Gray to Tan Wall Transitions

Color Combinations

• The key to using gray and tan paint on the same wall is to choose two colors that complement each other. At the paint store, ask for samples of the colors you are considering. Paint patches on the same wall, at least 1 foot by 1 foot. Painting sample colors in the room allows you to truly see how the colors work with each other and with the room’s light and furniture. Gray paints also come in shades that use a brown or a blue undertone. In most cases, gray colors with brown undertones work best with tan hues. Some of these techniques require a little practice. Use a spare piece of plywood to practice your transitional painting techniques.

Chair Rail

• Combining colors in a single room can be a challenge, but some architectural elements make it a simpler project. Dining rooms and kitchens often have a chair rail that causes a visual separation between the top and bottom of the room. Use the chair rail as a natural divide when combining gray and tan colors in the room. Choose the darker or more saturated hue to apply below the chair rail and the lighter color above the chair rail. This helps the room feel airy, light and larger. Using a darker color on top or two dark hues in the space makes a room feel quaint, cozy and more masculine.

Painted Transitions: Squares

• In addition to using the room’s architectural elements to create a natural transition between tan and gray paint, you may consider creating a transitional element with your paint. The painting experts at Benjamin Moore suggest using shapes or stripes to create a transition. One option is to create a row of squares where the two colors meet. Paint one half of the room gray and the other half of the room tan. Choose four paint colors for the square sections, selecting colors one shade light and one shade darker than the two wall colors. Using painter’s tape, tape off a series of squares that run along the vertical line where the two colors meet. Paint each square a different hue, creating a visual transition between the gray half of the room and the tan half of the room.

Painted Transitions: Stripes

• Another option is to create a series of stripes where the two colors meet. Apply painter’s tape to the wall where the two colors meet to create stripes. Paint tan stripes on the gray side of the wall and gray stripes on the tan side of the wall. Create a gradient effect by varying the width of the stripes in the transition area.

Colorwash

• Rather than create a literal transition between the tan and gray hues in the space, consider utilizing a painting technique that uses both colors over the entire wall. Known as colorwashing, this paint application creates an interesting textured effect on the walls. For best results, use two latex, satin or semi-gloss paints with a clear, paint glaze. Cover the walls with two coats of the base color. Mix together the second color and the glaze. Adding the glaze softens the paint, making it lighter and less saturated. Allow the base coat to dry completely. Apply the glaze and paint mixture to the wall using a sea sponge or a clean rag. Rub the paint on in a circular motion.