recommends choosing similar fabrics throughout the space. “Trying to match white with white in the same room is difficult, because different fabrics reflect light differently,” she says. Avoid mixing warm and cool elements by incorporating the same types of fabric throughout the space.
Gray and white may seem peaceful, but if you’re not on purpose, your room can be sleep-inducing. While it’s important to choose a consistent color temperature, be sure to vary the shades of gray and white you use to keep things interesting while maintaining balance, suggests Seattle interior designer Rebecca Rowland of Rebecca Rowland Interiors.
When designing a room, use neutral colors like grays and whites for larger pieces. “They create the perfect canvas for mixing in smaller elements that bring in color,” says El Jupiter, an interior designer based in New York and New Orleans. “Plus, it’s much easier to replace smaller pieces than larger pieces when making seasonal changes.”
It may seem counterintuitive, but adding more neutrals to the mix can make your grays and whites sing. “I’m a fan of adding a very pale sand or camel color in very small doses, with an accent chair, blanket or pillow,” says Billy Saglia, an interior designer with Billy Saglia Design in Connecticut.
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A smart way to balance your space is to de-balance it, says Ceglia. If you have your heart set on gray and white, lean one way or the other, with one as a star and the other as an accent. “This will help achieve a sharp and coordinated look and prevent the space from becoming too monotonous,” he says. “The accent color will help lead the eye into the space to highlight the art and architecture.”
Even warmer shades of gray and white can feel sterile, so Ceglia recommends doing your best to incorporate more warmth and coziness into your living room by choosing wood furniture. Whether you choose an oak coffee table or a walnut chair, the brown tones are sure to enhance your gray and white scheme.
In an otherwise neutral and minimal space, texture is a simple but effective way to add interest without overwhelming. Interior designer Esther Dormer of Dormer Design suggests combining wool, leather, wood and metal whenever possible to elevate the neutral look. Naturally woven materials, such as rattan or wicker, are also a great way to add a touch of softness to your gray and white room.
As you probably already know, a gray and white scheme is the perfect background for pops of color. While you can basically add any color with gray and white, Larissa Burton of Soeur Interiors says it’s best to keep your poufs in pairs. For example, a green pillow will look casual on its own, but combined with a green plant or a green accent rug, it will stick to the space perfectly.
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Blanche Garcia from B. Garcia Designs says deeper colors keep gray and white palettes interesting and current. Try working with jewel tones like navy, green or Garcia’s favorite chartreuse. A pillow or blanket might be a good start, but if you’re feeling bold, try a jewel-toned wall or rug.
Another way to liven up a neutral space: incorporate green. If you don’t have a green thumb, a fake plant or a bouquet of fresh flowers on the coffee table can have the same revitalizing effect in your green and white room. “When you layer different physical textures in your space, you create a welcoming, accessible atmosphere that will complement and balance your freshly painted walls,” says interior designer Tara Miller of The Heartland Interior Design.
Just like mixing textures to add some clutter to a neutral room, you can mix patterns—and McClure says gray and white are the perfect backdrop for incorporating stripes, dots, and other fun designs into your room. Decorative pillows with different patterns are a great way to add depth to your space without losing the sense of balance you’re looking for.
Do you have a crown design in the living room? Depending on the look you’re going for, interior designer Sara Mosele of Sara Mosele Interiors in New York says you can incorporate it into your gray and white palette. If you’re painting the walls gray, consider leaving the crown molding white to maintain balance. If you prefer the room to look more contemporary, paint the molding and walls completely gray or completely white.
Blue And White Decor Ideas
A gray and white color scheme is the perfect time to consider adding bolder elements throughout the living room, such as a neutral colored shiplap wall or even a statement color. “As an interesting architectural element, shiplap can be a background figure to let other statements shine, or be the star of the show with an unexpected pop of color,” says Yasmin El Señora, home designer at Opendoor.
For a traditional modern gray and white scheme, he recommends installing the tool vertically on the lower third of the room’s soft gray walls and pairing it with white walls. To make a bolder, more modern statement, install shiplap horizontally and paint it a dark gray – this will also make your room look bigger. If you’ve always believed that neutral colors are boring, it’s time to reconsider your vision. Neutrals can provide the perfect backdrop for a wide variety of design schemes, whether you’re a dedicated minimalist or a maximalist. In addition, they are a surefire way to make any room more chic. Looking for the perfect neutral for your home? Consider a gray palette, a choice for some of our favorite interior designers. Scroll through these 35 stunning living rooms, packed with inspiring ways to design around gray.
ED member Steven Gambrel chose Benjamin Moore’s Stonington Gray Venetian plaster walls for his Art Deco apartment in Chicago. The custom-made sofa, in JAB Anstotz fabric, is from Dune, the 1950s chair in Deder fabric and the custom-made armchair is upholstered in Arbel fabrics. The 1930s sideboard in orange and green lacquer is French, the 1950s Murano glass table lamp is by Seguso, the 1955 chandelier is by FontanaArte, and the custom rug is by Beauvais.
Gray canvas walls and a custom sofa add texture to Thom Filicia’s Connecticut living room decor. The exquisite space also includes lamps by Luca Studio, a round iron table by Lillian August, a vintage carved wooden chair and an ottoman designed by Felicia covered in cravat wool.
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Soft gray walls help balance the eclectic accents in Bronson Van Wyk’s loft living room in New York. The event organizer designed the space with architects Ben Bischoff, Oliver Freundlich and Brian Papa.
Walls painted cement gray by Benjamin Moore bring a sophisticated touch to the living room of this French-inspired Chicago penthouse. Mustard yellow Oscar de la Renta fabric curtains for Lee Jofa add pop to the interior.
Creator Darren Starr, the shades of gray and white recreate the relaxing atmosphere of the space. Gray seating, including an elegant Zanotta sofa and Cassina chairs, provide balance to the bright white walls.
Deep gray