FT NEWS

Grey walls can form the backdrop for myriad design schemes, but it can be tricky to know with which colours to pair them. If you’re looking for inspiration, here are seven of the best colour combinations to kick-start your own decorating project.

Emerald green
Rich forest green and pale dove grey can be an elegant combination, as demonstrated in this living room. The wash of very soft grey on the walls provides a cool-toned backdrop to the rich, statement green sofa, and also makes the perfect foil for the brass accents.

In a room that’s this light and bright, the pale grey shade creates a calm, grown-up scheme. A darker grey wall would also work with a green sofa, but the effect would be much richer and more dramatic, so it’s a pairing best suited to smaller or darker rooms.

Gold
Rich, burnished golds and warm metallics are an instant way to add glamour and depth to a grey scheme.

If bling is your thing, bright, shiny gold-coloured pieces can add the wow factor. For a more subtle finish, aged or vintage gold, brass or copper accessories with a soft patina will provide the depth and interest a flat shade of grey can sometimes lack.

Blush pink
Blush, peach, millennial… Whatever you want to call this shade of pink, it’s a natural partner for grey walls and sofas.

Bright yellow
Citrussy yellow can cut through the softness of grey, so it works well as a fresh and contemporary accent colour.

Yellow accessories are best kept crisp, so simple shapes and block colours work well. Bring in some texture with rich velvets and slubby linens to add interest.

White
OK, it’s not strictly a colour, but crisp white is a natural partner for darker shades of grey, as illustrated by this smart kitchen.

Cherry red
Grey rooms can be cool, calm and elegant, but they can also run the risk of becoming industrial and chilly if no accent colours are used to introduce a little warmth. Cherry red is a bold, bright and fun accent colour to pair with grey, but one that needs to be used in small doses.

Peacock blue
While they might not seem obvious bedfellows, grey and blue can actually nicely complement each other if chosen wisely, as illustrated here.

Pick a jewel shade – sapphire, teal or turquoise, for instance – rather than a duller airforce or very pale blue, so it shines against the grey.