What Color Do We Paint the Walls if the Fixtures Are Gray?

Sophisticated and Timeless

• Invoke an air of classic sophistication with a monochromatic color scheme. Paint the walls in a shade of gray several shades lighter than the fixtures. Add depth to the design by painting woodwork or chair rails a deep, rich shade, such as charcoal gray or pewter. Choose gray with a hint of rose undertones to warm up a cool room and make it feel friendlier, or create an oasis of calm by choosing a shade with undertones of blue. Finish off the decor with accessories in bright jewel tones that will pop against the gray.

Modern and Energizing

• A lively modern color scheme will infuse the room with energy and minimize the heaviness of gray fixtures. Unless the gray is very dark, avoid primary colors. Instead, draw your colors from a palette inspired by nature. Sunflower yellow and butterscotch have a richness and depth that reflect and amplify the light in the room. Other color choices with a modern aesthetic include jungle green, claret and cobalt blue. If the room is small, though, vibrant colors may be jarring. Instead of using it on all four walls, paint three walls dove gray and paint the fourth wall in your chosen accent color to maximize its impact without overpowering the space.

Cool and Serene

• Mountain and ocean colors belong to a cool color palette that exerts a serene, calming influence. To open up the space and make it feel more expansive, choose lighter shades of green or blue, such as seafoam or azure. In larger rooms, experiment with darker values of green or blue, such as cactus green or cerulean. Pale yellow curtains or accessories will bring some warmth into the color scheme, while carnation pink or lilac will brighten the color scheme without changing the overall serene aesthetic.

Considerations and Tips

• When choosing paint colors to coordinate with gray fixtures, play it safe with shades that have an undertone of gray, green or blue. If you choose gray paint, avoid glossy finishes unless you want your walls to have a metallic gleam. If you're daring, paint the walls a pale background color and use a faux finish technique to add motifs in a glaze that exactly matches your gray fixtures.