Gray offers versatile, neutral base for any color palette
Q. We have decided to rip up our carpets and put down hardwood floors. It’s a big investment, and we want the floors to last a long time. There are so many choices of colors, and even for the size of the planks. Have you any suggestions?
A. Over the past 15 years, we have seen a big swing from wallto-wall carpeting to wood flooring.
Engineered floors — floors that can be laid without nails or glue — made of bamboo, cork, and both hard and soft woods have all become familiar and accessible. There are so many options that it is difficult to settle on one. Popular floor colors have expanded as well, from basic wood tones to bleached-out shades of white and gray. I suggest you look at photographs of different floor styles on the Internet, in magazines and in books.
Once you have narrowed down your choices, most retailers will be happy to let you to take samples home and live with them for a few days. See if the change complements the furniture and decor you already have or if you want to make a more radical switch in paint colors as well.
You may notice while doing your research that one of the most predominant colors showing up in interior products right now is gray. This versatile hue shows up in soft furnishings, cabinetry, paint colors and fabrics.
Shaw Floor’s color of the year for 2015 is Lady in Gray. This gray theme doesn’t just hold for the company’s wood floors, but also for its porcelain tiles, luxury vinyl
Why is gray so popular? Gray is practical. Grays are forgiving; they don’t show every little detail — perfect when you have kids and pets.”
and, yes, carpets, too ( www.shawfloors.com).
I spoke with Emily Morrow, director of color, style and design at Shaw Floors, to see if she thinks the popularity of this neutral shade is going to last. Morrow notes that gray is not a trendy color — rather it has eased its way into the design world, beginning in 2007 with high-end fashion and design. Gray’s popularity has continued to explode, building every year.
This color has longevity, and Morrow predicts that it will last for five more years. Why so popular? Gray is practical. Grays are forgiving; they don’t show every little footprint — perfect when you have kids and pets.
One of the color themes I chose for 2015 is Industrial Neutrals. Gray plays a big role in this style, as the color complements utilitarian settings.
Shaw’s gray is a warm gray that coexists with cool shades of blue, such as teal and aqua, and also hot shades like coral. The tranquil bedroom shown here (from Shaw Floors) combines medium and pale grays with dreamy blues in a gentle blend of hues that are soothing, yet fresh. From the company’s Castlewood Collection, the 7-inch-wide planks of the White Oak
veneer floor show lots of graining, with a low-sheen finish that provides an attractive, distressed look.
When planning for your new wood floors, take into consideration what other materials the floor will butt up against. For the kitchen, gray porcelain floor tiles work well — they look good with the popular commercial appliances in stainless steel, as well as the more traditional white. Add color and texture with the backsplash areas and counters.
Wallpaper is back and provides more opportunity to boost your decorating with gray, giving you all the balance you need. Is gray the new black? Gray tells a softer story, and we are all loving it today.