Gray color is a great choice for creating a stylish and at the same time simple interior. Since this is a neutral and calm option, it can be used anywhere, be it curtains, walls, decor or a sofa, which will be discussed in the article.
Psychology of gray
Gray color is preferred by balanced and calm people who do not try to prove something to others. They are businesslike and ambitious individuals with a healthy self-esteem, they love order and clearly set plans for the future.
Gray color can affect the psyche in different ways. It is no coincidence that routine boring days are called “gray days” – they delay a person, cause stress and nervousness. The reason for this is the lack of bright colors and interesting moments in life. The same can be said about the gray room. If there is too much of this color, it will depressingly affect the psyche, suppressing and lowering the mood. For overly sensitive and melancholic people, a gray environment can even cause depression and nervous disorders.
Therefore, when decorating the interior in gray, you need to approach the color palette very carefully. To make the atmosphere livelier and more fun, it should definitely be diluted with bright multicolored accents.
If you use the gray color correctly, it will have a beneficial effect. This is expressed in relaxation and calming, and in the bedroom, a gray environment will help you fall asleep better and drive away restless thoughts.
All variations of gray
Gray color has not 50 shades at all, as is commonly believed, but much more. Colorists count about 256 variations of this color, and each of them even has its own name.
Such a rich palette, which has in its arsenal any colors, ranging from very light to almost black, allows you to use gray in any interior. It is combined with every color scheme, and its calmness and expressionlessness make gray appropriate in all styles.
Gray color is able to give the interior a special atmosphere, which depends on the shade of gray. Tones such as river mother-of-pearl, granite and pearl gray look soft and delicate, so they create an appropriate romantic atmosphere.
If you want to emphasize the severity and solidity of the interior, use dark shades: granite, graphite, iron gray. You can add contrast and sharpness to the interior by using a combination of light and dark tones combined with bright decor and furniture. The use of several shades of gray at once helps to avoid the “plane” of the interior – this technique adds volume and depth to the room.
Advantages of the gray sofa
Grey sofas are one of the most popular. First of all, this is due to the fact that few people decide on bold and bright interiors. And this is a rational approach: a gray sofa will never get bored, because it seems to “dissolve” in the interior without attracting attention to itself. Such a model will remain relevant for decades, and if it is made of high-quality materials, then you can safely forget about replacing the sofa.
The grey upholstery is practical. Unlike white fabrics, dark gray colors show less contamination. Of course, light shades of gray cannot boast of such an ability, but they give the atmosphere lightness and airiness. Sofas of similar colors can be used even in the children’s room, without worrying that the interior will turn out to be too dull.
Color combinations
Gray – perfectly matches with any other color. If the room turned out to be too bright and you want to dim the brightness of the interior, gray color will help in this case. The interior, in which it does not dominate, turns out to be balanced and complete.
Many people, when forming the concept of the future interior, want to add their favorite color to it. But sometimes it is problematic to choose a beautiful combination, so adding gray to the color palette will be the best solution. He copes both with the role of one of the leading colors, and with the role of an additional background.
Combinations of gray with beige and white
Interiors made in beige and white tones require dilution with other colors. Otherwise, the room will resemble a hospital ward. But if you want to keep the atmosphere calm and airy, you can introduce shades of gray. This combination is especially popular in the Scandinavian style.
Combinations of gray with blue
In an interior with a blue color, gray can perform two functions: either add even more cold notes, or on the contrary soften the situation, if we talk about light shades.
Combinations of gray with orange and red
Gray color is often used by designers to emphasize bright interior items. On a neutral background, they acquire expressiveness and clear outlines. For example, orange and red objects can act as such accents. But do not overdo it with their number: a lot of red makes the room aggressive. If you want to make red one of the main colors, it is better to give preference to pastel tones.
Combinations of gray with green
Green and gray look very harmoniously together, because this combination is inspired by nature itself. Brown will fit perfectly here, which will give the overall picture more natural motifs.
Combinations of gray with purple
Gray and purple will give the room sophistication and comfort. Purple is considered one of the most expensive and luxurious shades. It looks good on a gray background, which emphasizes its nobility.
Combinations of gray with yellow
It seems that cheerful yellow and dull gray are two opposites. But that’s what makes the combination interesting and unusual. Completely different colors create contrast, perfectly complementing each other.
When choosing a color scheme, you need to pay attention to several factors. Firstly, if the interior is created in a dark gray scale, the room should not lack natural light, otherwise it will be dark and uncomfortable in the daytime. It is worth taking care of good artificial lighting.
