Like most home stagers, I can’t resist a weekend open house. I like to stay on top of what’s for sale in the neighborhoods I stage in, and what homes look like at various price ranges.
Occasionally, I pick up a new client visiting open houses and speaking with the real estate agent, but that’s not always my primary goal.
Last weekend, I was just curious to see the interior of a modern loft-style home that replaced the cottage that used to be on the site in an established family neighborhood.
My first impression was how dark it was inside.
To be honest, I assumed the walls were white and that the lighting was just too dim in every room.
Speaking with the builder, he told me that “warm colors are out of fashion so no earth tones were used in the home.” That’s when I realized that what looked like boring sterile white with dim lighting, was actually gray walls and probably adequate light!
I don’t know the exact color/brand, but I’m guessing it’s something like Stonington Gray from Benjamin Moore (HC-170) shown here. It’s just too dull to paint an entire house, especially when the floors and trim are a darker gray!
Pops of color from furniture and accessories would have improved the situation, but there were none here. In fact almost all the contents were white, black or light natural wood.
It’s ironic that the exterior and main level are all exposed brick (which would definitely complement earth tones). To my mind they set an expectation for those tones to be continued. After all, if you didn’t like earth tones at all, the exposed brick wouldn’t attract you to this real estate property in the first place. Instead of continuing the theme, they went to dull gray on all remaining walls, and a gray concrete floor with the belief that it’s the current “trend.”
Perhaps the builder should stick to building and let a home stager do the home staging for him? This is a million dollar 3-bedroom home on a very tiny lot in a family neighborhood. I wonder who he thinks the target buyer is?
In any event, I don’t believe warm tones will ever go out of fashion, especially in cold climates! Home stagers, what do you think? What are your favorite neutrals for painting for home staging? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Debra Gould, Creator Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program
Staging Diva Debra Gould was dubbed “as color conscious as Matisse” by Boulevard Magazine in a 2001 cover story. She is the author of 5 guides including the Staging Diva Ultimate Color Guide: the easy way to pick colors for home staging projects. In this important guide, Debra shares her 80 favorite Benjamin Moore colors, by specific name and number so you can use them too. She also gives you 15 different color palettes for painting an entire house. Learn more about this Color Guide for Home Staging.
Susan, I am smiling as I read your post! For the benefit of those reading about gray walls, you and I both live in Alaska and we see gray a lot! Fun to take a color we typically would avoid and get creative with it. And eggplant with gray sounds like a rich combination. Will have to try it!
I agree eggplant with gray would be gorgeous!
I have never liked the color gray, probably because it looks terrible on me!
But recently, for something different I talked my builder husband into using gray throughout the house he was building. I chose a warm gray and used a darker gray in the same tone as accent colors, like below the wainscoting and interior doors. It looked so sharp with the white trim, and we got a ton of compliments on it. Of course I staged it for him and used a rich eggplant color (bedding) in the master bedroom and bath (towels). Now it’s my new favorite! I also chose two shades of gray for a real estate office and they loved it. I agree with Stacy! People in Alaska do like gray.
Susan, eggplant would be fabulous with gray!
My favorite neutral is kind of a cappucino beige, I hate to say it but it fools some people into thinking they used color. You can go cool or hot it just seems to work in so many settings and clients feel safe with it, like I said the always think they have made a big color decision, and it looks good.
Thanks Renell, I too love how we can ease people into “big” color decisions
You might enjoy this opposite dilemma, how to handle color-crazy home sellers. Would love you to add your thoughts.
Thanks again for writing
Sue, I’m with you on the way a cool, soft (pale) gray makes wood tones in floors and cabinets look/feel warm. Gray is a good “canvas” color; meaning a nice background with tiles and textures also in a home. Though I probably would not use gray with cherry floors or cabinets, I do like the way soft gray walls look next to white interior trim around doors and windows.
Stacy, I like gray up against white trim too. That was the problem with this house. With no white to compare it to, it was too hard to tell it was actually gray and not dirty white.
About gray paint. Cool soft gray can really make the wood tones of flooring, furniture or cabinetry look really warm and beautiful. It’s the contrast of the cool and warm. But not if the house has concrete, stainless and metallic finishes throughout! But I have recommended and used it in some situations.
What’s your favorite “go to” gray Sue? I think if you don’t have the right shade you can run the risk of making wood look too yellow/orange.
Having often taken over a home that is not 100% correct in my mind, I immediately start decorating the home in my mind with pops of bright yellow or blue mixed with orange.
