Many Britons are intimately familiar with the colour grey.Look out the window,for example,and look at all that grey.From drab buildings to gloomy clouds,the grey area of the colour palette dominates many a British summer scene.
So you'd think we'd be bored of the colour,right?Nope:according to Samantha Schoech,former magazine editor and interiors guru over at Houzz,shades of grey are the next big thing when it comes to making a statement with your interior design.
"Charcoal grey may be a neutral,but it's also a statement,"says Schoech."It's bolder than its lighter brethren;more modern than its neutral cousins,the beiges;and less dramatic than black."
And as Texas-based designer Bex Hale says,the for-all-occasions nature of the shade makes it perfect for pretty much any room in the house."Charcoal grey is the little black dress of decor,"she said."Dress it up,dress it down-it's my go-to colour."
Which makes it perfect for anything from a dramatic dining room to a modern kid's nursery-but if you're painting your walls that LBD shade,what do you dress it up with?Well,if you fancy a continental style influence around your home,you can take a tip from the Swedes-the country is going grey goo-goo at the moment,and find it works especially well with neon shades.
Lemon-yellow tables,primary red stools and vibrant green vases look great when contrasted with the shade,while a plain white can also add a muted dimension to a charcoal colour palette.
"Everybody knows that stuff just looks better when it's framed against grey or dark hues,"says interior designer Abigail Ahern,who notes that slate-and charcoal-greys are perfect for garden designs and flourishes,especially when paired with outdoor lighting for a'room outdoors'feel."It stands out more;it packs a visual punch which you just don't get otherwise."
