The dos and don'ts of decorating with grey – to pick the right shade for you

Grey is undeniably the new neutral, the cool color that adds a sophisticated edge, elegance and a refinement to a room, and a go-to for anyone who wants an easy-to-live with tone that's easy to color scheme and redecorate around. 

As Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director at Little Greene explains, ‘Greys, neutrals and white are a decorating staple, are combined in both classical and contemporary decoration style to present a backdrop upon which to decorate; but, this is not the end of the story, as the use of stronger neutrals leads us to a more exciting vision.’

Also known for being a somewhat unwelcoming color – a paler shade can feel cold on its own – grey is best when teamed with other greys on the comprehensive spectrum that it occupies or, of course, combined with other colors to create a striking, warmer, more layered look. But where to start?

Here, we've listed the dos and don'ts of decorating with grey, so you can pick just the right shade for the right place.

By Sophie Warren-Smith