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Habitat plus - how great is grey?

Like any other part of the colour spectrum, when it comes to neutrals, there is a fashion.

For years, warm biscuit tones and dark smoky browns have been popular, but now it’s time for grey. Along with green-toned creams, it’s now an ‘in’ neutral and synonymous with style, glamour and a certain urbane sophistication – whether it’s a silvery off-white or a deep, grunty charcoal.

Silvery grey:

Tones such as Resene Half Surrender appear luminous in a well-lit space. They are serene and whimsical. If you want to heighten the effect, look at the various silvers available in the Resene Metallics and special effects range. Have a look at the pewter shades too, like Resene Pure Pewter, as softer bronzes and pewters become more popular.

Grey kitchen
Resene Half Rakaia kitchen.

Mid grey:

This hue has a calming effect. True grey can be too cool for many people’s liking, so adding a smidge of another colour will change its character. You can go ‘greige’ (grey-beige), by adding a bit of brown to achieve a colour like Resene Quarter Taupe Grey. This still has the appearance of grey but with an added touch of warmth.

Blue grey:

There’s a big move towards greys with a touch of blue or teal, like Resene Lynch. While blue is also a ‘cool’ colour, these slatey tones in their darker forms are smoky and moody. In paler forms, they are beachy and casual. A warmer twist to this palette is the purple-greys which are rich and warm.

Charcoal grey:

Elegant and restful, charcoals like Resene Mine Shaft look superb with creamy whites and shots of vivid colors.

Grey combos to try:

Top tip:

An extreme colour such as black often calls for an extreme finish – choose an absolute matt finish to appear velvety and luscious. A high-gloss finish gives a feeling of glamour and helps reflect light.

Grey and exterior walls and interior curtains
Left: Resene Gravel garden walls. Right: Resene Curtain Collection Ripple in colour Stone with Resene Tuna walls.

Grey bedroom
Resene Shady Lady bedroom.


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Colours shown on this website are a representation only. Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online.   See measurements/conversions for more details on how electronic colour values are achieved.

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