home design

If you’ve been paying attention to interior design trend reports, you know that Gray is the next white…or black…or both. The point is that it is trending right now. It was predicted by style experts at the likes of House Beautiful and Houzz, and it works well with both modern and traditional design motifs.

Contrary to popular believe, gray is not drab when it’s used well in interior home designs.

5 Reasons to Paint Your Walls (or a single wall) Gray

Here are 5 reasons you may want to consider painting your walls – or at least one of your walls – in a stylish shade of gray.

1. It’s trending right now. As we mentioned, gray is trending right now. You can take or leave trends for the most part, but this one is worth considering – especially if you plan to sell your home in the near future. Firstly, it’s a classic, neutral color and it works well with a range of styles, colors and patterns. Also, I think gray is a little more interesting than the typical creams and tan shades that comprise the background of most “neutral” color palettes. If you are planning to put your home on the market, your gray wells will appeal to homebuyers that have been perusing design websites because gray is fresh in their minds. Your home will feel more relevant and contemporary.
2. It’s a trick color. When House Beautiful cited Frarrow & Ball’s “Parma Gray 27” as one of 2016’s most trendy colors, designer Marcy Materson said, “I love the fact that they call this gray. It’s really quite an extraordinary shade of blue, with a great deal of lavender in it. You could use it anywhere, with black or white accents to set it off. It’s such a serene, sophisticated color.” That quote says it all. Gray is more than just gray. In the world of color science, gray is rarely made by mixing black and white. The combination of black and white creates a very basic, neutral gray. However, most paint companies make their variations on gray by mixing complementary colors – those that sit exactly opposite one another on the color wheel – and adding a little white. In this way, they can create “warm” grays, which include yellows, or “cool” grays that include blues.This is why I say that gray can be a “trick” color – it’s really hiding a range of shades – and you can use this to your advantage by working carefully with a designer and/or a color wheel to choose the shade of gray that best suits the existing colors in your interior colors and patterns.
3. Gray is soothing. Again, gray has an impression of being somber, moody, or drab. I would argue that a neutral gray – mixed from black and white – is the culprit here. I always advise choosing a matte or flat paint finish, rather than a glossy one, if you want to avoid an industrial look.When you begin exploring the range of warm and cool grays – “colorful” grays – entirely new moods can appear. There is certainly an air of modernity in most rooms that use gray – although I have also created elegant, traditional and transitional designs that successfully used gray on the walls and furnishings. In any case, gray always seems to invoke a sense of retreat – and gives visitors a sense that they are hidden away, somewhere safe and calm – a desirable sensation in our busy, fast-paced world.
4. It softens bold color accents. Have you always wanted to go bold, but lacked the courage to do so? With gray walls, your “bold” colors will stand out, but they won’t scream the way they do against a white background. Gray creates a visual cushion between starker color contrasts. The gray walls in the living room of this Cool Craftsman are a perfect home for the vibrant work or art, which might have been a bit “too much” if the walls were plain white.
5. It’s a perfect backdrop for metallic or shiny finishes. Similarly, gray is an ideal backdrop for designs that incorporate mirrored, metallic or shinier features and finishes. Just as bold colors are softened by gray’s absorptive properties, so too is the brashness of reflective materials. From ornate mirrors and metallic backsplashes, to mirrored furniture and silver or copper accents, gold will showcase them nicely without letting them take over the room.

If you have a busy household, odds are you spend hours per week doing laundry. In my opinion, any chore requiring that much time and life force deserves a beautiful space in which to work. Adding color to the laundry room brings new energy and a re-inspired feel to a space that often seems more like a source of endless drudgery.

Tips For Adding Color to Your Laundry Room

There are all kinds of ways to add color to a laundry room space – from a complete remodel, to an accent wall or eccentric appliance choices, simply find what works best for your household.

Get bold with your washer and dryer

Why on earth are washers and dryers predominantly selected in white or black? Get over that boring, standard route and choose something vibrant instead. Today’s washers and dryers – including high-end models – are available in beautiful, metallic and jewel-toned options that will cheer you up in no time flat.

It’s definitely more fun to throw laundry into a cherry red, kelly green or pink dryer – let me tell you. Checkout this article from Apartment Therapy and then re-think your replacement options. It’s a sneaky way to go bold in a room where the doors shut – and the public never has to know that the rest of your sophisticated, neutral interior design is anything other than it appears.

Add a coat of paint or some funky wallpaper

As I was saying about rooms that are typically closed off – I think laundry rooms, like powder rooms, offer an opportunity to play with color in a way you might not risk in more common living spaces. In these small rooms, the world is your oyster.

