How to Brighten a Grey Living Room (2024)

A grey colour scheme is always a good choice for a living room. Grey tones are incredibly versatile, bringing you all the benefits of neutral hues and white paint colours. However, a warm grey with a rich colour temperature makes for a far more inviting space.

A grey room runs the risk of looking drab, especially if it's on the larger side. While lovers of contemporary design may be able to live with this, grey living rooms devoid of character aren't the best places to relax and unwind in.

The good news is that it's easy enough to breathe life into grey living room ideas. With a few key design choices, you can accentuate your grey paint of choice and create visual interest. Read on for some hassle-free ways of elevating those grey walls that won't break the bank.

If you've recently decorated with a cool grey shade, those pale grey walls are probably calling out for a pop of colour. As grey is an incredibly versatile colour, it's simple enough to add warmth to your space.

If your living room also has a grey sofa, use multi-coloured scatter cushions and throws as bright accents. Everything from blush pink to vibrant yellow works well when layering tones in a grey space. Complementary colours with warm undertones are a low-key choice, but you're free to use more daring contrasts if you wish.

It might also be worth reaching for your paintbrush again. If you've decorated your space with cool tones, think about using a darker shade for an accent wall or to make a focal point of architectural details. If you want to move away from an all-grey palette, consider using jewel shades or rich plum tones instead.

Finally, look to your furniture for ways to incorporate more colour into a grey living space. Mid-century style furniture is a popular choice for dark grey living rooms, but these pieces tend to be made from woods with darker tones. To uplift a dark wood table or teak cabinet, think about replacing existing legs with gold or copper hairpin ones.

Whether you've opted for a soft grey or picked out a darker shade to paint your living room, a hardwood floor makes a welcome addition to any space. However, while parquetry adds much-needed character to any interior, it can leave larger rooms feeling cold and lacking warmth. To compensate for this, use rugs and floor coverings with deep piles in dramatic colours that will break up the monotony of a grey-infused interior.

Natural materials are a simple way of adding warmth and texture to any room. In living areas decorated with deep grey tones, they're particularly effective.

In grey living rooms, think carefully when selecting soft furnishings. If you're short on storage solutions, think about using woven baskets or rattan boxes to house those little essentials.

You can lean into biophilic design to create a relaxing interior that embraces outdoor elements. Wood accents are always a good idea, so think about leaving pine and oak exposed, rather than painting it with neutral paint colours.

Indoor plants are another grey way of offsetting deep grey wall tones. Fill dark grey corners with tall ferns or think about adding a living wall packed with plants that thrive indoors like ivy and succulents.

Even a softer grey palette needs a helping hand from indoor lighting. The right lighting choices can leave your space feeling warmer, while also giving the illusion of extra space.

If you're furnishing a smaller space, use oversized table lamps with diffuser shades that will produce a relaxing ambience. Arc floor lamps are a good alternative if you're short on space and don't want to rely on ceiling fixtures.

You also need to think carefully about bulbs when lighting a grey space. If you've used a blue-based light grey to decorate your room, a cooler-coloured bulb will accentuate those undertones nicely. If you've opted for a grey with yellow or red undertones, a bulb with a warmer colour temperature is the way to go.

A south-facing room will receive plenty of natural light, but unless your grey paint colours are enriched with yellow undertones, your space is still going to feel on the cold side. However, reflective surfaces can make a big difference.

Simple ways to bounce around natural light include adding mirrors to your walls. You can opt for a single large mirror, or use an assortment of smaller ones to create a captivating focal point.

Even your furniture choices can enhance natural light in grey living rooms. Instead of choosing purely wooden pieces, go with glass that will reflect incoming light and keep your space feeling bright and airy.

A dark grey living room with high ceilings tends to result in large stretches of bare walls. If you're using darker tones like charcoal to decorate a living room, use artwork to brighten things up. If you'd prefer to maintain a more monochromatic decor scheme, stick to white-based pieces whenever possible.

Contemporary silhouettes and abstract figures work nicely in modern spaces. In a more traditional interior, think about using cameo portraits that will bring a subtle touch of vintage character.

You can even consider using textured wall hangings. Wool and faux shearling will add warmth and bring a cosy quality to your lounge. Meanwhile, suede material makes a stylish addition to a more modern living room.