It is also not recommended to use a dark palette for small rooms – such colors visually reduce the space, especially if they dominate. It is preferable to design rooms of a small area in a light color scheme, which creates a sense of spaciousness and freedom.
Grey sofa in different interior styles
Grey sofa is a versatile option, suitable for any direction:
Modern interior design
The main trend in the development of modern style has become the exclusion of unnecessary items from the interior. First of all, furniture should be functional and comfortable, so the appearance goes by the wayside. As a rule, the interior is simple and concise. In addition to the sofa, coffee tables and open shelving are purchased.
Scandinavian interior design
In the Scandinavian style, gray is one of the most important. Also, this cold style is characterized by white, black and brown. The sofa is often decorated with pillows with simple geometric patterns or in fluffy covers that emphasize the northern origin of the style.
Loft-style interior design
A popular style, one of the important features of which is brickwork. In modern interiors, this can be found very often, but not all of them are really similar to the loft style. In addition to bricks, there should be a relaxed atmosphere in this style – even paintings, mirrors and a TV can just stand on the floor. Furniture in neutral colors, including gray, helps to create such an environment.
Classic interior design
The classic style creates a luxurious and majestic atmosphere. To do this, light, mother-of-pearl tones are used, which look expensive and solid.
Interior design in Provence style
The Provence-style interior should resemble the atmosphere of a country house. For a Provence-style interior, wooden furniture should be chosen, and gray can be used in its upholstery. A floral pattern on the fabric will also be useful, giving the room a natural shade. The final touch is a cozy home plaid.
Art Deco interior design
This style is associated with wealth and affluence. The features of Art Deco interior design are expressed in several principles, the dominant of which are luxury and austerity. The lighting is bright, and the color palette is rich and contrasting. The interior should not be gray and monochrome, it should be diluted with black, white and gold.
The size of the gray sofa
It will not be difficult to find a suitable gray sofa, because, as we have already said, this is one of the most popular color solutions. Of course, its size depends on the area of the room. But it is worth remembering that the gray color should be handled carefully. If you do not want to focus on it, it is better to buy oversized sofas in light colors. This is especially true for small spaces.
But in spacious rooms, such a sofa can get lost against the general background, creating a feeling of emptiness and incompleteness. In this case, you need to make the wallpaper darker, or choose another, more expressive sofa model.
For large private houses, long multi-seater sofas, usually made to order, are ideal. Their use will help to use the place efficiently, without leaving empty spaces.
Fabric for sofa upholstery
If the usual plain gray sofa seems too simple to you, pay attention to the models with drawings. The interior looks original, in which the fabric of the sofa upholstery and curtains have the same print. This allows you to combine interior items, making them a single whole. The following design options are most popular:
- Monograms. These are stylish patterns, especially in demand in simple modern interiors.
- Flower drawings. No interior in Provence style can do without them. If it is applied in a different direction, it is worth choosing laconic prints and not too bright colors so that the sofa does not look tasteless.
- Checkered fabric. The cage has already become a classic, so it is easy to fit it into many interiors. A simple cage will be able to diversify a boring interior without making it catchy at the same time.
- Striped print is the best alternative to a complex pattern. In addition to the decorative function, the strip is able to adjust the size of the room: vertical stripes on the walls raise the ceilings, and horizontal ones make the room longer. Therefore, if there is such a pattern on the walls, a striped sofa will be more appropriate than ever.
- Abstraction. Unusual drawings will make even a gray sofa the highlight of the room and are guaranteed to attract the eyes of guests. Such a sofa should be decorated with plain pillows without prints, so that it does not look ridiculous.
Decor
An empty sofa without pillows can make the interior design unfinished. In addition, the presence of pillows makes the place of rest more cozy and comfortable. In stores you can find pillows for every taste and for any interior. A minimalistic sofa looks great with simple plain pillows. In the interior in the style of Provence, with the help of pillows, you can introduce a floral pattern. Bright pillows with photo prints diversify the interior of the living room, and pillows in the form of toys will make the children’s room more magical.
If space allows, install a sofa in the dining room. It is better to choose leather upholstery for it – an accidentally spilled drink or a stain from fallen food is easily erased with a wet cloth. And to increase your appetite, decorate the sofa with pillows in the form of food.
An interesting addition to the interior will be a plaid. It can be a decorative element and always be on the sofa. Blankets and soft blankets are often used to add contrasting bright accents to the room’s decor.
Gray sofas in the hands of an experienced designer turn into a stylish piece of furniture, emphasizing the elegance and good taste of the owner.