10 grey living room mistakes to avoid, according to interior experts

Grey has long been a staple colour choice in the world of interiors and despite new attention turning to bright shades and maximalist decor, it shows no signs of slowing down. The classic neutral offers plenty of scope for combining with any trend you desire and it's undeniably liveable, so you can worry less about spillages. 

However, it can be difficult to style in a way that feels fresh and interesting. Whether you're considering refreshing your grey living room ideas or opting for a brand new look with the colour at the forefront, making sure you avoid the top grey living room mistakes will make your interior look expertly designed.

Grey living room mistakes to avoid

Grey is often called the new neutral, however, despite this reputation like with any shade or living room decor ideas it is possible to get it very wrong. To stop this happening to your home, these are the mistakes to beware.

1. Not adding texture

A grey living room scheme doesn't have to be simple. Instead, layering multiple textures in a space will help to make a grey scheme shine. If you have created a versatile foundation with a grey sofa in a durable material, add interest with boucle cushions, gold accessories or tufted furnishings. 

'To avoid your schemes from feeling too stark or cold, introduce texture. Consider all of the surfaces and finishing touches and where possible combine soft, smooth pieces with more tactile textures such as sheepskin with concrete,' advises Amy Wilson, interior designer for 247 Curtains. 

'You can consider incorporating texture on your walls with the use of some of the more interesting paint finishes available like limewash, polished plaster or even textured paper. Accessories are crucial to layering up texture – from cushions and rugs to curtains there are options for all budgets.'

2. Forgetting to vary undertones

Selecting a grey scheme doesn't mean you have to wave goodbye to other neutrals. It can often feel like a decision between grey and beige when picking a minimal living room design, but combining the two will actually make for a more varied look. 

Grey has cool undertones, which can make you believe that you have to stick to shades with the same base. However, warm-toned neutrals can add to a pared-back look, offering an inviting feel. 

3. Shying away from pattern

Luckily, grey decor comes in patterns as well as block colours - so don't shy away from using them! One of the biggest mistakes in curating a grey living room is keeping everything in one tone and avoiding any pattern. 

Distinct prints, like stripes or geometric designs, add interest to a grey palette and can be updated easily over time. Grey is known for being a safe interior choice that will last for years to come, so this way you can add pockets of trend-led patterns with less commitment. 

4. Neglecting an accent colour

Tash Bradley, Director of Interior Design and Colour Psychologist at Lick says the secret to decorating with grey is tying in other colours.  For example, consider blue and grey living room ideas, or even yellow and grey living room ideas. This will prevent a room from feeling subdued and dull, which is a trap you can easily fall into. 

When used correctly, with accents of colour, Tash says grey really comes to life and shines with an amazing elegant natural colour. The colour expert explains that a flat grey carries no positive physiological benefits, and can generate a dull and lifeless emotional response. So it's all about using greys with a coloured undertone. 

A grey with a pink undertone will generate a nurturing feeling, grey with a green undertone will bring life into a room, and grey with a blue undertone can be very soothing.

5. Sticking to a pale palette

Shying away from darker tones means you miss an opportunity to create a sense of intimacy with your living room ideas. ‘Don’t be afraid of dark and rich colours, like coffee or dark grey,' says Martin Waller, founder of Andrew Martin. 

The luxury home decor expert says these moody hues bring intimacy and depth while also allowing you to show personality and flair. 

6. Creating a space that feels cold

Aaron Markwell COAT's Colour Lead says that without some black or deep greys, a grey living room can start to look austere and uninviting. Black or dark grey accessories, such as candlesticks or picture frames will create contrast, he says, giving the impression that the grey on your walls is bright and fresh. 

'This can also be done by painting your woodwork in deeper grey or taupe tones, making your walls feel like large expanses of an airier tone,' says Aaron. 'Stick to warm-toned greys on the walls, such as Margot of Good Intentions.'

7. Not considering natural light

If your living room is north-facing, Ben White, Interior Design Manager at Swyft says using warm shades of grey is 'particularly important' because the natural light will be cooler. 'In these kinds of rooms, I would opt for greys that have subtle undertones of brown, red, and yellow to inject that warmth the room needs,' comments Ben.

Luxury interior designer Sanel Konyar and Founder of Interior Kollection recommends dove or pebble greys are good in this scenario, while a south-facing room can afford a deeper tone of grey such as slate. He points out that the light in your living room will change seasonally, too.

8. Going for 50 shades of grey

Yvonne Keal, Senior Product Manager at Hillarys feels one of the common grey living room mistakes to avoid is overusing it. 'If everything in your living room is grey, it can look very one-dimensional and flat, as there are no other colours to break up the muted tones,' says Yvonne.

'Whites, greys, and beiges can encourage boredom and negative emotions,' she continues. This can lead to unproductivity, says Yvonne, so steer away from these if you living room doubles up as your home office.

9. Overlooking lighting

The key thing is to understand whether your grey is warm or cool. If the undertones are warm, such as red, orange, and yellow, then you could opt for cooler living room lighting ideas, says Ben White, Interior Design Manager at Swyft. Likewise, if the undertones are blue, then you could inject warmth through warmer lighting.

'This can be done through your bulb choice, so whether you opt for a brighter LED or a tinted vintage bulb, but also through your shade fixtures,' Ben explains.

10. Creating stark contrasts

Sanel Konyar of Interior Kollection warns against pairing grey with white in your living room, as she says this can create too stark a contrast. 'Opt for champagne, ecru, and ivory with highlights of warm metals such as copper, antique gold, and bronze,' Sanel suggests. 'When combined, these elements instantly give warmth to a grey interior scheme,' she says. 

11. Mismatching undertones

According to colour psychologist Lee Chambers, grey can be more welcoming than you might think. 'The biggest mistake I see is not considering the temperature of grey that will work for your space. Warming greys that have beige or brown undertones can be powerful if you're looking to take the cooler edge off,' he says. 

The psychologist explains that grey is very sensitive to undertone mismatch, leaving colours not feeling in synergy together. 'My advice is to go with a colour that complements the temperature of your chosen grey, and to experiment, as grey is very versatile when used well,' Lee adds.