Grey is one of the most popular colours in interior design owing to its versatility and the myriad of shades available. Pale and lilac-toned greys are used in cool Scandinavian homes, deep graphite greys can be moody and romantic in traditional settings, whilst the beige-toned 'greige' is the go-to shade for minimalists. Whether you're decorating your living room or renovating a bathroom, grey is always a safe choice.

The versatility of grey can make it trickier to land on the right colour combination – there are few colours that don't sit well with grey – sunny mediterranean shades warm up cooler tones, a classic crisp white works wonders in a grey bathroom, whilst soft blush pinks offset the severity of graphite.

‘Whilst the general trend for grey home décor may have waned slightly of late it can most definitely be modernised and brought up to date simply by adding an injection of colour,' says Tracey Hague, Director of Where Saints Go. 'The rule of thumb being match cool greys with other "chill" colours such as blue, pale greens and cool white. And match darker grey tones with warm tones such as burnt orange, mustard, and teal.'

We asked interior stylists and design experts to share their tips on the best colours that go with grey. Read on for 17 ideas to try in your own home...

Soft greys lend themselves to bathrooms and kitchens, or wherever you need a crisp and clean design scheme. 'You can't beat crisp brilliant white with a mid-toned grey. It has a fresh appeal that oozes sophistication and can be teamed with pale blonde wood (as seen here), with great results,' says interior stylist, Sophie Warren-Smith.

Pictured: Grande Matte Glazed Tile at Original Style

This living room is a great example of using pastel colours to soften the severity of dark grey. 'You’d be right to think graphic shapes and gunmetal grey is a typically masculine look, so add curves with blush pink and plaster pink on the walls to soften the look and keep it the right side of pretty,' says House Beautiful's Style and Interiors Director, Sarah Keady.

Pictured: House Beautiful Luna Moonlight Rug at Carpetright

When designing calmer spaces like a bedroom, combine colours in similar tones, like this pale grey and buttercup yellow. 'Be on trend and incorporate yellow with a soft grey,' says Sophie. 'This yellow is a brighter tone that is "calmed" by the grey on the rest of the room. Accessorise with rustic wood and white to add contrast.'

Pictured: Baby Fawn Wall Paint and York Harbor Yellow, both by Benjamin Moore

'These beautiful colours work brilliantly together because they are all the same tone. The peg rail breaks up the expanse of grey and is perfect for hanging mirrors and towels from. The pretty pale mint bath adds a further dimension – team with accessories in these three colours for a lovely calming room,' says Sophie.

Pictured: Bastille matt emulsion at Sanderson Paint.

'You might think that blue is too cool a colour to add to your bedroom but you'd be surprised. Team silver shades with chalky cornflower blue hues for a beautiful, dreamy look,' says Sarah.

This pairing makes the perfect backdrop for pale woods and rattan.

Pictured: House Beautiful Neva Bed at Dreams

'Pops of yellow give this grey and lilac combination a spring uplift that creates a prefect look that isn't too dull or too bright,' says Sophie. 'Choosing cushions that incorporate both the grey and yellow will bring the look together.'

This dark grey is a great choice in a lilac room – a lighter shade may look washed out, and wouldn't provide enough of a contrast to enable yellow to stand out.

Pictured: Bowie Sofa at Sofa.com

The temptation when designing with paler colours is to warm them up with brass or gold, but we love this fresh silver and mint green combination.

'Perfect for spring and summer, this scheme brings the colours of nature into the home,' says Sophie. 'The key is to create a look that is balanced, and this is achieved by keeping the colours similar in tone.'

Pictured: Bespoke Shaker Kitchen by Olive & Barr

This living room fully embraces the popular beige-toned greige. 'Texture is key to adding warmth to a neutral interior – woven rugs, velvet cushions and ceramic accessories will all bring depth and interest to your space so it feels cosy and inviting – ready to hunker down in the evening,' says Sarah.

Pictured: House Beautiful Freya 3 Seater Sofa at DFS

'Playing with shades like this can be a good option if you love two grey tones but can't decide which you like best,' says Sophie. Here, charcoal grey doors and window frames anchor an otherwise pale design scheme – and it's super easy to replicate in your own home.

Pictured: Amazonia Toile Duvet Cover, Farrah Palm Pendant Light, and Matilda Dove Grey Bed, all at Dunelm

'For a completely different look, opt for a deeper pairing of colours,' says Sophie. 'Here, not only has the chimney wall been painted in a chalky matt grey, but also the fire surround and skirting too. The teal is the secondary colour and it gives a beautiful contrast whilst adding depth to the scheme at the same time. Team with dark wood furniture to complete this dramatic look.'

Pictured: Nightingale Grey and Hummingbird matt emulsion, both Fired Earth.

‘2023 is the year for earthy and minimalistic tones, which is why we're not surprised that terracotta pairs so well with our all time favourite, grey,' says Yvonne Keal, Senior Product Manager at Hillarys. 'Give your grey living room a "glow up" this year and add a little terracotta through soft furnishings, like your window dressings or cushions. The splash of terracotta provides visual interest to a room not only warming up the space but making it feel positive and welcoming for entering guests.'

Pictured: House Beautiful Matchsticks Mono Blinds at Hillarys

'For those who prefer a monochrome theme, incorporating different shades of grey, alongside accents of white and black, is an effective way to create depth and visual interest in a room,' says Jen Nash, Design Excellence Manager at Magnet.

Pictured: Coco Dining Chairs and Coco Bar Stools at Sofa.com

'As grey can sometimes be seen as a cooler colour, it can work well when mixed with a warmer shade like burnt orange,' says Sophie. 'In this living room the plain and patterned cushions link the colour palette perfectly.'

To soften the look, opt for accents of natural wood and lush green plants.

Pictured: Tegola Elite Grey Oak Luxury Vinyl at Carpetright

'The subtle pink of this bed works really well with the geometric wallpaper and pale grey throws,' says Sophie. 'The dark triangles on the wallpaper sing out whilst the white square print bedding and barely pink cushions add a subtle yet decorative touch.'

Pictured: Daisy double bed frame in blush at Button & Sprung and Scion Lohko Modul Wallpaper in Blush at John Lewis.

'Calming and understated in equal measures, grey and light blue can make rooms feel more contemporary and clean cut, whereas darker shades (e.g. navy) blue give rooms more depth,' says interiors stylist at ScS, Vicki Foster. 'Opting for grey over white as a combination also removes any nautical connotations so you can avoid over-styling whilst allowing the blue to stand out against a neutral colour.'

Pictured: Cabinets painted in Meteor Shower C 5443 at Benjamin Moore

'While these two colours may seem like more of a clash than a combination at first thought, it’s a pairing that makes an instant impression and creates a burst of refreshing energy,' says Vicki.

'Light grey walls and a dark sofa with red accessories can work in harmony together, so too can a light sofa with nearby artwork or cushions or plants or plant pots with a pop of bold red colour. Grey and red can also be partnered with a crisp white too, to bring a freshness to the decorated space.'

Pictured: Astor Grey Velvet Double Bed at Furniture and Choice

'The green bed is upholstered with a fleck woven fabric that adds texture, this contrasts against the super smooth chalky grey walls. The yellow curtains and lamp act perfectly as accent colours and the crisp white bedding adds balance whilst the patterned cushions bring all the colours together,' says Sophie.

Pictured: Empire bed and footstool in Dolce & Gabbana Brecon Leaf fabric at Delcor.

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