The living room pleases with pastel, warm and noble colors. But this does not mean that every detail of a themed interior should be pink, peach or turquoise. Contrast is welcome, provided that the single-color background dominates in its volume over the collection of different pieces of furniture. The background is mainly the walls, which in the living room should be light.
Moreover, light does not mean bright or warm. You can use a muted gray background. It’s not for nothing that a living room in gray colors has long been common in modern apartments.
Brief overview of the article
Relevance
Before you take on a themed interior, you need to find out whether it suits the living room at all. Here you should immediately refrain from the following stereotype: the living room should promote hospitality, not darkness. Of course, no one has canceled the main function of a themed room - relaxing with guests. But this does not mean that the living room in gray colors is akin to the hall of the necropolis. You just need to use the thematic solution wisely, depending on the following conditions:
- The user welcomes neoclassicism and laconicism;
- The effect of decorative accessories must be enhanced;
- The living room space is found in modern housing like a studio apartment;
- The living room itself is small (the gray color is light, which visually increases the area of the space).
One could reject the idea of using the design of a gray living room inside a private house, if not for one “BUT” - the corresponding property often has large glazing, which against a gray background turns into a focal point (of course, first you will have to frame the windows with curtains).
What to combine taupe with in the interior?
Are you wondering if and how you can add taupe color to your apartment or house? Don’t know what to combine it with in the interior to achieve the most interesting results? Many people refrain from choosing colors from this color range. They fear a boring or even terrible end result. Meanwhile, taupe-colored interiors seem both exclusive and cozy. Which makes them even more attractive. If you don't want to go for taupe walls, go for beige and gray accents. A headboard, plush rug, armchairs or sofa will be a stylish addition to a space dominated by milky white walls. Taupe also works well as a toning element in rooms enlivened by colors such as fuchsia, sunny yellow, burgundy or gold.
Variety
The concept of a gray room is based on a combination of different shades of the thematic range in one room to give the latter a certain shape.
Otherwise, staying in a themed space will resemble a flight, even if the room is completed with furniture and decorative items. To give contrast to different planes, different shades of gray are used:
- Nacre;
- Haze;
- Tin;
- Steel;
- Coal;
- Haliotis;
- Coventry.
In most cases, a gray-style living room has a dark floor, light walls and a dark ceiling. For the latter, steel and pewter shades are suitable, for walls - mother-of-pearl and coventry, for flooring - charcoal and iron. However, the last pair can be replaced with brown, which partly insulates the interior and even contributes to nobility.
Ideal range of color combinations
Basically, practice has revealed several of the most successful combinations:
- With snow-white, which in its monochrome is ideal for gray. Modern, art, and a little less classically, offer the most interesting design concept. It can be completely replaced with shades of dark milky or creamy. In this case, it is better to choose different textures of finishing materials. The interior becomes not just cozy, but also as comfortable as possible;
- With brownish, associated with the peculiarities of the rustic style of the countries of Great Britain. It always brings an atmosphere in which a person calms down and relaxes. Elegance and softness are always present with this design. In addition, there is no distraction from the decorative elements. They are perceived in their true purpose;
- With the pink palette comes tenderness and freshness. It does not cause any irritation, but it does help you relax. That is why the living room in this case becomes a favorite gathering place for all family members. The brightness of pink in a high-tech or loft style adds originality.
Furniture
Laconic and straightforward products are a win-win option for arranging a gray space. Moreover, themed furniture can be one of two colors:
- Bright one-color;
- Neutral, i.e. grey, black or brown.
Don’t worry about the risk of creating a “gray zone”: colorful and bright accessories will add charm to the finished interior, and with it a complete and original appearance.
Taupe - what color is it?
Taupe is a color that is difficult to define definitively. Its unusual and now slightly confusing name comes from the French word taupe, which means... moth. Although this noun was originally used only to describe the color of a mole's fur. In the 1940s, it became the name for a whole range of warm colors from beige to gray. Currently, the intrigue of taupe boldly penetrates into salons. Taupe is a noble and neutral color. It fits easily into eclectic interiors and is used in a variety of styles. Not only matches the wall color, but also looks great on sofa upholstery, furniture and accessories. Not only can taupe be a primary color, but it can also be used as an elegant accent color. This is a fashionable alternative to cool grays and warm browns. Hence its great popularity in colonial and glamorous interiors.
Accessories
Even with the yellow light provided by the lamps, a living room in gray tones seems a bit boring. And although the appropriate understanding comes with time, it must be warned in advance using:
- Decorative fireplace imitating flames;
- Multi-colored pillows (preferably they match the colors of the curtains);
- A bright green plant like a palm tree;
- Glazed color painting or medium-large format photo;
- Bright noble curtains.
There should be few accessories so that the decor range includes only two or three colors. Thanks to this restraint, a modern gray living room is achieved without any visual burden and remains modern by default.
If the decor is not enough, then it can be replaced by furniture made of wood - a wall, a coffee table, a display case. There is only one condition here - the forest must be light. Brown leather upholstery also adds solidity and charm to the interior.
Popular interior styles
The colors of concrete, asphalt and iron are most often used in modern interiors, but classic motifs are not alien to them.
Loft
The industrial style of the urban jungle consists almost entirely of gray concrete blocks, metal structures and chrome ventilation systems. A gray interior in this style will be complemented by wide panoramic windows.
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In a loft there is no place without metal and brick.
Industrial concrete finish in grunge style.
High tech
Steel shine, polished plastic, tempered glass and the latest technology – these are the pillars on which high-tech is based and where the gray palette looks as organic as possible.
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Graphite high-tech kitchen.
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Light walls in a high-tech kitchen.
