Grey is a versatile neutral color that can work with a variety of color schemes in living room designs. When paired thoughtfully, the right colors can make a grey living room feel warm, inviting and stylish. There are many factors to consider when choosing colors to complement grey, such as the shade of grey, the size of the space, the amount of natural light and the overall style you want to achieve. With some strategic planning, it’s easy to create a cohesive and attractive grey living room design.
Warm Colors That Go With Grey
Grey has the potential to read as cold or clinical if not balanced properly. Fortunately, pairing grey with warm colors is an excellent way to give a grey living room a cozy, inviting look and feel. Here are some of the best warm color options to complement grey:
Beige
Beige is a flexible warm neutral that works beautifully with greys. Pair a pale beige with a soft dove grey or try a tan beige with a charcoal grey for high contrast. Beige adds warmth and brightness to grey rooms.
Cream
Similar to beige, cream is a warm off-white shade that flatters grey tones. Try pairing a creamy white with a light grey for a clean and airy look. Or use an antique white alongside a dark grey for a cozier feel. Cream adds a soft, welcoming vibe.
White
A crisp bright white can impart a light and spacious look when combined with grey. White also makes an ideal canvas to layer other accent colors over. Use bright white with a cool-toned grey or soft greige for a refined modern look.
Ivory
Ivory has golden undertones that bring out the warmth in greys. Use ivory dining chairs and throw pillows to add coziness to a grey living room. Ivory also complements blue-greys beautifully.
Gold
Metallic gold makes a glamorous and luminous accent color for grey. Gold artwork, pillows and accessories add richness. Pair gold with charcoal grey for dramatic contrast or try rose gold with taupe grey for a more subtle look.
Yellow
Cheerful yellow is an lively complement to sedate grey tones. Opt for a bright lemon yellow with a light grey or try mustard yellow with a dark charcoal. Yellow brings vitality and joy to grey rooms.
| Warm Color | Shade Ideas | Grey Pairings |
|---|---|---|
| Beige | Pale beige, tan | Dove grey, charcoal grey |
| Cream | Antique white, creamy white | Light grey, dark grey |
| White | Bright white, soft white | Cool grey, greige |
| Ivory | Golden ivory | Blue greys |
| Gold | Metallic gold, rose gold | Charcoal grey, taupe grey |
| Yellow | Lemon yellow, mustard yellow | Light grey, dark charcoal |
Cool Colors That Complement Grey
While warm colors bring out the cozy side of grey, cool colors emphasize the sophisticated, sleek side of grey. Cool hues like blues, greens and purples pair beautifully with grey tones. Here are some of the top cool color choices:
Blue
From navy to sky blue, all shades of blue flatter grey color schemes. Light blue brings out the softness in light greys, while navy blue adds depth and dimension to darker greys. Blue is a versatile accent color for grey living rooms.
Green
Earthy greens like sage and olive mesh well with grey’s natural undertones. Moss green looks gorgeous with a blue-grey on walls. Vibrant greens like emerald add pops of color to neutral grey backdrops.
Purple
Regal purple infuses grey rooms with elegance and style. Pair a light lilac with a warm greige or try deep amethyst with a cooler grey. Metallic purples like plum also work nicely with charcoal greys.
Pink
While still technically a warm color, pink takes on a cooler, more sophisticated hue when combined with grey. Try pairing a blush pink with greige walls or a fuchsia pink with a blue-tinted grey.
Teal
The cool aquatic hue of teal makes a refreshing accent color for grey. Use teal pillows, rugs and artwork to add subtle pops of color to a grey living room. Teal creates an inviting, relaxed vibe.
| Cool Color | Shade Ideas | Grey Pairings |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Navy, sky blue, light blue | Light greys, dark greys |
| Green | Sage, olive, moss, emerald | Blue-greys, neutral greys |
| Purple | Lilac, amethyst, plum | Greige, cool greys |
| Pink | Blush, fuchsia | Greige, blue-grey |
| Teal | Blue-green teal | Neutral greys |
Neutrals That Work With Grey
Sometimes it’s best to keep a grey palette relaxed and low-contrast by sticking with other neutral tones. Neutrals can create a soothing, minimalist look when decorating with grey. Here are some go-to neutral colors for grey living rooms:
White
Clean and light, white is an easy match for any shade of grey. Try an all-white sofa against dark grey walls or white trim with a pale grey. White opens up smaller spaces.
Black
The deepest dark, black immediately adds drama and sophistication to grey decor. Use black furniture or accents to ground a light grey scheme. Black and grey is a classic combo.
Brown
Earthy browns complement grey’s natural essence beautifully. Pair warm tans with greige or rich chocolate browns with charcoal grey features. Brown and grey create an organic feel.
Grey
Don’t underestimate the power of grey paired with grey! Mixing grey tones in different textures and shades adds subtle depth. Pair a heathered grey sofa with cool grey walls or try different grey wood tones.
