What paint color of the walls matches the gray floor

hackrea / April 18, 2021

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The modern variety of flooring materials is an endless source of inspiration for both professional designers and those who dream of beautiful and truly stylish interiors. Indeed, today there are at least several dozen floor options but do not forget that not only the material and its texture but also the color are of great importance.

Thanks to the flooring manufacturers, you have a wide variety of colors at your disposal today – from calm and discreet to downright incredible. Nevertheless, designers note that extravagant and bright palettes for floors still cannot be called popular. Neutral and classic ones invariably take the upper hand over them, the absolute favorite among which is gray.

Contrary to existing stereotypes, a gray floor is by no means bland and impersonal, as many are used to thinking. The calm, restrained and cool colors of the flooring have become an authentic interior find that promises many advantages. According to the designers, this flooring color can create an impeccable base for a cozy and warm environment, provided that you choose the right accompanying shades.

When choosing a color scheme for a gray floor, the most attention is paid to the walls’ shade, which is quite logical. The fact is that it is the basic vertical surfaces that set the tone, style, and prospects for the development and filling of the color scheme of the room. That is why it is worth discussing the specifics of matching the color of the walls to the flooring in gray shades and finding out what to start from to do everything truly competently.

Gray floor: pros and cons

One of the gray floor’s key advantages is its flexibility and ambiguity, making it possible to fit the floor covering in similar shades into almost any interior. In addition to versatility, which is so crucial in modern trends, gray as a color for the basis of furniture and decor has a considerable number of advantages:

Positive psychological impact. A restrained and at the same time the discreet shade of gray calms, allows you to put your thoughts in order and feel more balanced, and also creates an atmosphere of calm nobility.
Flexibility. You can make the floor gray in the living room, bedroom, and even in the nursery. It goes well with almost any color. However, it is essential to understand that gray is highly wary of its own shades, and therefore gray walls to gray flooring are not always a good idea. However, we will talk about this later and in a little more detail.
A base for a wide variety of design ideas. You can complement the gray floor with furniture, accessories, and walls in classic monochrome colors or add bright accents – and it will provide the necessary harmony.
Visual and physical comfort. The gray flooring creates a feeling of air movement, coolness, and freshness. Besides, by experimenting with its shades, you can visually enlarge or reduce the room’s size.

Shades for gray floors: trendy infinity

The gray color is incredibly varied. The number of its shades still defies any calculations, and more and more variations appear in the design palettes every season. We also invite you to learn a little more about the warm and cold shades of gray relevant to modern flooring.

Warm shades of gray

Warm grays are shades with noticeable beige, brownish and yellowish undertones. Such floors create an atmosphere of coziness and tranquility – it is not surprising that gray flooring is often used for bedrooms and children’s rooms. Among the shades that have become more relevant this year than ever are:

Graystone. Thanks to the subtle brown tones, this color can be considered universal and a kind of adaptive since it can visually “adjust” to any palette – both light and dark.
Concrete. Even if you do not want to use this material for finishing the floor, you should consider its color. The laconic and restrained shade is well combined with the walls’ deep and rich colors, which look especially attractive in modern interiors.
Smoky. This well-known shade of gray is highly prized for its unique brown and gray-brown undertones with subtle purple notes. These transitions are noticeable only on a subconscious level, but these shades create the very desired aura of physical and mental calmness. It is noteworthy that it is smoky that goes well with the red and brown hues of the walls.
Quartz. Warm and at the same time neutral shade that seems airy and translucent thanks to the pronounced and warm gray-beige tone. Designers consider quartz gray flooring to be the best “partner” for accent and colorful walls.
Ashen. The yellow and green undertones make this flooring an ideal combination with natural wood walls.
Soft gray-beige. The pale gray with a brownish tint is slightly warmer than others, yet light enough and neutral enough for both bright and dark walls.
Soothing gray. It is formed under the barely noticeable influence of green and brown tones, due to which the floor of this color appears soft and smooth at the same time. These shades are ideal for combinations with beige walls, furniture, and accents.

Cool shades of gray

Cool grays are shades that feature blues and light blues. The trendy flooring palette for the coming years included:

Silver-gray. Many people mistakenly believe that this color must undoubtedly have a metallic texture. In fact, it is a matte tone with deep blue undertones, due to which it perfectly reflects light and appears airy and light. Both white and dark brown walls, as well as metallic accents, are suitable for this floor.
Network gray. A color with noticeable blue tones, located in the middle of the spectrum. The floor covering of this shade looks strict and stylish, emphasizing the complementary hue of the walls.
African gray. The darker, more soothing shade is often used for bedroom floors and is incredibly friendly to blues and gray-greens.
Olympic gray. One of the lightest and most delicate cool shades. This floor perfectly emphasizes the simplicity and lightness of minimalism and Scandinavian interiors.
Morning fog. Light and at the same time deeper shade, which looks quite sophisticated due to blue and lavender undertones. Designers often use it for industrial and loft applications.
Reflection. Light and cold gray, which looks different depending on the light source: in soft diffused light, the floor appears gray, in bright daylight – bluish. Reflection is a neutral and reflective shade that can even be combined with beige walls.

We match the color of the walls to the gray floor: best paint color solutions

So, we have already discussed both the design and the color temperature of the flooring, and now is the time to move on to the main thing – discussing the specific paints and shades of the walls suitable for the gray floor.

As we already know, the formula “warm to warm, cold to cold” also works to match the color of the walls to the flooring. Experimenting, in this case, is not worth it: the fact is that you are creating the basis for your future interior, and a careless decision can lead to the fact that you will simply feel uncomfortable. And to reduce the risk of errors, let’s try to figure out which colors are best in harmony with gray tones.

