Shades of grey: the Scandi neutral here to stay

Timeless and versatile, greys are a chic staple that offer the perfect neutral foundation for a space.

The versatility of the hue means there are endless pairing options to ensure no look is the same. Think soft grey Resene Half White Pointer paired with pastel Resene Pale Rose or smoky grey Resene Neutral Bay paired with the fresh Resene Green Spring.

The shade’s lasting popularity has been linked to the interior world’s embracing of Scandinavian style. The style has celebrated a muted palette of greys, whites and subtle pastel accents in our homes. Grey’s ability to create a warm colour scheme just as easily as it can create a cool one means it can be incorporated into any room, be it a living space or bedroom.

Scandi style suits our local lifestyle – it speaks to the relaxed, lived-in and casual environment plenty of us want to create. Light is the most important factor in a Scandi style environment. If your home lacks natural light, painting walls in a soothing light grey like Resene Sea Fog, Resene Concrete or Resene Athens Grey) can give the illusion of airiness. Plenty of colours will pair well with lighter toned greys and fit the Scandi look perfectly – from the icy blue of Resene Pattens Blue to the soft tones of Resene Norway. Resene also has a slew of dusky pastels, whites with depth and more silvery paint colours to underpin the Scandi look. Try colours like Resene Quarter Atmosphere, Resene Double Black White, Resene Dusted Blue and Resene Duck Egg Blue. Aim to keep your colour palette refined and thought-out, and your objects at home uncluttered. Less is more in Scandinavian design.

Embracing grey hues will allow other colours in your home to pop. During the Renaissance period, grey was used in paintings as a background colour to emphasise the gold of clothing and warmth of skin tones. It was a halfway point between white and black, the ideal neutral to pair perfectly with practically any other colour. Greys on walls at home set the foundation for you to then be as bold or as subtle as you wish. Why not ground a room with a tone like Resene Half Concrete, then add contrast with a feature wall in the bright orange Resene West Side.

Teal blues and emerald greens also sing against grey – try Resene Deep Teal and Resene Palm Green. You could even incorporate a bright toned dining table in a kitchen against a grey tone to add personality to your home using a blue like Resene Float.

In this nursery, Resene Ted, a cool and understated light grey, adds a considerable amount of depth to the space. If all walls were painted in the cool Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta, it could risk feeling too flat or cold. Instead, Resene Ted brings warmth, dimension and personality to the space. The eye is drawn too to the cot, its wooden frame painted in the same hue. This also ensures the space feels cohesive.

This is the strength of a grey like Resene Ted – soft greys give stark neutrals a warm lift. Pair neutrals and greys for an elegant look that won’t date and will emphasise the lightness of a room. Try hues like Resene Surrender and Resene Alabaster together to create a similar look.

The master bedroom demonstrates that furniture set against grey often feels grander and more glamorous. Paint a feature bedhead in Resene Times Square and Resene Tua Tua stripes for a striking look against walls in Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta and Resene Ted. This contrast of black and grey is modern-feeling and adds energy into the space. Tones like Resene Ted will age well in children’s bedrooms as they grow up, just as the hue will last and can be updated with new furniture for a refreshed look in master bedrooms.

If you’re concerned about how greys will feel in the cooler winter months, don’t forget to incorporate plenty of thick, warm and furry textiles. Use sheepskins and mohair, toss them over chairs and add baskets filled with cosy throws – provide that warm aesthetic balance simple furniture and subtle wall shades can need.

Embrace wood; natural materials pop against greys, especially walnut tones. Pair darker furniture pieces with greys like Resene Concrete, Resene Surrender and Resene Half Concrete to keep things light. For lighter woods, you can go deeper and darker with greys and experiment with tones like Resene Double Stack or Resene Mountain Mist. Whether you’re channelling edginess, cottage-charm or a contemporary style in your home, Scandi grey shades are capable of creating any look. Let the hue be your base to explore from.

Colours and products mentioned in this article

Styling by Kate Alexander. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2022