It’s all o-grey!
How to layer shades of grey
EVEN BEFORE THE '50 Shades of Grey' enterprise took the world by storm, this neutral, monochromatic hue was widely popular in interior design. Grey is a great alternative to white or beige, and thanks to its silvery look, goes very well in contemporary decor.
However, a great way to use grey is through tonal layering. Not only does this create depth, it blends together beautifully by the eyes — much like seeing an impressionist painting from far away blends the tones close to each other into a singular beautiful colour.
Here's how to layer grey with prowess.
Pick a base grey colour
Think of this as your reference point for the rest of your designing. A good, neutral grey would be Resene Concrete or Resene Silver Chalice (hyperlink). These colours are ideal for painting your walls with, as the rest of the room can easily be layered to complement these two base tones. For more options, consult a collection of our greys.
Collect items within two shades darker and lighter of your base grey
Cushions, vases, sofa upholstery, artworks — think broad and think big during your collecting of grey items. As long as they stay within this spectrum, layering them is easy and won't be as jarring on the eye. To balance out the grey, opt for statement furniture pieces in white or black. Large dining tables, bedside cabinets, wardrobes or coffee tables are good items to add in black and white rather than grey to balance out the room.
Use a perfect tonal trilogy in your arrangements
Arrange objects in light, medium and dark grey colours in groups of three. For example, find three ceramic vases in these colours and arrange them in a triangular formation on the coffee table. Lay three cushions side by side on the couch. This form of perfect tonal gradation of grey is the bread-and-butter for layering, complementing each other to work better as a team.
You can paint accessories or vases in shades of grey to suit using Resene testpots. Use the Resene Whites & Neutrals collection for strength variations of popular greys and choose lighter and darker options to suit your room’s colour palette.