Is it just me or are we all ready to bid a fond farewell to the all gray everything we’ve been seeing over the (at least) past decade? Don’t misunderstand me - I don’t dislike the color gray and have used it in projects over the years, but I love the warmth and coziness of color, antiques and pretty patterns!
This dining room we designed and completed in this Chattanooga home a few short years ago illustrates my point perfectly! The warm colors found in the mural and and the dining chairs create a welcoming, comfortable feel in this not-so-formal dining room.
Here’s another recently completed project just north of Chattanooga that utilizes warm colors and textures. To me, this is aesthetic implies comfort and evokes an overall welcoming vibe to the home’s interiors.
We discussed perhaps whitewashing the stone on the fireplace, but in the end decided to retain the natural look of the unaltered flagstones. Note also the gold trim in the ivory drapes, and the muddy sage walls. This living room feels warm and welcoming and yet fresh and current!
Here’s another view of the same room. Buff colored performance fabric on the sofa blends beautifully with the stone and adds a layer of warmth to the room. Blue (a cool color) accents provide color balance and a bit of contrast to the design.
A common misconception I hear from time to time is that grays and beiges cannot be used in the same space. Let me set the record straight. It’s not an either / or situation. You absolutely can combine grays and camels in the same room. In fact, I would argue that this mix of warm and cool is what creates a balanced room temperature. Using all warm tones can feel stifling and oppressive, while all cool tones can feel sterile and cold. And nobody wants that!
Enjoy a few more photos that illustrate how effective a balance of warm and cool colors is in creating comfortable and inviting interior spaces.
Here is a Chattanooga living room in a new construction project we designed during the pandemic. Light gray walls are the backdrop and we layered in golds, buffs and natural wood tones to create a space that is sophisticated but welcoming. Not too warm. Not too cool. Just right!
Gray paint and blue upholstery are accented with orange for a good warm/cool palette in our Magnolia Vale project. Cute pup provides more warm fuzzies.
So have I convinced you that warm and cool colors can coexist peacefully in the same room? If you’re in the all gray era and wish to nudge your space into a warmer, more welcoming version, start with a few warm accents - brass, wood tones, or a natural fiber rug would be a great start to creating a perfectly balanced room!
Chattanooga area homeowners - are you looking to upgrade your interiors and fall in love with your home? Fill out our contact form or email Kim at thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com. We’d love to help create your perfect design!
