15 Gray Living Room Ideas That Are Anything but Drab

When redesigning your living space, you don’t have to research the trending colors (though Veri Peri is quite gorgeous). In fact, the perfect hue might be one you wouldn’t think of right away. Like … gray.

These gray living room ideas show off the color in contemporary and classic ways, proving that the shades are anything but boring. Here’s some inspo on how to decorate a gray living room.

1. Embrace a Neutral and Gray Colorway

Hello, gorgeous gallery wall! This space uses frames and canvases to play up a gorgeous neutral color palette of grays, beiges, and white. Paired with the wood plank floors and touches of greenery, it’s a natural-meets-modern design with delicious geometric shapes.

2. Make a Gray Accent Wall

If you’re worried a monochrome room might be a little dull, try adding an accent wall. You don’t need to go crazy with a bright color or patterned wallpaper to make the space pop (and this gray living room proves it!). When choosing your colors, pick two shades of gray—one for the accent and one for your other walls. This subtle difference is enough to add a lot of visual interest. 

3. Pump It Up With Patterned Gray Wallpaper

Or maybe a flat painted wall just isn’t doing it for you. In that case, gray wallpaper can be just the thing to give your living room the vibe you’re looking for. This charming gray living room wall has a wavy pattern that looks almost iridescent, and the touches of silver in the decor tie the area together.

4. Embrace Scandi Design

Scandinavian design is well-known for its clean lines, natural light, and minimalist approach. This space, with its extra-large windows and simplistic (but oh-so-stylish) furnishings, is everything we love about this interior design movement. And while Scandi usually features muted, neutral colors, this dark gray living room wall isn’t overpowering against the decor.

5. Play With Patterns

This room's simple light gray walls are the perfect canvas for … canvases. The mixed-and-matched patterns complement the gray living room decor and furniture, and the light wood floors help keep the black-and-white motif from seeming sterile. 

6. Merge Natural and Contemporary Design

We don’t know what we love most about this gray living room. The natural touches in the branches and Papasan chair? The ample natural light? The balance of white and black furniture against the light gray walls? It’s all so gorgeous.

7. Show Off Your Gray Shag

When you think of shag, you might picture your grandmother’s old 1970s carpet. But it’s time to forget that. Shag carpets, rugs, and even these adorable pillows add lots of texture (and coziness!) to any space. This grayscale living room is a testament to how cute and contemporary shag can look.

8. Warm Gray and Marble

This space is warm—literally because of the beautiful marble slab fireplace, but also because of the pops of brilliant red, beige touches, and warm gray walls. Another living room that makes use of an accent wall, the palette is simple while having visual appeal.

9. Build an Industrial and Eclectic Space

Industrial design is known for simple color palettes, metal and brick highlights, and open floor plan. Another hallmark of the style? Concrete (or concrete-esque) walls and floors. This space’s gray walls are modern and minimalist—the perfect fit for an industrial living room.

10. Get Cozy

White walls can seem a bit sterile, but if you choose a light gray paint the space instantly becomes cozier. And the big gray sectional and cushy pillows don’t hurt, either! 

11. Use Gray in Color Theory

Always consider color theory when decorating any room. Here, the purple couch goes oh-so-gorgeously with the gold table and ottoman accents (purple and yellow are complementary colors, after all!). The colors stand out even more against the neutral gray backdrop.

12. Go Full Glam

With its polished silver furnishings, silky gray curtains, and a monochrome color scheme, this modern gray living room is for the ultra-glamorous. The marble tile floor makes it even more high-end. 

13. Use Farmhouse Design With Gray

Gray is a go-to color for farmhouse design. Whether a light gray, gray-blue, or greige (a gray-beige mix), you can’t go wrong with adding farmhouse elements like distressed furnishings and sliding barn doors. This room brings the aesthetic to life not only with its gray walls, but with its natural color palette and simple patterns.  

14. Show Off Gray Wood

In this modern living room, the farmhouse feel comes through not only in the gray walls but also in the distressed gray furnishings. Coupled with the metal light fixtures and touches of greenery, we can see ourselves lounging in this pretty space all day.

15. Pair Gray and Brick

Gray paint against brick walls? Yes, please. This gray living room has a neutral light gray wall complemented by darker gray furniture, decor, and blankets. It’s a simple approach, but eye-catching and contemporary.