Silver & Chrome
Glossy silvers and chromes make grey shine. Try mercury glass vases, silver leaf accents or a chrome coffee table with grey. Metallic silvers tie schemes together.
| Neutral Color | Shade Ideas | Grey Pairings |
|---|---|---|
| White | Bright white, soft white | Any shade of grey |
| Black | Flat black | Light greys |
| Brown | Tan, chocolate brown | Greige, charcoal |
| Grey | Heather grey, cool grey, grey wood | Mix grey tones together |
| Silver & Chrome | Mercury glass, silver leaf, chrome | All greys |
Choosing Colors Based on Grey Tones
When selecting accent and complementary colors for grey, it helps to consider the specific shade of grey you’re working with. Some pairings work better with warm greys vs. cool greys. Here are some best practices:
Light Greys
Pair light greys with equally airy accent colors like sky blue, lemon yellow, white and lilac. Deeper shades can overwhelm a soft light grey, so stick with clean pastels and neutrals.
Medium Greys
Since medium greys are so versatile, you can get creative with brighter complementary colors like emerald, navy and gold. Medium greys work well with both light and dark accent hues.
Dark Greys
With deep charcoals and graphites, go bold with your color pairings. Orange, fuchsia, red and teal help keep dark grey from feeling too somber. Don’t be afraid of high contrast.
Warm Greys
Play up the coziness of warm greys like greige and taupe with colors like cream, terra cotta, avocado and butterscotch. Stick with warmer pastels and earth tones.
Cool Greys
Cool blues, greens and violets emphasize the sleekness of cool-toned greys. Combine silver, periwinkle, sage and sky blue with these refined greys for a sophisticated look.
| Grey Tone | Best Color Pairings |
|---|---|
| Light Grey | Sky blue, lemon yellow, white, lilac |
| Medium Grey | Emerald, navy, gold |
| Dark Grey | Orange, fuchsia, red, teal |
| Warm Grey | Cream, terra cotta, avocado, butterscotch |
| Cool Grey | Silver, periwinkle, sage, sky blue |
Color Schemes for Grey Living Rooms
Now that we’ve covered individual colors that work well with grey, here are some popular full color scheme ideas to consider:
Grey and Yellow
A grey and yellow scheme feels bright and cheerful. Use light grey with pastel yellow or charcoal grey with bold mustard or gold. Yellow generates warmth.
Grey and Blue
From nautical to modern, blue is a versatile accent for grey. Try pale blue with greige or navy with dark grey for contrast. Blue-grey is also a popular wall color.
Grey and Green
Earthy olive green and sage mesh beautifully with grey’s natural vibe. Or use vibrant green accents to brighten a grey backdrop. Green and grey is a relaxing combo.
Grey and Pink
For a feminine twist, use pinks to soften a grey scheme. Blush pink with greige and fuchsia with blue-grey both work well. Pink adds playfulness.
Grey and Purple
Regal purple adds elegance and intrigue when paired with grey. Try light purple with warm grey or deep eggplant purple with cool grey for dramatic contrast.
| Color Scheme | Sample Pairings |
|---|---|
| Grey & Yellow | Light grey with pastel yellow, charcoal grey with mustard |
| Grey & Blue | Pale blue with greige, navy with dark grey |
| Grey & Green | Olive green with grey, sage with grey |
| Grey & Pink | Blush pink with greige, fuchsia with blue-grey |
| Grey & Purple | Light purple with warm grey, deep purple with cool grey |
Tips for Choosing Colors
Here are some helpful tips for selecting accent colors to use with different shades of grey in your living room:
Consider Contrast Level
Lighter greys look best with higher contrast accent colors, while darker greys stand up well to lighter accents. Don’t be afraid to experiment with very high or very low contrast depending on the shade of grey.
Pay Attention to Undertones
Cool greys like blue-greys work well with other cool-toned colors. Warm greys with beige or taupe undertones pair better with other warm hues. Keep undertones in mind.
Add Pops of Bright Color
Neutral grey schemes can handle vibrant pops of color like fuchsia, emerald or cobalt. Use bright colors sparingly in accent pieces like pillows, stools, artwork.
Incorporate Metallic Accents
Metallics like gold, silver, copper and brass add glam and reflectivity to grey color schemes. They work with both warm and cool greys.
Repeat Colors
Using at least 3 separate instances of an accent color helps reinforce a color scheme. For example, add purple pillows, flowers and candles.
Conclusion
Grey living rooms offer so many possibilities for creative and visually appealing color combinations. Whether you prefer high contrast schemes or relaxed neutral rooms, strategically choosing accent colors that work with different shades of grey is the key to success. Warm hues like beige, cream, white and yellow create cozy grey spaces. Cool tones like blue, green, pink and purple give grey rooms an elegant, sophisticated flair. For foolproof grey living room ideas, pay attention to tone and balance. With the right color pairings, grey can feel crisp, inviting, elegant or edgy. Have fun coordinating colors and watch your beautiful grey living room come to life!