Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

What is it with Grey?

225 replies

Carryingon · 21/01/2021 23:04

I saw a house today which had been modernised but it was so monochrome. Flat grey kitchen, grey carpets, black doors and woodwork, very dark grey radiators. And it was all brand new so I couldn’t justify changing it. Someone will love it but sadly not me.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
21
truetuesdays · 22/01/2021 09:59

I think it's a lot of people who just don't know what they are doing or have very good taste so they think oh well if everything matches in a non offensive colour it will look OK.

I can't bare it. I also hate the trend of grey and blush pink. Looks like a child's bedroom (and I would even have that in a child's bedroom)

PresentingPercy · 22/01/2021 10:04

Greys can be stunning if you know how to pull the look together. Use accent colours and white paint on woodwork in most cases.

What is it with Grey?
What is it with Grey?
What is it with Grey?
Fizbosshoes · 22/01/2021 10:04

I dont mind grey although our house has only 1 grey room which is DDs room. I think it lends itself to accessorising with all sorts of colours - pinks, teal, yellow etc but I wouldnt like a house that was all grey.

Hailtomyteeth · 22/01/2021 10:05

I love grey. It's almost as good as matt white.

Chumleymouse · 22/01/2021 10:09

Everyone has their own taste in colour, if you don’t like a certain colour don’t use it , it’s all down to the individual.

Ch3rish · 22/01/2021 10:11

I thought grey had had its day, Im surprised that new houses are still being done in it, isn't it a bit 2019? I'm getting ready to repaint my hall as the grey is making it look a bit dated imo

GrumpyHoonMain · 22/01/2021 10:12

I like pale grey flooring with dark furniture - it looks expensive.

pictish · 22/01/2021 10:13

The thing is, grey works well in France...where you see a lot of it, because they have the sunshine to counteract the drabness. It looks soft and soothing in the sun.
In Britain grey just seems to reproduce the overcast weather indoors. It’s rubbish. A touch is fine, it’s a nice neutral...but the majority of grey I see in homes now is just ubiquitously dismal.

Most people who have grey do so because it’s the trend. Their friends have grey, their colleagues have grey...and they must have grey too.

80sMum · 22/01/2021 10:19

Oh, I couldn't agree with you more OP!

I don't understand the current love affair with grey. It's horribly drab and dreary. I am happy to say that my home has nothing grey in it!

ThisIsMeOrIsIt · 22/01/2021 10:22

I've included some grey while redecorating. Yellow walls with grey woodwork and dark floor in the bedroom (with grey bedding and yellow/ white/ grey curtains). Bright white walls in the hallway and landing, with dark floors and grey woodwork, plus grey light shades and rugs. I like it, but I wouldn't have grey walls.

80sMum · 22/01/2021 10:24

@PresentingPercy

Greys can be stunning if you know how to pull the look together. Use accent colours and white paint on woodwork in most cases.
I don't share your enthusiasm, I'm afraid. Those "stunning" rooms look dreary and drab to me. It looks as if someone is desperately trying to liven the rooms up with colourful cushions etc but not succeeding. Nothing can detract from the relentless drabness of the walls, for me!
Terracottasaur · 22/01/2021 10:25

It’s a popular choice for people who aren’t confident with interior decoration because you don’t need to worry about getting colour wrong. It has been popularised on Instagram because it’s very easy to copy and achieve a glossy, smart result without too much independent thought.

I agree that it’s not for me at all, but I can see why it would appeal to someone who didn’t feel confident in their own interior design abilities and wanted a reliable, coherent look. And of course there will be some people who do genuinely just prefer grey over all other colours.

HappyTimeTunnelDinosaur · 22/01/2021 10:27

I sort of agree, I like grey, but not for everything, I like a bit of other colour in there too. I think you should paint in a colour you like, just because you like it, not just to be the same as others. Our floors are grey flagstones laid in the late 1800's, hopefully they won't go out of fashion after this long, I think they'd be pretty tough to remove!

JustAnotherUserinParadise · 22/01/2021 10:29

some grey can be nice - we have a grey and white patterned wallpaper in the lounge which looks fab with the white woodwork, rich brown wooden floor, and green sofa!