I did have a friend who painted her home grey and orange which sounded terrible to me until I saw it done as the orange was a burnt orange and the two together swallowed up the huge spaces and looked quite cozy so maybe there is help for the grey white and brick home.
Joy, isn’t it funny how redecorating in our minds is like a reflex as soon as we enter a space? If that’s not a sure sign you’re using your God-given talents, I don’t know what is! Thanks for sharing.
I like the colour grey as long as it doesn’t make my teeth feel like they are biting into tin foil. One of my favourite shades of grey is Benjamin Moore’s Metropolitan from their Affinity line.
Thanks Yvonne, that is a great color suggestion.
I love painting interior walls gray but it has to be the right gray. I am talking about a gray that is almost a marhmellow gray. It’s creamy gray. The color I use is called “Shoreline” and it’s a soft, light gray. I like this gray because nearly any color, in it’s softer, pale shade, goes with it. I also like gray because it doesn’t feel sterile to me like some whites. When sellers are hesitant to go any color but white, I’ll encourage them to try some soft gray in their home. Once they see it and feel comfortable, I start to introduce other color options for other areas of the house. The clients I work with like gray. Then again, we’re in Alaska and maybe that’s why ther i’s a certain comfort level with gray!
Stacy, you raise a great point. Our perceptions and comfort with different colors can also be affected by where we live and the type of climate.
Grey is great! Obviously if you live in a place where it’s dark for three months of the year then it needs to be tempered with some brighter/warmer accents, but it is greatly overlooked. It shows rooms to good advantage with SE/S/SW/W aspect, I recently used it to finish a bedroom, along with a deep lilac on one wall, gilt framed mirrors and pictures, plus some Chinese blue and white lamps with lilac shades. Everyone is surprised, favourably though. For clients who have Gustavian, French or Art Nouveau furniture it works well. Equally in modern properties it can get people’s interest. I agree with the other comments, that it has to be a definite colour and not look like the white paint has just become dingy with time. Not sure I’d do a whole room in grey, bit too 80′s “executive office”.
Bernard, great input, thanks! I too remember those 80s executive offices well.
Personally, I am partial to gray tones whether cool or warm (which is a more earthy if you want earth tones)
I used to own a custom picture frame shop and it was recommended to use gray as the backdrop for the frame corners and the counter as it remained the most neutral behind every color.
Now, would i use darker gray trim- NO, always white to show contrast, and definitely use pops of color- i prefer bright greens and oranges,
I also watch a lot of HGTV where gray seems to be the most popular paint color, It is probably the catalyst for gray being the New Color. I think it shows truer than beige, seems like the beige always turns to peach or pink on tv anyway. (or at least I hope they weren’t using peach and pink.)
I absolutely love gray. It adds sophistication and elegance. It works really well with trendy accent colors like lime green, yellow, turquois, orange, even with deep purple. It could be tricky to choose the right gray because it can have undertones of blue, purple, or taupe. I agree that without furniture and right accessories the house could look dull. But doesn’t it look uninviting when vacant anyway? I just painted my living room SW Repose Gray and very happy how it turned out. It is maybe on the lighter side but my house is dark. My dining room is two tones gray SW Mindful Gray and SW Dovetail. It looks beautiful with yellow accents http://pinterest.com/pin/136163588703939240/
As for staging it depends on demographic. Younger couple will prefer gray and more contemporary finishes. New trendy color is very much like a Home Staging… even if it’s popular not everyone is ready to do it
Thanks Anna for your comments. In this particular house, the builder had staged it himself. Everything was white, grey or black and it was really cold. Your suggestions for lively accent colors would have changed the whole thing.
I like grey. But there are at least 50 Shades of Grey as we have recently learned. For my living and entertaing space, the welcoming space, I prefer warm earth tones. But for a wine cellar and wine tasting lounge in the basement, warm putty grey walls can be complemented with natural pine or maple wood beams or trim at the ceiling with scattered LED pot lights and matching door trim and assorted furniture. A southwest facing bedroom can also be cooled down in summer with walls a cool colour, like a subtle shade of grey.
Marie, you are so funny! My 82 year old mother just read 50 Shades of Gray, seems everyone is reading it!
I love your suggestions, thanks for taking the time to comment.
I’m reading all the thoughts on grey but must admit I have been thinking of changing my living room which is in a 90-yr old craftsman with lots of natural oak window casings to a pale, light smoke grey with a darker deep blue/grey accent wall where my fireplace is. Now the walls are a warm beige with pink tones but my couch has a dusty blue slipcover & my wool 5×7 rug has blue,gray & sage on cream. Also 2 side chairs are mission oak stain with dark brown leather seats. Do you think I could pull this off. Oh, I live in Michigan so winter’s can be dull too.
