27 Modern Gray Living Room Ideas for a Stylish Home

Non-Boring Living Room Ideas with Gray Walls and Gray Decor

By Blake Lockwood | Curated by Blake Lockwood | Reviewed by Blake Lockwood

Blake Lockwood, the seasoned interior designer behind Decor Snob, has made a name for himself with over 30 years of industry experience. As a member of esteemed associations such as the NCIDQ, CIDA, NAAB, and CCIDC, he upholds high standards in his work.  His content is always people-first, reliable, and engaging.

grey living room ideas

Gray is an “it” design color right now, and everyone is searching for unique gray living room ideas. It is sophisticated, understated and works well in any space — but my favorite place to use it is in the living room.

If you are concerned that gray is too boring — think again! There are so many ways to integrate it into your design, no matter what your style. You can go all out by painting your entire living room in a shade of gray, or you can use it more subtly by choosing an area rug or piece of furniture. If drama is more your speed, you can even find artistic and unique ways to fit this neutral color into your space.

Now, I want to share some of my favorite gray living rooms with you.

Mix It Up

You can find unique ways to fit gray into your living room. Here, the light gray walls are perfectly accented by the darker gray tiling on the fireplace, and it keeps the space looking light and bright.

Mix up the greys

 

Balance The Colors

The floor to ceiling windows, white tray ceiling, and the light marble fireplace work well with the darker gray walls to keep a balance in the living room decor.

Balancing The Colors Is Key  

 

Add Accent to a White Room

The medium gray floors and dark gray accent cabinet in this mostly white room give it more dimension and personality.

Grey Can Give A Mostly White Room Style 

Be Subtle

Subtlety Is Not Overrated 

Gray is incorporated into this soaring living room with the texture above the fireplace, flooring, and different shades of gray furniture.

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The sleek gray panels in this living room are so seamless you can barely tell they are there. The gray rug, couch, and pillow also bring gray statements to the space in a subtle way.

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All Gray Is Okay

All Grey Is Definitely Okay 

The dark gray beams and tiled fireplace give this living room a sophisticated industrial feel.

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This all gray living room is spiced up with pops of bright blue and red in the artwork and furniture.

Get Inspired by the Landscape Outside

Take A Cue From The Landscape Outside 

Gray paint on the walls and ceilings and the clay-look fireplace play well off of the beautiful landscape outside the picture window.

Combine With Natural Wood

Grey Can Combine Industrial With Natural 

The gorgeous gray walls in this living room mimic concrete and give a balance of industrial and natural elements when mixed with the wood-paneled ceiling.

Use Different Texture of Grey

Using Texture Makes Grey Anything But Boring 

The texture in this gray living room is nothing short of spectacular. The concrete fireplace and gray tiled walls work well together to give the space personality without using bright colors.

Accentuate Other Aspects Of The Living Room

Use Grey To Accentuate Other Aspects Of The Living Room 

Gray wall paint picks up the hues in the piece of art to make it the major focal point of the living room.

Add to the Windows Curtains!

Don’t Forget The Windows! 

The floor to ceiling window is the accent point of this living room, and the gray window coverings make it pop.

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Custom gray window blinds blend with the light gray wall to give this space a comfortable yet contemporary feel.

Add to Windows and the Walls

From The Windows To The Walls 

This space is the perfect example of a gray living room done right. The gray is used perfectly throughout the interior, especially the herringbone floors, light gray furniture, and window coverings.

In Your Modern Fireplace Design

Use Grey In Your Modern Fireplace Design 

The dark gray on the wall behind the stairs combined with the base of the fireplace gives the living room a modern feel while the lighter tones on the floor and furniture keep the interior from looking too dark.

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The double-sided fireplace separating the two sitting areas of this living room is an industrial steel gray, tying it in with the gray elements in the rest of the space.

Paint Happy Grays

Grey Doesn’t Have To Remind You Of An Overcast Day 

Gray doesn’t have to darken a living room. You can see the proof in this serene soft gray living room design.

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Dove gray is the accent color of choice in this light and bright living room design.

Change The Furniture

use of gray furniture, like these conversation chairs, helps to bring together the gray in the rest of the room

The use of gray furniture, like these conversation chairs, helps to bring together the gray in the rest of the interior, like the wallpaper and the hues in the area rug.

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Check out this massive gray sofa! How would you like to cuddle up on that for a chill movie night?

Don’t Go Overboard with Too Much Gray

Don’t Go Overboard with Too Much Grey

In this living room, I love the subtle pop of gray as the backdrop of the television. You don’t have to use too much gray to give it a main role in your living room decor.

