Thinking of Painting or Accenting Your Home? Think “Shades of Gray”

I’m interested in seeing how many people go out in February to see the movie premier of ‘Fifty Shades of Gray,’ versus heading into their own homes to refinish interiors in countless shades of gray.

That’s because Philadelphia’s Paint Quality Institute (PQI) for the second year in a row, is predicting gray to be the most popular hue for home interiors. This is the first time any color has headlined our forecast in back-to-back years, but gray, a near-perfect neutral color, has really caught on, according to a recent post on their website, paintquality.com.

Institute experts say gray is very easy on the eyes, it’s understated and sophisticated, and most tints and shades of gray are ‘chameleon’ colors that change appearance when the light changes, so they provide enormous visual interest.

Another reason for its popularity: Gray is a very versatile color that coordinates beautifully with a wide range of hues. As a result, it can be used in many different color schemes and with almost any style of décor.

PQI experts say that pairing gray with one or more neutral colors—white, off-white, beige, taupe, soft blue, or black—can produce a tranquil color scheme capable of making an indoor space more relaxing. That’s why you may often see these combinations in areas of refuge and comfort, such as bedrooms and family rooms.

But gray can also serve as an ideal foil for more adventurous color, ranging from saturated hues like purple, fuchsia, rust, and navy to softer tints like dusty pink and pale lavender. Color schemes employing these combinations can be used in virtually any room in the home.

Where paint color is concerned, you can simply ask a counterperson about the color formula to find out whether the gray contains warm or cool elements, and let that guide your selection of companion colors. Warm or cool, gray is a great color for any interior.

And the institute assures homeowners and decorators that it’s a color that will stand the test of time.

 

Judy Gratton Your Real Estate Edge

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