Tired of beige being the only (andboring) a universal option for a neutral interior? We will prove that you have at least 10 reasons to prefer gray - a fashionable, interesting and very beautiful color In the world of fashion, every season some color is declared "the new black", meaning versatility, but in interior design, beige has long confidently occupied the position of a shade that suits everything. In practice, this is a safe choice made out of a desire to avoid mistakes. But life without experiments is boring. Gray is more difficult to handle, but the result is literally enchanting. Gray in the interior is now so popular that the famous English manufacturer of wallpaper and paints Little Greene, working since 1773, recently released a separate palette of 28 of its shades - and you will not call any of them dull. The collection is based on 4 basic tones and 7 intensity options for each, the lightest ones are reminiscent of ash and ivory, the dark ones - of chocolate and soot. There are also exotic ones, like the color of the skin of a toad or a dolphin. At the same time, the company uses 40 percent more pigment in production than others, which ensures durability and special saturation. In Russia, the paint can be purchased in a chain of stores.
Alexey Eliseev, director and co-ownerManders chain stores: — The popularity of gray came to interior design from the world of fashion. Interestingly, now more and more often preference is given to its cold shades and their effective combination with white decor. The demand for gray paints for kitchen design has also increased, where previously warm beige tones were mainly chosen. manders.ru
Gray goes with any color
Scientists call this effect simultaneous.contrast - gray highlights the color next to it, fading into the background and not causing satiety. Active tones, such as red, lose their intrusiveness and aggressiveness next to it. Cold blue and green look more noble and interesting. The combination with warm neutral shades, such as beige, makes the interior complete and balanced. An unexpected and successful option is the combination , energetic and fresh.
Gray is a practical color.
Gray color does not get dirty as easily as white and beige.It does not show fingerprints and scratches like black. It does not fade like bright colors. All this makes it suitable for painting kitchen fronts and use in work areas such as offices and workshops.
Gray is the perfect background
When Little Greene was commissioneddesign of the restored Manchester Art Gallery, grey was chosen as the optimal background for displaying all types of art – from sculpture to photography. The paints were selected by the museum curators depending on the lighting of each specific room and the characteristics of the exhibits. For example, the walls of the portrait gallery are painted in a shade of lead. The main hall combines various tones of calming grey-green.
Gray color is calming
Yes, it is a passive shade that can bedepressing for melancholics. But it “grounds” people who live at a fast pace and work until they lose their strength. Gray brings them back into contact with the current moment, comforts and cools a hot head. In the interior, it evokes a feeling of calm, serenity and stability - just choose a color that suits you and your lifestyle.
Gray is diverse and dynamic
Gray changes depending on lighting andenvironment. It can be unobtrusive and rich, warm and cold. Natural light helps it to be lighter and visually increase the space, bright artificial light can brighten it by a couple of shades. But remember that gray itself is the color of twilight and shadow, without backlighting it disappears.
Our opinion:— A light gray floor, for example, can make a room cluttered with furniture look more spacious. Gray walls also cool down — in the hot summer, you will feel cool and comfortable in such a room. If, on the contrary, you want to create a warmer space — choose rough, loose textures and paint shades based on red and brown pigments.
Gray is noble
Just think of the shades of pearl, silver andsteel. Sometimes it is worth adding a little shine, and no one will call your interior "nondescript", the epithets you will hear are strong and elegant. Gray is unobtrusive, but unlike beige, which is often simply invisible against the background of other colors, it remains in the viewer's field of perception and does not lose its individuality. Bonus: furniture made in gray seems more expensive than white, black or beige.
Gray fits into a variety of styles
High-tech, loft and minimalism are the most obviousoptions. But it is worth softening the steel to ash and replacing smooth textures with loose ones - gray also works in cozy rustic interiors. Many materials associated with industrial and urban design have gray shades - chrome, concrete, cement. But fluffy fur, expressive old wood and soft fabrics also look great in gray. A pearl tone will suit the classics, and a gray-blue range will suit the oriental style.
Gray is good in different rooms
Even in a child's room, grey is combined with bright colours.details will create a more solid and adult atmosphere, and this is great for a room that is being furnished "for growth". In the kitchen, gray will emphasize freshness and cleanliness. In the bedroom, it will quickly calm you down and make it easier to fall asleep. In the study or office, it will create a serious, businesslike atmosphere.
Gray is in fashion
You can trust the data from paint manufacturers:has caught up with beige, if not surpassed it. The growing interest in Scandinavian interior design will undoubtedly lead to a further increase in its popularity – the combination of gray, black and white has become one of the signature techniques of this style. Another reason is that the stress of city life requires calm and soothing tones. Angela Fawcett, PR manager of Little Greene, says: “At first, we just wanted to create one perfect shade of gray. But after studying the market, we realized that this would not be enough, and conceived an entire collection.”
There is always a suitable shade of gray
Gray has much more color pigments thanit seems that there is always a shade suitable for your purposes. There are excellent options for light and dark rooms, northern and southern, large and small, interiors filled with black and white photographs or orange textiles. One piece of advice - be sure to buy a sample of paint and look at the sample in different lighting. Alexey Eliseev, director and co-owner of the Manders chain of stores: - The Gray collection by Little Greene is based on four tones of pigment - green, yellow, red and brown. Thanks to this, having determined which group a specific shade belongs to, it is easy to understand how it will combine with the rest of the interior. Just apply the sample to the selected surface - and everything will become clear. manders.ru
Our opinion:— For example, the Urban Grey shade is based on green pigment, so it goes well with blue tones. The Dolphin color is based on red pigment, which means it goes well with pink. Be sure to pay attention to the shade base so as not to miss when fitting it into the interior. littlegreene.eu, marylebonejournal.com, pinterest.com