Gray

Designers are pretty pessimistic about the idea of combining gray and gray floors. The fact is that the spectrum of gray shades is so vast that it is tough to find tones that would excellently match each other without professional skills – and the services of colorists and decorators can be very expensive. That is why it is better not to risk it and turn to other neutral shades.

However, there is an exception to this rule. You can try to decorate the accent wall precisely in the tone of the flooring: however, the rest of the environment should be light and sufficiently contrasting – it is best if it is white furniture, cream textiles, or accessories in blue tones.

White

The combination of a light gray floor and white walls will create a light and clean interior with a precise rhythm. But on one condition: if you can pick up cool shades of white for the walls. There should not be any pinkish or yellow tint; otherwise, the walls will constantly look faded and even dirty.

For a combination with light wood, laminate, or porcelain stoneware, shades close to icy and snow-white are suitable. At the same time, it is worth giving preference to matte textures since excessive-gloss can add unwanted coldness.

Blue

Shades of blue are one of the most sensible and obvious wall solutions for gray floors. And there is an obvious explanation for this: the tones are soothing, cool and at the same time give a little more vitality and color joy. Depending on the tone and texture of the flooring, take a look at the following gradations:

Soft blue. Light and delicate blue color. Designers recommend using it with darker and more severe shades of the flooring – in the case of lighter tones, there is a risk that the walls will appear washed out and faded.
Heavenly. A hint of summer skies will complement wood floors in neutral and refreshing shades of gray.
Dark shale blue. The designers forgot this chic and deep shade for a long time, and only a couple of years ago, it “returned to duty”. If you want an expensive and laconic modern interior, neutral gray floors and smooth dark blue walls are exactly what you need.
Dusty blue. The color, which invariably enters the palette of art deco and neoclassical interior, is a perfectly reasonable solution for walls that need to be balanced with a light gray floor. However, if you wish, you can combine them with warm dark gray tones of tiles or hardwood flooring – for a mysterious and elegant atmosphere.
Turquoise. The fresh and energetic color of the walls does not match any shade of gray. Let us tell you a little secret: if surfaces of a unique green-blue color have become your dream, you should not deny yourself such a pleasure: just pick up a light floor covering in a warm gray color.

Green

Gray floors and green walls – wouldn’t that be overkill? Designers are convinced of the opposite: this combination looks incredibly stylish if you choose the right tones for vertical surfaces. And you don’t have to search for a long time: we reveal secrets and advise you to take a closer look at the following variations of green:

Sea salt. An ashen greenish tint with a touch of gray, ideal for flooring in cool tones.
Sage. A sophisticated and trendy shade of gray-green. The combination of walls of this color with a gray floor looks organically in both modern and minimalistic and classic interiors.
Mint. A soft and refreshing green that you can use not only for walls in the living room and bedroom but also for the nursery.
Lime. Combined with a gray floor, a luscious green hue is an excellent recipe for a fresh and ultra-stylish design.

At the same time, designers advise avoiding shades of green with pronounced yellow notes, such as olive, light green, and forest green. Excessive yellowness can “kill” the cleanliness and severity of gray, and your flooring will look worn and unkempt.

Lilac, orange, mustard – these shades are increasingly matched to the gray floor, so you can easily use such combinations. If you still do not dare to paint or paste over all the walls, try to make one of the surface accents – and you will be surprised how lively and stylish your interior will become.

Interior design styles in which you can use a gray floor?

The floor in gray shades can be safely called universal since gray flooring is relevant for any interior. However, as you know, the devil is in the details: depending on the style you choose, you will have to select not only the shade of the desired intensity and color temperature but also the color of the walls that perfectly match it.

Minimalism

One of the most democratic interior styles to gray shades. By choosing the right tone for your floor, you can create the most comfortable environment for yourself. Thus, laconic furnishings combined with warm-colored flooring will provide comfort, cold-colored wood flooring – stylish severity.

Loft & Industrial

Industrial-style interiors require cool mid to dark grays. Hardwood flooring and large-format porcelain stoneware of similar tones will perfectly emphasize the height of windows and the absence of partitions and will also become an excellent backdrop for furniture and accessories made of metal and glass.

Hi-tech

Choosing a shade of gray for a high-tech interior is apparent. Neutral and cool tones are essential to creating an authentic atmosphere of practicality, functionality, and futurism.

French country, country, eco, rustic

Gray painted wood, and light-colored walls are the perfect base for any of the above interiors. Wooden texture and pattern will add warmth and softness, soft and delicate gray – lightness and freshness.

Scandinavian

Scandinavian gray floors are primarily light and made of wood. Initially, such interiors’ concept was based on the desire for warmth, simplicity, and homeliness; therefore, shades of gray are selected from the warm spectrum.

Mediterranean and chalet

Gray floors in such interiors are matte wood and stone of soft soothing shades. These floorings are in perfect harmony with wood walls and neutral and warm paint and wallpaper.

Classical and neoclassical

Floors in dark shades of gray are not uncommon for more traditional design trends. Elegant furniture, sophisticated decor, and textured textiles are in perfect harmony with them. True, for neoclassical interiors, designers still recommend choosing parquet in lighter colors – ashy or smoky.

Gray floors what color walls: Conclusions + Photo gallery

Gray floorings combine practicality and ambiguity, friendliness to trendy interior design, and intolerance to shades that do not harmonize with them. You should not save time looking for successful combinations and even resort to a specialist’s help: if the color of the walls is ideally matched to the shade of the gray floor, we can safely say that your interior’s base is distinguished by impeccable taste.