Choosing the Right Gray
True grays are generally considered cool neutrals, but each hue can shift in temperature depending on its undertones. Flushed with red or yellow, gray appears warm. Blue and silver tones give gray a chilly undercurrent. Identify the undertones in the gray you choose to generate your desired atmosphere; knowing the undertones will also help you select accent colors and accessories. In general, most gray shades are good choices for bedroom walls. Deep charcoal grays are fitting for traditional bedrooms centered on cocooning. Midtone grays, such as pearl and fog, tiptoe into view as an understated showcase for industrial metals and streamlined silhouettes. Dove grays visually expand a room, amplify light, and complement sophisticated transitional designs. Grays are especially good in monochromatic bedrooms. For example, you may want charcoal lower walls that transition to pewter upper walls, with both hues highlighted by pale dove gray woodwork. Pay attention to sheen when choosing paints and colors for your gray bedroom idea. Glossier finishes make grays appear stark and cold; flat or matte finishes cause grays to appear lush and warm. Instead of trimming gray walls with bright-white moldings, which can create an unsettling contrast, paint woodwork cream, off-white, or barely-there gray.
Coordinating Colors
Whether gray is the primary color in a room, an accent hue, or added as a decorative touch, you’ll find that gray plays nicely with color shades ranging from bright to pastel. Can’t-miss color companions for most shades of gray include red, gold, black, white, cream, and silver. Navy blue works with pale blue-shaded grays; silvery blues beautifully team with deep grays. But gray also partners well with vibrant turquoise, citron yellow, bright orange, and hot pink to create personality-plus bedrooms. Like a thoroughly modern look? Use mid-tone gray walls to spotlight black furniture finishes, deep purple bedding, and khaki and chrome accessories. As with any color combination, the higher the contrast, the more energetic the result. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, combine hues of a similar intensity to create a calming composition. Blend light and dark grays with vivid and muted colors to fashion a gray bedroom that lives lively.
Light in Gray Bedrooms
Gray can go gloomy if there’s not enough light in a room. Banish potential shadows by dressing windows in sheer white curtains or loosely woven linen panels that filter without blocking light. Introduce elements such as mirrors, crystal chandeliers, silver frames, glossy white furniture, clear-glass accessories, and polished-steel tables that intensify natural light. Finally, install layers of lighting, from ceiling fixtures and recessed lights to table and standing lamps, to make a gray bedroom function at its best and brightest. Elevate a gray bedroom’s appeal by displaying grays in a diverse array of textures. Consider introducing plush textiles, such as chenille, velvet, and corduroy, that show off the richness of deep and light grays. A good gray bedroom idea is to counter its cooling properties by incorporating quilted duvets, woven blinds, colorful area rugs, distressed finishes, and throw pillows in vivaciously colored and patterned fabrics.
