Grey bedroom ideas – for a neutral scheme that is classic and modern

Looking for grey bedroom ideas? Grey is the new neutral and there’s a shade to suit every room in the house. Breathe new life into your bedroom spaces by choosing a grey combination to suit your style. From moody dark grey to light pastel grey, here we show you how to choose and update your bedroom with grey.

‘Grey is clearly no passing fad,’ says Kate Watson-Smyth, author of Shades of Grey. ‘But it is one of the hardest colours to get right when it comes to decorating your home.’ ‘To find the right shade of grey, you need to consider which direction your room faces, what time of day you will be in there, the prevailing weather, and last of all, the actual colour you like.’

Karen Haller, a leading applied colour psychology expert, says grey is a fascinating colour. ‘You never hear anyone say “Oh, I love it when the sky is grey,” so why do so many people choose to live in grey?’ she asks. ’I feel it has something to do with shutting out modern-day life and our need to hide away.’

Karen continues, 'The current trend to paint bedrooms pure grey has resulted in SOS calls from people asking why they are feeling so tired and drained. That’s the grey sapping their energy, so that instead of waking up feeling energized they are reaching for a double espresso.’

GREY BEDROOM IDEAS

Now the biggest-selling paint colour after white, grey has secured its position as the modern neutral. This is how to get the right shade in your bedroom, every time.

1. TAILOR YOUR SCHEME

This bedroom scheme has been created around a smart striped wallpaper, which brings a calming sense of order to the space. it is complemented by the tailored style of the upholstered bed and the angular design of the floor lamp, which give the room a streamlined yet comfortable look. Accents of gold contribute an element of opulence, and pair well with the grey hue.

See more grey decorating ideas:Grey living room ideas –for gorgeous neutral schemes

2. ADD VISUAL INTEREST

Mix elegantly crafted contemporary pieces with a serene palette of materials and hues gathered from nature, for calming interiors with a focus on the finer details. In this calming, sophisticated space, subtly textured fabrics and a delicate blossom artwork in hand-turned brass are set against deep ash-grey walls for maximum impact.

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3. CLASH PATTERNS

Grey is the perfect blank canvas to create an artistic scheme that is completely unique and daring. Graphic geometrics form the starting point of this scheme, with the monochrome block wallpaper and pastel rug. Keeping furniture simple allows for experimentation with florals, animals prints and spots for bedlinen and window treatments. Using a variety of scales will add to the visual impact.

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4. MAKE IT MONOCHROME

A soft grey provides a sophisticated backdrop for this scheme, which artfully balances white and black accessories. This space utilises a masterful combination of modern and traditional aesthetics.This bedroom has been cleverly portioned with a glazed panelling finish in a dark grey to create space for an en suite bathroom behind. A carved wooden bed upholstered in grey linen and curtains in an ornate design give a softer femininity to the scheme.

5. WARM UP

Make a room feel inviting with a warm grey that mixes well with other neutrals for a comfortable, layered look. Tints of yellow can give these deeper greys a greenish hue, while touches of red can make them look brown in some lights. Use a warmer shade of grey if you want to create a cosy, enveloping feel –perfect for a north-facing room that needs the chill taking out of it. Add accents of black, khaki or olive to green-tinted hues to create interest.

See how the interior designers use grey:Sophie Paterson shows us how to decorate with grey

6. COOL DOWN

Painting a bedroom in a dark colour is a great way to keep it cool, especially during the warmer months. From deepest slate to dark concrete, these greys have blue in their DNA. It is best to avoid cool, dark greys at all costs in a north-facing room. They’re perfect for cooling down an over-bright, south-facing space. Go tonal with blue-based colours for a subtle highlight – think teal or lapis.

7. MIX, DON'T MATCH

Go as dark as you dare for maximum impact. In this room, the pops of vibrant orange lighten and brighten the room and the patterned bedlinen, wallpaper and blind bring flair to what might otherwise be an oppressive space. Always include some natural wood in a scheme, whatever shade of grey you are using.