2 Modern Homes the Use Grey for a Calming Effect

A home is a reflection of the occupant’s personality. Even in a rental space, the furniture, textiles, and lights are choices that make a difference in how the space and the occupant are perceived. Color is a huge part of that personality that a home creates. From vibrant bohemian hues to the stark white of some minimalist spaces, color choice is critical in interior design. We can think of the color grey as being a bit non-committal and even a cop out of a color choice, but the truth is that grey has its own personality, as you will see in the homes featured here.

Visualizer: Lucia Ivancov

The first home does not simply build a space around a single grey element, but instead takes on many shades of the color — venturing all the way to white — to create a unique and unified look.

According to color psychology, grey can be a color that makes people feel calm, safe, and secure.

By using so many shades of grey in the main living area, this home is saying to guests that this is a place that it is safe to be. Come in, relax, and enjoy your time with friends and family.

Of course, some grey choices have practical implications as well, with grey flooring being an option that can easily hide dirt, for example.

This particular design calls further attention to the choice of grey walls with a large wall clock design element that actually uses the wall itself as the face of the clock.

In the kitchen, soft grey dining room pendant lights diffuse light over the breakfast bar while wood cutting boards reflect the natural aspect of grey in stone, and clouds.

A fruit bowl is a simple decorative element that unifies the butcher block countertop with the grey theme and can hold seasonal fruits for a pop of color.

The dark grey of the kitchen cabinetry trends towards the idea of grey as an industrial color.

Because these industrial spaces are not meant to be seen, acting as purely functional, grey can be a way for them to disappear.

The bedroom, where grey can become depressing, is kept white and bright with bedside lamps.

Here, grey is used sparingly in heavy curtains and a soft seating cushion tucked underneath the vanity.

White linens and a subtly grey wall that is in the blue spectrum of grey are calming elements without getting too dark.

The bedroom has a bit of rustic feel as well with a natural wood vanity and shelving, as well as the grey wood flooring that carries through from the living room.

The recessed area above the headboard is a creative shelving choice, perfect for keeping books in easy reach.

The closet continues with the rustic theme, using bare wood shelving and white paneled drawers.

Both shelving and hanging space are critical to keeping any closet organized.

In the home office area, enough monitors for a 2 person workspace sit atop the white desk, but just one chair indicates that both of these monitors are for one productive person.

The home office space incorporates both white and grey, providing enough balance that the color should not stifle creativity.

The dark grey accent wall is another blue-tinted choice that is quite soothing and should calm the stress of working at home.

The grey theme is so strong in this home that even a decorative vase is filled with haunting grey tulips.

While grey can sometimes indicate the absence of sunshine, that’s not the case on this enclosed balcony.

In the bathroom, tiles are a more brown shade of grey.

The tiles along with an oversized white sink and white cabinetry further the rustic feel.

Simple soap and lotion dispensers find a cozy home on the stark white countertop.

Built in shelving offer an out of the way place for those bathroom necessities that can clutter up this room.

Visualizer: Nastya Ivanchuk & Marina Tsishyna

In addition to being a calming shade, grey can also be quite sophisticated, as indicated in this next space.

The oversized art piece in this living room, coupled with the many tones of grey, create a simple elegance that would be difficult to manage with any other color palette.

Like other neutrals, grey has a distinct ability to highlight other colors, as seen here with this dark rusty red and even the green of the house plant.

Grey is a lovely choice for window treatments, creating a soft, cloud-like effect against the windows in this upper level apartment.

A greyish marble coffee table allows whatever knickknack, book, or fresh cut flowers you want to highlight to really shine.

Even the bright flicker of a modern fireplace is made that much brighter by its grey tile backdrop.

Grey is also an effective choice for allowing the beauty of unique art pieces and natural wood to shine through.

To truly take advantage of the beauty of grey, you must add pops of color at regular intervals, such as this bright red dining chair.

The eye is drawn immediately to the red and then allowed to hop to black, white, and grey in these mismatched modern dining chairs, which are Kartell Masters Style Chairs.

The natural wood table appears very elegant against the grey curtains and cabinetry.

Even the soft green of the cut greenery on the table is brightened up by the surrounding scenery.

Creative overhead lighting in black has a very modern feel, adding to the overall elegance of the interior.

The open floor plan benefits from the shades of grey, making in easy transition from one space to another.

Finally, where wood is used, it calls attention to the beauty and craftsmanship because the warm color is so surprising.

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