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10 Grey Paint Bedroom Ideas for a Stylish Look

17 September 2021 5 min read

If you're thinking of changing the colour scheme in your main bedroom or guest room, and white feels too obvious and tired, grey could be the ideal answer. You've probably noticed plenty of grey in interiors magazines lately.

Now a modern classic, grey walls have quietly displaced the traditional white bedroom for some years, and for good reason. In this post we'll look at why grey is worth trying at home and share a few of our favourite bedroom ideas.

Bedroom in a 1930s house with walls, bay reveal and picture rail painted in grey Alderman No.60 — Left, bedroom walls in Alderman No.60; right, a lower wall in Greenstone No.190 under Maugham White No.2

Attic guest room with a lower wall in Greenstone No.190 and upper wall and sloping ceiling in Maugham White No.2 — Left, bedroom walls in Alderman No.60; right, a lower wall in Greenstone No.190 under Maugham White No.2

Apartment bedroom with pink Kensington Rose No.22 walls and shutters and door in grey Lock Keeper No.18 — Bedroom walls in Kensington Rose No.22 with woodwork in Lock Keeper No.18

Why paint your bedroom grey?

Grey is versatile, adds instant style, and plays nicely with other colours to create particular effects, from modern to rustic. It's also a shade you won't feel the urge to change every year, unlike some.

And strictly speaking grey isn't a colour at all but a blend of black and white, so the more black you add, the deeper the grey, often described as a percentage. That's why you'll come across greys of 10%, 25%, 50% and so on, each bringing a strikingly different feel to a room. You can also introduce undertones of almost any colour, for instance a red tint to create a pinkish grey such as Soho House No.266.

Getting grey right:

in colour psychology, grey stands for peace and balance. Grey interiors read as neutral, elegant and timeless, which makes them a great choice if you want a look that lasts.

If your bedroom gets little natural light, a light grey can trick the eye into feeling larger and airier, ideal for something minimalist and monochrome but with a touch more punch than plain white. If it's sophistication you're after, go for cooler, darker greys.

Bear in mind that in bedrooms flooded with daylight, greys can drift towards lilac, blue or a colder cast than you intended, so look for greys and design ideas that balance out all that light. Dark grey with greenish undertones or deep charcoal adds warmth and instantly flatters everything else in the room, working beautifully with pastels, neons and other bright colours.

Whatever mood you want, grey pairs well with other colours to create a deep, characterful space. So which combinations work with grey? Try the ideas below in your own home.

Warehouse conversion bedroom with dark Hoxton Grey No.72 walls and a ceiling in Pure White No.1 — Bedroom walls in Hoxton Grey No.72 beneath a ceiling in Pure White No.1

Grey bedroom ideas

1 - Grey and white bedroom:

pairing the neutrality of white with a light grey keeps enough light in the room and adds to its calm. These shades can also zone the space by marking out specific areas.

Coastal cottage bedroom with panelled lower wall in Greenstone No.190 and upper walls in Maugham White No.2 — A lower wall in Greenstone No.190 with upper walls in Maugham White No.2 in a calm bedroom

2 - Light grey and dark green:

adding olive green to a light grey scheme brings freshness and depth without darkening the room, since the grey supplies the clarity and contrast needed to appreciate it. A darker grey bed frame adds contrast against the grey walls, while minimalist furniture and fabrics reinforce the contemporary feel.

Bedroom with upper wall and ceiling in pale Serpentine No.192 above a dado in olive Syon Park No.13 — Serpentine No.192 on the upper wall and ceiling above Syon Park No.13 in a bedroom

3 - Pink bedroom with grey furnishings:

pink tones create a warm, soothing retreat for rest. The dusty tones of a shade like Soho House No.266 on the walls sit peacefully against soft grey bed linen and a dark grey frame, while more calming pink textiles and gold accents add delicacy.

For more pink-and-grey ideas, light greys with a hint of pink evoke a very feminine yet calm presence depending on the pink's intensity, and green undertones in the grey make a beautiful, relaxing complement.

4 - Grey and blue:

mixing electric blue with dark grey brings bold, strong character to a bedroom, a modern palette often read as masculine.

5 - Grey and gold:

like black, grey partners with almost any colour, and a warm, shimmering gold makes a luxurious, sparkling complement.

6 - Grey and orange:

dark greys evoke industrial moods, and an adventurous colour like orange or peach adds energy to an otherwise calm, neutral setting.

7 - Grey and teal:

pale grey is a perfect backdrop for teal, whether in a headboard, furnishings, fabrics or framed art. To warm up a grey room, try a teal accent wall.

Bedroom with built-in cupboards in deep Burlington Arcade No.216 and plaster walls in Museum No.151 — Bedroom cupboards in Burlington Arcade No.216 against walls in Museum No.151

8 - Grey and red:

cool greys give a refined finish, and a little red on the walls and in the bedding conveys warmth and passion. An earth-toned or taupe accent in fabric, such as curtains or rugs, completes the look.

Beamed farmhouse bedroom with upper walls in Pale Lilac No.246 and boarded lower wall in Theatre Land No.282 — Pale Lilac No.246 upper walls with lower woodwork in Theatre Land No.282 in a bedroom

9 - Grey and yellow:

for a bedroom that feels upbeat and positive, choose a palette that recalls sunny days. A soft, soothing grey mixed with a spring yellow transports you straight outdoors while keeping the calm of your newly designed room.

Bedroom with bright lower walls in Haymarket No.47 and upper walls and ceiling in Honest John No.58 — Lower walls in Haymarket No.47 with upper walls and ceiling in Honest John No.58

10 - Grey and beige:

soft greys make a room feel relaxing, and layering in earthy tones takes that calm even further. Pair a light grey with beige and let the tranquil mood carry you away.

10 Grey Paint Bedroom Ideas for a Stylish Look