I Hate to Break it to You, But Gray is Here to Stay – Joanna Gaines Has Revitalised this 'Dull' Color in the Simplest and Most Elegant Way

If you thought, like me, that gray walls had very much had their moment, interior style maven, Joanna Gaines, is here to prove us wrong. Her living room at The Castle in Waco features the softest gray, which helps the white of the fire surround and woodwork really pop for perhaps the most subtle, yet effortlessly elegant color pairing we've seen.

Whilst gray became the in shade for walls in the early 2010s, it's safe to say that interiors started to become a little over-saturated by this new neutral. But that doesn't mean that decorating with gray can't still be elegant today, when used in the right way, and, as Joanna Gaines has shown us, it can look beautifully timeless.

Brittany Rediger, Founder and Principal Designer of Oregon-based Rediger Design explains: 'Soft gray works beautifully as a neutral because it adds depth without overwhelming a space. For homeowners who default to white walls because color feels risky, soft gray is a safe starting point. It introduces dimension while remaining versatile.' But there are a few tricks to replicating her warm and inviting scheme, as the experts reveal below.

You'll also find some gorgeous buys to capture the style of Joanna Gaines' chic living room, from a distressed leather armchair (Rejuvenation), to a statement cluster chandelier (Home Depot).

Shop Joanna Gaines' Living Room Look

If you want to know how to use gray in 2026, to create a warm and inviting space like Joanna Gaines' living room, it's all about the tone as Brittany explains: 'If you want a room to feel inviting rather than stark, choose a gray with warm undertones rather than cool, blue-based ones. Look for hints of taupe, brown, pink, or beige. There is a reason ‘greige’ has remained popular for nearly a decade. It is a reliable, livable neutral that plays well with white and creates subtle contrast, allowing architectural details like mantels and window frames to pop while softening the overall scheme.'

Joanna Gaines' subtle juxtaposition of soft gray with the crisp white stone of the fireplace mantel, tiled hearth, and painted ceiling is one of the most understated yet masterful color pairings for a living room. Whilst white is the accent color for gray in this example, the pairing would work equally well if you could switch them around, with gray as the accent in a white room.

Laura Williams, Founder and Principal Designer at Living Oak Interior Design in Texas, explains: 'Using soft gray as a trim color against crisp white walls introduces gentle contrast that feels tailored and elevated without overpowering the space. It can also be incorporated through millwork, interior doors, or built-ins to create architectural interest while keeping the palette cohesive.'

Mixing in other elements from the soft lighting (through the beautiful opal-glass bubble chandelier), to the distressed leather chair, dark wood pieces (like a mantel clock, available from Wayfair), and brushed gold accents further elevate the look of this gray room. Laura explains: 'Pairing soft gray with rich dark wood tones, like walnut or espresso-stained oak, grounds the space and adds a sense of depth and sophistication. I also love pairing unexpected warmth, like brass accents in lighting, hardware, and decorative objects. It introduces a subtle glow that beautifully offsets cooler tones.'

And don't forget to look to texture too, in upholstery, textiles, and rugs, reminds Brittany: 'Warm natural materials like leather, linen, jute, and wool enhance the layered feel and prevent the palette from reading flat.'

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