Neolara · 22/01/2021 10:32

I absolutely hate grey.

foxhat · 22/01/2021 10:35

@PresentingPercy

I don't know if this is different computers or different eyesights but I see those rooms as shades of beige and not grey at all.

Bluntness100 · 22/01/2021 10:37

It’s a popular choice for people who aren’t confident with interior decoration because you don’t need to worry about getting colour wrong

I think this nails the misconception of it. You really do need to worry about getting the colour wrong, because there are so many shades as has been discussed on the thread. There are cold and warm shades

It’s very easy to get it wrong and much harder to get it right. Only someone confident in their eye should attempt it. It is not just one colour that you can’t get wrong, there is everything from a pale barely grey to a cold dark iron coloured one, and literally fifty shades in between.

rosierose10 · 22/01/2021 10:37

Then you don't like it, it's not your home so just move on, what's the issue? This has been done far too many times now. I like grey and I like keeping things neutral. Can I ask what colours all you grey haters have your homes? I'd be interesting to see. We all have our own opinions and ideas on what looks good, no need for the constant grey home bashing.

GrumpyHoonMain · 22/01/2021 10:45

@Terracottasaur

It’s a popular choice for people who aren’t confident with interior decoration because you don’t need to worry about getting colour wrong. It has been popularised on Instagram because it’s very easy to copy and achieve a glossy, smart result without too much independent thought.

I agree that it’s not for me at all, but I can see why it would appeal to someone who didn’t feel confident in their own interior design abilities and wanted a reliable, coherent look. And of course there will be some people who do genuinely just prefer grey over all other colours.

That’s so insulting and you clearly know nothing about design.

A lot of experienced architects and interior designers also go with grey because neutral minimalist styles are not only in fashion they’re cleaner and less cluttered, and grey is perfect as a base as it’s smack bang in the middle of light and dark. So it’s actually more versatile than white or darker colours.

The problem isn’t grey or people picking it being less design orientated, the problem is a lot of people choose (or not choose) grey based on what’s in fashion rather than considering what they like.

Bluntness100 · 22/01/2021 10:47

I don’t hate it, as said, I think it can be done well with warm shades of grey.

My own home has a lot of green in it, everything from farrow and balls pigeon in my bedroom, to F&B french grey (which is green) in the living rooms, to farrow and ball vert de terre in thr downstairs loo, and a sort of pale sage in the hallways, and some funky wallpaper from Sandersons and little greene in different rooms. The main bathroom is dark, bronze/copper and my daughters room matt white as that’s what she wished, and another room in a pale heritage oyster.

So I’d say our predominant colour is shades of green. The floor is the original oak floor boards with big cream rugs or cream carpet upstairs.

GrumpyHoonMain · 22/01/2021 10:49

@Bluntness100

I don’t hate it, as said, I think it can be done well with warm shades of grey.

My own home has a lot of green in it, everything from farrow and balls pigeon in my bedroom, to F&B french grey (which is green) in the living rooms, to farrow and ball vert de terre in thr downstairs loo, and a sort of pale sage in the hallways, and some funky wallpaper from Sandersons and little greene in different rooms. The main bathroom is dark, bronze/copper and my daughters room matt white as that’s what she wished, and another room in a pale heritage oyster.

So I’d say our predominant colour is shades of green. The floor is the original oak floor boards with big cream rugs or cream carpet upstairs.

According to Ideal Home Magazine green is the new navy lol
SonjaMorgan · 22/01/2021 11:02

Grey was the new thing in decorating about 10 years ago. I think it's popularity means it must be on its way out.

PattyPan · 22/01/2021 11:09

Was it those horrible black and glass doors (Crittall)? Or normal wooden doors painted black? The latter is a new one for me. That house sounds dreadful. I never understand why people would want their house to be grey when it’s grey outside all the time too!

VinylDetective · 22/01/2021 11:15

I really like grey because of its neutrality but not on walls. Our house is a 400 year old cottage and the walls are white with the same cream carpet throughout. The colour comes from what’s in the rooms and is easily changed.

We’re having a new kitchen next year and my head is insisting on white, while my stupid heart yearns for navy - which would suck all the light out of the room.

Bluntness100 · 22/01/2021 11:15

According to Ideal Home Magazine green is the new navy lol

Fashion leader me 😂