The Gray Ages
Grays came on the scene like a wrecking ball and dominated interior spaces, and suddenly, NOT having gray made your interior dated. Well, it’s finally time for gray to move over, or at least get a makeover.
First, let’s examine gray. As anyone knows who has struggled to jump on the gray bandwagon, gray can be problematic and surprisingly difficult to match in a color scheme. First, the sheer number of grays now run the gamut making the “perfect gray” harder to pin down and use successfully. Gray is not simply black and white (literally), but can have significant undertones of blue or green. Another issue with gray is the coldness it can convey.
Furthermore as trends evolve and designers and homeowners move on, which is inevitable with paint colors, we find ourselves on a further quest for the perfect neutral.
Beige: Bland or Beautiful?
Historically, when people say neutral, people think beige. The thinking is beige is the safe choice. Not too strong and loud, but just right. But beige is also tricky to do well. The light in the room, the undertones in the paint, the color temperature, and your existing furnishings all play a part in complicating good old beige.
Hello Greige: Gray + Beige
Greige is incredibly popular as the hybrid, go to neutral. The idea is simple (as most brilliant ideas are). Gray added to beige creates a richer color, and most importantly, one that can work in both cool and warm color schemes.
Change the ratio of beige to gray and you can go from a cool neutral to a warm neutral. For all you color geeks out there, it works something like this, a true beige on its own has a strong yellow undertone which makes it a mismatch for cooler colors and furnishings. Add gray to beige and you have an instantly versatile paint that can work with cooler colors with no undertone issues. This gives you an incredible backdrop with which to create a neutral color scheme.
Where and How Defined
Typically and in general, greige that is grayer leaning, is gorgeous with blue, white, and cool colors. A warmer greige (think less gray and more beige) can be used anywhere you would use beige.
Paint Samples are Your Friend
Can’t stress enough how important it is to get the colors on the wall, wait till it dries completely, and look at it in several areas, and at several times of day. This is a sometimes a shocking and perplexing exercise. Prepare to adjust the color slightly.
Embrace the New Neutral
As you consider freshening up your interiors, give greige a go! You get the elegance of gray, without the cold blue undertones. It’s super versatile and easily controllable, and give you great results!
There are dozens of helpful sites to help you explore your color story.
BENJAMIN MOORE
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color
VALSPAR PAINT
https://m.valsparpaint.com/colors.php
PORTOLA PAINTS
http://www.portolapaints.com/volume-2/kimono
DUNNE EDWARDS
https://www.dunnedwards.com/colors/browser/de6240
