For the past several years, grey has become the new white for interior walls and furnishings. In part, the resurgence of grey is due to the interest in mid-century interiors, furniture and product design. Also, fashion and interior design ebb and flow. We have grown tired of all the creams, tans, browns and magnolias that dominated interiors for the past ten years. The pendulum has swung towards another neutral that creates a fantastic background for mid-century furniture that also works as well when seventeenth and eighteenth century antiques are in the mix.
Grey is a neutral that, when used properly, is a more elegant neutral than cream. It adds interest and depth to subtle colours and gives bolder shades a solid foundation. Choosing the right grey isn't easy; however, the new Little Greene Grey palette of 28 shades makes it a bit easier to choose. There are four columns of seven swatches with each column having one of four base pigments: Verdigris, Umber, Ochre and Red Oxide. The “temperature” of each column is determined by the base pigment: from green to cooler to warmer to redder.
Interiors Matter have large, painted sample boards of hundreds of colours. There are several considerations when choosing a paint colour. What other colours will be used? Do you want contrast or harmony? What direction is the natural light coming from? These are all important factors and you should look at a painted sample at different times throughout day before making a decision. Grey is all the rage, but it can be classic and timeless when chosen with care.