Gray Bedroom Ideas

When planning your bedroom, you might think of soft greens or warm mustards. But despite shifting trends, gray remains a versatile choice. With countless shades available, this timeless color offers stylish, elegant, and sophisticated options for any bedroom. This blog will explore ideas to elevate your gray bedrooms.

Aug 16, 2024
James Greenwood
James Greenwood
Senior Brand Manager / Colour and Interior Specialists

Since completing his fashion marketing degree and spending a year working in luxury PR in London James has spent 8 years living and breathing wallpaper and interior design. Joining Graham & Brown in 2015 working through the marketing and product teams before spending time in field developing our Graham & Brown partner network. 2021 saw James’ return to his passion of delivering exceptional product and design into the market heading up the Graham & Brown lifestyle interior brand.

Working across all product categories James’ ambition is to deliver beautifully curated loving homes to our customers and inspiring them every day.

Abstract GEO blue and gray bespoke mural


When you’re looking for inspiration for your bedroom project, you may imagine soft tones, soothing sage greens, or warm, cozy mustards. However, trends come and go and while we have seen a decline in gray paint popularity, here are some reasons this color palette should stay on your radar: perfect shades of Gray. Here are some Bedroom ideas that use this adaptable tone are stylish, elegant, and sophisticated. Today, there isn't just one shade of this tone; there are dozens.

From warm grays with red undertones to cooling grays that reflect the light, gray bedroom ideas open up a wealth of possibilities. In this blog, we'll look at some of our favourite gray bedrooms, from combinations you may not have thought of to suggestions on how to perfectly partner gray paint and wallpaper. Keep reading for our top design tips and ideas.

Boreas soft gray wallpaper

Is grey a good colour for a bedroom?

Thanks to its versatility most grey tones are suitable colours for a bedroom thanks to its softness and ability to blend with both cool and warm tones. The art of using grey in a bedroom is to decide whether you want it to be your primary colourway or want to use it as an accent to bring out the character of your other shades.

Gray is considered a 'neutral' color, meaning it can perfectly pair with almost any other color in the spectrum. But before you dive in, let’s take a look at how best to incorporate this color into your home. With over 40 to choose from, we want to help you make the right decision. Remember all our paint colors are available as sustainable Peel & Stick samples for you to try at home.

A warm gray has undertones of red that are softer and richer and subtly enhances red hues, including browns, oranges, reds, and metallics such as rose gold, brass and copper. A great example is Seize, which has a deep red undertone to produce a pinky-gray color that perfectly pairs with a fabulous Fantasy Floral Bloom Mural.
Our top tip: Go for warm grays in a bedroom to give you that cozy sensation.

Cool grays, by contrast, have blue and green undertones that give them a cooler feel. A blue gray like Highcliffe Rock paint has a hint of ice blue softened by a dove-gray overtone. Cool grays work best as accents rather than primary focal colors in a bedroom.
Our top tip: Use cool grays in south facing bedrooms, this will help psychologically cool the room down.

Palais gray & rose gold wallpaper

Using gray as a focal point with wallpaper ideas

If you want to use it as a primary focal point, our top tip is to choose gray wallpaper rather than a single block of gray paint. This will add Zen-like mindfulness, and interest to your space and stop the gray from becoming too prominent.

Here are our five favourite gray bedroom wallpaper ideas that are right at the cutting edge of interior décor trends:

  • BOREAS SOFT GRAY WALLPAPER - Combine a soft gray textured background with an enchanting rose-gold metallic sprig design, and you have Boreas. It's a subtle design that perfectly pairs with gray paint and peach-tinted textiles.
  • PALAIS GRAY & ROSE GOLD WALLPAPER - Palais is a geometric design on a silky gray background with a vintage touch, capturing the trend for rose gold in interior design.
  • GLASSHOUSE SOFT GRAY WALLPAPER – Use gray wallpaper as a feature wall with this bold botanical print. Soften the impact with silky gray accents and matching curtains to add a sophisticated element to your scheme.
  • IDYLL TREE GRAY WALLPAPER - Take a stroll through an enchanted forest where white trees shimmer against a subtle gray background. Brought to life with the use of metallics, this wallpaper is the ideal gray bedroom idea for a contemporary space. 
  • BOREAS DEEP GRAY WALLPAPER - If you don’t want to go for a striking botanical look, this subtle silver metallic sprig design is a simple yet stylish choice. The cool gray background allows the twig design to really pop, giving it a tactile effect.

What colors go best with a gray bedroom?

Gray is such a versatile choice that you can perfectly pair it with almost any combination. Here are our five top gray bedroom ideas when it comes to colors:

  • Pastels - For a smaller bedroom, keep it light and bright—team harmonious grays with pastel shades, especially soft dusky pinks and soothing sage greens.
  • Florals – some floral designs are often bursting with color, to soften the room partner with a shade of gray to create a calming environment.
  • Darker Colors - Don't be shy about using bold colors like wine red or navy blue in a bedroom. Add in a dash of gray, and it'll soften the look, calming exuberant colors and balancing the aesthetic of the room.
  • Metallics - Metallics are so on-trend, especially the subtlety of rose gold. Gray perfectly pairs with metallics, toning down the shimmer and giving it a warmth that harmonises with the coolness of metallics beautifully.

Glasshouse soft gray wallpaper

How to add warmth to a gray bedroom

There are lots of ways that you can add an extra layer of warmth to a gray bedroom. Ideas could focus on the décor or the soft furnishings. Here are five top ways to add some warmth to any gray bedroom:

Use color to harmonise as an accent tone – If your gray bedroom uses a warm gray tone, choose a color to accent it. This flips the usual order of things, where gray is used as the accent. Finish doorframes and doors, window frames and skirting boards in a corresponding tone using our eggshell finish for a contemporary look.

  • Change the lighting – How you light a gray room can make a world of difference. Soft, warm lighting can completely change the ambience of a gray bedroom.
  • Add warm textiles – If you don’t want to completely redecorate your bedroom, you can instantly change the mood by adding textiles such as curtains, throws and cushions in warm, corresponding colors.
  • Add a feature wall or mural – Break up any gray expanses by adding a single signature wall as a focal point. This could be anything from a dense, colorful jungle scene to a contemporary abstract look.  You can add even more balance by using colored accents that pick out warm tones within the mural.
  • Add texture – Our final gray bedroom idea is to add a touch of texture to your décor. Not only does this give a space a different ambience, but it can also diffuse the light differently and give a dull room a lift.
    Our top tip: Metallic textured wallpapers perfectly pair with gray paints, adding both a shimmer and a textural element to your design.
Idyll tree gray wallpaper

So, there you have it—proof that gray bedroom ideas are still to be considered, a truly versatile tone. Browse our selection of gray paints to see just how many options there are. Then, take a look at our gray wallpaper and gray murals and create your perfect bedroom with Graham & Brown.