Remember that really bright blue or red you considered for an accent wall in your home – before you chickened out? This is the time to use it. How about that amazing wallpaper that you saw on Houzz but decided was too busy? Put it up in the laundry room – or use it as a border.

Again, this is a room – when it comes right down to it – guests don’t really hang out in much, so view it as a space where to explore crazier, zanier, bolder and more eccentric aspects of your interior design style.

Paint the cabinets

Not sure about painting all of the wall surfaces? Then paint the cabinets instead. I keep repeating you should go bold and bright – but not everyone likes those types of colors in their living spaces. Even a neutrally painted laundry room space is enhanced with cabinets painted in softer, more muted shades of your favorite colors. Perhaps that robin’s egg blue you’ve pined for, or a pastel green? That simple accent will change the feel of the room – especially if you have a decent amount of cabinetry. If the laundry room space is large enough to have upper- and lower-cabinets, or cabinets on both walls, consider choosing two, complimentary shades to mix it up a little.

Paper the walls and paint the ceiling

If you want to be playful, I recommend finding a wallpaper you love and using it on one, two or all of the walls. If you go the one- or two-wall route, paint the other walls in a softer hue found in the wallpaper. Then, go big with the ceiling featuring a darker or bolder color found in the wallpaper pattern. While you’re at it, think of other rooms or spaces in the house that would benefit from a painted ceiling.

Use artwork and throw rugs

If you live in a rental, color options are limited. Replacing your own washer and dryer (see the first section) is one colorful option you can take with you. However, returning walls to their original color when you’re ready to move out is such a labor-intensive chore – and who needs that? Instead, leave the walls alone and bring them to life using colorful art and complimentary throw rugs. If you have the space for it, turn a wall into a gallery – eclectic or conservative. It will warm up the space, add a little life and the throw rugs will feel better on your feet, joints and lower back if you use the laundry room to sort and fold.

Don’t let your laundry room languish in a state of bland neglect. Re-envision it and bring it to life by adding a little – or a lot of – color.

Did you know you don’t have to hire the first interior designer you schedule a consultation with? Quite the opposite. Your consultations should be viewed more like professional interviews. It’s a chance for you and designer to sit down, talk about your hopes and visions, and get a feel for one another so you can determine whether or not it’s a good fit. You’ll be working very closely together – maybe for a long time depending on the scope of the work – so a personal connection is almost as important as the designer’s capabilities and talents.

Bonus for you: by scheduling three to five consultations, you’ll glean a host of free ideas that you can put to use when you get started on the official remodel or renovation.

7 Questions to Ask During Consultations With an Interior Designer

Here is a simple list of questions that will yield important information while simultaneously allowing you to learn more about the prospective designer, her philosophy and her general style.

1. Can you work with our budget? Unless funds are unlimited, you must have a budget for any given home improvement project. This figure should be set, fixed and firm to keep your sanity and make sure you don’t get in over your head. Build in a 10% to 15% emergency contingency. Once you have this figure set, you’ll be able to run it by your prospective designers to see if they can work with it or not.
2. How do you charge? In most cases, designers charge by the hour or by the room. Or, they may have an entirely different fee structure. This can greatly alter the total price of your design from designer to designer so make note of how they charge and determine which fee structure you feel the most comfortable with.
3. When are your fees due? It’s no surprise that money is often the most stressful aspect of a design (notice the first 3 questions are all about finances?), which is why it’s so important to have complete transparency. Does your interior designer want half now and the balance upon completion? Does she prefer to receive installment payments? Get all of the financial agreements in writing and signed so there is no room for misinterpretation.
4. What is your design forte? In theory, every professional interior designer would be able to create a perfect version of any design you desire. In truth, we’re human and we all have our own design fortes. If you are a hardcore modernist, you’re best off working with a designer who specializes in modern design. If you like things a little more eclectic, seek a designer with a portfolio laden with funky-chic designs.
5. Can you show me examples of my style/budget/ideas in your portfolio? And, of course, seeing is believing. Take time to review their portfolio. Can you see yourself living in any of their designs – especially those at your price point? If not, they may not be the designer for you.
6. Do you offer industry discount fees? The longer a designer has been in business, the more connections she gleans along the way. These connections often result in discount fees for furnishings and textiles that can be passed along to the client.
7. Can you provide professional references? Don’t neglect the power of references. It’s good to speak with people who have worked with the designer so you can get a better feel for how she operates, how she handles challenges or hiccups, and so on. This input often seals the deal on who a client hires.