Find A Matching Marble Pattern

Find A Marble Pattern With A Shade Of Grey You Live 

From the perspective of the sofa table, you can see marble used as a fireplace surround is a way to bring gray into your living room design without the color dominating the space.

Gray Paint For The Win

Grey Paint For The Win 

Paint is one of the most simple ideas I recommend to bring gray into a living room design, but the impact can be outstanding.

Continuous Color Enlarges The Look Of The Living Room

Keeping Continuous Color Enlarges The Look Of The Living Room  

Here, the continuous marbled gray goes from the wall throughout the floor, making the room appear larger.

Gray Can Be Masculine and Dramatic

Grey Can Be Masculine and Dramatic  

Dramatic and masculine best describes this living room. From the floor to ceiling dark gray drapery to the luxurious rug, it is the ideal place to settle in and have a glass of wine with that special someone.

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This living room is the quintessential bachelor pad with gray tones throughout and a gorgeous yet comfortable leather couch.

Area Rugs With The Color Grey Are Here To Stay 

Finding a gray area rug you love is an ideal place to begin when starting your gray living room design. Notice the shelving also presents pops of color with carefully placed accessories.

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The natural woven gray area rug in this living room gives the space a pop of gray that blends with the artwork on the wall and the soft gray couch.

Use Gray For Your Flooring

Don’t Forget That You Can Use Grey For Your Flooring 

Gray is becoming a popular color for flooring, and the muted choice in this living room gives the space a soft feeling and allows gray to be used throughout the space without being overwhelming. Also featuring a mid-century modern Aniline Leather Lounge Chair.

Make a Room Look Dreamy

Light Grey Can Make Any Room Look Dreamy

Sheer gray window panels give this mostly gray living room a romantic feel, and the patterned rug brings in just the right amount of modern. A modern lamp arches over providing ample light. Also featuring a “log” side table and a round glass-top coffee table.

Use Different Textures

Using Different Textures Mixes Things Up 

The gray wall is painted with a dimensional effect that is reflected in the two accent mirrors, giving the impression of a wider room. The orangy-brown wood gives this interior a wonderful accent.

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Mixing textures allows you to use gray in most of your room design without it being too overwhelming. This living room is the perfect example with the paneled main wall, velvet couch, and plush rug, all in varying gray tones.

Eliminate Overpowering and Stick To An Accent Wall

To Eliminate Overpowering With Grey Stick To An Accent Wall 

A gray accent wall is a great way to integrate the color into your living room design. This wall, complete with built-ins, makes the wall functional as well as stylish.

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Steel gray on the back accent wall blends well with the deep wood tones to give it a touch of modern with the otherwise traditional style.

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The dimension in this gray paint technique makes the accent wall the main focal point of the room. The floating wood console and brown leather chairs add great contrast to the room.

Accessorize to Incorporate Gray

Accessorizing Is An Affordable Way To Incorporate Grey

Gray accents can be used to give your living room the impact you are looking for, which is shown in this room with the deep gray area rug.

Add Artistic Elements

Give Your Living Room Imagination With Grey Artistic Elements

Gray doesn’t have to be boring, and that is obvious in this stunning living room with the attention-grabbing grayscale painting and the artistic light fixture with gray spheres.

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Here is another example of gray accessorizing with a statement art piece, wooden side tables, and gray couch to play off of the dark wall. 

Use Different Hues

Use Different Hues On The Greyscale 

If you want gray to be the main color in your living room design, it is a good idea to mix it up and use different shades of the color. 

Modern Elegance

Modern Elegance In The Form of Grey

Gray is an elegant color when combined with details like a glamorous chandelier, built-in bookcase, and ornamental fireplace. 

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Elegance abounds with the dove-gray walls and dramatic ceiling in this living room. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Gray Living Rooms

How can I add gray to my living room without overdoing it?

How can I add grey to my living room without overdoing it? 

Can you really overdo it? Probably not. But, as I mentioned above, unless you are going for a monochromatic look, I would suggest using multiple shades of gray or using it as an accent by featuring the color in furniture, art, or accent walls. 

Is gray too boring?

is grey too boring?

Heck no! Check out all of the gray living room ideas I have shown you here, and it is easy to see that there are endless ways to fit gray into your style. Take the living room above, the circular art installation above the fireplace is a dramatic way to bring gray into the living room in a unique way. 

What are the most popular shades of gray paint for a living room?

What are the most popular shades of grey paint for a living room?

If you want a bold room, I would suggest sticking with the darker tones of gray like stone, charcoal, or grays that mimic metals like dark iron or steel. Lighter grays like dove, pearl, or silver tones are better for an understated or serene design. However, that is why I love the world of interior design — there are no limits.

What are your favorite ideas for a gray living room? 

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