Color of the Month: Decorating with Charcoal Gray

Gray is the (not so) new trend; it’s an awesome neutral-that’s-not-really-neutral, with loads of variations within the color. There are so many grays (50 shades, perhaps?) that it can be very tricky to get right shade (dove, platinum, ash, slate, even metallics like silver and gunmetal) and undertone (blue, brown, green?), so we’re not going to attempt to address all grays as a single Color of the Month. This month we’re focusing on charcoal gray.

Charcoal is that perfect winter shade: moody, cozy, dramatic, and sophisticated, without being black. Prevent drabness and darkness with bursts of bright color (yellow, red, teal), clean white, pattern, texture, gray variations, excellent lighting, wood, or metallics; use it as an accent if you’re afraid of going too deep.

This resilient color works well in every area of the home:

In an elegant or casual kitchen or dining room:

Kitchen by DesignArt Memphis by Leslie Cetingok
Kitchen by L&E (Lofts and Extensions)
Kitchen by Williams Ridout
Dining Room by Avenue B Development
Dining Room by Jane Lockhart Interior Design
Dining Room by Bruce Norman Long Interior Design
A cozy living room:
Living Room by Webber + Studio, Architects
Living Room by Luck Stone Center
Living Room by Tom Stringer
Living Room by Steven Cordrey Interior Design
Home Theater by Chris Jovanelly Interior Design
Living Room by Abigail Ahern
Living Room by bulthaup by Kitchen Architecture
A snug, sophisticated bedroom:
Bedroom by Space Harmony
Bedroom by i3 design group
Bedroom by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design
Bedroom by For People design
Bedroom by Chantel Elshout Design Consultancy
Bedroom by Judith Balis Interiors

It’s even for kids’ rooms!

Bedroom by Ml-h design
Photo credit: Lisa Petrole Photography
Nursery by OLLI+LIME
Nursery by Robin Colton Studio
Bedroom by DUO DISAIN
To lend gravity to a modern home office:
Home Office by Anjali Pollack Design
Home Office by Cynthia Mason Interiors
Home Office by Studio Munroe
In a dramatic bathroom:
Powder Room by Ryan Street & Associates
Avanity Thompson Bathroom Vanity Combo
Bathroom by Morgante Wilson Architects
Bathroom by LDa Architecture & Interiors
Decolav Cityscape Vanity
Bathroom by STEPHEN FLETCHER ARCHITECTS
Bathroom by Ashley Campbell Interior Design
Fairmont Designs Boulevard Vanity
Powder Room by Elsie Interior
In transitional spaces (halls, entry, stairs):
Staircase by Inspired Design Ltd
Photo credit: Robert Granoff
Hall by Thom Lindsley
Photo credit: Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
And it’s classic on exteriors:
Exterior by GR Home/Graciela Rutkowski Interiors
Exterior by Bali Construction
Exterior by Matt Elkan Architect
Exterior by Synthesis Design Inc.
Exterior by Ana Williamson Architect
Entry by DK Design
What’s your favorite shade of gray?
yael

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