Gray Is the New Black

GRAY IS THE NEW BLACK Whether it's walls, furniture, fabrics or art, gray has made a comeback in the world of sophisticated interior design

Gray has traditionally been thought of as a relatively boring color if indeed it was even considered to be a color. But times have changed and you only have to visit a few model homes to appreciate the extent to which interior designers have embraced the gray color palette.

Now let's see what gray can do in a room

When shades of gray serve as the cohesive force in a design, it opens the possibility for some unlikely accent colors like black and gold.

In this example, both the wall and the sofa are in a gray-green shade and the wall is in a even darker hue. The black in the artwork and the gold lamp are ultimately what make this room pop.

The room in the upper left uses mustard and gold to compliment the distressed gray wall but the artwork fails to pick up the yellow accents. Simply changing the abstract image serves to bring the room to life

The right piece of art can function as a focal point in an otherwise plain room. Kandinsky's Several Circles, 1926 complements the black bedspread while adding a playful burst of color to the room.

You could certainly find numerous other pieces of art that would achieve the same result.

Some areas can be very difficult to work with. The rustic nature of this cellar with its textured charcoal walls and rough funiture presented a unique challenge. I thought it looked like the perfect place for a secretive love affair so what better painting than Frederic William Burton's 1864 watercolor, Hellelil and Hildebrand, the Meeting on the Turret Stairs. The knight's armor and the woman's dress compliment the metal bench and the darkness of the alcove is in keeping with the subdued light in the cellar. In addition the picture frame works nicely with the knight's chain mail.

Green is the standout in this room but it only works because it is set against light gray walls.

That in itself would look great but it's the art that puts the design over the top. The Abduction of Ganymede by Zeus is a 17th century mythological century painting by Eustache Le Sueur. Its soft green tones play against the dark green of the sofa while the picture frame picks up the brown tones from the other pieces of furniture.

Gray is a simple mixture of black and white but it can be so much more. Incorporating some color leads to a myriad of options including gray-greens and gray-blues.

The striking red divan in combination with Henri Edmond Cross' pointilist masterpiece Sunset Over the Sea, 1896 comes alive on a gray-blue wall.

BEFORE

AFTER

The original room looks bland and unattractive ... dare we say boring. Even the art seems lost on the wall.

The Solution • the art was enlarged, looks more modern and has a taupe component that works with the bed linens • the walls were painted a gray-green color • the room was decluttered • the lamp on the left was changed to a color and style in keeping with the new wall color The room now has a level of sophistication that has been achieved with minimal effort.

The Blue Mountains I & 2 diptych by PhotoINC Studio adds just enough color to keep this industrial looking design from becoming bleak

With the dramatic increase in folks working from home, creating a confortable and functional home office can be a challenge.

This home work station looks bland and crowded The clock and noteboard are unnecessary and there is too much stuff on the desk. I imagine it would be hard to focus in this environment.

This is a far more functional and relaxing place to work. The taupe wall (basically a red-gray) is soothing and the artwork is attractive but not distracting. The desk is less cluttered and the small bookcase is useful for storage and can even accomodate a printer.

I hope you've enjoyed perusing through these designs and makeovers. My goal is simple ... to motivate you in whatever design project you might be planning.

Like you, I am not professional designer but, having worked in the art world for the past 25 years, I have learned a great deal about color and design and hopefully can impart some of my insights on to you.

Just Wall Decor

www.justwalldecor.com

Much of the wall art in this flipbook is available through our website and can easily be accessed by clicking the various hyperlinks

Just Wall Decor, 2024