Virginia, given the age/style of your home, I’m guessing you’re not flooded with natural light.
Actually it sounds like you answered your own question about adding gray walls to your blue furniture -> “I live in Michigan so winter’s can be dull too.”
I’m interested in hearing more thoughts on this, as I have a very similar scenario. We’re buying a 1900 American Foursquare with 10-foot ceilings and natural oak trim everywhere, and hardwood floors. We’re going to buy craftsman-style furniture with brown leather, and my wife was thinking grey for the walls, but I worry about how dark the rooms are. There is not enough natural light to begin with, and I’m worried that this will make it all way too dark. What else could we do to lighten the place up?
Dave, given the situation you describe I would stay away from grey. It will definitely be too dark and it won’t do anything to enhance the natural oak trim, hardwood floors or furniture.
Personally, I’d lean more towards warmer tones. Take a look at Benjamin Moore’s Historical Colors and look for things with a yellow undertone. For example, Castleton Mist HC-1, Greenmount Silk HC-3, Philadelphia Cream HC-30.
A professional home stager can give you ideas during a color consultation. I likely have someone in your area, please do a search for your city in the Staging Diva Directory of Home Stagers. If you don’t find someone in the search results it will present you with an online form to complete and I’ll locate someone for you.
I think gray is sharp next to natural oak!
I just recommended SW Aloof Gray in a small kitchen with white cabinets and a dark red tile floor and already-installed rusty red mottled granite countertops. Aloof Gray has a sage green undertone and the owner wanted a “sophisticated” paint color for the re-design (not a staging). I agree gray can be washed-out and bland, but if you choose a gray with a green, blue, purple, or beige undertone, it can look great! Adding shots of a warm color for staging is a must in my book, and I agree that the gray in this picture doesn’t work with the brick. Trends shouldn’t be blindly followed!
Excellent tips Amy, thanks for sharing. That kitchen sounds fabulous. I’d love to feature it in an article. You can submit details here if you’re interested!
Grey is a wonderful neutral to work with and can be used with many bright colours and accents, but Montana is right, the shade and undertone is key. The shade used in this image is far to light given the other features in the room, i.e. exposed brick and trim. Grey although on the cool end can also feel warm when paired with warm colours such as the orange in the wall and still look very modern.
Thanks Vidya for sharing your point of view on gray.
Is grey really grey? This is one color that can be perfect or horrible. Too much or too little is the least of the problems, it is getting the right tint. Depending on the mixture you can end up with greenish, blueish, brownish, or even purplish grey. And if the rest of your accents have a different tint that clashes against this color, it will turn out to be really bad. The best use I believe is to use a grey wall as an accent wall, and then choose your accessories according to the tint that you find in your house. Now you may ask how this is possible, and the answer is that the human eye perceives color, meaning color doesn’t exist in nature it has to do with cones and rods in our eyes that allow us to see a very small portion of light waves. Depending on the amount of light and if the light has a warm or cool temperature this will make the perfect color in the paint store turn into the worst color when you get home to paint it. Thanks Montana Ruark
Thanks for your input Montana! I totally agree that it’s important to notice the undertone of any color you’re using. Even “white” can look yellow, green, beige, pink, etc. depending on what it’s with and the lighting conditions.
I moved into a newly remodeled rent house. I almost cried becaused every single wall is grey. The landlord was so proud of it cause it was an the new trend! I felt like I was living in a submarine!
I have used red accents with a bit of yellow here and there. It makes all the difference in the world. I just wish he had let me choose the color of paint!
Peggy, I can totally relate to what you’re describing. Red and yellow accents are a great idea. It’s funny in very early spring I found myself very attracted to yellow and gray combinations. My office furniture has a golden/yellow stain and I had considered repainting my office gray. After walking through that house I described in this article, I’d never do it. I think it would just feel dead!
I have been trying to use grey in a house since it became the “trend;” however, because I always start with what is already there (tile, carpet, wood, etc), warm tones just tend to work better. Sooner or later I will do a grey house!
Cool contemporary colors work best when you have an entire design and furnishing scheme working in harmony. I generally stay away from greys and blues in decorating or staging; overall, they can be sad.
I love to use BM Shaker beige. After actually testing personally about 6 others, this color is awesome. It looks like gold, sometimes Khaki and lighting affects it to so many shades which are all beautiful. It is a lovely shade to use with Black, cream, brown and turquoise accents. I have used it in kitchens, bedrooms, studies and baths.
Leigh Anne, You’re right, Shaker Beige (HC-45) is a much warmer tone and would work well with the colors you’ve suggested.
