Trend watch: going grey

Grey can sometimes be side-lined with thoughts of it being too cold or uninviting, yet the right shade of grey can actually be a wonderful and warm way to makeover your home. The secret lies in finding the right depth and shade of grey that works with the lighting and size of the room you’re looking to paint.

In fact, today’s trending greys from the Resene colour range will brings a sophisticated and often Scandi vibe to the home.

The versatility of grey is something Nood discovered when styling the images for one of their lookbooks. The walls in the styled setting have been painted in a range of Resene greys, from pale Resene Midwinter Mist to rich Resene Gumboot. Here’s a look. 

Much more than 50 shades of grey

No grey is ‘just grey’ – there are brown greys, charcoal greys, beige greys, olive greys, misty greys… you get the picture.

To prevent the choices from getting too overwhelming, ask yourself a few questions: What are you trying to achieve with your room makeover? Does the space you’re painting receive plenty of sunlight and warmth? Or does the room need cosying up?

For north-facing rooms that don’t need warming up, you can freely go with silvery greys without it visually turning down the temperature. This is what Scandi decorating dreams are made of. For this look, think Resene Half Concrete, Resene Quarter Rakaia and Resene Seashell. Use accents of stark white and deep charcoal or black.

In rooms that need warmth and cosiness – think south-facing living rooms – look to warm smoky greys (with a hint of brown) such as Resene Eighth Masala and warm charcoal greys such as Resene Half Nocturnal. Bring in terracotta tones and olive greens to further up the cosiness factor.

Other on-trend greys to consider:

True greys – dove greys and French greys are timeless and bring a sense of elegance to a room. Think Resene Concrete and Resene Quarter Surrender.

Storm greys – greys with blue or green undertones have become popular in interior design. Think slatey tones such as Resene Bounty or Resene Emerge, which look especially beautiful in kitchens and on exteriors.

Greige – not beige or grey, greige is the perfect mix of both. For a contemporary look, keep away from coffee or latte tones, and go greyer and more complex – think Resene Quarter Stonehenge and Resene Eighth Napa.

All furniture and furnishings are from Nood. See here for more of their products.

Published: 30 Aug 2018

Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].

living room, lounge, grey living, grey lounge, grey couch, nood furniture, grey wall

The cool tones of Resene Midwinter Mist provide the perfect backdrop for the Flock lounger from Nood, dressed with a vibrant yet fresh selection of soft furnishings and wall decor, also from Nood.

living room, lounge, grey living, grey lounge, leather couch, nood furniture, grey feature wall

Elegant Resene Double Stack is a beautiful contrast to the metallics of the wall decor – all while highlighting the warm hues of the Aspen sofa, Replica noguchi coffee table and Malta chair, all from Nood.

living room, lounge, grey living, grey lounge, grey couch, nood furniture, dark grey wall

This living room is also all about contrast. Deep Resene Gumboot works perfectly with emerald greens in the Rubber leaf artwork and soft pastels in the decor to create a cosy yet striking space. All accessories and Jacob sofa and armchair from Nood.

living room, lounge, grey living, grey lounge, grey couch, nood furniture, grey wall

Resene Double Stack gives depth and interest to this pared back living room, featuring boho-inspired accessories from Nood. The Hampton corner sofa is also from Nood.

dining room, grey dining room, grey feature wall, feature artwork, nood furniture

To warm up the large architectural prints in this dining room, walls have been painted in Resene Half Perfect Taupe, a mink toned taupe. Accessories include the Architectural facade artwork, Santiago dining table and Santiago side board from Nood.

reading nook, grey reading nook, nood furniture, grey and yellow, grey entrance

Resene Half Perfect Taupe has also been used in this reading nook, contrasting with bright yellows for a more fun, relaxed look. Accessories include Classic coat stand, Stash shelving, kids bucket chair and kids round table from Nood.

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Resene Half Perfect Taupe

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Resene Quarter Stonehenge

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Resene Quarter Surrender

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Resene Double Stack

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Resene Eighth Napa

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Resene Quarter Rakaia

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Resene Half Concrete

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Resene Midwinter Mist

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Resene Eighth Masala

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