The reason why grey walls are so tough to get right is that there are so many undertones.   Some greys are cooler with a blue or violet undertone while others can be warmer with a beige or green undertone (my husband hates the work “geige” but it works here).  Which one is perfect for your space depends on the other elements in your design (furniture, flooring, counters, art, etc.)  as well as the lighting so scroll through my top picks below to see which ones might work well for you.

Let’s start with the cooler colours – ones that have a blue undertone.  They will work well in modern spaces and can also be great for making small rooms feel more open and breezy.   Remember, paint colours on the wall will look darker than on a paint swatch so I’m going to start with the lightest one and work my way down.  Also, the chips below will look different on your computer or phone than in real life so always double check the colour before making a final decision.

I love Benjamin Moore Distant Gray because it’s barely there so it’s perfect in spaces where you want to use the same colour on the walls and on the ceiling.  This is a handy trick if you want a small space (or a space with weird angles and ceiling lines) to feel bigger.  You might not even notice that it’s a colour really but it’s just off white enough.

Another great cool shade is Benjamin Moore Chalk White.  Definitely more blue in this one so it’s great for bathrooms, laundry rooms, hallways and any other space you want to feel crisp and clean.   Because it has a tiny bit more colour than Distant Grey you will see a contrast with white trim, doors and ceilings.

In some lights Benjamin Tundra can look almost violet.  That’s why I love it in a nursery or bedroom.  It works beautifully with cool metals like silver and with woods like walnut.

We are warming up a bit but we’re still not in the “greige” category.  Genesis White and the darker Whitestone are my favourite greys when you’re looking for something cool that’s not blue.  Whitestone looks great in larger spaces with a lot of light and will contrast beautifully with white trim and doors.

Looking for a great grey that won’t feel too dark and cold in small spaces without a lot of light? A few years ago we painted Benjamin Moore Paper White on the walls in our apartment.  It’s partially below grade so the light isn’t great and the rooms aren’t big but it looks clean, fresh and contemporary without making the space feel gloomy and dark.  It’s definitely one of my top picks for all over interiors (the swatch below doesn’t do it justice)!

And of course you can’t talk about grey without mentioning Stonington Gray (currently on the walls in our entry and laundry room) and Coventry Gray.  They are both very neutral – not too cool and not too warm – and would like great in the living room, bedroom and kitchen.  Because Coventry Gray can look quite dark it also makes a great accent wall colour!

It’s getting warmer!  The next few colours have beige undertones and will feel more traditional (without being dated).  My go-to colour is Benjamin Moore Sea Pearl because it’s great for all-over interiors, will work with any design plus it has just enough colour to stand out against white trim and doors without making rooms feel too small.

If your rooms are larger with more light try Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray.  It’s perfect when you want to create a warm atmosphere in bedrooms, living rooms and nurseries.  You will definitely see more “beige” less grey in this one.

No conversation about grey would be complete with Gray Owl.  Surprisingly when you put it up against other greys it almost looks green – which it is!  Because it’s warm and earthy it’s beautiful with any wood plus looks cozy in any room.  You can’t go wrong with this one.

Have you tried any of the colours below?  Which one is your favourite?  Leave us a comment below!

There’s more where this came from!  See thousand of our decorating and design Pins on our boards here. If you liked this post don’t forget to check back next week to see what’s new on the blog but if you can’t wait  our Facebook page is updated daily with amazing spaces, design tips and DIY projects.  Or get a sneak peak at life behind the scenes at the paint store (and more stunning rooms) on our Instagram here.

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Karolina and her husband Justin De Costa took over Rowe Spurling Paint Company in 2007 after the senior De Costas, Pamela and Neviile, retired.  Both Karolina and Justin studied theatre at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island.  This gave them a foundation in architecture and design while helping to fuel their creative endeavors.  They continue to evolve Bermuda’s oldest paint store, providing the latest in coatings technology as well as inspiring their customers in their own home and professional projects.

The post My Top Grey Paint Colours Explained appeared first on RG Magazines.

From painting indoors and out, to fixing those faulty shelves, and repurposing the side table that looks out of place anywhere but in the shed, the next few weeks are perfect for completing jobs you can never bring yourself to do when the weather is nice outside.

So, with that in mind, rgmags paid a visit to Gorham’s to ask some of their experts what tasks they get asked about most. From the keen amateur, to the DIY professional, here’s a list of things you might fancy having a go at.

Painting

Hardly an original concept, but you’d still be surprised how many people come to see Greg Nisbett, Gorham’s floor manager and paint specialist, on a daily basis. Gorham’s called it the “single biggest project of the fall and winter months on the island”.

“I get people almost every day who say ‘I want to paint my house but I’ve never done it before,” Greg said.

The other big request Greg gets is for help with paint colours from people who want the same look, but don’t know what the exact shade they want is. The retailer’s paint spectrometre helps in that regard.

“We make our own paint, I can mix the right shade in about four or five minutes right in the store,” Greg said.

Top tip: According to Greg the best thing you can do is prepare your wall properly before you paint it. To do that, he suggests a quick treatment with Jomax, a mold killer, before using some Start Right stain-blocking primer and sealer. After that the finish coat is up to you.

Flooring

Not something that immediately comes to mind when you think DIY, laying a floor is not normally a simple task. However, Blake Simons, who is the Building Materials Manager for Gorham’s, believes it is a task that can become relatively simple with just the right approach.

“It’s very realistic for people to be able to do it themselves,” Blake said. “A lot of people come in, they ask us for advice on how to do it, and we tell them.

“It’s project lots of people might think they can’t do, but they can do.”

It helps that a new product from Aqua Vision, who have designed a waterproof laminate faux wood flooring, comes with instructions on the packet.

A floating floor, it does not need to be glued down, and snaps into place seamlessly.

Top tip: When laying flooring start at the left side of the room and put the grain with the light that’s coming in from the window.

Lighting

One definitely for the more proficient handy man, the desire to bring natural light into homes has always driven the amateur Do it Yourselfer.

While putting in a window is not always easy, the new Solatube Daylighting System is supposedly a task that can be completed relatively quickly – as long as you’re comfortable knocking holes in your roof and ceiling.

“Believe it or not it is a do it yourself project, or it can be done by a contractor, but what’s fantastic about this product is that it allows you to add light to any room without electricity,” said Tyrone Sampson of Aurora Enterprises.

Top tip: While it is a “quite simple installation project” Tyrone said it is essential to get the outside correct. Making a mistake between the roof and ceiling is “not a problem” but you don’t want to get the roof wrong.

For more tips and tricks on doing it yourself, visit www.gorhams-ltd.com

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