I love gray walls but agree that there can be the wrong shade or color chosen in any section of the color wheel. it’s too bad that they didn’t even consider warm tones to work with the brick. I think people impose more rules on themselves than really exist when it comes to these kinds of decisions!
Lori, I totally agree that people impose too many “rules” on themselves — and who made these up anyways?! Thanks for commenting.
Hi Debra,
It is true that builders should keep building, and with your experience and media coverage, you probably feel confident enough to argue with his statement. However, as a new Home Stager with experience in staging only my own homes so far (albeit successfully), his comment would make me doubt my preference for warm and earthy tones.
Marie, it’s almost a reflex to assume someone else is right and you’re wrong (even more so when you’re new at something), but this is a mistake that too many of us make. I wrote a much longer answer here and realized I was writing an entire blog post! So thank you for inspiring me to revisit this whole topic of maintaining our confidence in our own God-given talents, watch for it next week!
Appreciate you commenting on this article!
Only love grey and industrial achromactic schemes when juxtaposed by accents of color. Could be bold pops of highly saturated hues or calm, spa-like water hues. If enough lush green is visible through large windows perhaps just crisp white would give life to this space.
Diane, good points. Sadly little lush green visible through the windows. Since it’s a small lot and they built almost right to the property line on either side, when you looked out some windows, you were literally staring at the next door (highly neglected) house that was only 12 inches away!
Crisp white would have made it more obvious that the walls were gray and not white, but would not have brought much life here. I really think your idea of spa-like water hues would have been better.
Warm tones, in my opinion, will never go out of style. It makes people feel at home. Even in a predominantly ‘cool’ setting, without at least some pop of warmth, it will feel stark, cold, and uninviting…..no thank you!
I agree, builders should stick to building and hire us for aesthetics. Unfortunately, they tend to do what’s ‘trendy’ with little regard for what’s stylish and timeless.
Sara, I bet like me you can count way too many builder-designed homes that you walked in and thought, “what were they thinking?”
I was in another newly constructed home recently where the microwave was installed so high (with a door that opened to the bottom rather than the side, which meant it was in the way), only a 6foot tall person could possible remove a hot plate of food from it without making a mess.
I agree Debra. Sounds cool and sterile. I don’t mind charcoal accents but definitely would always add pops of colour. Too bad they ignored the lovely warm tones in the brick and made it look like it doesn’t even fit in with the rest of the decor!
Karen, thanks for commenting. I love charcoal too, when not overdone. At least charcoal is a real color. Pale gray masquerading as white isn’t.
I’m with you, Debra! So many people are getting on the “gray train” and while it is a potent and sophisticated color (as all colors can be), an entire gray surrounding can be overwhelming and dull. In Feng Shui, gray is a metal color. An excess of metal can cause rigidity and over-thinking according to that paradigm. So it is always important to balance color effectively. The same would have been true if the home were all beige! An excess of an earth tone can create a feeling of being stuck and isolated. I did a consult for an attorney who told me that he felt ilke he couldn’t leave his house once he got home from work and that friends seldom came over. Once we tweaked the interior by adding deeper, livelier earth tones with spice colors – just a dash here and there for his comfort zone, things changed. Back to gray – it often carries blue tones, lavender shades and browns. Those can easily be added. The color wheel is just one tool we use to work our magic, right?
Pat, thanks for sharing the Feng Shui perspective, that’s so interesting! I love your story about the attorney and would enjoy turning that into a larger article. It’s a fascinating example of how color effects us.
If you can give me more details and a photo or two, I’ll write it up and promote it for you. Great free publicity and something I’m happy to do for Staging Diva students and graduates. If you’re interested, please submit your info here.
Thanks again for your feedback and info on the Feng Shui theories on color!
What a wonderful warm brick wall & beams spoilt & fighting with the cold/gray staircase & paint. This room would have worked well with one of my favourite colours: Dulux Hogbristle. It is a warm neutral with an on trend hint of gray. I like gray but unless it’s ‘warm’ it is difficult to use in staging. Let’s see if gray is still around in 5 years
Thanks Imogen for that suggestion. Agree that “warm neutral with an on trend hint of gray” sounds like a better option!
Grey is simply one of those colors that do not appeal to the widest range of prospective buyers so I stay away from it.
Lisa thanks for sharing. It seems a lot of Stagers feel this way judging from the comments I am getting here as well as on Facebook and Twitter.
Grey NEEDS colour to bring it to life. If builders insist on using grey in their homes then they must absolutely stage them with pops of colour, leaving them bare is just depressing.