Interior Obsessions – Grey Days

I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed lately. Combine that with some bizarre weather patterns, and I’m feeling a bit grey. I don’t want the shot of bright color to jar me loose, just the relaxed, simple mellow that grey can bring. Don’t think that this means I want my space to look cold or uninviting. Quite the contrary. Sometimes you need the world around you to fade back a bit to bring the rest of life down to a dull roar.

Greys are temperamental. A blue cast can either make a grey look cheery, or make it appear cold and lifeless. This is best mitigated by using a slightly darker tone, especially if you’re trying to meld with an existing cooler palette. Personally, I’m a fan of the warmer types of grey, those with a slight greenish cast. You can see these differences easily in clothing, where two black pieces don’t match at all. These warmer greys are stunning with natural wood, especially walnut and teak, or any other non-yellow variety. Grey and wood seem to bring out the best in each other. The wood livens up the grey by introducing a natural finish, and the grey keeps the wood in a relaxed vibe. There are options from the lightest grey-white to the deepest charcoal and everything in between. Don’t be afraid to mix different tones and textures – it’s a great way to get visual variety while keeping a monochromatic palette. And if you get in the mood and need a lift, a pop of bright color against this neutral background can change your whole perspective.

(above) Dark Grey Bedding

Cool Grey Wall + Concrete Finish

Charcoal Textured Tiles

Faded Flooring + Medium Tone Surfaces

Grey Flannel Sofa

Amy wrote this post. She is the designer and owner of FormFire Glassworks, where she creates modern lampwork glass beads and jewelry, and by day designs custom homes for a small firm in Southern California. You can follow her twitter @formfireglass.